It only takes 4 hours for a virus to spread through your workplace

Germaphobes, look away.

When a virus makes its way onto a doorknob or a keyboard, it only takes half the working day for it to be found on 40% to 60% of the people inside your office.

It will also be found on 40% to 60% of other objects inside the workplace, such as buttons in the lifts and buttons on the office printer.

The fast-spread of germs and viruses was the purpose a study by the University of Arizona, Tuscon, which planted "tracer viruses" around offices to measure how far and how fast they spread.

The lead researcher, famed germ scientist Charles Gerba, also provided workers in the 'contaminated' offices with what he calls "weapons of germ warfare" including alcohol gel sanitisers and disinfectant wipes to use.

He found that despite the quick spread of germs in the office, the virus could be quickly contained when just half of the employees properly used these "weapons" during the day. This was also true even when Gerba re-infected the office later in the work day.

“What we learned was, the first area to be contaminated was the coffee break room,” Gerba told Huffington Post. “That actually turned out to be a hotspot, because a lot of people go in there — more of a hotspot than the restroom.”

READ MORE: When those outrageous MC excuses are actually true

So, what's the lesson here for HR or office managers? Making it easy for employees to keep clean at work.

Gerba said it's important to ensure staff have easy access to wipes and sanitisers, so that they are used regularly to stem the spread of viruses, meaning fewer of your employees will get sick and have to take time off work.

"I’m sure a lot of people who were involved or said they would use a hand sanitiser or disinfectant also participated because it was there and made available to them," he said.

Image: Shutterstock