Sterilizing and cleanliness in the workplace are extremely important for various reasons, from obvious concerns such as protecting the safety of employees from dangerous contaminants to less obvious problems such as ensuring that equipment is not damaged through contact with foreign substances.
The following are businesses where sterilizing and cleanliness are absolute essentials.
Hospitals
Hospitals are places where patients go to get better. The last thing the hospital's staff wants is for a patient to get worse because of something like an infection from bacteria or other disease-causing elements. Hospitals ensure that all surfaces, floors, bathrooms, and even rooms are clean and sterilized daily.
Even the smallest bit of dirt or dust can contain harmful contaminants that could make patients sick. Hospitals are cleaned and disinfected several times a day, while equipment is sterilized before and after use.
Among the items that need to be sterilized are surgical equipment, including scalpels and other sharp tools. The last thing a doctor wants is to intentionally give a patient infections by using dirty surgical equipment on them.
Food Production Areas
Many food establishments, from large businesses that produce bakery products to smaller restaurants that specialize in a particular type of dish, need employees to clean and sterilize their kitchens not just at the end of each day but several times throughout.
The dangers here are obvious to anyone who has ever watched a food preparation show on TV. One wrong move by an employee could mean that someone gets sick from eating bacteria-laced chips or other products. Even worse, if something is served raw instead of being cooked thoroughly, customers can end up in the hospital because of E. coli poisoning or other pathogens.
Many foodservice establishments have employees who spend a great deal of time cleaning and sterilizing surfaces, floors, and equipment before and after use to ensure that this never happens.
Additionally, industrial machines like autoclaves are used to sterilize food-specific equipment like slicers after each use.
Research Laboratories
People who work in research laboratories take their work very seriously. When handling dangerous materials such as viruses, poison, and chemicals, the slightest mistake could lead to serious accidents and injuries.
Additionally, research laboratories can still pick up contaminants from the air even if they seem completely clean to the naked eye. This is why research laboratories have sterile hoods to sterilize the air before it leaves each room and ensure that any harmful materials picked up by workers do not contaminate other areas of the building.
Beyond the physical safety of employees and visitors, scientific research projects can cost a great deal of money. If a project cannot continue because of a serious accident or contamination from outside sources, it puts the laboratory's reputation at stake.
To avoid these problems, research labs must take sterilizing and cleanliness seriously for the safety of those who work there and keep projects on track.
Manufacturing Facilities
Industrial manufacturing facilities like chemical plants and major commercial factories take cleanliness and sterilization very seriously as well. This is because industrial machines used to manufacture goods can be severely damaged if they come into contact with a foreign substance or even a speck of dust.
Not only are machines expensive to replace, but substances used in the manufacturing process can also be dangerous to workers if they are not appropriately handled. To prevent these issues from arising, industrial plants commonly hire employees who clean and sterilize surfaces multiple times throughout the day or use advanced equipment that sterilizes large surfaces and equipment after use.
In addition, workers should also wear special protective suits to shield them from any contaminants that may find their way into a production area. This is especially true when dealing with dangerous materials like arsenic, mercury, and lead that could potentially cause harm if they come into contact with the skin or are inhaled or swallowed.
People who work in these industries must wear protective gear to keep themselves safe from contaminants, and before they leave the building, every item they have touched must be sterilized or cleaned.
Dental Clinics
Dentists are in a unique position because their offices actually need to be cleaner than the average business. When people step into a dentist's office, they are often hurting in some way and tend to have compromised immune systems.
For this reason, these clinics must take steps beyond just cleaning up common areas like floors and desks. Instead, surfaces are sterilized multiple times throughout the day with specialized equipment.
Dental offices also have special protocols for disposing of biohazard materials like fillings and other bodily substances that could lead to infection if they are not handled properly. These procedures include blood spills, removing stitches, and taking out teeth that the root has impacted.
While it's not uncommon for people to fear doctors, people can be even more afraid of dentists due to their equipment and procedures that are unique to the dental industry. For this reason, sterilizing equipment is vital because it provides an extra layer of protection for everyone involved.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to ensuring the safety of employees and visitors, many businesses go above and beyond what is required by law to ensure that people can work or visit without fear of harm. Sterilizing equipment plays an essential role in these businesses because it helps them eliminate common contaminants like dust and germs before they find their way into sterile areas.
In addition, protective clothing like gloves and face masks can help ensure that employees and visitors don't come into contact with dangerous substances or waste that could potentially harm them. These steps are necessary for any profession where cleanliness is a priority.
