Parrenthorn High School in Bury, Greater Manchester, which has made the same move ‘to keep pupils as safe as possible and to improve the school environment’.
It appears that many students are unhappy about the availability or configuration of the toilets at their schools. So, what can be done to improve things?
Privacy is a thorny issue in the school washroom, where practices such as drug-taking and bullying might occur. Removing the outer doors and making the facilities gender- neutral may appear to be logical steps to help improve the situation, but many pupils are unhappy about having to exit the toilets and use the mirrors in full view of students of the opposite sex.
Where space and funds allow, hand basins and mirrors could therefore be installed inside the toilet cubicles to allow the users some privacy. Instead of removing outer doors, moves could be made to deter washroom drug use and speed up queues so that pupils have time visit the washroom – and then eat their lunch – in institutions where the toilets are locked during lesson times.
Drug use in the washrooms requires a flat surface plus perhaps nooks and crannies where drug paraphernalia can be stored. The toilets should therefore be designed and equipped to eliminate these features. For example, the Tork SmartOne toilet tissue system works well in schools because it contains no flat surfaces or crevices where drug paraphernalia may be used or stored. The dispenser is also designed to give out only one sheet at a time, reducing consumption and helping to prevent run-outs.
Washroom queues will inevitably build up when the soap and paper supplies have been depleted, so all dispensers should be kept topped up on a continual basis.
Tork Foam Soaps work well in schools because each long- lasting cartridge serves up to 1,650 visitors, which helps to prevent runouts. The sealed cartridge can be replaced in seconds by the cleaner, and a particularly low push-force is
required to operate the dispenser which makes it easy to use for younger pupils while also speeding up access to the soap.
Hand dryers can lead to long queues since they require washroom visitors to stand and wait for their hands to be thoroughly dried. However, a high-capacity hand towel dispenser 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 1,000 pupils between refills and delivers each towel in just three seconds, reducing the user’s waiting time. The towels are divided into bundles and a new bundle may be inserted into the unit at any time – and the dispenser has been designed to give out sheets of paper singly to avoid excess use and run-outs.
Dispenser refill levels can be managed more efficiently with the aid of technology. For example, Tork Vision Cleaning allows cleaners to check on refill requirements and cleaning needs via a smartphone or tablet. Data on dispenser levels and frequency of washroom use are logged via a network of sensors and this data is uploaded to the internet. Cleaners are then able to target those washrooms that need extra attention.
Various other steps can be taken to improve the washroom experience for pupils. Clean, fresh paint and good lighting will make the facilities appear more sanitary and welcoming, while air fresheners will help to eliminate bad smells. Children should also be educated on hand hygiene and its role in controlling infections. The Tork Max Education Toolkit includes workbooks, activity cards and posters to help promote handwashing in schools, for example.
Providing clean, comfortable washrooms is not rocket science – in fact it is fully expected in the adult workplace. This ethic should therefore also be applied to our schools to ensure that our students are happier, healthier and more at ease in the washroom environment.
www.tork.co.uk/max
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