Did you know that your health status says a lot about your hand hygiene practices? That’s right!
According to experts, handwashing is the best way to protect the body from illnesses.
The workplace is one area where hand hygiene should matter the most. Your workers are the pillar of your business’s success, and they deserve to work in a hygienic setting.
Establishing a culture of hand hygiene among your employees reduces cross-contamination by 80%. This decreases the frequency of office absenteeism and makes staff healthier.
It’s amazing what a big difference handwashing can make!
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel, and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.”
You can jump on the bandwagon and encourage hand hygiene practices in your office. This guide answers all your questions and it’s what you need to get a head-start!
Source: slideshare
1. Stock up on High-Quality Hand Hygiene Products
Source: surewash.com
During an ordinary workday, employees touch many items. Hand washing is essential in killing bacteria that lodge on their hands.
A combination of soap and water is the best way to make this happen. Soap traps the microorganisms and water washes them away. Together they play a key role in keeping our hands germ-free.
Hand hygiene relies on the availability of the best products. This may seem pretty obvious, but one in every five people don’t wash their hands.
The products you provide should influence people to wash their hands. An ordinary bar of soap is less compelling because it may keep germs from previous users.
Installing an automatic soap dispenser is a better option. These dispensers use the no-touch principal which helps reduce cross-contamination among employees.
Liquid soap gets onto the palms without the touch of a button. This helps in reducing the spread of the common cold and influenza too!
Did you know that hand drying makes us 1,000 times safer compared to leaving the washroom with damp hands?
Bacteria stick to moist surfaces where they can grow. This may put your colleagues at risk of getting sick.
It’s desirable to provide the best hand drying products, such as paper towels and air dryers. This allows your employees to dry their hands well before leaving the washroom.
A common myth is that hand dryers are more hygienic. So, which is the best hand drying product to provide?
Research shows that paper towels are the best because they absorb all the moisture. They also contain eco-friendly materials that promote sustainability.
Buying the best paper towel brand for your washrooms helps build a positive brand image. The best part about going green is it attracts like-minded clients to your business.
2. Install Hand Sanitiser Dispensers in Common Areas
Did you know that workplace illnesses spread fast through communal touchpoints? Studies show that door handles spread germs to 60% of employees in less than two hours.
Hand washing is effective, but your employees can’t wash their hands all the time. They need a product to use when they’re on the move.
Hand sanitiser is the best go-to option when soap and water aren’t nearby. With an alcohol base, this product cleans off microbes within seconds.
It gives your employees the confidence to go about their tasks without the fear of getting sick. You should install wall-mounted sanitiser dispensers in common office areas, such as:
- Conference rooms
- Employee work areas
- Workplace kitchens
- Office building entry points
By doing this, you’re able to tackle disease-causing germs at the source.
Remember, showing concern for your employees’ well-being makes them feel valued.
Go the extra mile and provide a pack of anti-bacterial wipes at each employee’s workstation. This helps to defeat the spread of viruses through stationery items.
3. Maintain Spotless Workplace Washrooms
Illnesses spread when a sick person coughs or sneezes on a surface.
Your employees are at risk of falling sick when they touch these surfaces and forget to wash their hands. This is because viruses can enter through the eyes, nose or mouth after you touch your face.
The major takeaway point is: you should clean all surfaces to reduce the spread of infections.
‘’80% of all infectious diseases are transmitted by touch.’’
One key area of concern is workplace washrooms. They’re a source of germs and need special attention.
Your employees are more likely to wash their hands in a clean washroom.
Developing a cleaning plan ensures your washrooms stay sanitary all the time.
Consider hiring expert deep cleaning services to complement your workplace hygiene efforts.
Thorough sanitation helps get rid of dirt, especially in sink areas.
To make hand hygiene a habit, you should put up subtle reminders in your washrooms. Using eye-catching posters is the best technique to attract your employee’s attention.
Creative signs make them remember: ‘’Oh, I need to wash my hands!’’
‘’Reminder signs are successful in encouraging more handwashing.’’
This nudges them to take action and collaborate with your efforts to keep them safe.
4. Offer Hand Hygiene Training and Workshops
Areas frequently missed during hand washing. #GlobalHandwashingDay #firstaid #nurse #paramedic #doctor #handwashing pic.twitter.com/SYqVZjI2Rs
— Simon Nash
(@simonnash1980) October 15, 2014
(@simonnash1980)
Data shows that 5% of people know the correct handwashing technique.
Don’t let this get you down!
Stay ahead by offering training sessions to teach your employees more about handwashing. During these sittings, invite a hygiene expert to give them the best hand washing tips.
After these sessions, send a breakdown of the discussion via the office newsletter. This gives your employees the chance to keep abreast with hand hygiene information. As a result, they become more aware of their hand washing practices.
Stay Informed on Medical Developments
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than the cure. You need to enforce extra guidelines to protect your workforce.
Learning better habits goes a long way in protecting our health status. This is why medical experts use Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs).
Other than vaccinations, NPIs are actions each person can take to stay healthy. In the event of a pandemic, NPIs are at the forefront of keeping individuals and communities safe.
Examples of NPIs include eating healthy and maintaining a safe distance from others. Although these are minor efforts, they effectively control the spread of contagious illnesses.
Source: NEJM Journal WatchDifferent NPIs work for different situations. So, staying up to date on medical developments helps you understand the best NPIs to use.
The bottom line is you shouldn’t take shortcuts when it comes to office hand hygiene.
Leave no stone unturned by using high-grade cleaning products. Maintaining a clean environment adds to your office hand hygiene practices.
In the long run, your immunity system becomes stronger as a result of falling sick less often.
A great manager makes their employees’ well-being a priority. These incredible hand hygiene tips are the key to fighting the spread of diseases.
Photo: Freepik
