Why is hand hygiene important in the workplace?

One of the easiest ways to create a safe and healthy working environment is to have a common understanding and expectations of proper hand hygiene practices. From adequate training to providing the right products, let’s take a look at how hand hygiene can result in happier and healthier staff, as well as business success. 
 

How does hand hygiene benefit your business? 

Keeping hands clean and hygienic has a positive impact on staff and visitors, as well as your business's overall efficiency and productivity. This is because regular and thorough handwashing significantly reduces the spread of germs and, therefore, the chances of infections and disease. 80% of common infections are spread by germs on hands, either through direct contact with other people's hands or via contaminated surfaces. [1] So, eliminating these pathogens leads to a healthier workplace.
 
Less illness means fewer sick days and absences among your staff, making your business much more productive. This is particularly important in healthcare and foodservice industries, where there are strict protocols around absence due to sickness. For instance, if an employee falls ill, they must not return to work until at least 48 hours after symptoms have passed. Such an absence can have a significant impact on your operations, specially at peak times.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing can prevent about 30% of diarrhoea cases and up to 20% of respiratory infections. [2] This proves that something as simple as properly washing hands can have a huge effect on the overall health of staff in your facility. 
 
Hand hygiene compliance is also incredibly important for meeting working condition standards in every industry. If you’re not providing the environment for your staff to be safe and healthy, that may impact your performance in infection prevention and control inspections.
 
Promoting clean and hygienic hands benefits every type of business, from small commercial offices to expansive warehouses. So, where to get started? We’ve got some suggestions.
 

How to promote hand hygiene in your business

In order to see the full benefits of handwashing, all employees should practice good hand hygiene. Managers and cleaning staff have the added responsibility to ensure regular handwashing is accessible, so that’s an ideal place to begin.

1. Provide the right handwashing products in the right places

To boost hand hygiene standards in your business, make sure your staff and visitors have access to effective handwashing products to reduce the spread of infections and diseases. Essential hand hygiene products include:
 
Next, place hand hygiene products at critical points, including entrances and exits, communal areas, and restrooms. Keep in mind that some reinforcement may be needed in certain industries where handwashing is an even more critical priority. For example, in the foodservice industry, placing handwashing stations near sinks in food preparation areas and dining rooms reduces the risk of cross-contamination. 
 
To make handwashing more pleasant for employees and guests or visitors alike, you may want to opt for a luxury hand soap with moisturizing ingredients and a light fragrance. Choosing products with skincare benefits ensures hands are kept healthy in multiple ways. This is especially important for people with sensitive skin and in industries that require particularly frequent handwashing to prevent skin irritation. 

2. Train your staff on the importance of handwashing

Although many people wash their hands when they're visibly dirty, some may not realize that germs can still be present on seemingly clean hands. This is why it is vital for staff to take part in hand hygiene training so that they are aware of the risks to each other and to visitors. 
 
Making the time to inform them of the benefits of handwashing for their health, wellbeing, and overall workplace experience is crucial for your business. And just to be on the safe side, try not to assume any measures are too obvious, including correct handwashing procedures.

3. Use educational materials

In addition to regular handwashing trainings, visual reminders around your facility like educational posters and handwashing signs can help promote good hand hygiene. These visual representations can be placed around handwashing stations to help people follow the steps correctly at key times for proper handwashing.  These include before and after meals, after using the restroom, and according to the five moments of hand hygiene in healthcare settings. 
 
For healthcare facilities or units, using the Tork poster builder is an easy way to promote adherence and show your patients that they are in excellent, safe hands. 
 

How to wash hands correctly

Data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals that people are not washing their hands correctly 97% of the time. [3] Nonetheless, thorough and effective handwashing is simple to achieve when you and your employees know which steps to follow:
  1. Start by wetting your hands with clean, running water. For added sustainability, close the tap when not needed., close the tap when not needed.
  2. Apply enough soap to cover your hands and wrists, ensuring it lathers fully. Focus on often neglected areas like the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Continue rubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds. This is equivalent to singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
  4. Rinse your hands thoroughly with clean water, making sure all soap is washed away.
  5. Dry your hands with disposable paper towels (avoid communal drying towels as they can contribute to the spread of infection).
  6. For extra hygiene, disinfect your hands with an alcohol-free or alcohol-based hand sanitizer (optional).
 
Proper hand hygiene is critical in any workplace to ensure the safety and productivity of staff, as well as the success of your business. By following these simple recommendations, you can ensure clean and hygienic hands in any workplace. 
 
To keep learning, have a look at our in-depth guide on the correct handwashing technique or discover how to raise hygiene standards in every industry. 

Reference