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SEPTEMBER 2011
L ATES T TECHNOLOGIES
Their role in raising
hygiene standards in
public places
HEALTH SC ARES
What are the hygiene
risks we should be
concerned about?
EC J Hygiene for Health
A supplement t o European C leaning Jour nal
Reports
5 Reducing public sickness risks
Ann Laffeaty looks at the latest health scares,
and how cleaning can make an impact.
8 A healthy and happy workforce
A hygienic workplace makes for a healthy and
happy workforce, writes Hartley Milner.
13 Efficient hygiene
Modern scrubber dryer technology can
increase efficiency in hygiene-critical areas.
17 Step up to the sink
Hand hygiene is very much a public health
issue, as it is one of the most effective ways
to prevent cross-infection.
20 Calling in the outbreak busters
What happens when there is an illness
outbreak in an enclosed space, such as a
cruise ship? Ann Laffeaty finds out.
23 Visually clean, or hygienically clean?
A look at how mopping systems have an
important role to play in hygienic cleaning.
27 Spreading the hygiene message
Should the industry seek to educate the
public on personal hygiene, or leave it
to impartial experts?
31 First line of defence
Cleaning chemicals and disinfectants play a
vital role in the provision of public health.
Criterion Publishing Ltd PO Box 299Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1FP United Kingdom
T +44 (0)1494 791222 F +44 (0)1494 792223info@europeancleaningjournal.comwww.europeancleaningjournal.com
Editor
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Features Writer
Ann Laffeaty
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Circulation
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ISSN 0968-901X
© Criterion Publishing Ltd 2011
Hygiene for Health is a supplement
to European Cleaning Journal which
is published six times a year by
Criterion Publishing Ltd. Although
every effort is made to ensure the
accuracy and reliability of material
published, Criterion Publishing
Ltd and its agents can accept no
responsibility for the veracity
of claims made by contributors,
manufacturers or advertisers.
Copyright for all material published
in Hygiene for Health remains
with Criterion Publishing Ltd
and its agents.
Cover story
10 SCA
The company is leading the way in the
promotion of hygiene awareness.
E U R O P E A N
CLEANINGJ O U R N A L
September 2011
EC J Hygiene for Health
Contents
Sponsored by
F O R E W O R D
Hygiene for Health September 2011 3ECJ
The words 'hygiene' and 'health' have become inextricably linked in the
public’s consciousness over the past few years.
The swine flu pandemic of 2009 followed by the recent terrifying outbreaks of EHEC in France and Germany have alerted us all to the need to adhere to good hygiene practices in order to stay fit and healthy. While the threat to our health is constantly changing, however, the advice we receive in the wake of each outbreak remains more or less the same. The need for good hand hygiene is stressed in all prevent-ative advice given out by the major health organisations.
Hygiene is a global responsibility. We owe it to ourselves and to others to stay healthy to avoid spread-ing infections and viruses. Poor hygiene at work can lead to absenteeism, a loss of productivity and a detri-mental effect on staff morale. When hygiene is neglected at a school or pre-school, meanwhile, vulnerable children are put at risk of contracting infections and viruses.
And in a hospital or care home where the patients may be elderly or frail, any compromise in hygiene standards can lead to life-threatening diseases.
More of us are beginning to understand this and the hand hygiene message appears to be getting through – but it is also making us anxious. At SCA we recently commissioned an attitudinal survey into hand hygiene practices across nine countries, with the results forming the basis of our 2011 Hygiene Matters Report.
The survey revealed that seven out of 10 of us admit to being concerned about contracting an illness due to poor hygiene. The swine flu pandemic has obviously had a marked effect on us since most respondents claim to be more worried about this now than they were in 2008.
Meanwhile in all but a few countries taking part in the survey, parents felt that personal hygiene was the most important lesson they could teach their children.
It is up to hygiene companies such as ourselves at SCA to spread the 'hygiene for health' message even further and impart unbiased information on the importance of hand washing and drying for the good of the general public.
We also have a duty to provide easy-to-use products that enable good hygiene practices to be carried out by everyone – including the most vulnerable sections of society such as the elderly, the infirm and the very young.
By spreading the word and by facilitating good hand hygiene practices to those who are potentially most at risk – and by promoting good hand hygiene regimes to new generations from pre-school age and up – we can help to ensure a healthy future for us all.
Rolf Andersson
Fellow scientist hygiene/microbiology
SCA
Foreword
H E A LT H : H Y G I E N E S C A R E S
Continued page 6
Reducing public
sickness risks
Ann Laffeaty looks at the latest
health scares and finds out
how far the risks to the public
can be reduced through better
cleaning measures and higher
standards of hygiene.
Over the past few years our soci-
ety has been confronted by
one health scare after another.
MRSA, C.Dif f icile, swine flu,
E.Coli – whether these conditions target
closed communities such as hospital wards
or affect the wider population, their effects
can be deadly and we are all terrif ied of
catching them.
Experts are constantly urging us to wash
our hands thoroughly and to clean all sur-
faces to avoid contamination. But do such
simple measures really make a difference in
reducing these threats to our health?
E. Coli
In June the French authorities linked
sprouting seeds supplied by a British com-
pany to an E.Coli outbreak that left eight
people in hospital in France.
This came hot on the heels of an out-
break of a new strain of E Coli that killed at
least 48 people in Germany and left 3,700
ill. Beansprouts were identified as the most
likely cause here.
But seeds are not the only potential risk
when it comes to E.Coli. Last year an out-
break of E.Coli at a 'petting farm' in Surrey,
England, affected more than 90 people and
left 17 children with kidney failure. So it
seems that avoiding beansprouts alone will
not necessarily keep us safe.
According to the Health Protection
Agency, E. Coli is usually acquired by ingest-
ing contaminated food or water. Some
strains live harmlessly in the intestine while
others cause diarrhoea and can lead to life-
threatening complications.
Person-to-person transmission can occur
through the oral-faecal route, which is
why petting farms are particularly vulner-
able. Visitors to open farms are urged to
take greater care to avoid any contact with
animal droppings.
George Griffin, professor of infectious dis-
eases and medicine at St George's, University
of London, led an inquiry following the out-
break of E.Coli at Surrey’s Godstone farm
last year. He concluded that an overhaul
of safety and hygiene was needed at open
farms. “Hand washing alone is not enough -
and reducing the chance of visitors touching
animal faeces is the priority,” he said.
He claimed that farm operators needed
to review the layout of public areas and that
Hygiene for Health September 2011 5ECJ
'deep bedding' pens, in which animal faeces
are allowed to accumulate, should be sited
away from the public and should be cleaned
out every few days rather than every three
months as occurs in some farms.
He added that more education on the risks
of E.Coli was required. The O157 strain is
particularly dangerous for children and those
over 76, for example: it can cause kidney fail-
ure, brain damage and even death.
