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Washroom Hygiene
A sticker for hand hygiene
To prevent the spread of flu needs good basic hand hygiene as well as clean hard
surfaces. But are companies doing enough to prevent the spread of flu in the
workplace? Deb has some ideas to ensure standards are kept high
tudies show that people do not wash their hands frequently or “With Global Handwashing Day on 15th October,
S
adequately enough; the average person washes their hands for there has never been a better time to educate
around 9 seconds and only 16% wash their hands at the employees on the importance of hand hygiene,” says
recommended time periods. In addition, separate washroom studies Christine Mottershead, marketing director at Deb.
from around the world show that less than 80% of people wash their “As well as providing support materials,
hands at all – which means that one in every five of your colleagues is organisations can work with their washroom
walking around with unwashed hands. services suppliers to create a communications
In enclosed environments, people working or interacting in close campaign to educate employees on why they
proximity, are at a higher risk of the spread of germs; particularly should wash their hands. Companies like Deb offer
those who deal with the public, handle money and regularly support and advice through marketing materials
commute on public transport. Studies show that an employee that and information on hand hygiene. To celebrate
comes to work ill with ‘flu will infect up to 18% of their colleagues. Global Handwashing Day, Deb has launched a suite
With inconsistent hand hygiene habits, implementing and of new posters which are available to download free from its website.
maintaining appropriate hand hygiene practices is going to be a daily “Organisations can reduce the risk of spreading germs by adopting
challenge for any organisation. However, the task can be made easier good hand hygiene practices, providing adequate hand washing
by providing easy-to-understand employee education and awareness facilities and promoting the use of a hand sanitiser applied regularly
materials such as posters, stickers for use in the washrooms, on floors, to clean, dry hands to complement routine hand washing.”
mirrors and doors as well as reminders on company intranets of the With the ‘flu season fast approaching, now is the time to follow the
importance of keeping hands clean. With modern day substrates, advice from the Health Protection Agency and prevent the spread of
such as removable wall vinyls, stickers can be used and replaced ‘flu in the workplace by simply
42578 or
cleaning-matters.co.uk/enquiry
without leaving any residue. washing our hands.
Tel: 01773 855100
Telling the public where to go
The annual British Toilet Association conference and AGM was held in Stratford upon
Avon on 16th September 2009, director Mike Bone reports
he conference was well attended and attracted the use of publicly accessible toilets’, Andy Brown, MD of
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delegates from BTA members, senior Willings Services, explained some reasons for charging,
representatives from leading Local Authorities and provided a brief overview of the legislation and standards
companies involved in providing and supplying toilets. that apply to toilets/building control and presented an
The agenda provided an overview of topical issues and overview of payment systems and access control barriers.
innovations and offered solutions to toilet providers. The new BTA Dave Flanagan of Total Hygiene then discussed how correct
‘Where can I go?’ campaign was also launched. Opening the equipment installed in Changing Places Toilets is ‘improving the lives
conference, Mike Bone, provided an overview of the BTA’s political of less able people and their carers’, particularly those with severe and
campaign and details of BTA activity throughout the preceding year. multiple learning difficulties. Flanagan explained how varying
Although Workplace Regulations include a requirement for schools degrees of disability requires flexible facilities and how the Clos-o-Mat
to provide adequate toilet facilities for teachers and school staff, there range of height adjustable equipment can meet these needs. The
is no legislation to ensure that clean, safe toilet facilities are provided range includes height-adjustable wash hand basins, changing tables
for pupils. Nickie Brander, campaigns organiser for ERIC, updated the and shower seats, ceiling tracking hoists and automatic wash and dry
conference on the issues that the Bog Standard campaign, promoting bidet toilets.
better toilets for pupils, continues to face. Mike Burton, MD of Albany Finally, the BTA ‘Where can I go?’ campaign was presented. The
Washroom Services, as part of the ‘Improving toilets for pupils’ campaign recognises the need for BTA to change focus from a ‘top
session, provided an outline of the Albany Healthy Schools down’ approach – directed primarily at central government, to a
programme to be launched in October. ‘bottom up’ approach’ – directed at local government (and
Earlier this year Section 87 (3) (c) of the Public Health Act 1936 was commercial providers) the source, and we believe, the authority
amended to allow local authorities to charge for use of all public responsible for provision of publicly 42534 or
cleaning-matters.co.uk/enquiry
conveniences, including urinals. In the next session ‘How to charge for accessible toilets.
Tel: 01403 258779
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