Read the latest research done by California university - SHINYTECH

IS YOUR JOB
MAKING YOU SICK? Look Inside
for the Latest
Installment of
The Office
Study...
What’s
Piling Up
on Your
Accountant’s
Desk
Your
Besides
Tax
Receipts?
Accountants’ Offices Fall in the
Top Germ Bracket This Year

Contact:
Vicki Friedman, The Clorox Company, vicki.friedman@clorox.com, (510) 208.4271
Mary Seltzer, Ketchum, mary.seltzer@ketchum.com, (415) 984.2235
IS YOUR JOB MAKING YOU SICK?
New study compares professions germ by germ
to determine “germiest” job
OAKLAND, Calif., (February 15, 2006) — Finally a little retribution this tax season. Your
accountant is being audited.
In another installment of “Germs in the Workplace,” researchers led by the University of
Arizona’s Dr. Charles Gerba set out to compare whether some professions are truly “germier”
than others. What they found put accountants in the top germ bracket and publicists and
lawyers in the bottom bracket. According to the researchers, the bacteria levels in accountants’
offices were nearly seven times higher than in lawyers’ offices.
“College students may want to reconsider their majors based on these results,” joked Dr. Gerba.
“TV producers, consultants, and lawyers ranked on the low end of the germ spectrum.” In the
number one spot were teachers, a finding that didn’t surprise Dr. Gerba’s researchers. “This is
clearly one test on which teachers would not like to receive such ‘high marks’,” added Dr.
Gerba. “But then again, when your officemates are children, it is no surprise that classroom surfaces
are off the germ charts.”
Cleaning Up On the Job
The study, which was funded by The Clorox Company, found that the phones, desks and keyboards
regularly used by teachers, accountants and bankers harbored nearly two to twenty
times more bacteria per square inch than other professions. Phones ranked as the #1 home for
office germs, followed by desks, keyboards and computer mice. In a change since the
researchers first began tracking “Germs in the Workplace” in 2002, bacteria presence on office
surfaces overall appears to have decreased, in some cases by nearly five times the initial count,
Dr. Gerba said.
“We were pleased to find a decrease in bacteria levels. Perhaps people are becoming more
aware of germs in their office and doing something about it,” said Gerba.
(more)
T h e Clorox Company • 12 21 Broadway • Oak l and, CA 94612

IS YOUR JOB MAKING YOU SICK? Page 2
Study Highlights
For the testing, samples were collected in fall 2005 from private offices and cubicles in office
buildings located in Tucson, AZ and Washington, DC. A total of 616 surfaces were tested and
analyzed at the University of Arizona laboratories.
Germiest Jobs – ranked from most
germy to least germy
1. Teacher
2. Accountant
3. Banker
4. Radio DJ
5. Doctor
6. Television Producer
7. Consultant
8. Publicist
9. Lawyer
Job Description: Surface Stats
• Telephone
Most germy: Teachers
Least germy: Publicists
• Desks
Most germy: Accountants
Least germy: Lawyers
• Computer keyboard
Most germy: Teachers
Least germy: Bankers
• Computer mouse
Most germy: Teachers
Least germy: TV producers
• Pens
Most germy: Accountants
Least germy: Lawyers
As people spend more time at their desks, germs find plenty to snack on. According to a
recent American Dietician Association survey, 57 percent of workers snack at their desks at
least once a day. More than 75 percent of workers “only occasionally” clean their desks before
eating; 20 percent never do, the survey found.
“Desks are really bacteria cafeterias,” said Dr. Gerba. “They’re breakfast buffets, lunch tables
and snack bars, as we spend more and more hours at the office.”
Although Dr. Gerba’s new research measures bacteria level differences among professions, his
previous “Germs in the Workplace” studies have looked at the presence of viruses within the
workplace. In one study, Dr. Gerba and his researchers found that an infected person can
leave a trail of viruses on every surface they touch _ and viruses can survive on surfaces for up
to three days.
Dr. Gerba recommends frequent hand-washing and using disinfecting wipes daily on surfaces
in your cubicle or office to kill illness-causing germs. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9 percent
of the surface germs that can cause cold and flu.
(more)

IS YOUR JOB MAKING YOU SICK? Page 3
About Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
Clorox ® Disinfecting Wipes make it easy to clean and disinfect in one easy step. Safe to use
on most hard, non-porous surfaces, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are pre-moistened and ready to
use – follow directions for disinfecting and just wipe, toss and be done. Clorox Disinfecting
Wipes kill 99.9 percent of the germs (Influenza A2 virus) that cause flu symptoms, as well as
the bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella choleraesuis) commonly found in kitchens
and bathrooms. To help decrease the spread of surface germs throughout a typical workday,
use disinfecting wipes (enough for surfaces to remain visibly wet) daily on desks, computer
mouse and keyboards, doorknobs, and telephones where germ levels continue to build up
throughout the day.
Clorox ® and Clorox ® Disinfecting Wipes are registered trademarks of The Clorox Company.
Always read and follow precautions and directions before use.
# # #