According to the World Health Organisation
(WHO), outbreaks linked to sprouting seeds
may be a result of seeds becoming contami-
nated with faeces from domestic or wild
animals during cultivation or handling. The
organisation recommends adherence to
its five basic hygiene 'Keys' to reduce the
risks of infection – namely, to pay attention
tion of sinks should be the long-term strat-
egy. However, WHO concedes that alcohol-
based hand rubs are ineffective against
Clostridium Diff icile spores. It therefore
recommends washing the hands with soap
and water after glove removal when caring
for patients with diarrhoea during a C.
Difficile outbreak.
The Health Protection Agency agrees
that good hand washing practices by staff
can help restrict the spread of Clostridium
Difficile. The agency also advocates the rou-
tine use of alcohol gels between patients,
but advises that visibly soiled hands should
be washed with soap and water before thor-
ough drying with a paper hand towel.
Norovirus
The Norovirus, better known as the 'winter
vomiting bug'. Is chiefly transmitted through
the faecal-oral route, either by consumption
of faecally contaminated food or water or by
direct person-to-person spread. The virus
can spread very rapidly in semi-closed com-
munities and as few as 10 viral particles may
be sufficient to infect an individual.
Most foodborne outbreaks of Norovirus
are likely to arise though direct contamina-
tion of food by a food handler immediately
before its consumption. Outbreaks have fre-
quently been associated with consumption of
cold foods including salads, sandwiches and
bakery products. Liquid items such as salad
dressing or cake icing that allow the virus
to mix evenly are also often implicated as a
cause of outbreaks.
Food can also be contaminated at its
source, and oysters from contaminated
waters have been associated with widespread
outbreaks. Meanwhile, waterborne outbreaks
of the Norovirus in community settings have
often been caused by sewage contamination
of wells and recreational water.
According to Dr Stephanie Dancer,
enhanced cleaning and surface disinfection
with bleach-containing products can reduce
the spread of Norovirus. “Such cleaning is
essential for the rapid resolution of an out-
break,” she said. “Insufficient cleaning, or
the mistiming of a cleaning intervention,
encourages the re-emergence of cases.”
The Health Protection Agency agrees with
this verdict, adding that particular attention
should be paid to the toilet areas. Cleaning
up any vomit rapidly will also help to reduce
the risk of environmental contamination.
The HPA adds that good hygiene meas-
ures should be observed during outbreaks.
The hands should be washed thoroughly
with soap and water af ter coming into
contact with someone who is ill and after
using the toilet, especially for those suffer-
ing from symptoms.
General advice also includes the use of
alcohol-based hand sanitisers as an adjunct
method of hand hygiene.
September 2011 Hygiene for Health6 ECJ
H E A LT H : H Y G I E N E S C A R E S
to personal hygiene; to separate raw and
cooked foods; to thoroughly cook all foods
that are meant to be served hot; to keep food
at safe temperatures and to use safe water
and raw materials.
Meanwhile, the Food Standards Agency
advises all equipment that has come into
contact with raw sprouting seeds should be
thoroughly cleaned after use. Consumers
should also wash their hands after handling
seeds intended for planting or sprouting.
Swine flu
The advent of swine flu in 2009 alerted us
all to the importance of washing our hands.
In the panic that surrounded the first few
outbreaks, the advice was unanimous: better
hand hygiene could help prevent the spread
of illness.
The US Center for Disease Control (CDC)
was very specific in its guidelines. It recom-
mended that hand washing should take place
for a period of 15 to 20 seconds and that
alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel
sanitisers should be used when soap and
water were not available.
The CDC also revealed that the swine flu
virus could survive on surfaces and remain
active for up to eight hours. A number of
antibacterial wipes and cleaning products
claiming to be active against swine flu were
launched following this revelation.
The World Health Organisation, too, rec-
ommended that frequently-touched sur-
faces should be cleaned on a regular basis
with household detergents. However WHO’s
guidelines concentrated chiefly on the need
for frequent hand washing with soap and
water and on using a tissue to cover the nose
and mouth when coughing or sneezing, then
binning the tissue immediately afterwards.
WHO also recommended hand rubbing with
alcohol as a supplement to hand washing
where available.
MRSA
M R S A – o r M e t h i c i l l i n - r e s i s t a n t
Staphylococcus aureus – has been a global
problem in hospitals since it was first identi-
fied in the 1960s. According to the Health
Protection Agency (HPA), MRSA spreads from
patient to patient via the hands of carers.
However, it can also survive in dust which
means it is important to maintain high
standards of general cleaning.
The HPA recommends thorough and regu-
lar hand washing among medical staff to
prevent the spread of MRSA. It also suggests that a patient's clothes and linen should be washed in the hottest possible cycle and if possible tumble-dried or ironed.
Visitors do not need to wear protective clothing but they must wash and dry their hands thoroughly after contact.
According to Dr Stephanie Dancer, con-sultant microbiologist for NHS Lanarkshire, dust-associated microbes such as MRSA tend to settle on rarely-cleaned or inacces-sible surfaces such as shelves, highly-placed equipment and computer keyboards.
She said a study in an Irish intensive care unit showed that cleaning a bed space using
a detergent-based product followed by a one
per cent hypochlorite solution was initially
effective in eliminating MRSA.
“However, the site soon became re-con-
taminated,” she said. “It is possible that
high-risk surfaces in areas such as intensive
care units will require four-hourly cleaning
attention in order to control recontamina-
tion by specific pathogens, such as MRSA.”
C.Difficile
The World Health Organisation is now
placing higher emphasis on alcohol-based
hand rubs as an international standard
in healthcare. According to its website: “At
the present time, the most efficacious, well-
tolerated and well-researched product which
can be placed ergonomically and safely at the
point of care is an alcohol-based hand rub.
“Soap and water hand washing is less
efficacious, more time-consuming, and less
well tolerated by skin than alcohol-based
hand-rubbing.”
WHO recommends alcohol rubs as a short-
term strategy in countries where access to
sinks is limited, although adds that installa-
Cela a commencé avec le SARM, puis il y a eu la grippe porcine. Depuis lors, de nombreux cas d'apparition du norovirus et la bactérie E.coli ont été signalés, sans oublier le risque constamment présenté par les germes Colostridium difficile et Listeria. Nous examinons de récentes alertes sanitaires pour établir dans quelle mesure des régimes de nettoyage et une hygiène personnelle améliorée pourraient réduire ces risques.
Erst MRSA, dann die Schweinegrippe. Dann gab es Norovirus- und EHEC-Ausbrüche - ganz zu schweigen von den permanenten Gesundheitsrisiken durch Clostridium difficile und Listerien. Wir betrachten die jüngsten Gesundheitsrisiken und beurteilen, in welchem Maße Reinigungsregime und verbesserte persönliche Hygiene zur Minderung der Risiken beitragen können.
