CONSTRUCTION & BIM
BUILDING HEALTHY HAND HYGIENE HABITS
Chris Wakefield, Vice President, European Marketing & Product Development at GOJO Industries-Europe, discusses the importance of hand hygiene for construction workers.
Our hands are incredible tools. They enable us to communicate, learn, and perform everyday tasks. In fact, as tools, we take them for granted and so they are frequently neglected. This is particularly true in the construction and BIM environments, which create unique soils that are difficult to remove from the skin without damaging it. To remove oils, grease, dust, paint, and a variety of other materials, hands are often subjected to harsh chemicals.
Handwashing is therefore essential for workers in this sector. Without it, as well as looking and feeling unpleasant, there is the risk of spreading the dirt and stains – and infection. As health campaigns have repeatedly told us during the pandemic, handwashing is the first line of defence in preventing the spread of germs. Did you know that harmful viruses, such as COVID-19, can cling on to dirt? So, it’s vital that all soils, contaminants, and chemicals are removed from hands.
Unfortunately, for many construction workers, hand hygiene solutions range from vigorous scrubbing with ordinary soap and water, to an array of hand cleaners laden with harsh chemicals. Neither end of this scale is good news. Both can damage skin and cause occupational dermatitis, resulting in irritation, redness, cracking, and blistering. Not only painful, this can also lower productivity at work. It therefore pays to invest in a hand hygiene system that will clean and care for skin.
In safe hands There has been much innovation in the hand hygiene arena, from sanitising gels suitable for environments with no or light soil, through to hand cleaners, which are specifically designed to remove tougher dirt and grime.
Rather than applying excessive chemicals onto existing soils, the latest products use high levels of natural ingredients, such as GOJO Natural and Olive Hand Cleaners. Using plant-based scrubbers, they remove medium and heavy-duty soils, including grease, carbon black, caulk, graphite, adhesive, paint, sealant, and tar with minimum fuss. Furthermore, they have been formulated with skin health in mind, being hypoallergenic, pH neutral and enriched with moisturising agents. They are also a sustainable purchase, containing high levels of biodegradable ingredients.
Minimising cross-contamination Installing dispensers on site will help to reduce the risk of cross contamination. Today, the models on the market are robust, durable, and engineered to withstand the toughest environments. GOJO systems also have easy to load refills; each one has a fresh valve to ensure there is no contamination, leaks, or clogs, whilst a large site window
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shows the refill inside, so you can see its capacity level at a glance.
Fitting dispensers doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, it can help businesses save money as their portion-controlled dispensing feature helps to reduce wastage.
A legal duty Let’s not forget that companies have a legal duty of care for their workers. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) (COSHH) requires employers to adequately control exposure to materials in the workplace that cause ill health. This includes controlling exposure to materials that cause skin diseases and to substances that enter the body through the skin and cause problems elsewhere.
Looking after workers isn’t just about wellbeing, it is a legal responsibility, which ultimately has business benefits. By providing access to effective hand cleaners that are also kind to skin, workers will be healthier, and in turn, companies can expect greater levels of productivity and profit.
www.gojo.com
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