Reducing staff absenteeism this winter
We’ve started to get a little festive here at Simply Washrooms HQ – the chocolates are out, the tinsel us up, and the distant sound of The Pogues can be heard coming from our warehouse.
While December signals a time for festivities, it’s also the time you’re likely to start seeing an increase in staff absences as the dreaded ‘cold and flu’ season takes hold.
Difficult to manage, it can also lead to an increase in business costs as agency staff are brought in to cover staff shortages. Alarmingly, it’s estimated sick leave costs UK employers a total of £29 billion annually!
Considering the cold and flu season is something that happens every year, what measures can we put in place to minimise the risk, stop the spread and, keep your staff healthy during the winter months?
First port of call – look at your infection control regime. Making sure you have the best systems and procedures in place will help your staff remain healthy during the winter months.
However, it’s not just as simple as adopting a thorough cleaning regime. Did you know that cleaning and disinfection alone are not enough to stop the spread of bacteria? As soon as the area is cleaned, bacteria immediately begin to settle and continue to grow at an alarming rate.
To reduce the risk from viruses and infections, such as norovirus, common cold and influenza, air quality management should be a key component of your infection control regime. This is where we can help.
Here at Simply Washrooms we’re seeing an increase in the demand for airborne control measures. It appears the industry is waking up to the realisation that the airborne transmission of bacteria and infections is a serious issue.
We supply AIRsteril – an air purification system that offers a permanent 24 hours a day, 365 days a year system that guarantees to control infections in any enclosed space. It does this by treating the root cause – by destroying the bacteria, viruses, mould and fungi to ensure the air and all exposed surfaces have been sanitised.
The system generates ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). UVGI is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.
The result is a more hygienic air system that reduces the spread of bacteria and infections and importantly, helps keep staff healthy.
Contact us for more information about how you can reduce staff absenteeism this winter.
Samantha Stocks, commercial director, Simply Washrooms