IT hygiene is important in preventing the spread of germs in the workplace. Basic hygiene rules apply, but policies such as using the same workstations and cleaning shared peripherals can help. Digital methods for data transfer can also reduce germs. Sharing physical objects should be minimized, and less obvious peripherals should be cleaned regularly. Care should be taken when replacing or moving hardware.
There are situations in information technology (IT) workplaces where IT hygiene can be very important in helping to prevent the spread of germs that can make people ill. Most basic hygiene rules, such as having disposable hand cleaners and tissues available, apply, as they do in any office environment. Some office policies, such as allowing workers to use the same workstations every day and setting aside a period of time to clean the work area in close proximity to each employee, can also make a difference. Another good tip for good IT hygiene is cleaning places that are maintained by many people but may not be obvious, such as power cords, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, and keyboards on shared peripherals. Using digital methods to transfer data instead of handheld devices can also help reduce the amount of germs spread in an IT office.
The basics of IT hygiene are the same as in any office. Hand cleaners or sanitizing gels should be available throughout the area. Paper tissues, napkins, or towels should also be available so they can be used and thrown away along with any germs they carry. Employees who are sick should stay home and not come to their workplace.
One area of IT hygiene that is often overlooked is the necessary sharing of documents and data storage devices. Germs can travel on an instruction manual, technical specifications, compact disc or pen drive as effectively as on the microphone of a telephone. Minimizing the amount of physical objects that are passed from one person to another can be of great help, especially when tasks can just as easily be performed across a network.
In addition to the obvious areas where IT hygiene is important, such as commonly used machines including printers and scanners, there may also be less obvious peripherals that should be cleaned on a regular basis. These can include chargers for mobile devices, tablets and styluses; cables that are regularly replaced; and even power switches on surge protectors. These surfaces need to be cleaned frequently to prevent germs from spreading unknowingly.
Care should also be taken when replacing or moving hardware, especially if the hardware is being replaced with refurbished or recycled parts. Keyboards, mice and other devices must be cleaned before being installed in a workstation. While it may not have been used for some time, germs may survive or build up on the surface of the hardware.
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