Desks and keyboards 'full of germs'

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 04-10-2011

Office interiors are often full of bacteria which can lead to infections spreading easily among members of staff, according to a new report.

The study asked hundreds of office workers around the UK to send in swabs from their desks. It found that most of the desks were in bad hygienic conditions.

Almost two thirds of all computer keyboards harboured germs, with some of the worst even growing mould. Germs were also found on phones and desks.

The report by Viking revealed that lawyers, accountants and computer staff have the most unhygienic offices, while mouldy food is most likely to be found on the desk of a social worker.

The study also revealed that more than 50% of office workers did not even know that their keyboards and phones could be full of germs. Two thirds of them said they often eat lunch in their office without cleaning the desk afterwards.

Copyright Press Association 2011