Hand hygiene at work: a quick & easy guide
Hand hygiene is all about keeping our hands clean to prevent the spread of germs. In a busy workplace, we come in contact with countless surfaces, shake hands, and even touch our own faces. Just like the office itself can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses without effective cleaning practices, neglecting hand hygiene can lead to the spread of illnesses, affecting everyone’s well-being.
Good hand hygiene is the first line of defense against infection. Encouraging your staff to practice effective handwashing at work supports their health, as well as your business's profits. In fact, employees who practice proper hand hygiene steps reduce their chance of catching respiratory and diarrheal infections by up to 31%. [1] As a result, they end up taking fewer sick days, contributing to higher efficiency.
That’s why we’re here to highlight the importance of hand hygiene at work, how to make it a regular part of your routine, and the correct procedures. So, how can you get your employees to practice proper handwashing? It all starts with education.
Teaching your employees correct handwashing technique
Before we dive into the best ways to communicate effective handwashing, let's start with the basics and what proper hand hygiene looks like.
How to wash hands properly
There are 5 simple key steps for washing hands correctly: [2]
- Wet - Wet your hands with clean, running warm water. Turn the tap off and apply soap.
- Lather - Rub your hands with soap. Lather between the fingers, the back of the hands, and under the nails.
- Scrub - Scrub your hands together until you've completely spread the soap across them.
- Rinse - Turn the tap back on and rinse your hands in clean, running water.
- Dry - Use a paper towel to dry your hands. And remember, choosing Tork paper hand towels over air dryers is the safer choice.
How long should you wash your hands?
Research from the National Health Service (NHS) shows you should wash your hands for 40 seconds. This is because such a timeframe helps remove more germs from your hands than if you washed them for a shorter period. [3]
A tip to make it easy for your staff to estimate how much time is enough is singing 'Happy Birthday' from start to finish while handwashing. That should take them roughly 20 seconds and can be a fun way to remember how long they need to wash their hands.
How often should you wash your hands?
The best way to think about handwashing frequency is to focus on activity rather than time. Instead of asking employees to wash their hands at regular intervals, you should create a list of key handwashing moments for them to reference. Having a list also helps set consistent expectations for hand hygiene across your entire company.
Some examples of good handwashing moments for employees include: [1]
- Before and after work
- After breaks
- After coughing or sneezing
- After using the restroom
- Before touching food
Encouraging your employees to practice proper hand washing
Following handwashing steps may be simple, but inspiring action among your staff can be challenging. So, we've gathered some techniques you can use to help encourage your employees to wash their hands regularly.
Provide high-quality hand wash products
Not all everyday soaps are suitable for preventing the spread of germs in every situation. This is why we provide you with a wide range of hand soap refills in various formulations, matching your company's needs. Not only that, but all Tork hand soap refills are dermatologically tested, and most are eco-certified.
You can choose from liquid or foam hand soap refills for products that work best for your business:
- Liquid soap cleans and sanitizes.
- Foam soap is ideal for a luxurious handwashing experience at work that reduces product consumption by up to 50%.
Last but not least, providing paper hand towels at work significantly enhances hand hygiene by removing lingering moisture and germs after washing. Unlike air dryers, which can sometimes spread bacteria through air dispersion, paper towels effectively remove contaminants from the skin. This method promotes thorough drying, reducing the likelihood of bacterial transfer to surfaces and from person to person through wet hands.
Make hand hygiene accessible
The further away people are from sinks, the less likely they are to practice proper handwashing. One study in a healthcare setting, where hand hygiene is vital, found longer distances from sinks reduced handwashing compliance by 10%. [4] For this reason, increasing access to sinks and even hygiene stands enables more frequent usage.
With that in mind, you should have accessible hand hygiene solutions in: [1]
- Food preparation areas
- Canteens or any eating zones
- Areas near desks or workspaces
Just ensure that each station is always stocked with antibacterial soap, running water, and paper hand towels. Additionally, a hygiene stand with hand sanitizer is a good complement to reach the highest standards.
Display handwashing guidelines by sinks
Visually displaying step-by-step hand hygiene information on posters helps remind employees to wash and sanitize their hands at key times. Plus, signage can fill any knowledge gaps with simple educational infographics.
Pro tip: Tork Healthy Hands is a useful and easy tool with templates so you can design handwashing reminders for your facility. They are customizable, letting you create the right message for your needs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a range of generic hand hygiene posters available to download.
It's clear that handwashing is essential for maintaining a healthy and efficient workplace. By educating and encouraging staff to wash their hands frequently and providing them with access to soap and other handwashing products, you can ensure a safer and healthier environment for everyone. With time and consistency, good hand hygiene will influence your company’s success.
Learn more about how we can support your business with Tork Clean Care, an industry-tailored program that can help you promote good hygiene in your company.
Reference
[5] Deyneko A, Cordeiro F, Berlin L, Ben-David D, Perna S, Longtin Y. Impact of sink location on hand hygiene compliance after care of patients with Clostridium difficile infection: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis. 2016 May 16;16:203. doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1535-x. PMID: 27184488; PMCID: PMC4867524.
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