The healthy workplace project: Reduced viral exposure in an office setting. Issue 3 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reynolds, Kelly A.; Beamer, Paloma I.; Plotkin, Kevin R.; Sifuentes, Laura Y.; Koenig, David W.; Gerba, Charles P.
• Is Part Of: Archives of environmental & occupational health. Volume 71:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: Fomite contamination; indoor pathogen transmission; office workers; workplace illness; Medicine, Preventive -- Periodicals; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational diseases -- Periodicals; Environmental Health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2015.1058234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-8244

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Viral illnesses such as gastroenteritis and the common cold create a substantial burden in the workplace due to reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and increased health care costs. Behaviors in the workplace contribute to the spread of human viruses via direct contact between hands, contaminated surfaces, and the mouth, eyes, and/or nose. This study assessed whether implementation of the Healthy Workplace Project (HWP) (providing hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, facial tissues, and use instructions) would reduce viral loads in an office setting of approximately 80 employees after seeding fomites and the hands of volunteer participants with an MS-2 phage tracer. The HWP significantly reduced viable phage detected on participants' hands, communal fomites, and personal fomites ( p ≤ .010) in office environments and presents a cost-effective method for reducing the health and economic burden associated with viral illnesses in the workplace.