Breaking the chain
Jangro CEO, Joanne Gilliard, discusses how cleaning and hygiene can limit the spread of seasonal viruses, and boost health and wellbeing this winter.
far. However, by putting some simple infection control procedures in place, the cleaning industry can help break the chain of infection and prevent the spread of germs, boosting health, wellbeing and productivity.
At this time each year we are warned of the dangers of influenza. Reports state that almost three times as many people died of the flu last year, compared to 2016, and that GPs also saw a major rise in patients suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Not only is it an unpleasant experience for the patient, but there is also an impact on businesses too, when you consider the number of days lost due to illness, and its knock-on effect on productivity. One study estimated that, when looking specifically at the flu season, it cost the UK economy £1.35bn annually in lost working days.
When it comes to infection and viruses, the old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ has never been truer. Bacteria can travel so easily; studies have shown that contaminated hands can transfer some viruses to up to seven surfaces, and up to 14 people can be contaminated by touching the same object one after the other.
It has also been proven that pathogens can live on surfaces for days, weeks and even months – it’s clear to see how one person’s illness can spread so
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Good hand hygiene is the most important method of preventing cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria. This simple act can prevent contamination in catering workplaces, protect visitors and patients from infection at healthcare facilities, and even help fight the increase of antibiotic resistance. Facilities should look for hygiene products which conform to standards including EN 1499, EN1276 and EN13727, and can tackle pathogens effectively.
(
http://hrnews.co.uk/will-flu-sickies-hit-staff-productivity-season/)
Having a range of options available can also increase the likelihood that a person will wash or sanitise their hands more regularly and effectively. Touch-free dispensers are becoming increasingly popular as they intuitively sense hands and dispense the right amount of product. The fact that they are also touch-free enhances their hygiene rating.
We also believe it’s important that children learn the importance of hand hygiene from a young age, and having a specially developed a range of hand washing dispensers, such as the Jangronauts range, can help this be achieved in a fun, interactive and educational way.
Cleaning operatives are key to breaking the chain of infection, by ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of surfaces. By hygienically cleaning
common surfaces, pathogens can be destroyed at the source, and prevented from transferring to, and infecting, susceptible people.
It is crucial, however, that the risk of cross-contamination is eliminated by adopting a colour-coding system. This will ensure that certain cleaning tools and equipment are only used for specific areas or tasks, and will stop, for example, a mop that has been used in a toilet from also being used in a food preparation area. Although there is no legislative requirement to operate a colour-coded cleaning regime, ideally all equipment within the different areas will be suitably colour coded.
All cleaning companies must ensure that their operatives know which products to use, and when and how to use them – Jangro offers a specific training module for this, as part of our award-winning e-learning platform the Learning Management Solution (LMS). Offered free to all of our customers, the LMS offers versatile training, and can be accessed ‘on the go’ from smart devices, PCs or laptops.
Once the concept of colour coding and how it contributes to infection prevention is fully understood by cleaning operatives, you will be well on the way to ensuring a safer, healthier and more productive working environment.
Tomorrow’s Cleaning readers can take the Infection Control and Colour Coding course by visiting our Jangro LMS website here.
www.jangrolms.net
www.jangro.net
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