FEATURE INFECTIONS TOYS Clean hard or plastic toys by washing them and storing them once they’re clean and dry. Some soft toys can be cleaned in the washing machine. All toys and equipment should be added to a regular cleaning rota. LAUNDRY Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry. To prevent the spread of germs, all underwear, towels and household linen should be washed at 60C (140F) or at 40C (104F) with a bleach-based laundry product. Run the washing machine on empty once a week, either at a high temperature or with a chemical disinfectant to prevent the growth of germs. Don’t leave laundry in the washing machine, as any remaining germs can multiply rapidly. WASTE DISPOSAL Foot-operated bins are better for hygiene because they reduce the risk of hands picking up germs when they touch the bin lid. Always wash your hands after handling waste material. Throw rubbish away carefully to avoid attracting vermin and insects. At first this might sound incredibly straight forward, then you realise that a whole plethora of companies give step by step advice on how to wash your hands properly. 20 JUNE 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY The Centre for Disease Control, the World Health Organisation, the NHS, there is even a website called washyourhandsofthem.com. According to ons.gov.uk over 131 million working days were lost in 2013 due to illness. It is almost impossible to work out how many of these were down to infections rather than broken bones etc, but the proportion is doubtless high. hse. gov reports that you are most likely to come into contact with micro organisms if you work on a farm or in healthcare but it is possible (even likely) just about anywhere. Ironically the people who are safest might be those scientists who work with microorganisms for a living. The same site reports that the most common type of infection transmitted in the workplace is diarrhoeal disease and if you still don’t side with prevention over cure after hearing that you never will. ANTIBIOTICS Another reason this is so important is that our main line of defense, antibiotics, is becoming less and less reliable. In May of this year the BBC reported that overuse of the medicines has seen microorganisms evolve a far greater resistance leading to things like outbreaks of MRSA in hospitals. The article explains that: Superbugs, resistant to antimicrobials, are estimated to account for 700,000 deaths each year. But modelling up to the year 2050, by Rand Europe and auditors KPMG, suggests “10 million people could die each year - equivalent to one every three seconds.” EXCUSES Still if all this talk of illness in the workplace has depressed you, bear in mind that in Beneden Health ran a study of over 1,000 workers and 1,000 bosses to find out the most incredible (meaning ridiculous) reasons that people have given for missing work. Some of CHT’s favourties include: A can of baked beans landed on my big toe According to ons.gov.uk over 131 million working days were lost in 2013 due to illness” I was swimming too fast and smacked my head on the poolside My dog has had a big fright and I don’t want to leave him My hamster died I’ve injured myself during sex My mum has died (this was the second time the person used this excuse) I am hallucinating My new girlfriend bit me in a delicate place My fish is sick My toe is trapped in the bath tap I’m in A&E as I got a clothes peg stuck on my tongue I’ve got a sore finger
Cleaning & Hygiene Today June 2016
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