Norovirus in the Workplace: How to Keep Your Facility Outbreak-Free
Norovirus in the Workplace:
How to keep your facility outbreak-free
Norovirus spreads like wildfire in shared spaces, and in a workplace, one sick employee can quickly turn into an outbreak. But with the right cleaning protocols and preventive measures, you can keep your facility safe and running smoothly this flu season.
What is Norovirus & Why Should Facility Managers Care?
Norovirus is one of the most contagious viruses, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. It spreads rapidly in workplaces through:
✔️ Contaminated Surfaces – The virus can survive for weeks on high-touch areas like doorknobs and desks.
✔️ Person-to-Person Contact – Employees can unknowingly spread it through unwashed hands.
✔️ Airborne Particles – Vomit can aerosolize, spreading the virus through the air.
5 Ways to Combat Norovirus in the Workplace
Prioritize Hand Hygiene
- Employees should wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—sanitizers aren’t enough!
- Norovirus lacks a lipid viral envelope, making it resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers.
- Post handwashing reminders in restrooms, breakrooms, and shared spaces.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces Daily
- Use disinfectants containing chlorine bleach to effectively neutralize norovirus on surfaces.
- Norovirus is resistant to many general cleaning agents.
- Pay extra attention to doorknobs, elevator buttons, desks, keyboards, and breakrooms.
- Disinfect bathrooms multiple times per day—norovirus particles can linger in the air after flushing!
Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home
- Employees with vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach cramps should stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.
- Food handlers and janitorial staff should not return until symptom-free for 72 hours.
📌 Pro Tip: Offer remote work options when possible to keep productivity up without spreading illness.
Train Your Cleaning Staff on Proper Protocols
- Ensure janitorial teams use gloves and masks when cleaning contaminated areas.
- Vomit or fecal accidents? Use disposable paper towels instead of mops to prevent spreading germs.
- Implement color-coded cleaning cloths (e.g., red for restrooms, blue for desks) to avoid cross-contamination.
🚀 Action Step: Provide quarterly cleaning training sessions to keep staff up to date.
Work with a Professional Cleaning Service
Norovirus can persist on surfaces for extended periods, making thorough disinfection essential. Professional cleaning services, such as Vanguard Cleaning Systems, utilize EPA-approved disinfectants and adhere to CDC guidelines to effectively eliminate pathogens, reducing the risk of workplace outbreaks.