INF ECT ION PR EVENT ION & CONT ROL
socket and the unit produces a carefully controlled five second flow of water followed by a 20 second delay to allow for soaping finally followed by a 10 second rinse cycle. This delivers the ideal amount of water for a high-quality hand wash – without any of it being wasted. The energy use is therefore low, the built-in water heaters use less than 20% of the energy needed for any other type of system, with the water being heated to the comfortable temperature. No heat is wasted by having to mix hot and cold water – and there is no heat loss from storage tanks, pipework, taps or fittings.
Bringing control to all areas of the building Portable hand wash sinks also have a part to play as all areas of the clinical environment return to somewhere near normal operational levels. Previously, there was a reduction in numbers attending hospitals during the lockdown period, but this has been increasing as measures have been relaxed. This removal of restrictions means that hospitals could experience possible spikes in attendance from non COVID-19 cases. Larger numbers will put strain on existing hand washing facilities and there will be a need to add to this and, just as importantly, provide hand washing right at point of need. This could be in entrance areas, corridors, waiting areas and consulting rooms that may be off the existing plumbed network. This need could also extend to all facility
support staff and contractors that will need to access areas in clinical and non-clinical areas. The WHO have addressed hand washing under their published advice ‘Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19’.
They advise promoting regular and thorough hand washing by employees, contractors, and customers, as well as posters promoting hand washing. Ask your local public health authority for these or consult
www.WHO.int. These should be combined with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at meetings, and information on
Effective hand washing is guided by a digital display.
intranet sites to promote hand-washing. Ultimately, it is important to ensure that
staff, patients and contractors all have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is certain that we will all have different conditions, wherever we work, and there will be more controls in place, zoned areas with high standards of hygiene with regular deep cleaning. Portable sinks can support these areas and offer patients, staff, visitors and contractors the confidence that measures are in place to prevent infection spreading.
As workplaces continue to tackle the outbreak there will be pressure on budgets and major changes to plumbed areas might be prohibitive. The use of high-quality portable sink units can assist by adding
facilities without significant expenditure. They can allow short-term expansion to cope with unexpected demand or for planned maintenance and support the introduction of hygienic zones throughout the building. CSJ
References 1 Centers for Disease and Control 2 National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases June 1, 2018
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/trends-outbreaks/ worldwide.html
3 NHS England - News 5 December 2019 Nick Phin, National Infection Service Deputy Director at Public Health England
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ 2019/12/nhs-warning-as-winter-vomiting-bug- closes-1000-hospital-beds/
4 NHS UK
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/ April 2018
OCTOBER 2020
WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM l
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