Top 5 Reasons Why Employees Should Practice Hand Hygiene

In today's environment, where germs and viruses appear to lurk around every corner, maintaining proper hand hygiene has become more important than ever. This is especially true in the office, where individuals interact with shared surfaces, coworkers, and sometimes even clients or customers. 

Encouraging good hand hygiene habits among your employees is more than simply creating a nice working atmosphere; it is also about protecting the health and well-being of everyone in your firm. 

In this article, we dig deeper into understanding what is hand hygiene, The following are the top five reasons why excellent hand hygiene should be a primary priority:

What is Hand Hygiene? 

Hand hygiene, simply put, is the process of cleaning your hands to avoid the spread of any potential germs and bacteria. There are two different ways of performing effective hand hygiene: a. Using soap and water b. Using alcohol-based hand sanitiser. 

A good hygiene practice is an effective way to reduce the chances of illnesses and the possible spread of any infection.

We often neglect the thought of cleaning our hands regularly and thoroughly. Here is where we invite a lot of trouble as following a diligent hand-hygiene regime is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy and prevent the spread of germs. This is especially true in the case of organisations and offices where we are constantly exposed to different germs and infections. Let us delve a little deeper and look at the 5 crucial reasons why practicing hand hygiene is necessary: 

1. Protection From Everyday Germs 

This is the most common yet important reason why maintaining good hand hygiene is crucial. Especially in an office scenario, germs are found everywhere. And the prime targets for picking up these germs are our hands. Furthermore, these germs are easy to transfer to your face, food, and other surfaces like desks and drawers. With proper hand hygiene practices, employees can prevent the spread of these germs and ensure a better workplace environment. 

2. Enhances Overall Well-Being 

Regular hand hygiene contributes to overall health and well-being by minimising the risk of infections. The result? A workplace with lower absenteeism. This results in fewer sick days, which decreases the pressure on healthcare systems. A proper hand hygiene practice keeps people healthy and productive, which improves their quality of life. 

Furthermore, effective handwashing is vital for preventing germ transmission during daily activities. It's a simple but powerful way to take control of your health. 

3. Instills Good Habits

Promoting hand hygiene teaches people and helps them form lifelong habits that lead to better health. Workplaces, businesses, and public institutions can help to reinforce the need for hand hygiene by providing education and accessible facilities. Emphasising the benefits of hand hygiene and educating people about it are critical steps toward developing long-term health habits that minimise disease transmission.

4. Ensures Compliance 

There are many workplaces, especially healthcare, food service, and childcare sectors, which require them to follow strict health and safety regulations. This includes hand hygiene protocols. Ensuring that employees adhere to these guidelines not only protects health but also ensures compliance with local and national health standards. This will help avoid any potential fines and legal issues. The employers must provide a workplace that is free from recognised hazards and this includes ensuring proper hand hygiene practices.

5. Promotes A Healthy Work Environment 

Finally, encouraging hand hygiene practices promotes a culture of health and well-being in the workplace. How, you ask? When employees observe their coworkers frequently washing their hands and using hand sanitisers, it promotes the value of personal cleanliness and group accountability. This encourages other employees to adopt the same technique. 

Furthermore, this cultural shift may lead to the adoption of additional healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition. These strategies will improve overall employee wellness.

Hand Hygiene Steps 

For an effective hand hygiene regime there are key hand hygiene steps to take note of. Let us briefly discuss these steps in this segment:

1. Hand Washing 

There is a step-by-step procedure for effective hand hygiene as endorsed by the CDC and World Health Organisation (WHO): 

• Start by wetting your hands with water 
• Now apply enough soap to ensure all hand surfaces are covered
• Then lather and rub your hands together briskly and thoroughly. Make sure to scrub all surfaces of your hands from fingertips, fingernails to wrists
• Ensure to continue doing this for at least 20 seconds.
• The next step is to rinse your hands and wrists under clean running water
• Now dry your hands thoroughly with a single-use towel
• With the help of the towel turn off the faucet

With this simple-to-follow hand hygiene process your hands are now safe. In case of non-availability of soap and water, hand washing can also be done with the help of a hand sanitiser. 

2. Frequency of Hand Washing 

The frequency of hand washing also plays a key role in hand hygiene. Consider washing your hands often in case of the following scenarios: 

• Before, during, and after food preparation and consumption.
• After using the toilet.
• When you blow your nose, cough, sneeze, or touch garbage.
• After touching the animals.
• When caring for someone who is ill before and after
• Before inserting and removing contact lenses.

Tips For Hygiene: Make Hand Hygiene A Habit 

1. Hand Washing Facilities 

Ensuring proper hand washing facilities at workplaces is the first thing for effective hand hygiene. Making these facilities easily accessible will lead to a healthy work environment and promote hand hygiene. 

• Excellent Washroom Solutions: Make sure your organisation invests in top-quality solutions for the washroom including - the provision of hand sanitisers, hand drying machines, and proper soap dispensers. 

2. Creative Reminders 

Display posters and signs demonstrating proper hand-washing practices and reminding staff about the importance of hand hygiene. Furthermore, organisations can schedule and allocate a day for a different employee to create a creative and memorable handwashing reminder on a whiteboard. This will motivate other employees and instill the habit of hand washing. 

3. Provide The Facility of Hand Sanitisers 

Installing and placing hand sanitiser machines at prime and high-traffic locations - entrances, and restrooms will promote hand hygiene even where hand washing is not possible. 

4. Sick Leaves 

To prevent the spread of infections, encourage employees to take sick leave if they are not feeling well or exhibit indications of illness.

Conclusion 

Ensuring that employees practice excellent hand hygiene is critical for sustaining a healthy and effective work environment. Businesses that promote appropriate hand hygiene and provide relevant facilities at workplaces can considerably prevent the spread of illnesses, improve employee well-being, and eventually increase overall productivity. Implementing proper hand hygiene procedures not only protects individual health but also indicates a company's commitment to fostering a safe and healthy workplace. 

Hence it is critical to emphasise the importance of hand hygiene through accessible facilities at work, regular reminders, and educational programs. These steps on the part of organisations can make a significant difference in the workplace ultimately resulting in a healthier, happier, and more efficient workforce.