OFFICE GERMS RESEARCH
AT-A-GLANCE
OFFICE GERM STUDY: PHASE ONE
Is paper all that’s piling up on desks?
TIMING: Summer 2001
KEY FINDINGS
The top five most germ-contaminated spots were
(in order):
1. Phone
2. Desktop
3. Water fountain handle
4. Microwave door handle
5. Keyboard
• In offices, common areas that are cleaned and
disinfected every day have fewer germs and
bacteria than most desks.
• On average, the area where you rest your hand
on the desk has 10,000,000 bacteria.
• Using disinfecting wipes can help reduce the
number of germs and bacteria on office surfaces
by up to 99.9 percent.*
• The average desktop harbors 400 times more
bacteria than the average toilet seat.
*When used as directed
OFFICE GERM STUDY: PHASE THREE
Where are the germs at work?
TIMING: Fall 2004
KEY FINDINGS
• Conference rooms harbor less virus-causing
germs than the average cubicles.
• Office surfaces like the telephone, computer
mouse and desk are frequently used, but
infrequently cleaned or disinfected.
• Surfaces tested in New York City had the highest
occurrence of parainfluenza, a virus that can
cause respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and
pneumonia.
• Surfaces tested in Tucson had the least
occurrence of parainfluenza.
• The average desktop has more viruses than any
other surface tested in the study. The light switch
was the least contaminated site sampled in all
offices buildings.
OFFICE GERM STUDY: PHASE TWO
How cold and flu bugs make
their way around the office
TIMING: Fall 2002
KEY FINDINGS
• An infected person can leave a trail of viruses on
every surface they touch, potentially exposing an
entire office.
• However, after wiping the surfaces with
disinfecting wipes, the virus levels were reduced
by at least 99.9 percent.*
• Cold and flu viruses can survive on common
workplace surfaces for up to 72 hours.
• A person could be exposed to a cold or flu virus
for up to three days through contact with a
contaminated surface.
T h e Clorox Company • 12 21 Broadway • Oak l and, CA 94612
*When used as directed
OFFICE GERM STUDY: PHASE FOUR
Is your job making you sick?
TIMING: Fall 2005
KEY FINDINGS
Germiest Jobs – ranked from most germy to least germy
1. Teacher 6. Television Producer
2. Accountant 7. Consultant
3. Banker 8. Publicist
4. Radio DJ 9. Lawyer
5. Doctor
• Surfaces regularly used by teachers, accountants
and bankers harbored nearly two to twenty times
more bacteria per square inch when compared to
other professions.
• Teachers’ telephones, keyboards and computer
mouses were the most germ-laden of the
surfaces tested.
• Bankers had the least germy keyboards.
Publicists had the least germy telephones. TV
producers had the least germy computer
mouses.
• Accountants had the germiest desks. Lawyers
had the least germy desks.

30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2002
25,127
2005
5,585
Surface Stats: Bacteria per Square Inch
2002 v. 2005 Study Results
2002
20,961
2005
5,015
2002
3,295
2005
3,769
2005
2002
1,676 2,975
Phone Desktop Keyboard Mouse

In fall 2005, University of Arizona microbiologist Dr. Charles P. Gerba conducted follow-up research to his previous
groundbreaking studies of germs in the workplace. The new research measured bacteria presence on the personal
office surfaces of various professionals.
The purpose of the study was threefold:
• To qualify bacteria levels on workplace surface areas
• To measure bacteria levels on surfaces used by various professionals
• To determine the surfaces with the highest levels of contamination
STUDY SITES
Typical offices and cubicles in Washington DC and Tucson, AZ
METHODOLOGY
The study took place over a six-week period in fall 2005. Surfaces sampled included the telephone mouthpiece,
computer mouse, keyboard, desktop, and doorknob/handles in offices and cubicles.
• During the study, participants were asked to go about their work as usual. In fact, they were asked not to alter
their regular workday routines, from eating at their desks to cleaning.
• An average of 11 cubicles and offices were tested at each location. A total of 616 surfaces were surveyed and
analyzed at the University of Arizona.
RESULTS
OFFICE GERMS RESEARCH 2006 RESULTS
Germiest Jobs – ranked from most germy to least germy
1. Teacher (averaged 17,800 bacteria per square inch)
2. Accountant (averaged 6,030 bacteria per square inch)
3. Banker (averaged 5,400 bacteria per square inch)
4. Radio DJ (averaged 3,323 bacteria per square inch)
5. Doctor (averaged 2,620 bacteria per square inch)
6. Television Producer
(averaged 2,460 bacteria per square inch)
7. Consultant (averaged 1,250 bacteria per square inch)
8. Publicist (averaged 1,020 bacteria per square inch)
9. Lawyer (averaged 900 bacteria per square inch)
CONCLUSIONS
Teachers’ workspaces were more bacteria-laden than the workspaces of the other professions tested. Surfaces
used by accountants and bankers ranked Number 2 and 3 respectively for most bacteria compared to the
other professions tested.
Telephones still rank as the #1 home for office germs, followed by desks, keyboards and computer mouses,
as found in 2002.
Office surfaces like the telephone, computer mouse and desk are frequently used, but infrequently
cleaned or disinfected.
As compared to germ levels measured in the original study in 2002, bacteria presence on office surfaces has
decreased, in some cases by nearly five times the initial count.
# # #
Telephone
Most germy: Teachers (averaged 31,500 bacteria per square inch)
Least germy: Publicists (averaged 340 bacteria per square inch)
Desks
Most germy: Accountants (averaged 12,600 bacteria per square inch)
Least germy: Lawyers (averaged 263 bacteria per square inch)
Computer keyboard
Most germy: Teachers (averaged 95,600 bacteria per square inch)
Least germy: Bankers (averaged 963 bacteria per square inch)
Computer mouse
Most germy: Teachers (averaged 10,600 bacteria per square inch)
Least germy: TV producers (averaged 375 bacteria per square inch)
Pens
Most germy: Accountants (averaged 2,350 bacteria per square inch)
Least germy: Lawyers (averaged 669 bacteria per square inch)