Telephones, keyboards and mice key sources of infection within the office

Office telephones, keyboards and mice are the key harbourers of germs, including the deadly E-Coli bacteria, within UK offices according to figures released by PROtech IT Hygiene, the UK's IT equipment cleaning company, today.

With the number of days sick leave for an employee in the UK averaging 9.8 days a year, workplace hygiene is coming increasingly under the spotlight. The average office desk is capable of supporting around 10 million microbes and the average office contains 20,961 microbes per square inch. The figures reveal that it is the office equipment that staff touch most frequently that harbour the most germs, with telephones holding up to 25,127 microbes per square inch, keyboards 3,295 and computer mice 1,676.

The findings coincide with the launch of a new website from PROtech IT Hygiene, www.protech-it.com, which is dedicated to providing the latest information and advice about maintaining the highest standards of IT hygiene at work.

A company's performance can be undermined by inadequate workplace hygiene, says Graham Thwaites, Managing Director of PROtech IT Hygiene. Germs and dirt can accumulate, causing technology to malfunction, and increased absence amongst staff.

Companies are taking IT hygiene far more seriously than ever before and we hope the new website will prove to be an invaluable source of information. We're confident that the IT and computer equipment cleaning services we offer are the most effective on the UK market and our new online presence will provide anyone looking for IT hygiene services, the information to help them choose the right service to match their needs.

Office Hygiene - The Facts

When someone is infected with a cold or flu bug the surfaces they touch during the day become germ transfer points because some cold and flu viruses can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours

Many germs can be spread by the telephone

A keyboard is a tray and catches nasal droppings, food, skin and hair

Enough skin falls of a human to fill one tea cup a day

31% of men and 17% of women confessed to not washing hands after going to the toilet

One in five said they did not bother because their hands looked clean

E-Coli naturally lives in your intestines but you can find it on your phone

The site features information about a wide variety of IT hygiene services with dedicated pages relating to ATM Machines, Chip & Pin, Call Centres, Computer Rooms, Data Centres, Education, Facilities Management, Office Environments and many other specialist requirements. There's also an enquiry section that provides an instant price guide.