You want your offices to present a professional, polished look. At the same time, you want to be sure your employees are safe, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To reach both these goals, you need to understand the differences between regular janitorial services and office sterilization.
What Makes Office Sterilization Different from Janitorial Cleaning?
Janitorial cleaning is an essential part of running a good business, but it is not the same thing as office sterilization.
Cleaning an office removes visible dirt, but it doesn’t disinfect or sterilize–meaning that even after cleaning, germs may still be lurking on the surface.
Disinfecting is a process that actually kills germs.
But even after cleaning and disinfecting, there may still be more germs present than public health guidelines deem safe.
That’s when sterilization comes into play. Sterilization both cleans, kills germs AND ensures that the area meets all federal, state and local guidelines for safety.
At First Call, we use a hospital-grade disinfectant that is effective against all types of viruses and germs, including COVID-19. We can work with areas of any size, whether a hospital waiting room or large office building.
We also meet all CDC, EPA and OSHA standards which means we’re in compliance with all regulations from both the state and federal governments.
What is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?
Remember, cleaning removes dirt and germs physically from the surface using soap, detergent and water. Cleaning in itself does not kill germs, but instead, it removes them, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control.
Disinfecting a surface involves killing the germs where they reside on surfaces or objects. Typically, this involves a bleach or alcohol solution. It’s important to note that disinfecting doesn’t typically clean dirty surfaces, and it doesn’t always remove gems.
However, sanitizing is a different story.
Sanitizing may typically involve both cleaning and disinfecting, ensuring that it is in accordance with public health safety standards for office areas.
Why Is Office Sterilization Important?
Are you fully aware of the cost of employee absenteeism?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, these absences can add up, leading to productivity losses of around $225.8 billion a year in the United States—which equates to roughly $1,685 per employee.
Promoting a healthier workspace isn’t just good for employees—it helps your bottom line.
Even worse, sometimes employees come in to work when they are sick. Not only does this affect their productivity, but it also presents the possibility of infecting other employees. In fact, employees who work when they are sick represent at least 60 percent of the total cost of worker illnesses.
Office sanitation can create a healthier workspace by dramatically reducing the chances that sickness will spread throughout your business. Not only is this good for your employees, but it boosts your bottom line.
Why First Call is the Right Call for Office Sterilization
We have worked with office buildings of all sizes, schools, warehouses, universities and all types of businesses to create safe and sanitized working environments. Healthy employees are productive employees, and ensuring they have a safe environment is also key in helping you avoid potential liability pitfalls.
For decades, we’ve served the Triangle, Greensboro and Burlington areas by offering professional office sanitation at a location near you.
But even more importantly, we value you as a client. You’re more than a mere customer; we consider you part of our team. We will work together and keep you abreast of our progress at every turn. See why our customer service and dedication to quality places us above our competitors—it’s why First Call is the right call.
