Hand hygiene in winter months

Hand hygiene is more important than ever in the cooler months when colds, flu and other illnesses are rife. But washing hands when out and about can be more problematical in winter, says Stuart Hands from Tork manufacturer, Essity.

THIS is going to be a winter like no other. After a two-year cycle of repeated COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions have now been lifted which means that public venues have reopened for business. Mask-wearing - previously compulsory - is now optional and social distancing has become a guideline rather than a requirement. And venues such as retail centres, restaurants, bars, and pubs are filling up fast in the run-up to Christmas - the first we have been allowed to celebrate since 2019.

Yet there are still significant risks involved when visiting a crowded commercial space. And those risks become greater than ever during the winter months. Plummeting temperatures create the ideal conditions for illnesses to thrive. Besides the ever-present threat of COVID-19, the flu season is now in full swing and colds are starting to circulate once again. Meanwhile, the winter weather drives shoppers, diners and drinkers indoors where the risk of infection is greater than it is outside. And natural ventilation in the form of open doors and windows - said to be helpful for reducing the spread of COVID-19 - is not a viable option in the winter. So, everyone needs to be on their guard and do whatever they can to keep themselves and others safe.

The importance of hand hygiene has become more widely understood during the global pandemic, and hand sanitiser dispensers are now a common sight in restaurants, retail centres and public buildings. And reminders to wash our hands can be seen everywhere in the form of signs, posters and stickers. But hand hygiene becomes more of a challenge in winter. Our hands are more likely to become chapped and sore in the colder weather, and this makes frequent hand washing and drying a potentially painful process.

Hand hygiene can only really be executed in the washroom while out and about, but publicly-used washrooms are busier than ever at this time of year with festive shoppers, diners, drinkers, and revellers. Long queues in congested washrooms present us with a quandary. While we might be anxious to wash and dry our hands thoroughly to prevent ourselves and others from becoming ill, fears of catching COVID may make us less willing to wait for long periods in an enclosed space for our turn at the hand hygiene facilities. So some of us may be tempted to execute a cursory hand wash and then leave in a hurry with our hands still damp. This will lead to more people circulating with inadequately washed hands - which could become an issue if they go on to handle cutlery and glasses in hospitality venues or pick up items in shops. And damp hands also create a moist environment in which germs can breed.

There are other reasons why washroom congestion needs to be avoided. Queues will potentially cause frustration among visitors whose irritation may be reflected in poor satisfaction scores. And time spent in the toilets will keep customers away from the bar, restaurant or shop floor where they could be spending money, which will of course will have a knock-on effect on profits. All efforts should

therefore be made to ensure that washrooms can be used quickly, seamlessly and intuitively and that hand hygiene can be carried out swiftly and comfortably.

An easy-to use soap dispenser with a longlasting supply of soap will help to speed up hand washing. The Tork Skincare Dispenser is a good option in busy shops and restaurants because it requires a particularly low push-force to access the soap inside.

When washrooms are filled with festive shoppers, diners and drinkers there is a risk that supplies of toilet paper, hand towels and soaps will run out too quickly. When this occurs, people will be forced to wait longer to use those cubicles and sinks where supplies remain in place. The Tork Skincare Dispenser contains 2500 shots of Tork Foam Soap per refill compared with around 1000 in most liquid soap systems. This ensures a long-lasting supply and avoids the risk of run-outs.

A high-capacity hand towel dispenser will also help to speed up washroom use because it will allow visitors to take a towel and move on, drying their hands as they go while freeing up the unit for the next user. The Tork PeakServe Continuous Hand Towel Dispenser caters for more than 1000 guests between refills and can deliver a towel in just three seconds.

Mild soaps, soft towels and moisturisers will help to improve skin health and prevent people’s hands becoming chapped and sore due to frequent washing in winter. Tork Foam Soap comes in an extra mild version which is allergy-friendly certified by ECARF, the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. This means it is particularly gentle on the hands.

For a softer hand-dry, Tork Xpress Extra Soft Multifold Hand Towels are absorbent and gentle on the skin. And a fragrance-free conditioning cream such as Tork Nonperfumed Hand & Body Lotion will help to soothe the hands after washing.

Run-outs of soap and paper can be hard to predict in busy washrooms. This is where digital technology can be used to ensure that the dispensers are kept topped up at all times. For example, Tork Vision Cleaning - formerly Tork EasyCube - allows cleaners to remotely check on which dispensers are running low via ‘connected’ washroom dispensers. This allows them to top up the units at any time, avoiding run-outs.

Good hand hygiene in winter depends on a number of factors: the ready availability of hand washing and drying products; the ease with which these can be used; a rapid washroom throughput; and the encouragement to wash and dry the hands thoroughly. Signs and posters should therefore be used liberally to remind people of the importance of hand hygiene and the risks involved with contaminating surfaces. Hand sanitiser dispensers should be sited in strategic places and kept permanently topped up to supplement hand washing facilities.

Colds are rife in winter and the NHS urges us to ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ - to cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw this tissue away after use. Tissue supplies should therefore be made available in pubic washrooms and near hand sanitisers to encourage this practice, with bins also sited nearby.

Crowded venues, an easing of restrictions and a cocktail of colds, flu and COVID will make hand hygiene an even more essential practice this winter. Businesses can play a vital part in encouraging good behaviours by facilitating the process for shoppers and diners.

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