5 bad office habits that can make you sick

5 bad office habits that can make you sick

I love writing about food and nutrition, but microbiology and food safety are also part of my training to become a qualified nutritionist, and I love talking about germs! “Foodborne illness” may not be the hottest topic, but it is an extremely important one. Foodborne germs cause a staggering 76 million cases of illness in the United States each year, including 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. The good news is that it is largely preventable. If you're like many of my clients, you may eat primarily in the office, which means that's where you're most at risk. Here are some of the most common mistakes that cause you to get sick at work and what you can do to avoid them:

5 office habits that can make you sick

Not washing your hands properly

If you're a "quick rinser," you may be leaving a lot of hidden germs on your hands. If you wash them properly, you can cut your risk of getting sick (or making others sick) in half. Always, always, always use warm, soapy water and lather long enough to sing two choruses of “Happy Birthday” in your head (about 20 seconds). Be sure to cover the front and back of your hands up to your wrists, between your fingers, and under your fingernails. Then dry with disposable paper towels or a new, clean towel (not the dirty one in the office kitchen that other people use to wipe their hands or dry dishes). These few extra steps are worth the healthy payoff.

Do not clean the microwave

I've seen some crusty office microwaves that look like war zones because no one showed up for cleaning duty. According to a survey by the American Dietetic Association, more than half of all employees say the microwave in their office kitchen is cleaned only once a month or less, which can leave dried, splattered sauces on the interior walls that can become breeding grounds for bacteria. As gross as it may be, get your co-workers to throw a germ-busting cleaning party, then create a schedule to keep it spotless (like a check-in form that rotates tasks once or twice a week). And ask everyone to swear by their pinky, cover their plates with wax paper to prevent spills, and wipe down the inside after each use while still making spills easy to clean up.

The Freedom Fridge

Most office refrigerators are hit or miss - no one knows what belongs to whom or how long it's been there. And that is a recipe for disaster. You can't see, smell, or taste the bacteria that can make you sick, so a sniff test or a "looks okay to me" nod won't stop you from swallowing a mouthful of germs. The solution: Set up four Safe Fridge rules. First, everything that goes in should be dated with a felt-tip pen. Second, everything must be in a sealed container (i.e. Rubbermaid or Ziploc bags – no “loose,” leaky foods). Third, once a week, all perishable foods that have not been eaten should be thrown away. Finally, the refrigerator should also be cleaned once a week, which means taking out everything in it and wiping down the inside with warm water, vinegar, and baking soda. Publish a signup form and make it a two-person job. It's a great way to catch up with a colleague while doing something super productive. Oh, and make sure the refrigerator temperature is below (not at) 40°F. Temperatures between 40 and 140 (yup, even the low 41s) are in the “danger zone,” the temperatures at which bacteria multiply like rabbits.

Do not wash office tableware before using it

I once had an impromptu meeting with a colleague in the office kitchen. As we talked, he pulled a mug out of the cupboard, filled it with hot water, and gasped as he was about to drop a tea bag into it. His cup was filled with leftover cereal - apparently whoever used it last gave it a quick rinse before putting it back (I know, gross right?). Lesson: Even if you think your coworkers are a pretty clean, conscientious bunch, you just never know. People are busy or tired and may not scrub the communal dishes, glasses, or cutlery as carefully as you might expect. Play it safe and always wash everything yourself.

The municipal sponge

OK, so when it comes to washing dishes in the office, almost one in three people say they reach for a “community sponge.” But that damp, grubby sponge can fester with bacteria, and simply rinsing it with warm water won't do a damn thing. Instead, use paper towels and hot, soapy water. It's the best way to kill these little guys so food poisoning doesn't ruin your evening or weekend plans!

Cynthia Sass is a registered dietitian with master's degrees in nutrition science and public health. She is frequently seen on national television and works as a SHAPE editor and nutritionist for the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays. Her latest New York Times bestseller is Cinch! Conquer cravings, drop pounds and lose inches.