Germ Warfare in your office – Dr Charles P Gerba
Dr Gerba’s most recent research uncovers the link between unhygienic workplaces and sickness, and the affect on productivity.
This is a very relevant area of research to New Zealand businesses; it’s proven that workplace productivity is affected by a dirty environment. Can you afford to lose productivity?
The average office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. The desk may look clean, but is it really?
Workplace illness is a significant health issue in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health estimates that each year it has a large impact on our community with 10-20 per cent of people affected by viruses such as influenza, and your office is the most common place for adults to contract a cold, the flu or other illnesses. Think about the germs that you are potentially taking home to your family.
Summary of Dr Gerba’s NZ Seminar Tour
Dr Gerba visited NZ in July 2010 to present a series of seminars on the topic of workplace hygiene.
He presented research material and gave advice on:
- How you can improve productivity
- How you can protect your employees
- Steps you can take to avoid workplace absenteeism due to illness
The seminar tour involved presentations in 4 cities, in conjunction with the respective Chambers’ of Commerce.
Attendances were very strong, over 130 in Auckland, over 80 in Wellington, 32 in Christchurch and over 70 in Dunedin.
The turnout to the Chamber events shows Dr Gerba has a very relevant message for HR managers, office managers, senior company managers, facilities managers, health and safety people, public health personnel, government and local government officials and school principals.
Here’s what an attendee said:
“Thank you very much for your invite to the Germ Warfare presentation today. Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dr Gerba, he certainly is an entertaining speaker and can share so much knowledge regarding the spread/containment of germs.”
