Office workers, beware: the co-worker who is coughing and sneezing nearby can infect others surprisingly quickly, U.S. researchers have found.

A recent study from the University of Arizona found that many surfaces that are commonly touched in an office, such as desktops, coffee pot handles and telephones, can become contaminated within hours when a single person has the flu or cold.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says it's doing what it can to keep germs out of its office space, in part by ensuring hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes are readily available.

The WRHA also has tips for protecting yourself against the flu this winter. They include:

• Getting the flu vaccine.
• Washing your hands as much as possible.
• Staying home if you show symptoms of the flu.
• Coughing into a tissue or your sleeve, not into your hands.

The CBC's Meagan Fiddler spent Thursday with some employees to see what they do to keep the cold and flu away.

Click on the video player above to watch her report.