Of all spaces within a modern office, the washroom is the most likely to be affected by microbial growth. The communal nature of our office washrooms and the high frequency of shared touch points, combined with a naturally elevated humidity level, makes these areas an ideal environment for bacterial growth and an obvious priority when it comes to tackling the transmission of infections amongst your office team.
With research from the World Health Organisation stating that 80% of infections are transmitted by touch, hand hygiene is a particular concern for those returning to work. One way to reduce the spread of infection is to install contactless, sensor-activated taps, soap dispensers and hand drying facilities to reduce shared touch-points. Where this is not possible, incorporating anti-microbial surfaces into office washroom design provides the first line of defence against the transmission of viruses and bacteria in the workplace.
What are anti-microbial surfaces?
Anti-microbial surfaces offer 24/7 protection against healthcare-associated infections, by killing 99.9% of bacteria within minutes of exposure. Anti-microbial materials can be used to ensure that regular touch-points remain clean and have anti-bacterial properties, resulting in higher levels of sterilisation, without the need for intense chemical cleaning regimes.
Already installed in healthcare practices across the world, including the Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Francis Crick Institute, these surfaces are ideal for reducing the transmission of infections and improving hygiene levels in the workplace. For staff feeling anxious about restrictions lifting after almost a year at home, installing anti-microbial surfaces can help employees feel safe upon their return to the office.
Where can antimicrobial surfaces be used in the modern workplace?
Contego offers a range of door hardware, ideal for the Post-Covid office, made from antimicrobial copper. Contego products are made from a 70% copper-nickel alloy, maintaining the appearance and strength of stainless steel, without sacrificing the antimicrobial performance.
With its efficacy proven in over 200 studies, anti-microbial copper is widely recognised as the most effective touch surface material for reducing the spread of infection. Copper can also help prevent antimicrobial resistance, which is when bacteria develop the ability to survive exposure to antimicrobial treatments, through mutation or gene transfer. Copper destroys the genetic material of the bacteria it kills - making antimicrobial resistance impossible. Another huge benefit of using antimicrobial copper in the workplace is that it is recyclable, meaning it inflicts no harm on the environment.
Contego offers a variety of products, fit for the busy, modern-day workplace, including door handles, levers, push plates and WC turns. Proven to kill Covid-19 and 99.9% of other bacteria in under a minute, incorporating anti-microbial surfaces into the design of your office is a great way to promote a feeling of security and cleanliness in the workplace and assure your employees that their safety is a top priority upon their return to work.
Revolutionising commercial washroom design, installing antimicrobial door handles and push plates in staff bathrooms will reduce the transmission of germs amongst employees and allow them to navigate their return to day-to-day office-life, confident and reassured.
For more information about Contego products and how to reduce the spread of bacteria in your office, download the brochure below.
Comments