FEATURE HYGIENE A RANGE OF OPTIONS Dispensers can be wall-mounted, free-standing, push-activated or touch-free – the latter models intuitively sense the presence of hands and dispense just the WORKPLACE WELLBEING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS ÍÍ The process of washing hands should take at least 20 seconds, making sure that the hands are washed correctly - wet hands with water, apply enough soap to cover all surfaces, rub palm to palm and carefully scrub fingers, back and front of hands and each thumb. Rinse with water and gently dry with a clean paper towel. ÍÍ Hand sanitising is ideal when water and soap is not available, or as an additional layer of protection. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, whether foam, gel or wipes, significantly reduces the spread of germs. The process of sanitising hands should take at least 15 seconds to be effective – apply a palmful of hand sanitiser, covering all surfaces, rub the sanitiser into palms, fingers, back and front of hands and thumbs, continuing to rub hands together until they are dry. ÍÍ Washing or sanitising hands is most crucial after using the washroom, before preparing food, before eating and after sneezing or coughing. Hands should be washed or sanitised after touching anything that may carry germs such as shopping trollies, handrails and other public areas. right amount of product every time. The fact that they are touch-free also increases their hygiene rating. Meanwhile, soaps can come in liquid or foam format, with or without fragrance; and hygienic hand rubs can also provide another level of protection in addition to washing hands. The best manufacturers will offer a wide range of hand hygiene solutions and will combine this with advice on the best place to site these in order to improve overall hand hygiene habits. Soap dispensers should be placed in the washroom or where hand washing facilities are required. However, if water & soap is not available, alcohol hand rubs & other sanitising solutions are on hand in order to help provide an additional layer of protection against germs. Sanitiser dispensers can be installed near entrances and exits, next to coffee stations – in fact almost anywhere you can think of. Some of the best and most recent sanitiser dispensers on the market have been designed to make hand hygiene as accessible as possible, with very robust construction, compact dimensions and long-term reliability. Meanwhile, the best manufacturers will also offer sanitary sealed refills for dispensers. This is where the product inside has been protected from contamination thanks to being factory sealed at the point of manufacture. A fresh valve with each refill is also important, as this means that the soap is never open to the environment and so cross contamination from the air or other sources is prevented. Many people may not be aware that refillable bulk soap dispensers (ones in which new soap is poured into a dispenser) can actually help spread rather than prevent infections. This is because the soap inside can become contaminated with bacteria, particularly if dispensers are not properly cleaned or if soap is added to top off a partially empty dispenser. GERM-FIGHTING EFFECTIVENESS Efficacy of a soap or sanitiser formulation is another important issue, so only those companies who can prove the effectiveness of their soaps or their hand rubs against germs through independent scientific testing should be considered. The best products will successfully combine this with soothing, moisturising ingredients that are gentle on the skin, meaning that the products can be used again and again, safe in the knowledge that hands will be kept in good condition. Using products that both look and feel good can greatly enhance the washroom experience and they can also play a major role in encouraging healthy hand hygiene behaviour. To be truly successful, systems need to combine good aesthetics and accessibility, whilst being equipped with pleasant and effective hygienically advanced formulations. Hence, dispensers that look good and are easy to use, which are sited at convenient locations, are bound to be more popular. RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HAND HYGIENE Facilities managers could also consider introducing public awareness posters about the importance of hand hygiene. The best hand hygiene companies can offer sound advice on the most effective approaches, and provide materials, based on their knowledge and market insights. As well as ensuring the wider working environment is regularly and thoroughly cleaned, including desk surfaces and germ hotspots like kettles, door handles and railings, paying close attention to hand hygiene can also reap big rewards. The productivity of your business and the wellbeing of your workforce, and indeed wider society, can be boosted by adhering to hand hygiene best practice in the workplace. If you’re looking for the simplest but effective way of making a big impact on workplace wellbeing, look no further than championing a comprehensive hand hygiene programme. 22 FEBRUARY 2017 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY Using products that both look and feel good can greatly enhance the washroom experience and they can also play a major role in encouraging healthy hand hygiene behaviour.”
CHT February 2017
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