Prima c’è stata la MRSA; poi l’influenza suina. Da allora ci sono stati scoppi di norovirus e E.coli – senza parlare dei rischi sempre presenti per la salute causati da Colostrum difficile e Listeria. Prendiamo in esame gli allarmi per la salute pubblica più recenti e valutiamo fino a che punto i regimi di pulizia e una migliore igiene personale possano essere d ’aiuto nel ridurre i rischi.
www.dysonairblade.co.uk
Usage based on 2 towels per dry (data from Dyson internal research – Sept 2008). 1600W machine shown. Calculations include standby power. Cost based on
1 pence per paper towel (data from Dyson internal research – Jan 2010) and £0.1194 per kWh (data from Eurostat 2009 Semester 2 – published March 2010).
Paper towel dispenser and Dyson Airblade™ hand dryer purchase costs are excluded from comparison. 10 second dry time based on NSF protocol P335.
Costs £1,460.00 per year to run.
Based on 100 people visiting a
washroom twice a day, a paper towel
dispenser will get through 146,000
towels a year.
That’s a cost of £1,460.00.
Costs £39.76 per year to run.
For the same use, the Dyson Airblade™
hand dryer costs just £39.76 to run.
It works in only 10 seconds and its
HEPA filter cleans the air before it
reaches hands.
It’s fast, hygienic and a fraction of
the cost of paper towels.
September 2011 Hygiene for Health8 ECJ
H E A LT H : W O R K P L A C E H Y G I E N E
A healthy andA hygienic workplace means
a healthier and happier
workforce, with lower
absenteeism due to illness and
higher productivity. Hartley
Milner explores how the
cleaning industry is promoting
this message to office and
facility managers.
The telephone – probably no means
of communication has done
more to revolutionise office life.
Unfortunately, it is also a great
communicator for less welcome entities that
are keen to get in contact with us.
Phones are the dirtiest items of equipment
in the average office, putting you in touch
with up to 25,127 germs per square inch
lurking in the mouthpiece.
“Right then, I will just have to use email
more often,” may be your response. Sorry,
there’s no escape – a computer keyboard can
host as many as 3,295 bacteria per six square
cms and a mouse 1,676 per six square cms.
The typical office desk is a playground for
over 10 million of these little bugs and is 400
times more contaminated than a lavatory
seat. An unguarded sneeze can propel cold or
flu viruses at 150km per hour, to a distance
of almost two metres. And other nasties can
lead to headline-making outbreaks of hepa-
titis A, salmonella, dysentery, cryptosporidi-
osis and Legionnaires’ disease.
These are some of the less pleasant reali-
ties of off ice life that organisations con-
cerned with health and safety are striving to
get over in their drive to convince more busi-
nesses about the benefits of implementing
good hygiene practices at their sites.
Dr Kathryn Bellamy, senior policy and
technical adviser at the Institution of
Occupational Safety and Health, said:
“Maintaining a clean, tidy and hygienic
workplace has benefits for all, making any
environment more enjoyable and safe to be
in – boosting morale and the productivity of
staff. If managers promote a clean and tidy
workplace, employees are often empowered
to follow suit. Clearly, working in a clean
environment is a great deal more pleasant
than in an untidy, dirty one.
“Improved hygiene can help to reduce
infections and, therefore, absenteeism.
Keeping a clean and tidy showroom or office
space also does a great deal for a company’s
reputation. If your workplace is clean and
tidy and customers or potential clients are
visiting, you are portraying a positive image
of your workplace values.
“For example, if a client walks in and
notices that the reception area is dusty and
the waiting room is full of old magazines and
newspapers, chances are they have already
made a negative judgement about your busi-
ness. But if it smells fresh, has today's paper
and is kept clean and tidy, their experience
with your business is already a much more
positive one.”
Personal protection and hygiene prod-
ucts supplier Kimberly-Clark Professional
has launched the Healthy Workplace Project,
showing how taking a few simple steps, such
as tackling poor hand hygiene habits, can
help eradicate harmful germs and cut absen-
teeism while raising staff satisfaction and
productivity levels.
Costly absenteeism
Absenteeism is estimated to cost more
than 800 euros per employee each year in
the UK alone. A recent study involving office
workers at FedEx found that the use of a hand
sanitiser and simple education programme
reduced absenteeism by 21 per cent.
The Healthy Workplace Project of fers
advice and practical support to enable com-
panies to install the best hygiene systems
around the workplace and, most importantly,
inspire staff to use them regularly. The pro-
gramme is being rolled out in the UK fol-
lowing a successful launch in the US and at
Kimberly-Clark’s own sites across Europe.
Businesses that sign up are offered a com-
prehensive assessment of their whole work-
ing environment, from reception desks to
individual workstations. Following a visit,
the team makes tailored recommendations
on where to place products such as hand
sanitisers and desk wipes. Companies receive
an engagement activation pack comprising
stickers, posters and other material carrying
messages about good hygiene.
“The materials in the pack have been care-
fully designed to attract the attention of
employees and encourage them to use the
hygiene products made available by their
employer, helping to achieve a long-term positive change in their behaviour,” said Richard Millard, EMEA office building seg-ment manager at Kimberly-Clark.
“We believe the Healthy Workplace Project could also help businesses demonstrate to their employees that they genuinely care about their welfare, which is an important step towards helping staff feel their employ-er is a good company to work for.”
A Healthy Workplace team recently ran an assessment at the London head off ice of personal protection equipment provider Greenham – with some startling findings.
Greenham purchasing director Glenn Miller explained: “We did have some anti-bacteria equipment within the business and are aware of the need for good hygiene, but what the launch event was all about was actually hav-ing people experience a clean desk environ-ment, a clean mobile phone environment and the level of bacteria that was present on their keyboard or desk phones.
“We had never monitored the amount of bacteria before and people became quite alarmed by the level of germs present on their desks and phones – and knowing they were taking that bacteria home. Some other worrying scores were recorded on door han-dles, especially in the men's toilet. The toi-lets were one of the areas where it was shown you should be careful. It was brought home to us that it is vital everyone who uses the toilets should wash their hands afterwards.”
The visiting team took swab samples at specific locations, mainly workstations, to test for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule found in animals, plants and food particles that harbours and grows bacteria. The level of ATP on the swab is measured and compared to the following criteria – 1-10 the area is perfectly clean, 0-30 it is clean enough, 30 and above the area is a hot spot and measures need to be taken.
A mobile phone was found to be the worst offender with a reading of 1,419, but just 62 when treated with a sanitising wipe. The lowest for a mobile was 12. Other readings included:
Test sites Highest Lowest
Desk phones 289 43Keyboards 361 112Desks 93 36
Employees were advised to use the sani-
H E A LT H : W O R K P L A C E H Y G I E N E
Hygiene for Health September 2011 9ECJ
happy workforce
tising wipers and hand sanitisers that were
located at contamination hot spots and were
also issued with individual anti-bac packs.
