Keyboard Health Risks Overblown

Media reports of the health risks posed by shared keyboards and telephone handsets are being grossly exaggerated, according to the Australian Services Union, which says the chemicals used to clean them can pose more of a risk than any bacteria retained on the equipment.

Recent news articles have stressed the ability for bacteria on keyboards to cause upset stomachs, vomiting, urinary tract infections and respiratory ailments.

But ASU Services spokesperson Greg Turner says that while it is important to ensure work equipment is kept hygienic, the chances of picking up a disease in this way is "about the same as picking something up from a handrail on a bus". "It is absolutely minimal," he says.

Turner says there are a few common sense precautions everyone can take to protect their safety, including washing their hands and not touching their eyes, noses, and mouths while using the equipment. And employers too must ensure adequate precautions are taken.

ASU Executive President Sally McManus says employers have a legal obligation to ensure hygiene in call centres and other workplaces where equipment is shared.

"New OH&S laws clearly make it the employers duty to ensure workplace hygiene and to clean or replace equipment reported by OH&S committees.

"This is particularly important when using headsets where equipment can come into contact with the user's mouth or ears.

"As well as this, employers also have an obligation to ensure cleaning fluids are approved for use under the Material Safety Data Sheet and cannot cause skin irritations or eye damage if a worker comes into contact with them."

The union says more pressing problems for office workers revolve around ergonomics, glare from coputer screens, and issues with air conditioning units.

McManus says computer screens should be regularly checked for screen flickering, glare and other faults that could cause eye damage or headaches.

"The ASU strongly advises workers to take a break from looking at the screen every half an hour - if only for a few minutes - to further protect eyes from harm".

Sally says ventilation in small, enclosed workplaces is another important thing for OH&S committees to investigate and report where necessary.

"Viruses often circulate through the air conditioning system. You often do see workplaces where one worker has the flu and everyone else comes down with it."

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:38 EST