Hand hygiene in winter months
Hand hygiene is more important than ever in the cooler months when colds, flu and other illnesses are rife. But washing hands when out and about can be more problematical in winter, says Stuart Hands from Tork manufacturer, Essity.
This is going to be a winter like no other. After a two-year cycle of repeated COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions have now been lifted which means that public venues have re-opened for business. Mask-wearing - previously compulsory - is now optional and social-distancing has become a guideline rather than a requirement. And venues such as retail centres, restaurants, bars, and pubs are filling up fast in the run-up to Christmas - the first we have been allowed to celebrate since 2019.
Yet there are still significant risks involved when visiting a crowded commercial space. And those risks become greater than ever during the winter months. Plummeting temperatures create the ideal conditions for illnesses to thrive. Besides the ever-present threat of COVID-19, the flu season is now in full swing and colds are starting to circulate once again. Meanwhile, the winter weather drives shoppers, diners and drinkers indoors where the risk of infection is greater than it is outside. And natural ventilation in the form of open doors and windows - said to be helpful for reducing the spread of COVID-19 - is not a viable option in the winter. So, everyone needs to be on their guard and do whatever they can to keep themselves and others safe.
The importance of hand hygiene has become more widely understood during the global pandemic, and hand sanitiser dispensers are now a common sight in restaurants, retail centres and public buildings. And reminders to wash our hands can be seen everywhere in the form of signs, posters and stickers. But hand hygiene becomes more of a challenge in winter. Our hands are more likely to become chapped and sore in the colder weather, and this makes frequent hand washing and drying a potentially painful process.
Hand hygiene can only really be executed in the washroom while out and about, but publicly-used washrooms are busier than ever at this time of year with festive shoppers, diners, drinkers, and revellers. Long queues in congested washrooms present us with a quandary. While we might be anxious to wash and dry our hands thoroughly to prevent ourselves and others from becoming ill, fears of catching COVID may make us less willing to wait for long periods in an enclosed space for our turn at the hand hygiene facilities. So some of us may be tempted to execute a cursory hand wash and then leave in a hurry with our hands still damp. This will lead to more people circulating with inadequately washed hands - which could become an issue if they go on to handle cutlery and glasses in hospitality venues or pick up items in shops. And damp hands also create a moist environment in which germs can breed.
There are other reasons why washroom congestion needs to be avoided. Queues will potentially cause frustration among visitors whose irritation may be reflected in poor satisfaction scores. And time spent in the toilets will keep customers away from the bar, restaurant or shop floor where they could be spending money, which will of course will have a knock-on effect on profits. All efforts should therefore be made to ensure that washrooms can be used quickly, seamlessly and intuitively and that hand hygiene can be carried out swiftly and comfortably.
An easy-to use soap dispenser with a long-lasting supply of soap will help to speed up hand washing. The Tork Skincare Dispenser is a good option in busy shops and restaurants because it requires a particularly low push-force to access the soap inside.
When washrooms are filled with festive shoppers, diners and drinkers there is a risk that supplies of toilet paper, hand towels and soaps will run out too quickly. When this occurs, people will be forced to wait longer to use those cubicles and sinks where supplies remain in place. The Tork Skincare Dispenser contains 2500 shots of Tork Foam Soap per refill compared with around 1000 in most liquid soap systems. This ensures a long-lasting supply and avoids the risk of run-outs.
A high-capacity hand towel dispenser will also help to speed up washroom use because it will allow visitors to take a towel and move on, drying their hands as they go while freeing up the unit for the next user. The Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser caters for more than 1000 guests between refills and can deliver a towel in just three seconds.
Mild soaps, soft towels and moisturisers will help to improve skin health and prevent people’s hands becoming chapped and sore due to frequent washing in winter. Tork Foam Soap comes in an extra mild version which is allergy-friendly certified by ECARF, the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. This means it is particularly gentle on the hands.
For a softer hand-dry, Tork Xpress Extra Soft Multifold Hand Towels are absorbent and gentle on the skin. And a fragrance-free conditioning cream such as Tork Non-perfumed Hand & Body Lotion will help to soothe the hands after washing.