They were also cautioned against ‘snack-
ing’ at their workstation. The company now
has bacteria monitoring equipment on every
floor and plans to roll out the measures to all
its 23 branches.
“We expect to see a benefit from these
measures within the next 12 months, but
I can definitely see a change in behaviour
already – people have the got anti-bacs in
their desks and have their little sprays, which
they carry in their handbags or in their cars,”
added Miller.
Skin hygiene specialist GOJO offers solu-
tions through its Workplace Wellness pro-
grammes and toolkit, which are tailored to
meet the needs of a range of markets, includ-
ing the healthcare, manufacturing, education
and leisure sectors. These combine products,
dispensing technology and science-based
education programmes encouraging healthy
skin care behaviour, supported by employee-
targeted posters and a simple guide to effec-
tive hand hygiene – all measures the com-
pany has introduced at its own sites.
Plus its team of experts trains employ-
ers in good hygiene practices that are then
passed on to staff. They adopt a ‘day in the
life’ approach towards identifying skincare
needs or compliance issues and guidance is
offered to help identify potential hazards,
such as those associated with open refillable
Un lieu de travail hygiénique aboutira à une force de travail à la fois mieux portante et plus heureuse, avec moins d'absentéisme pour cause de maladie et une productivité plus élevée. Hartley Milner examine comment le secteur de la propreté fait parvenir ce message aux gestionnaires de bureaux et de bâtiments.
Ein hygienischer Arbeitsplatz bedeutet gesünderes und zufriedeneres Personal bei gleichzeitig geringeren krankheitsbedingten Fehlzeiten und höhere Produktivität. Hartley Milner untersucht, wie die Reinigungsindustrie bei Büro- und Betriebsleitern für diese Botschaft wirbt.
Un luogo di lavoro igienico significa personale più sano e più soddisfatto, con meno assenteismo dovuto a malattie e una più alta produttività. Hartley Milner esamina come il settore del cleaning stia promuovendo questo messaggio con i manager di uffici e strutture.
soap dispensers.
“Hand washing is an effective method to
stop the spread of germs, but may not be the
most convenient,” explained Mike Sullivan,
managing director of GOJO Industries Europe.
“Today’s employees are working longer hours
and taking less breaks, which is compro-
mising good hand hygiene. According to a
collaborative study by the American Society
for Microbiology and the Soap Detergent
Association, one in four people do not wash
their hands before they leave toilet areas.
Trigger good behaviour
“Easy access to desktop sanitisers is need-
ed for busy workers who don’t have time to
wash their hands frequently during the day.”
Following its success in the States, GOJO
has now launched PURELL Perfect Placement
in Europe, a concept aimed at optimising the
position of hand sanitiser dispensers in the
workplace. This involves placing dispensers
on walls by washroom exits between 90 cms
and 1.1 metres above the floor – the perfect
height to trigger good hand hygiene behav-
iour and prevent the transmission of germs
from door handles.
And the company has designed a compli-
ance system with a range of colour-coded
dispensers in a bid to help prevent foodborne
outbreaks, which led to 4,356 hospital admis-
sions and 46 deaths across the 27 EU member
states in 2009. Colours and visuals are used
to distinguish soap and hand sanitiser dis-
pensers, along with posters explaining their
use. “Colour coding helps to avoid misuse of
hygiene products and as a result reduces the
risk of cross-contamination,” said Sullivan.
“Our new programme has been launched with
quick and clear messaging which will help
educate workers in an industry where current
labelling and language used may not be easy
to translate or understand.”
While the cleaning industry is keen to pro-
mote the benefits of best hygiene practice
against just basic cleaning, getting the mes-
sage over to target markets can be a chal-
lenge, explained Andreas Lill, director gen-
eral of the European Federation of Cleaning
Industries (EFCI).
“In hospitals, it is understood you have to
have the highest quality of hygiene possible,
clean wards etc, because they have ill people
with special requirements,” he said. “But in a
building with only offices it is not so common
that a client will ask for higher standards in
terms of hygiene, even if they should do.
“Most cleaning contractors and prod-
uct manufacturers have a special knowl-
edge of fighting against hygiene problems.
Unfortunately, all this knowledge cannot
really be delivered because for the highest
standards you have to pay more and most
employers are not willing to pay this price,
especially in these austere times when the
trend is to cut costs, not increase them.
“The pr ice can be relative, however,
because if you pay for a better product you
may save money in the long term because
you reduce the level of germs in the work-
place – and, therefore, absenteeism due
to infections.”
User-friendlyHand washing and drying
can make a real difference in keeping us healthy. And
to be truly effective, a hand hygiene solution should
be as user-friendly as possible. SCA explains how its new Tork foam
soaps have been developed to be easy to use even
for the most vulnerable sections of our society
such as small children, the frail and the elderly.
New Tork foam soap
dispenser is designed for all
Wherever we go we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a good hand hygiene regime if we want to stay healthy.
Following the swine flu pandemic of 2009 and the recent E.Coli outbreak we were told by every major health organisation that thorough hand wash-ing with soap and water was vital if we wanted to stay safe. But studies show that there are still some gaps in the public’s hand hygiene compliance.
No-one can be forced to wash their hands, just as none of us can be made to give up smoking or take other measures to safeguard our health against our will. But anyone who actually wants to practice good hand hygiene should be enabled to do so. And it is a sad fact that hand hygiene is easier for some of us than
C O V E R S T O R Y
for others. People with reduced hand strength
may find it difficult to turn on taps and use modern soap and tissue dispens-ers, for example. This group may include the very young and the elderly – both of which are among the most vulnerable sections of society.
We at SCA recognise the need for making good hand hygiene accessible to all. This is why we have specifical-ly designed our new Tork foam soap dispenser to be easy to use for peo-ple with reduced hand strength, such as young children and elderly people who may be suffering from rheumatic or arthritic conditions.
In developing the Tork foam soap dispenser we enlisted the aid of Unicum, an organisation dedicated to creating products for universal use. Unicum has a “Design for All” phi-losophy which recognises that there is no such thing as an average person and that we are all unique - with our own abilities and limitations. Unicum aims to improve the quality of life for those consumers who face specific challenges without using costly spe-cial needs solutions or post-manufac-turing adjustments.
Unicum was founded 12 years ago by industrial designer Lena Lorentzen. “We started by looking at ways of making products that would be more accessible for people with reduced hand function,” she said. “But we have now developed methods for testing products for people with other disabili-ties, such as those with poor eyesight and reduced cognitive skills. In fact we have new testing methods coming on stream all the time.
“Our aim is to support those com-
September 2011 Hygiene for Health10 ECJ
was devised by Unicum and carried out in association with the Swedish Rheumatism Association. A panel of testers – all of whom who had reduced hand function due to rheumatoid or neurological conditions - were enlisted to try out the dispenser for themselves.
