During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, proper hand hygiene isn't always top of mind. But with holiday parties to attend and crowded stores to shop, it's easy to pick up harmful germs from unclean surfaces. And those germs can be easily spread in the workplace, having major impacts on workers during one of the busiest times of the year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates up to 90,000 patients die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of contracting diseases, many of which could be avoided through routine hand washing. From germs on equipment and surfaces to co-workers who come to work when ill, the workplace can be a common area for spreading germs. But through frequent and proper hand washing, people can reduce their risk of becoming ill by up to 90 percent.

The CDC recommends you wash your hands after:

• Preparing or eating food
• Using the bathroom
• Tending to someone who is sick, both before and after
• Coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• Handling garbage
• Treating a cut or wound
• Changing diapers or cleaning up after children
• Handling animals or animal waste

Frequent hand washing is an effective way to protect against catching or spreading germs that can lead to a serious illness. But there's more you can do to reduce the spread of germs in your workplace:

• Focus on hand washing in the lunchroom and/or breakroom
• Be careful when using sponges and dish towels; these are ideal sites for bacterial growth
• Maintain a clean work area; regularly clean any office equipment, especially shared items such as phones and keyboards

To learn more about how regular hand washing can help prevent illness, print our hand washing wellness flyer and visit Concentra.com or the CDC's "Henry the Hand" hand washing awareness site.