Run-outs of soap and paper can be hard to predict in busy washrooms. This is where digital technology can be used to ensure that the dispensers are kept topped up at all times. For example, Tork Vision Cleaning - formerly Tork EasyCube - allows cleaners to remotely check on which dispensers are running low via ‘connected’ washroom dispensers. This allows them to top up the units at any time, avoiding run-outs.
Good hand hygiene in winter depends on a number of factors: the ready availability of hand washing and drying products; the ease with which these can be used; a rapid washroom throughput; and the encouragement to wash and dry the hands thoroughly. Signs and posters should therefore be used liberally to remind people of the importance of hand hygiene and the risks involved with contaminating surfaces. Hand sanitiser dispensers should be sited in strategic places and kept permanently topped up to supplement hand washing facilities.
Colds are rife in winter and the NHS urges us to ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ - to cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw this tissue away after use. Tissue supplies should therefore be made available in pubic washrooms and near hand sanitisers to encourage this practice, with bins also sited nearby.
Crowded venues, an easing of restrictions and a cocktail of colds, flu and COVID will make hand hygiene an even more essential practice this winter. Businesses can play a vital part in encouraging good behaviours by facilitating the process for shoppers and diners.
Staying clean and green
After 18 months of social distancing and wearing protective masks, many scientists believe that we are more vulnerable to colds and other infections as winter approaches. With reduced immunity and more businesses open as normal, the need to ensure the highest possible level of washroom hygiene in public spaces has never been greater.
Frequent and thorough handwashing and drying, particularly after entering or leaving a building, when mixing with different people or when touching surfaces that could be contaminated with the virus, is still one of the best ways to combat COVID-19. Northwood Hygiene Products continues to help the fight against Coronavirus with quality washroom systems that deliver optimal hygiene, lasting value and strong environmental credentials.
Helping to break the cycle of infection is Northwood’s high-capacity Raphael collection, which provides hygiene, performance, cost-in-use, and sustainability benefits. Developed to cater for any washroom environment, the range includes four hand towel dispensers and a soap dispenser.
Offering fast, efficient and hygienic dispensing, the Raphael range brings three roll towel dispenser options – the mechanical hands-free, electronic roll towel and lever control dispenser. Incorporating a single-piece shell, they are easy to wipe clean and all towels and rolls are enclosed for added hygiene. The electronic and mechanical hands-free dispensers are contactless, with the premium electric dispenser also offering a ‘towel in’ and ‘towel out’ function to keep the towel hygienically stored in the unit until someone waves for it to appear. The lever control dispenser is treated with BioKleen technology to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
The collection is suitable for the most challenging washrooms, with high performance dispensers constructed from durable ABS plastic to be scratch and impact resistant. They are also lockable, preventing theft and untidiness.
Designed to reduce waste whilst optimising washroom hygiene, the Raphael soap dispensers are easy to use and deliver a generous shot size to encourage single use. They are non-drip to help keep spaces clean and every soap cartridge comes with a new nozzle to minimise bacteria harbouring. Strong and durable, the smoke and blue coloured units are both translucent, whilst the white dispenser features a transparent rear panel to allow maintenance teams to immediately see if they need topping up. They have all been designed to be quick and easy to refill.
The range consists of pure pulp and 100% recycled products, many of which are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Roll inserts are made from recycled bottle tops and can be recycled after use. A selection of products are wrapped in paper which may be recycled and all products are boxed in recycled and recyclable cardboard.
Paul Mulready, Northwood Hygiene Products’ marketing manager, said: “Washrooms are instrumental in keeping people safe as we adapt to the new ‘normal’. We’re proud to be doing our bit to support effective hand hygiene with a range of products that delivers excellent functionality, helps to reduce waste and saves money - all of which are vital in the current climate where soap and paper consumption is at an all-time high.”
The Raphael collection can be found on Northwood’s stand, E05, at the Cleaning Show 2021 from 2-4 November at London’s ExCel.
Three stages of hand hygiene
In a new era for cleaning and hygiene, what steps can businesses take to make hand hygiene a fundamental part of staff routine? Alasdair Sharp, UK and Ireland sales manager at WEPA Professional, looks at the three stages of hand hygiene every business needs to consider.
