While there is no specific number of times you should be washing your hands at work, on average, people wash their hands between 3 and 14 times each and every day.1
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The Impact of Proper Hand Washing in the Workplace
Hand washing is essential in daily life but even more so for people in industries where food or health is at the centre. Keep reading to learn a bit more about how to perfect your hand washing, find the right products and keep you, your colleagues and your customers safe from germs and bacteria.
Are you washing your hands correctly?
Did you know that countless bacteria live on your hands or make their way there throughout the day? Without proper hand washing, these bacteria can lead to illness, contamination, or the spread of disease.
95% of adults do not wash their hands long enough to effectively remove bacteria.2
Proper hand washing isn’t just a recommendation; it’s a simple yet powerful way to safeguard your health and the health of those around you.
When Should I Wash My Hands in a Restaurant Setting?
If you work in food service, frequent hand washing is critical to prevent cross-contamination and maintain food safety. Be sure to wash your hands:
- Before handling food or utensils.
- After touching raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
- After using the washroom.
- After taking out the trash.
- After sneezing, coughing, or touching your face.
When Should I Wash My Hands in a Healthcare Setting?
For healthcare workers, proper hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of infections. Wash your hands:
- Before and after patient contact.
- Before performing any medical procedures.
- After exposure to bodily fluids.
- After removing gloves.
- After touching surfaces or equipment in a patient’s room.
How to wash your hands properly
The length of time isn’t the only thing stopping you from achieving cleanliness goals. Water temperature and drying method also impact the effectiveness of your hand washing. Follow this step guide to ensure your hand washing, works.
Step 1: Wet your hands
Make sure your hands are thoroughly wet.
Step 2: Use soap
Use 1–2 pumps of Kruger PRO’s Hands Fresh® Soap for the most effective wash.
Step 3: Rub your hands together
Rub the soap between your palms, under your nails, on the back of your hands and even your wrists for at least 20 seconds or the time it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
Step 4: Rinse
Thoroughly rinse all the soap suds off with warm water.
Step 5: Dry
Using a disposable paper towel, like the Embassy® ULRT® Ultra Long Roll Towel, thoroughly dry your hands for 20 seconds and use the paper towel to turn off the tap.
The Hidden Importance of Drying Your Hands
Drying your hands properly is an essential step in your hand hygiene routine. Damp hands harbour and spread up to 1000% more bacteria than dried hands.3
Using a paper towel is the most effective way to dry your hands. Start by removing as much moisture as possible, then rub your hands together to create friction, which helps eliminate additional germs while thoroughly drying them.
Click here to find the right paper towel for your organization and continue to fight bacteria at your organization.
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