Participants were asked to go through a series of handling stages and then grade each step on a scale from one to nine where one signified “extremely difficult” while nine denoted “extremely easy”. For example, they were asked to score the dispenser on how easy it was to access the soap inside; whether they could unlock the dispenser with ease, and whether were able to open and close the dis-penser to replace the soap bottle.
Products needed to reach at least level five in order to be approved by the Swedish Rheumatism Association. Results for the Tork foam soap dis-penser ranged between 6.4 and 7.9.
“We evaluated every aspect of the Tork foam soap dispenser and found that it performed very well,” said Lena. “Anything above five is approved by the Swed ish Rheumat i sm Association, but a score of six or above is excellent.”
Development manager for the Swedish Rheumatism Association Leif Hansson confirmed: “The Tork foam soap dispenser was very easy to use and posed no problems at all. It is quite unusual for a product to perform at such a high level.”
Accessible products
He says the association is com-mitted to helping manufacturers to develop accessible products and packaging, and it is working with other European organisations with the aim of helping to make improvements across the continent.
“There are currently around 70 mil-lion people in Europe who have a problem with reduced hand function,” said Leif. “And with an increasingly aging population there will be even more as time goes on. These people simply want to be able to manage their day themselves and handle eve-ryday activities just like the rest of us.
“SCA has been one of the pioneer
panies that are striving to make their products and packaging more inclusive and easier to use.”
Unicum is based in Sweden and works with companies from all over the world. “We have a data-base of 650 people with dif-ferent kinds of disability and we employ them to help us with our tests,” said Lena.
The test method for the Tork foam soap dispenser
organisations in putting forward its products for testing in an effort to make them more accessible to every-one. We are very glad that companies are beginning to see the importance of designing their products in this way.”
It is a laudable aim of the Swedish Rheumatism Association to help make the world an easier place to live in for the elderly and infirm. But it is crucial that we – as a responsible hygiene company – also help to put hand hygiene within their grasp since any compromise in this area could be detrimental to their health.
Foam soap dispenser passes
the pre-school test
Tork foam soap has been trialled at several pre-schools in Sweden – with unanimously positive results. SCA installed prototypes of the new Tork Foam Soap dispenser containing Tork Extra Mild Foam Soap in the staff and pupil washrooms of a number of pre-schools. These replaced the previous liquid soap dispensers.
hygiene systems
“We received very positive feedback from the staff,” said Inger Andersson, SCA product development for dis-pensers. “It was much easier for the children to access soap from the Tork foam soap dispenser because the push force is much lower than with a regular soap dispenser. The staff liked this because it meant there was no need for them to help the pupils wash their hands and they were free to carry out other activities.
“The children also found the actual process of hand washing easier with Tork foam soap. A shot of liquid soap can slip between small fingers and
C O V E R S T O R Y
Hygiene for Health September 2011 11ECJ
result in the child washing their hands with no soap at all. But Tork foam soap is easy to see and is much easi-er to spread around the hands.”
Tork Extra Mild Foam Soap is fragrance-free and contains no sul-phates that could irritate the eyes. This makes it particularly suitable for environments such as schools and hospitals where a mild formula-tion is required.
Foam soap fun
All Tork foam soaps are housed in a container that holds 2,500 doses of quality foam soap – around double the number as is contained in a liquid soap dispenser of the same size. This means that refilling time is halved and the soap is as cost-effective as a liq-uid soap.
Tork Extra Mild Foam Soap is one of three new soaps in the new Tork foam soap range. Tork Antimicrobial Foam Cleanser is effectively a soap and disinfectant in one and contains 40 per cent ethanol which means it destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi. This makes it particularly suitable for use in the food and healthcare industries where a germicidal action is often preferred. Tork Mild Foam Soap contains natural skin lipids to prevent dryness.
Besides the fact that Tork Extra Mild Foam Soap was found to be easy to use in the pre-school trials, pupils also liked it because it was fun, according to Inger.
“For the first few days the children enjoyed playing with the foam soap,” she said. “The novelty soon wore off, but there are obvious advantages to a system that makes hand washing fun for children since this can only help to promote good hand hygiene practices.”
Les solutions pour l'hygiène des mains dfevraient être aussi conviviales que possible, raison pour laquelle les nouveau savons mousse Tork de SCA ont été conçus pour un usage aisé, même au sein des sections les plus vulnérables de notre société. Le distributeur a été homologué par l'Association suédoise du rhumatisme car une très faible pression suffit pour en extraire le savon. Les savons mousse Tork ont maintenant subi des essais dans plusieurs écoles infantiles en Suède, avec des résultats partout positifs.
Handhygienelösungen sollten so benutzerfreundlich wie nur irgend möglich sein, und die neuen Tork Schaumseifen von SCA wurden gezielt auf einfache Verwendung hin entwickelt - auch durch die hilfsbedürftigsten Personen in unserer Gesellschaft. Der Spender wurde vom schwedischen Rheumatismusverband anerkannt, da nur wenig Kraftaufwand zur Betätigung erforderlich ist. Tork Schaumseifen wurden in mehreren Vorschulen in Schweden getestet - mit einhellig positiven Ergebnissen.
Le soluzioni per l’igiene delle mani dovrebbero essere il più semplice possibile, e i nuovi saponi in schiuma Tork prodotti dalla SCA sono stati sviluppati per essere facili da usare anche per le sezioni più vulnerabili della nostra società. Il dispenser è stato approvato dall’associazione svedese per i reumatismi (Swedish Rheumatism Association) in quanto richiede una forza minima per premere il pulsante che permette di accedere al sapone. I saponi in schiuma Tork sono stati testati in numerose scuole materne in Svezia con dei risultati positivi all’unanimità.
H E A LT H : C L E A N I N G M A C H I N E S
Continued page 14
Efficient hygiene
The fact large areas also need to be cleaned in accordance with
the increased demands on cleanliness does not mean that hygiene
and efficiency represent conflicting aspects. Modern scrubber
dryers use various technologies to increase efficiency without
reducing the quality of the results of cleaning - explains Hako.
Corridors and open areas in public
buildings play an important role
– they serve as connecting ele-
ments between parts of buildings,
represent communication routes for custom-
ers in shopping centres or meeting points
and information areas for visitors in muse-
ums and hospitals. However, they can only
fulfil their function when the people in them
feel at ease. The cleanliness of the floors is
an important factor here, quite apart from
the basic legal requirements in respect of
hygiene and cleanliness which are becoming
increasingly strict.
In order to maintain the cleanliness and
hygiene of these areas at a constantly high
level, solutions to economic problems are
necessary: eff icient machines with which
large areas can be cleaned in as short a time
as possible without cleanliness and hygiene
being affected.
The demand for cleanliness in buildings
is constantly increasing and one trend is
more routine cleaning, less basic cleaning.