Handwashing has been the phrase on everyone’s lips over the past 18 months. But while many businesses have invested in upgrading their cleaning and hygiene routines - including reminding staff of the need to wash their hands - there are other factors to consider when implementing an effective business-wide strategy for hand hygiene.
There are three fundamental stages to follow that, when implemented properly, enable businesses to safeguard employees, reduce the likelihood of sickness absence, and save on cleaning bills.
Step 1: handwashing
These days, more of us understand the importance of washing our hands. But what else do businesses need to consider?
Soap dispenser capacity: having the correct soap dispensers for the size of your washroom will prevent queues forming or people being left empty-handed at the sink. Invest in the correct size for your space.
Touch-free solutions: reducing the number of surfaces that need to be touched in the washroom is a simple way of minimising the spread of germs. Choose a sensor operated dispenser made from easy to clean materials, for maximum hygiene.
Easy maintenance: dispensers should be easy to service and refill, so go for a dispenser that is easy to open - preferably with a fill level indicator.
There is a vast array of soap dispensers available for businesses, depending on the frequency of washroom use. Satino by WEPA Clean&Care dispensers, for example, are available in two sizes (700ml and 1000ml), in both manual and touch-free formats, for low to high-traffic washrooms.
Step 2: hand drying
Paper towels are the only option for businesses looking to prioritise staff and visitor safety.
Unlike hot air dryers - which blow germs and bacteria around the washroom - paper towels are single use, convenient and safe, capturing any germs left behind after washing.
As with hand soap/foam, choosing the right dispenser is crucial. Both manual and touch-free versions allow easy access to a fresh paper towel (and accommodate rolled or folded paper), meaning each user can remove a paper towel without the need to touch additional surfaces.
There are even auto cut dispensers available, perfect for reducing waste and dispensing just the right amount of paper per use. The Satino AutoCut Dispenser midi is perfectly suited to smaller washrooms, in addition to being lower consumption and equipped with innovative cutting technology.
Step 3: hand sanitising
Hand sanitiser is the final stage of an effective hand hygiene routine. The perfect way to freshen hands throughout the day between washes, hand sanitiser can be provided at a reasonable price, for added peace of mind.
Employers should consider installing hand sanitiser stations - especially in high traffic areas such as outside lifts and in corridors - to interrupt the chain of infection. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a key ingredient in hand sanitisers and an effective disinfectant. It is also on the World Health Organisation (WHO) list of ‘essential medicines’, further strengthening its place at the forefront of modern hand sanitisation.
All Satino by WEPA hand sanitiser liquids and gels are made entirely from renewable raw materials for a high-quality sanitiser without the unpleasant odours of cheaper variants.
Antimicrobial hand dryers improve hand hygiene compliance
Miquel Canut, CEO of Veltia, reports.
Encouraging visitors to wash and dry their hands is imperative for keeping bacterial cross-contamination at bay. However, supplying inefficient or contaminated drying methods can easily reintroduce those same microbes, making the whole process redundant. This is particularly true in shared washrooms, where bacteria can spread from various sources, and the warm, moist environment provides an ideal setting for mould and mildew to flourish.
Electronic hand dryers have undergone enormous refinement in recent years, with significant upgrades in terms of both aesthetics and airflow, as well as the introduction of noise dampening systems to make them more user friendly. The next obvious step was to mitigate the problem caused by bacteria and other microbes that inhabit shared washrooms in droves.
Dried and tested
Many people consciously avoid using hand dryers for fear of cross-contamination from the high-touch areas most likely to have recently come into contact with other users. This anxiety isn’t irrational, particularly in light of the recent global pandemic, and can be a significant barrier to proper hand hygiene.
To combat these issues, and to help boost cleanliness in settings where it is needed most, Spanish company Veltia has incorporated Microban technology into its range of hand dryers. The proven antimicrobial formulation is seamlessly integrated into key components of the dryer during manufacture to help prevent the growth of microbes. This approach has created efficient, sustainable and stylish systems that not only stay cleaner for longer, but also alleviate common cleanliness anxieties and reduce the need for disposable paper towels.
