Spreading good hand hygiene

Hygiene specialist Deb has highlighted the importance that the role of good hand hygiene practice has to play in preventing the spread of common germs.

According to Deb, separate washroom studies from around the world have shown that 1person in every 5 is walking around with unwashed hands.

Employers can encourage good hand hygiene practice by providing awareness materials such as posters or stickers for use in the washrooms, on floors, mirrors and doors as well as reminders on company intranets of the importance of keeping hands clean.

A hand sanitiser should compliment routine hand washing and be reapplied every 2-3 hours and after coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces or items likely to have been contaminated.

Organisations can also provide 'hand hygiene on the move'by supplying a personal issue sanitiser.