On the bright side, Mike Rose's "Dirty Jobs" program has taught us that the world needs people who do the less glamorous jobs that keep the rest of us going.  A recent article by Sarah Jio of Glamour Magazine lists the ten most germ-laden jobs according to Dr. Charles Gerba "Dr. Germ" of the University of Arizona.  It seems no surprise that the janitorial services come up as #8:

1. Teacher/day-care worker
2. Cashier, bank employee
3. Tech support/computer repair
4. Doctor or nurse
5. Lab scientist
6. Police officer
7. Animal control officer
8. Janitor or plumber
9. Sanitation worker (AKA garbage man/woman)
10. Meat packer

I was surprised to see such jobs as cashier, computer repair, doctors, and nurses on the list.  These are not perceived as "Dirty Jobs" unless you know a lot more about all they have to deal with.  "Meat Packer" surprised and shocked me as well. 

It makes sense that people who clean our buildings and take out the trash are handling their fair share of germ contaminated items.  It is part of the job, and it really has about the same impact as the other jobs listed. Germs quite frankly are a part of life.

Recently, it was shown that shopping carts are one of the most germ-ridden items we use without thought of the potential threat.  They were worse than toilets with over 3 million germs including e coli.

As I indicated, we owe a debt of sorts to all those who serve the public interest.  It may be the police, the ambulance crew, the men and women in the military, or the person who cleans your office.  It seems only fair to stop once in a while and say "Thank You" to those who serve in a thankless kind of duty.  Never forget the people who make life better for you.