As in the past, cost saving has top priority,
meaning shortening cleaning times to reduce
wage costs. This has created completely new
conditions with regard to the demands made
of cleaning machines. All improvements to
cleaning machines which could result in
the reduction of periods of operation are
appreciated by the customer and required
during the machine selection phase. Which
machines offer short set-up times and long
operating times? How can you save on initial
costs as well as costs for water, power, clean-
ing agents and wearing parts in the interest
of the environment?
Manufacturers of commercial cleaning
technology take all this into account dur-
ing machine development and offer product
ranges with modular designs and increased
options for deployment.
Tailor-made customer upgrading options
are also provided as well as plug-and-clean
machines which are supplied ready to use.
Reducing set-up times
Today there are many more of sensitive
applications where cleaning machines must
be used several times a day. In the case of
machine for wet cleaning, focus is set on
reducing set-up times to increase efficiency:
eg, through further developments in bat-
tery technology and quick-charge systems
on offer. They offer solutions with which
machines can be recharged to continue oper-
Hygiene for Health September 2011 13ECJ
larger in the same time.
Economic cleaning agents
Costs for cleaning agents is a factor which must not be underestimated in respect of routine cleaning. The costs for this can be reduced considerably, however, because the use of chemical agents is often unneces-sary or only necessary within a minimum scope. Manufacturers have developed various solutions for cleaning floors with machines whereby the amount of cleaning agent used is reduced or can be dispensed with alto-gether without affecting the quality of the results of cleaning.
Cleaning agent dosing systems add only as much cleaning agent to the water as neces-sary. These systems are available as station-ary systems or as onboard solutions. The lat-ter system is comprised of a regulated pump in which the feed rate of the cleaning agent is dependent on the water flow rate. The system can also be installed in machines without a water pump. The concentration adjustment is
ation in about 30 minutes.
The batteries used are maintenance-free
and, due to their special design, can be
charged with high currents enabling inter-
mediate charging at any time. The chargers
only require a nominal voltage of 230 V/AC
– meaning that charging is possible from any
power socket. This results in a particularly
high level of machine utilisation and almost
permanent availability. Also, as a result of
the long life of the batteries, it is an environ-
mentally friendly and economic system.
Increased coverage with same size
Smaller, more manoeuvrable and bet-
ter arranged manual scrubber dryers with
a broad working width are already on the
market, providing higher levels of efficiency
for larger floor surfaces. If a small scrubber
dryer equipped, for example, with a circular
brush unit with a working width of 51 cm
provides a theoretical area coverage of up
to 2,300 square metres per hour, the same
machine equipped with a 65 cm brush unit
can clean a surface area which is 25 per cent
Protecting the environment
Positive ef fects of the measures to
increase efficiency: many have a direct, posi-
tive effect in respect of environmental pro-
tection and saving resources, such as the
reduced consumption of water and cleaning
agents. Environmental protection does not
start with use of the machine - an increas-
ing number of customers put emphasis on
machines being not only designed with effi-
ciency in mind but are also for a sustained
future. The entire product life cycle of the
machine is considered here. From design to
production, naturally to product utility and
on to recycling and disposal. By selecting the
construction materials carefully, many com-
ponents on correspondingly designed scrub-
ber dryers can be reused or recycled without
any problems. An important aspect within
the scope of sustainability is the service life
of the scrubber dryer. A machine can only be
used for a long time and thus, be efficient
when high quality materials are used in its
construction. This relates to impact resist-
ant plastic tanks, aluminium brush heads
or stainless steel squeegees and also to an
overall stable, maintenance-friendly design.
Such constructions offer a further advan-
tage, in view of the trend towards continu-
ous daily cleaning, cleaning machines today
operate increasingly under the watchful eye
of passers-by and customers. The machine
is then often an advertisement for the com-
pany or institution for which it is used. By
using high quality materials, the appearance
of the machine is retained for a long time
and the machine, in turn, projects a positive
company image.
Acceptance by operators
Since the machine must be used as fre-
quently and regularly as the demands on
cleanliness and hygiene require, it must
also be accepted by the operators. A major
condition for this is that the scrubber dryer
provides an ergonomic workplace. Sprung,
comfort seat, optimum view of the work area
and sufficient legroom enable longer periods
of operation. Simple operation is an impor-
tant aspect ensuring the machine is used
willingly and frequently -electronic controls
have made great progress in this respect. The
driver no longer needs to manipulate various
switches, levers and knobs but can operate
the entire range of machine functions via a
single knob. It is often the case that indi-
vidual cleaning programmes can be input so
that the machine can be adapted optimally
to the respective building characteristics.
Another important condition for com-
bining hygiene and eff iciency is that the
scrubber dryer must suit the building. Only
a tailor-made solution can be efficient and
effective at the same time. It is then possible
to cover large areas, leaving them in a clean,
hygienic condition and at reasonable costs.
September 2011 Hygiene for Health14 ECJ
H E A LT H : C L E A N I N G M A C H I N E S
continuously variable and remains constant
even if the operator increases or reduces the
water supply. This prevents overdosing or
underdosing. Too much or too little cleaning
agent leads to suboptimal cleaning results
which, in extreme cases, can necessitate re-
cleaning - in the event of overdosing it also
represents an extra burden on materials and
the waste water. Costs are increased, too.
Highly concentrated cleaning agents for
daily, routine cleaning are undergoing devel-
opments to further improve economic use of
cleaning technology. Tests showed that using
this type of agent, for example, brought con-
siderable savings in cleaning agent costs
and, consequently, for transport, storage
and disposal. These cleaning agents are pro-
vided in packages which fit the onboard dos-
ing systems and thus ensure additional sav-
ings in valuable working time because time-
consuming refilling is dispensed with.
Reduced water consumption
Various measures developed also help to
reduce water consumption: eg, by attach-
ing a water retaining ring to the brushes.
The water retaining ring keeps the cleaning
media on the area to be cleaned for a long-
er period, the dirt is loosened reliably and
flushed away. At the same time, electroni-
cally regulated pumps ensure exact dosing to
the cleaning equipment according to driving
speed. This enables savings of up to 50 per
cent in water and cleaning agents.
Under certain circumstances, cleaning
agents can be dispensed with altogether: in
such cases, the operator has the option of
using the CoD process (Chemical on Demand)
to complete cleaning using normal tap
water. In the case of heavier soiling, a clean-
ing agent can be added to the water at the
touch of a button just before the brushes are
applied. This means that the clean water tank
can be maintained free of any chemicals.
Cleaning without chemicals
This effect is reinforced when deminer-
alised water is used for cleaning. In this
case, all the minerals present in normal tap
water (organic salts, ions) are removed.
Demineralised water is particularly soft and,
as a result, can flush out particles of dirt
on the floor very well, loosens it better and
clears it up. The water dries without leav-
ing any residues or streaks and limescale
marks. In addition, re-soiling is reduced dra-
matically because particles of dirt no longer
have any adhesion opportunities on residual
surfactant, soap or lime. This process has been used for a long time in other branch-es, such as cleaning glass and facades. Comprehensive tests have shown that the use of demineralised water also achieves good cleaning results when cleaning floors with machines.
