Lurking on the surfaces of your workstation are thousands of germs just waiting to find a warm place to grow - your body. There are ways to protect yourself from these critters and it only takes about 60 seconds. Keep a container of Lysol wipes in your desk drawer and every morning, before you start typing and answering calls, wipe down your keyboard, mouse (turn the wheel too!), telephone, desk surface and pens. This is especially helpful if you share a desk with someone else.

Now, before anyone gets upset, I am not suggesting we go crazy with the hand sanitizer and I do know that some bacteria is good for us. The truth is, however, that people do contract serious illnesses because other people do not properly wash their hands, exposing us to germs that we are not intended to ingest. The main use for hand sanitizer in the workplace is around food. We eat lunch at work (or near work) but some of us don't even wash our hands first. Also, people who prepare snacks and other food for work-related meetings and functions, should also sanitize their hands before dishing it out. Just rub a little between your hands and you are done.

The thing is that, even if you don't care about getting sick, care enough to protect others. Not everyone has a strong immune system and a simple case of the flu can turn deadly. Plus, spreading germs makes the whole workplace less efficient - sick people work slower and those who call in sick don't work at all.

Getting a flu shot may not be 100% effective but it can help. Research shows that getting the flu shot is the most effective way of avoiding infection. Getting the shot is especially important if you (or anyone you live with) are older, are immune compromised or suffer from other chronic illness. There can also be people in the workplace who are vulnerable to the flu and getting a shot helps prevent spreading the germs. The Centers for Disease Control has a lot of great information. To access some of the brochures, click here.

It is surprising to notice the number of people who fail to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing. It is not only disrespectful, it can be dangerous for others. When you have a cough or need to sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow - covering with your hand isn't great because you are going to touch things and spread germs that way. It's a simple gesture but it goes a long way.

I went to nursing school (it wasn't for me so I left after one year) and one of the first things they taught us was to never wear our scrubs out in public.

Why?

Because you not only bring germs in to the hospitals and clinics where you work but you also bring the germs from those places into public spaces.

I understand that healthcare workers have busy lives but this can be a matter of life and death for someone. Someone who goes into a dental clinic for routine work could be infected with some bug the hygienist is carrying on her scrubs and become very, very ill.

Chances are, if you chose to work in these professions, you care about helping people - the best way to do that is to protect them and to adhere to the guidelines you agreed to in training.

Offices often have food hanging around - donuts, chips, etc... One way to make the environment healthier is to limit these foods and opt to have fruit and veggies around the office. Instead of soda, try having drinks like V8 or V8 Splash in the fridge.

Vending machines can be filled with healthier fare. Chocolate doesn't have to be banned but limited. Even if you must have chips, certain chips like Sun Chips or Multigrain Tostitos are, at least, a little better than plain potato chips.

After all, most people just sit at their desks all day - what you put in your body can make a major difference in how you feel and look.

We talk about pollution and acid rain, which are important causes, but most of us do not think about the air quality in the workplace. This is so important because many people spend 8 hours a day at their office. Many people don't know about the sources of indoor air pollution. It could be worth asking your boss when the air ducts were last cleaned and if the company is willing to put in a HEPA filter or some other high-efficiency air filtering system.

Here are some other sources of indoor pollution at work:

• Pressed-wood office furniture and carpet can be a source of formaldehyde
• Poor ventilation can exacerbate asthma and allergies
• Tobacco smoke is a serious health threat to employees with asthma
• Open doors around loading docks allow engine emissions inside the workplace
• Emissions from gas and propane forklifts can cause nausea, fatigue and illness
• Manufacturing often requires chemicals and solvents in the production process
• Cleaning products used for some industrial activities can be quite harsh or toxic