October 15th 2016 was Global Hand washing Day, “a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives”
Although the campaign is primarily aimed at other parts of the world where public sanitation is less ubiquitous, good hand hygiene is an important part of infection control in any environment and the single most effective way to reduce the spread of illness in offices and schools.
In a previous blog post titled ‘An idiot’s guide to washing your hands properly’ we covered the best practices for washing your hands thoroughly, which you can find here: http://ccsltd.org/blog/an-idiots-guide-to-washing-your-hands-properly/.
Most people probably think they know how to wash their hands, but did you know that drying your hands fully is just as important as washing them properly. This is because 85 % of micro-organisms are transmitted by moist hands, whereas for dry hands this is reduced to only 0.06%?
All employers should provide adequate hand washing facilities for staff in toilets and kitchens, including access to warm water, soap and hand dryers or paper towels. In addition, an office cleaning regime should include regular cleaning and sanitising of frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, lift buttons, hand rails etc. This will help to reduce the spread of illness within your building.
For more information on office cleaning, sanitising and infection control, contact our cleaning experts on 0800 4488026