This effect can be even further enhanced by the use of special scrubbing tools (spe-cial brushes/microfibre pads/diamond pad system). This means that when elastic floors are cleaned using diamond pads, coating and thus, conventional basic cleaning can be dispensed with. When used in combination with non-chemical cleaning, excellent clean-ing and shining results can be achieved while also preventing environmental pollution.
Hygiene-critical areas
Cleaning agents cannot, however, be dis-
pensed with everywhere, eg, when cleaning
is required to comply with the HACCP concept
such as in clinics, retirement homes, can-
teen kitchens or in the food processing and
storage sector. In this case, antibacterial
waste water tanks provide an option which
can increase hygiene levels during cleaning
without using any additional cleaning agent.
If the interiors of waste water tanks are not
cleaned thoroughly after use, contamination
can develop over the course of time which
would then represent a particular risk, espe-
cially in sensitive areas such as clinics, resi-
dential homes and nursing homes. In order
to counter this, the waste water tanks are
produced using plastics with special addi-
tives. These additives reduce bacterial and
fungal development dramatically; meaning
the use of disinfectants can be reduced sub-
stantially when cleaning the tanks.
Sur les grande surfaces fréquentées par le public, les machines de nettoyage jouent un rôle clé pour le maintien de la propreté. Nous faisons le point des avancées technologiques qui ont rendu des machines beaucoup plus conviviales, hygiéniquement sûres et appropriées pour servir sur des aires très peuplées.
In großen öffentlichen Bereichen spielen Bodenreinigungsmaschinen eine ausschlaggebende Rolle bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Sauberkeit. Wir betrachten die technologischen Fortschritte, dank derer sie benutzerfreundlicher, hygienisch sicherer und auch für den Einsatz in Ballungsgebieten besser geeignet sind.
In aree pubbliche di grandi dimensioni, le macchine per la pulizia dei pavimenti giocano un ruolo fondamentale nel mantenimento della pulizia. Prendiamo in esame i vantaggi tecnologici che le hanno rese più facili da usare, igienicamente sicure e sostenibili per essere utilizzate in aree altamente popolate.
H E A LT H : H A N D H Y G I E N E
Continued page 18
Step up to the sink
Hand washing with soap
is in fact among the most
effective and inexpensive
ways to prevent the spread of
a whole host of viruses, such
as Norovirus, Rotavirus and
Influenza, as well as diarrhoeal
diseases and pneumonia.
Kimberly-Clark Professional
explains why hand hygiene
really is a public health issue.
When Swine Flu broke out
in the UK in 2008, a major
public information cam-
paign from the Department
of Health warned: "To reduce the risk of
catching or spreading the virus you should...
wash your hands regularly with soap and
water." You could also use a hand sanitiser
gel where soap and water are not available, it
recommended, although hand washing with
soap was the preferred option.
It was a time of panic and the advice was
eagerly embraced by the public. Hand sani-
tiser sales sky-rocketed in the wake of the
publicity, with some brands seeing sales up
as much as 1,500 plus per cent.
Hand washing with soap is in fact among
the most effective and inexpensive ways to
prevent the spread of a whole host of viruses,
such as Norovirus, Rotavirus and Influenza,
as well as diarrhoeal diseases and pneumo-
nia. These sort of viruses and germs can get
into the body by touching eyes, ears nose
and mouth - and that is something everyone
does frequently. In one study in 2008 adults
were found to touch their face (eyes, nostrils
and lips) an average of 15.7 times per hour.
The viruses are also passed from person to
Hygiene for Health September 2011 17ECJ
involved in the event in more than 100 coun-tries worldwide. The event is also endorsed by many governments, international institu-tions, civil society organisations, charities, private companies, and individuals.
The next Global Handwashing Day takes place on October 15 this year.
This year scientists from the London School of Hygiene will be putting together a 'mobile phone map' of the UK, analysing the level of
person up to six times which means they can
infect up to seven people first and then six
more people. However, the data would sug-
gest the public health message that proper
hand washing with soap is a simple route to
preventing disease spreading has yet to hit
home with everyone.
Although people around the world may
wash their hands with water, many do
not wash their hands with soap at critical
moments, including after going to the toilet
and before handling or eating food, research
suggests. A rather unsettling study in 2008
found that more than one in four commut-
ers had bacteria from faeces on their hands.
Scientists from the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine swabbed 409 people at
bus and train stations in five major cities in
England and Wales to arrive at that statistic.
Great Br itain's 12 million cases of
Norovirus, Gastroenteritis, MRSA, E.Coli and
Swine Flu infections are mainly down to dirty
hands, it concluded three years ago. The
study marked the first Global Handwashing
Day, an annual event particularly aimed at
children and schools, aiming to inspire good
hand washing practice at an early age.
Each year over 200 million people are
September 2011 Hygiene for Health18 ECJ
H E A LT H : H A N D H Y G I E N E
germs on people's mobile phones.Another hand washing project focused
on children is the EU funded E-bug project, which aims to ensure that children from all over Europe leave school with an under-standing of hand and food hygiene. Teaching packs are made available online for both pri-mary and secondary school children.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also has hand washing on its agenda, focusing on the healthcare sector. It has held its annual global campaign called 'Save Lives: Clean Your Hands', advocating good hand washing practice among carers, since 2009.
Good hand washing practice is particularly important when dealing with the elderly or vulnerable as they are most susceptible to germs. So this campaign targets healthcare workers in a bid to improve hand hygiene and control the secondary spread of disease, such as MSRA and E.Coli.
Most healthcare-associated infections are preventable through good hand hygiene – cleaning hands at the right times and in the right way saves lives, is the message.
Sanitisers are very also useful if hospitals and food processing facilities to offer added protection to kill germs in areas at high risk, WHO says.
The challenge everyone is facing is how to make hand washing with soap, or using
sanitiser where soap and water are not avail-
able, an automatic behaviour carried out in
homes, schools, workplaces, hospitals and
communities. What all these sorts of public
environments have in common is that they
offer germs the ideal environment to multi-
ply, as lots of people are in contact with the
same surfaces. Doors, stair railings and lift
buttons in particular are touched repeat-
edly by everyone in the building. And even
in more 'personal' areas germs are breeding.
A study by the University of Arizona in 2002
which found that the average desk harbours
400 times more bacteria than the average
toilet seat.
Richard Millard, office building segment
manager, EMEA at health and hygiene solu-
tions company Kimberly-Clark Professional,
says: “We are targeting the workplace sector
with the clean hands message, capturing an
audience which was not brought up on hand
hygiene messages in the same way that chil-
dren have been in the past few years”.