A compatible, comprehensive, long-term strategy
Built-in antimicrobial technologies certainly aren’t a new concept - although novel to hand dryers - and provide an ideal solution to the consistently high moisture levels and warm temperatures common in washrooms. There are a number of antimicrobial chemistries that can be readily incorporated into the high impact polymers, plastics and metals that modern hand dryers are predominantly made from. The exact composition will depend on the product being treated and the intended application, with silver ion technology commonly being used across a range of materials. This chemistry works by penetrating the cell wall of each microbe, preventing its growth and proliferation to both address user hygiene concerns and enhance product durability.
From a production perspective, these technologies are extremely flexible, and can be incorporated during manufacture to become part of the product’s structure. Crucially, this means the antimicrobial technology will not wash off or wear away with repeated use or during routine cleans, or fade over time. Products are therefore actively protected from microbial growth for their expected lifetime, offering continuous protection so they remain cleaner in between cleans. This helps to reduce the build-up of unpleasant stains and odours caused by microbial activity in the short term, as well as to fight their degrading effects in the longer term to avoid premature product deterioration.
This proactive approach to product protection has resulted in hand dryers that are more robust, with all essential parts - including each of the 300 air nozzles - protected by proven Microban antimicrobial technology. When coupled with regular cleaning, this solution delivers more hygienic hand drying solutions, giving greater peace of mind to users.
Encouraging hand hygiene
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the potential risks of constantly touching shared surfaces in the environment around us, exacerbating an existing fear for many people. Innovative use of antimicrobial technologies offers huge potential to overcome many people’s concerns, and more hygienic hand dryers are an essential element in reducing the spread of microbes in public spaces. This will hopefully instil more confidence in washroom-goers, making them more comfortable and, ultimately, encourage proper hand hygiene at a time when it is needed most.
Investing in long term hand hygiene
Frequent hand cleaning or disinfection is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Businesses have adopted more stringent hand hygiene processes during the pandemic, and many have placed extra hand hygiene stations in their washrooms and elsewhere. These typically utilise pump-action bottles to dispense alcohol-based disinfectant hand rub. This is quick and practical, but could longer term solutions be more effective and economic?
Studies show that people dispense more product than needed if they are free to decide for themselves. Many of us take multiple shots from a dispenser ‘just to be sure’ when one is usually enough. Bottles are emptied quicker than necessary which can be expensive. Perhaps more importantly, it increases the risk that other people will be unable to disinfect their hands when they should. And there is always the risk that portable bottles will go missing.
Professional wall or floor mounted dispensers and products offer many long-term cost and operational benefits. Generally, they deliver better dosing accuracy and consistency. In the long run that means lower costs and better predictability. This alone can often justify the investment.
Well-designed dispensers also help maximise and maintain product availability so that as many people as possible can disinfect their hands. Because they are generally fixed in position, they will always be in the correct location for convenient and appropriate use and less likely to go astray. Features such as alerts or easy product level checks help ensure dispensers are refilled before they are empty. Using larger containers should, with all else being equal, extend the time between refills which also reduces the risk of non-availability.
The latest-generation dispensers, including Diversey’s IntelliCare system, offer contactless operation. That is good for hand hygiene because it reduces the risk of cross-contamination between users. The dispenser switches automatically to manual operation if its batteries become discharged. This risk is reduced because the equipment can alert staff members when its battery or product levels get too low.
Diversey offers a complete range of soaps, sanitisers and foams for use with IntelliCare. These include formulations that meet the all-important EN14476 virucidal standard against enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. IntelliCare supports complete product interchangeability because all products are available in the same size high-capacity containers. For example, dispensers in washrooms can be used with soaps while identical units in public areas are used with disinfecting hand rubs. Businesses can install, relocate or reconfigure their dispensers at any time.
Another benefit of the system is its dual-dosing capability. This allows, for example, dispensers in restricted areas to be set at a lower dose for staff who have been trained to apply hand rubs or soaps correctly. Dispensers in public areas can be set to deliver a larger single dose for casual users who might be less aware of correct processes. This helps to control costs while maintaining the highest hygiene standards.
Hand hygiene is often the first line of defence against many infections. It is even more critical when one of these - like SARS-Cov-2 - is so deadly and spread so easily. Leading suppliers such as Diversey can help their customers choose the right dispensers and products to make hand hygiene and disinfection as simple and convenient as possible.