WASHROOM TH THE PUBLIC TOILET?
ms such as safety fears, fastidiousness and an unwillingness to queue – and considers ways ese problems.
that more than a quarter of respondents often refrained from using the toilets when attending a concert or sporting event.
Poor hygiene was again a major issue, with 55% of stadium visitors complaining about unhygienic facilities. Crowds were another big problem with 49% of respondents claiming to be put off by the long queues typically experienced.
Of the 28% who refrained from using the stadium washroom, a third admitted to limiting their food and drink consumption while at the event in order to avoid having to pay a visit – a situation that could significantly impact on concession sales.
Other concerns about toilet use include the fear that such facilities could be unsafe or threatening environments and worries about picking up an STD from the toilet seat. Whilst some people suffer from anxiety about being unable to find a clean, hygienic and accessible public washroom whenever they need one.
This latter issue can now be addressed with the aid of one of the many apps available for smartphone users. The Flush app, Toilet Finder and the Great British Toilet Map will all point the user to the nearest washroom and will provide information on their accessibility or otherwise.
Many people suffer from a medical condition that makes their need for a toilet urgent at any given point. As a result they carry a ‘Just Can’t Wait’ toilet card which is issued by the Bladder and Bowel Community. This year the card became available via download so that users can now access their card quickly and discreetly via their mobile.
The design of a toilet can go a long way towards helping people who suffer from paruresis or who have safely concerns when using a washroom. The nervous might feel trapped or threatened when shut inside a poorly-lit facility, so bright lights and outer partitions instead of doors could help them feel safer.
The UK Paruresis Trust calls for greater privacy in cubicles and urinals to make life easier for sufferers. Substantial dividers between urinals will create a sense of personal space, while narrower gaps between the floor and walls of cubicles will prevent washroom visitors from feeling that others can see them.
Many of us have heard scare stories about picking up sexually-transmitted diseases from toilet seats. But according to experts, the risks of doing so are practically nil since the germs that cause STDs cannot live outside the body for long – and certainly not on a cold, hard toilet seat.
This leaves two major concerns about public washroom use – people’s natural squeamishness when using dirty or
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unhygienic facilities, and their impatience when faced with long queues in high-traffic facilities.
Smart, well-stocked dispensers that are easy to clean will create a good impression on visitors. And if these offer a high capacity while also helping to control consumption, a continuous supply of soap and paper will be ensured and queueing will be kept to a minimum.
Tork Elevation dispensers are easy to wipe clean and are designed to give out only one paper towel or shot of soap at a time. Besides reducing the risk of run-outs, they also help to prevent cross-contamination – a feature that will reassure the germophobe.
The Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser is particularly suitable for high-traffic stadium washrooms because it serves more than 1,000 guests between refills. This means run-outs are never an issue and queuing is minimised. The towels are dispensed in a continuous loop which means the unit will never jam and each towel may be withdrawn in just three seconds. This allows the washroom visitor to take a towel and move away, freeing up space 75% faster than could be achieved with an air dryer.
“The design of a toilet can go a long
way towards helping people who suffer from paruresis or who have safely concerns when using a washroom.”
The Tork Foam Soap Dispenser and the Tork Matic Hand Towel Dispenser are both available in touch-free versions that will help reassure the germophobe.
And the Tork SmartOne toilet tissue system also ensures hygienic dispensing and a long-lasting supply which will be reassuring for the anxious toilet-user.
Technology can play an important part in ensuring that public washrooms are kept clean and well-stocked at all times. For example, Tork EasyCube allows cleaning teams to remotely monitor washrooms, enabling them to tell via a smartphone or tablet when dispensers are running empty or when a washroom is attracting high traffic and may need extra cleaning.
Toilet anxiety makes life more complicated for many. But a combination of technological aids, a well-thought-out design, high standards of cleanliness and well-stocked dispensers will provide better facilities for everyone – while offering some all-important reassurance for the more anxious.
www.tork.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 33
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