Strategic locations to place hand sanitisers in the workplace

In October last year, Members of Parliament (MPs) in Singapore were gifted bottles of hand sanitisers which came with advice on how to head off the flu season with hand sanitising. Hand sanitising is not without its merits. The transmission of seasonal flu, cold and other viral/bacterial-based infections can be prevented by using hand sanitisers.

The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine released a study about hand sanitiser benefits in the workplace. The results showed that health care claims were reduced by over 20% and absenteeism was reduced by another 13.4% for the group that used hand sanitisers!

Where should I place hand sanitisers in the workplace?

The best way to encourage people to use hand sanitisers is to place it in highly accessible and visible areas. With this in mind, you should consider the height placement of hand sanitisers to ensure it can be easily reached. Additionally, do not place obstructive objects in front of hand sanitisers or hide it from view.

Furthermore, hand sanitisers are ideal for high-touch surfaces and high-traffic areas. Examples of ideal places for hand sanitisers in the workplace include

• Exits to washrooms
• Transaction counters
• Cafeterias
• Meeting rooms
• Pantries
• Work desks
• Reception areas
• Near staircases/escalators/elevators
• Next to entrances/exit doors

Are hand sanitisers effective?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible. This is because handwashing reduces the germs and chemicals on hands. However, if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitiser can help you to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Specifically, antibacterial hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol are proven to kill up to 99.9% of germs. Therefore, practicing good hand hygiene is a preventive measure to minimise the spread of infections. Other preventive measures you can adopt in the workplace include:

• Visit a doctor and stay at home when you show signs of an infection
• Use a disposable tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough/sneeze
• Sanitise and wipe down surfaces on a regular basis
• Wash hands after every visit to the washroom
• Clean water dispensers on a regular basis

How unhygienic is my workplace?

Do you know that all surfaces contain traces of bacteria and microbes? Pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli can be transferred to your hands if you touch a contaminated surface. Furthermore, you may frequently touch your eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Do you know that up to 49% of office workers eat at their desk? Consequently, bacteria on hands can get into the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Germs such as Salmonella, E. coli and norovirus can cause diarrhoea and spread respiratory infections *.

Hygiene in the workplace

Despite the evidence linking hygiene to health, common reasons for not practicing good hygiene practices in the workplace include “We are overwhelmed with work and have no time for cleaning hands.”

In most cases, education and awareness can help to encourage good hygiene practices in the workplace. For example, employers can consider placing infographic posters and signages to remind everyone to wash their hands after each visit to the washroom and to sanitise hands regularly.

Industry regulations have also helped to raise hygiene standards and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. The health care industry in particular, places emphasis on hand hygiene. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a set of guidelines on hand hygiene in health care.

Do you know that the World Hand Hygiene Day takes place every year on the 5th of May? The World Hand Hygiene Day Campaign is part of a major global effort led by the WHO to improve hand hygiene in health care settings.

How to use hand sanitiser

When using hand sanitiser, follow these steps for a throughout disinfection:

• Apply an appropriate amount of the hand sanitiser for both hands
• Rub the product over all surfaces of both hands including between your fingers and around your fingertips
• Allow complete absorption of the hand sanitiser

Types of hand sanitisers dispensers

Depending on size of your workforce, you can choose the dispenser capacity that is best suited for your environment. When wall mounting is not possible, mobile stand for hand sanitiser is an option that can be easily moved or adjusted.

When choosing a hand sanitiser dispenser, you can select from either a manual dispenser or a sensor-activated dispenser. Initial signature colour provide a range of colour options to fit in your interior design and branding. Not only that, all of Initial signature products have been tested up to 3.8 million times to ensure they are tough and durable!

For a peace of mind, Initial Hygiene provides installation, servicing and maintenance of hand sanitisers and other hygiene solutions to take care of all your business’s hygiene needs.

We spend a good part of our day in our workplaces; therefore, it is important not to neglect hygiene standards in the workplace. Above all, a high standard of hygiene benefits everyone in the workplace. Start today by cultivating a company culture that advocates good hygiene practices.

Contact us today at (65) 6347 8138 or visit our website to learn more.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Handwashing: Clean Hands Saves Lives