Are you HandSafe? Our myth-busting checklist is here to help

Being HandSafe means providing high quality hand hygiene, tailored to your facility’s needs. Whether it’s in the washroom, front-of-house or in staff areas, HandSafe hand hygiene genuinely cares for your users’ health and wellbeing, as well as their experience. Simply box-ticking carries a high cost for your business.

It’s time to find out how at-risk your company could be. Our HandSafe myth-busting checklist is here to help you avoid future pitfalls and protect your reputation as well as your bottom line.

 

HandSafe Myth 1: topping up stops it totting up

When it comes to choosing soap and hand sanitiser, bulk-fill (top- up) options are not the sensible budget choice many people believe. Larger dose sizes and less concentrated product results in more wastage and more frequent refilling, adding unnecessary cost and hassle you just don’t need.

The solution: Choose hygienically sealed refills for controlled dispensing and more applications per refill. The right amount of product for a safe clean is dispensed without the unwelcome wastage.

 

HandSafe Myth 2: as long as there’s soap or sanitiser, it’s safe and hygienic

Not all hand hygiene is created equal. What if we told you that at least one in four bulk-fill hand hygiene dispensers are contaminated with illness-causing bacteria1? There are multiple points on the dispenser where bacteria can contaminate the replenishment supply, such as an open-top lid and push-button. Often, units don’t get cleaned but are “topped up” against guidelines2 and then cannot be decontaminated.

The solution: Go for dispensers that use hygienically sealed refills keeps soap and sanitisers fresh and free from cross-contamination.

 

HandSafe Myth 3: people aren’t interested in the washroom products you use

With three quarters of people saying that dirty washrooms cause negative perceptions of a facility3 and 84% saying personal control of cleaning is important in making them feel safe4, your washrooms are just as vital for creating a good impression of your facility as your front-of-house areas. Your customers and employees want to take control with visible and high-quality hand hygiene that’s pleasant to use.

The solution: Choose touch-free dispensers – preferred by 92% of people5 – for hand hygiene that people want to use, giving them a positive experience in your washroom and protecting your business’ reputation.

 

HandSafe Myth 4: we’re at lower risk from COVID-19 now so hand hygiene matters less

It’s not just COVID-19 that good hand hygiene helps to protect against. 80% of germs are spread by hands6 and this includes colds, flu and stomach bugs too. A recent study published in BMJ Open shows that gastrointestinal infections reduced by more than half in England during the first six months of the pandemic7 and cited improved hand hygiene as a behaviour change that could help sustain a reduction.

With workers averaging three sick days a year, costing businesses with 100 employees around £35,100/year8, the spreading of germs in your facility can have a real impact on productivity.

The solution: You can help keep your people safe with high quality soap and hand sanitiser in your washroom and throughout your whole facility, encouraging use with visible, touch-free dispensers.

 

HandSafe Myth 5: it’s not worth investing in better quality dispensers, they all do the same job

There may appear to be little difference when it comes to choosing soap and sanitiser dispensers but taking a closer look at the long-term implications of installing the cheapest dispensers you can find reveals the truth. Flimsy dispensers don’t stand the test of time meaning replacements will be required or worse still, pump tops next to them! If you want to provide quality hand hygiene to keep your people safe, you need something that won’t let you down.

The solution: Investing in durability is vital, both for protecting your users’ experience – no one wants to be wrestling with an unreliable dispenser – and to reduce your business costs in the long-term. Not only that, if you buy better, you waste less and improve your sustainability practices too! Look out for dispensers that come with a lifetime warranty to put your mind at rest.

 

The RCP HandSafe Checklist

How HandSafe are you? See how many you can tick off…

  1. We’re using sealed refills for improved hygiene and better cost in use
  2. We ditched the bulk-fill for a truly hygienic solution
  3. We’re providing touch-free dispensers for a more comfortable and hygienic experience
  4. We’ve invested in durable dispensers that stand the test of time
  5. We’re continuing to provide hand hygiene throughout our facility

 

Our HandSafe promise

When you see the HandSafe Promise from RCP, you know that you’re guaranteed high quality, durable products that help you avoid the pitfalls of lesser alternatives.  The HandSafe Promise is our pledge that we’re supporting you in doing your best with your approach to hand hygiene, putting the health, safety and wellbeing of those in your facility first.

 

Speak to us today for a free HandSafe chat

To speak with one of experts about how you can upgrade your hand hygiene and get your facility HandSafe, register your details here.

 

Sources

  1. Journal of Environmental Health 2011.
  2. CDC.gov Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings.
  3. Cintas
  4. Deloitte, “Safety and cleanliness–make it or break it”​
  5. RCP Facebook Hand Hygiene Survey 2020
  6. University of Arizona Study, Dr. C. Gerba.
  7. Love NK, Elliot AJ, Chalmers RM, et al Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gastrointestinal infection trends in England, February–July 2020 BMJ Open 2022;12:e050469. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050469
  8. BLS.gov and based on average salary taken from Olive Pometsey, GQ Magazine

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