GREG WHITELEY, managing director of Whiteley Corporation, provides some advice on ensuring effective office washroom hygiene.
There are two key occupational health and safety (OHS) issues with maintaining washrooms. First, the transmission of infection, which results in increased sick leave and may lead to serious health issues. Second, floors that are not cleaned properly can become slippery, which can lead to slip accidents.
Germs and bacteria – including bacteria, pathogens, viruses, prions and fungi – thrive in moist areas and can be found in every public washroom. Many workplaces have shower blocks and additional care is needed to prevent staff from catching and spreading infections. Bacteria can be spread into the air every time a toilet is flushed and settle onto any surface in the washroom. In fact, recent work supports the view that the toilet should always be flushed with the lid down.
The bacteria typically encountered in washrooms include Staphylococcus, Salmonella and E. Coli. Other bacteria, including multi-resistant organism (MRO) superbugs are also prevalent in washrooms. In addition, shower blocks are a key area for the transmission of Tinea. Blood and body fluid are less likely to be found, but if present can harbour viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B. Bacteria and fungi thrive in soiled conditions and within any soap scum, so clean surfaces are essential for good hygiene.
COMBATING THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION
Unfortunately, not all office employees follow the basics of hygiene, such as washing their hands after using the toilet. An infected person can transfer these bugs onto any surface they touch, including toilets, shower handles, sink faucets and doors. The ‘high touch objects’ and surfaces in bathrooms, especially doors, are extreme high risk areas for picking up germs and bugs. Even though users of the lavatory may wash their hands, they may pick up unwanted bacteria on the door when they leave the washroom.
It is very easy for germs and bacteria to be spread from bathrooms into the workplace without proper hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is recognised as the single most important factor of an effective infection prevention and control program. Effective hand hygiene practices help to reduce infections in the workplace.
Along with washing hands after using a bathroom, instant hand hygiene products that can be used anywhere without the need of water dramatically improve hand hygiene and help prevent the spread of workplace illness including colds, flu and diarrhoea.
A new generation of instant hand hygiene products has become available that improves hand hygiene and reduces infection risks. Alcohol-free, non-flammable, non-toxic, non-hazardous, instant hand sanitisers that kill 99.9 percent of germs have been developed to be used by workers where traditional alcohol-based hand rubs present a significant OHS risk. Alcohol-based hand rubs are classified as dangerous goods, as a potential fuel source, and require special storage conditions that increase risk in the workplace.
A PROPER CLEANING ROUTINE
New products also available in the marketplace for a proper cleaning routine use a mildly acidic (non-chlorinated) heavy-duty bathroom disinfectant/cleaner. These products are designed to remove soiling, kill germs and sanitise surfaces, therefore improving the overall hygiene of the bathroom and, in turn, significantly reducing the incidence of infection. Large scale application can be conducted via a foaming gun to save labour.
Facilities managers who want to improve cleaning standards need to review current methods and products being used to ensure they are obtaining the best OHS outcomes for an office facility’s staff. Product choice should be made on the basis of proven bug-killing results, which are regulated by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. The right product and method choice should leave washrooms clean and stop the transmission of infections between staff.