Promoting good habits

EVERYONE KNOWS the importance of hand hygiene and the role it plays in reducing the risk of infections. So public washrooms need to be equipped with the products people require to facilitate proper hand washing. This means soaps, hand drying facilities and running water should all be routinely supplied.

But can the choice of soap, dispenser or hand drying system have an impact on how well hand hygiene is carried out? And can washroom hygiene companies actively encourage good habits by offering products and systems that make the process more pleasant, easier or speedier?

It is important to ensure the hand hygiene process is as effortless as possible, says Hagleitner’s senior product manager for disinfection Kerstin Heine. “People want hand hygiene to be quick and easy which means the soap, paper towel dispensers and warm water all need to be available where the hands are going to be washed,” she said. “And end-users will respond better to touchless dispensers because they won’t know who has used manual dispensers before them, and may feel disgusted by them.”

Washroom visitors will be keener to use mild soaps than more aggressive products, she says. “However, all soaps should be functional and in sectors such as the food industry they need to be able to dissolve protein soiling, whereas in healthcare settings the hands are more likely to be disinfected than washed,” says Heine.

The positioning of dispensers can have a key impact on the level of hand hygiene practised, according to Heine. “Hand sanitiser dispensers should be situated in plain sight – for example, at the entrance to kitchens in food environments,” she said. “In the washroom, too, dispensers should be situated in clearly visible locations rather than hiding them behind closed doors. This is because people are more likely to practise hand hygiene if they feel as though they’re being watched. And where hand hygiene is both accessible and observable, it is more likely to be performed.”

All dispensers need to be visually recognisable in order to encourage good hand hygiene, she said. “For example, brightly coloured dispensers are often used in healthcare.”

Hagleitner dispensers can be placed in stands at different heights to draw the eye and may be inscribed with the words: “Protect yourself and your environment” to encourage good hand hygiene habits. And the Hagleitner senseManagement tool helps to track hand hygiene compliance, says Heine.

Opportunities to practise hand hygiene should be available when and where they are needed in order to influence hygienic behaviour, says GOJO’s UK and Ireland managing director Chris Wakefield. “In healthcare settings, for example, hand hygiene stations should be located within arm’s reach of where patient treatment is taking place whereas in leisure, retail and catering establishments they should be positioned at the entrances and exits to buildings,” he said.

“And offering one final chance to clean the hands before leaving a washroom can make all the difference in reducing the number of germs leaving the room.” According to Wakefield, positioning a sanitising dispenser between 36 and 46 inches above the floor on the handle side of the washroom exit is the optimum height to encourage its use.

A positive experience

All products provided should be kind to the skin and offer a positive experience, he says. “If solutions are too smelly, sticky or runny, users are likely to avoid them,” said Wakefield. “But if people actively like using the products, they will do so more consistently – and this will help to prevent infections from spreading.” GOJO’s Purell

Advanced Hygienic Hand Rub is said to be gentle on the skin, even with frequent use.

End-users tend to prefer products that are easy to use and intuitively designed, says Hylab’s product and project manager Joshua Edwardes. “Functionality and de- sign are both essential aspects of a hand hygiene system and the right balance between the two is crucial,” he said. “Ease of use is also important because it enables users to access soap and paper effortlessly. And while providing clear instructions is beneficial, ensuring the product is user-friendly without relying on extensive directions is equally important.”

Products such as soaps, hand towels and air dryers all help to facilitate hand hygiene in the away-from-home washroom. But can the choice of system play a part in encouraging people to improve their hand washing habits, asks Ann Laffeaty?

He says the supply of appropriate products can prove highly effective at motivating people to improve their hand hygiene habits. “Washroom hygiene products usually work best when they are completely customised to individual customer needs,” he adds.

Convenience, quality and aesthetics are all key motivators when it comes to promoting hand hygiene, he said. “Easy accessibility of dispensers in terms of position, placement and functionality is essential, while a high product quality will reinforce the desire to maintain hygiene,” said Edwardes.

“Appealing designs will enhance the overall experience and encourage usage while clear instructions and motivational messages will further drive the motivation to maintain good hygiene. And when it comes to children: make it fun.”

Hylab dispensers can feature bespoke pictures, logos and hand hygiene messaging to encourage good practices and all units are said to be ergonomic, intuitive, easy to use and quick to operate.

The positioning of the dispenser has a key impact on the level of hand hygiene

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