Ideal environment for germs
He comments: “Bacteria such as the influ-
enza virus can live on surfaces for 24 to 48
hours. Recent research shows that most ill-
ness-based absence from the workplace is
caused by colds, flus and stomach upsets.”
Absenteeism through these sorts of ill-
nesses costs businesses an estimated 800
euros per employee per year, and with staff
either absent or performing below par and
spreading their germs there will be a nega-
tive impact on a company’s overall productiv-
ity and profitability.
Kimberly-Clark Professional recently
launched The Healthy Workplace Project in
the UK following success with the project
in America. The scheme offers companies
advice and practical support to enable them
to install the best possible hygiene systems
around the workplace and, most importantly,
inspire staff to use them regularly – steps
Hygiene for Health September 2011 19ECJ
H E A LT H : H A N D H Y G I E N E
Le rôle de l'hygiène des mains pour prévenir la propagation de virus et d'infections est universellement reconnu. Des organisations internationales et des entreprises de produits d'hygiène pour les mains ont été très actives, ces dernières années, dans la diffusion d'orientations en réaction à diverses épidémies Welche Rolle die Handhygiene spielt,
wenn es darum geht, die Ausbreitung von Viren und Infektionen zu verhindern, ist allgemein anerkannt. In den letzten Jahren waren aufgrund von verschiedenen Krankheitsausbrüchen internationale Organisationen und Handhygienefirmen besonders aktiv an der Erstellung von Richtlinien beteiligt.
Il ruolo dell’igiene delle mani nell’aiutare a prevenire la diffusione di virus e infezioni è stato universalmente riconosciuto. Negli ultimi anni, le organizzazioni internazionali e le aziende di produzione di prodotti per l’igiene delle mani sono stati particolarmente attivi nel dare consigli in seguito agli svariati scoppi di malattie.
that could help prevent the spread of germs
that cause a range of illnesses and the result-
ing costs to the business of absenteeism.
Businesses who sign up will be offered the
opportunity to receive an assessment of their
whole working environment, from reception
desks to individual workstations. They are
then given tailored recommendations on
where to place products – including hand
sanitisers – that could make a real difference
to overall hygiene levels in the workplace.
Richard Millard says that a company which
had two buildings with around 500 people
each in the same city took part in a pilot of
The Healthy Workplace Project in America,
with some interesting findings. One of its
buildings adopted the project and the other
did not. After 10 weeks, they building taking
part was experiencing absenteeism levels of
45 per cent less than the control building.
On top of that, three quarters of employ-
ees involved in the trial reported that their
morale was boosted by their employer having
taken an interest in their welfare.
A study in Ohio with FedEx office workers
also demonstrated that teaching staff good
hand hygiene practices can have a marked
impact on staff sickness levels.
The study found that usage of a hand san-
itiser and a simple education programme
reduced absenteeism by 21 per cent versus a
control group.
The evidence suggests that much progress
has been made in the last few years on get-
ting the message out to the public on the
importance of hand washing with soap. But
there is still work to be done.
Expert microbiologist Sally Bloomfield,
honorary professor at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine tells Hygiene
for Health: “I think public awareness of the
importance of proper hand washing is a long
way up on 10 years ago, but there is no sci-
entific data available at the moment to back
that up. When there is a scare such as that
elicited by the flu outbreak people will listen,
and afterwards awareness drops back.”
The good handwashing guide
You should spend the same amount of
time washing your hands as singing Happy
Birthday twice.
Step 1: Wet your hands
Step 2: Apply soap
Step 3: Work soap into a lather
Step 4: Ensure all areas of the hands are
rubbed with lather, taking care to cover
commonly missed areas such as fingertips,
around the nails, between fingers, in the cup
of the palm and round the back of the hands.
This step should take around 10 -20 seconds
to complete
Step 5: Rinse hands well under clean
r u n n i n g w a t e r t o r e m o v e a l l t h e
remaining lather
Step 6: Dry hands with a paper towel.
Drying your hands with paper towels removes
up to 77 per cent of bacteria on them
Step 7: Ensure that hands are fully dry,
between fingers and around finger nails.
Hand rubbing with sanitiser. Not to be
used as a replacement for good hand wash-
ing and drying. It does help to keep hands
clean as an additional step after hand wash-
ing or where water, soap and towels are not
readily available.
September 2011 Hygiene for Health20 ECJ
H E A LT H : O U T B R E A K S
Calling in theWhen an outbreak of disease
occurs in an enclosed space
- such as on a cruise ship
or in a hospital ward - the
management has to act fast
to eliminate any risk to other
passengers or patients. Ann
Laffeaty finds out how
to go about cleaning up
after an outbreak.
When an outbreak of illness
occurs we all feel vulner-
able. But in an enclosed
space – such as in a hospi-
tal ward or on a cruise ship – the danger to
our health is potentially greater.
Both types of environment face particu-
lar challenges. A hospital will house a high
proportion of people who are frail and ill who
will be particularly vulnerable to infections.
Resources are thinly stretched which means
that curbing an infection will be a challenge.
However, dedicated infection control
teams will be on hand and the sight of staff
wearing protective clothing and face masks
will reassure patients and visitors that the
problem is being dealt with efficiently.
On a cruise ship, on the other hand, pas-
sengers may be alarmed and discomforted
to see the crew wearing personal protec-
tive equipment and sealing off sections of
the ship. Here any outbreak needs to be han-
dled carefully to avoiding ruining people’s
holidays and blackening the cruise compa-
ny’s name.
But on the plus side, a shipping line will
probably have sufficient funds to train and
deploy dedicated cleaning teams in the
event of an outbreak. And the fact that most
passengers are healthy to begin with means
they are potentially less vulnerable than hos-
pital patients.
But cruise ships by their very nature are
particularly susceptible to outbreaks of ill-
nesses such as Norovirus. Consultant for
steam cleaning company Osprey Deepclean
Mike Rollins said: “Managing a cruise ship is
a nightmare because of the open-all-hours
feeding that goes on. Cruise lines have
become wise to this and tend to rotate the
opening hours of their restaurants and have
planned closures to allow for cleaning.
“But as we know, Norovirus can strike
swiftly and with a vengeance. And when
i t does t here are cer t ain sensible
measures that can be carried out to prevent
it from spreading.”
He said that ideally the contaminated
areas should be closed for thorough clean-
ing and disinfection. “Infected cruise ship
patrons should then be restricted to their
cabins until symptoms clear, which would be
around 72 hours,” he said.
Cleaning teams should then backtrack to
ascertain that all affected areas of the ship
are cleaned and disinfected, said Rollins. He
recommends cleaning the entire area from
floor to ceiling using a hypochlorite solu-
tion. “Particular attention should be paid
to the toilet area and cleaning up any vomit
since this will help to reduce environmental
contamination,” he said.
pared with conventional janitorial cloths or
wipes,” he added.
OCS has had many years of experience in
supporting healthcare clients after infection
outbreaks. Cleaning director Paul Thrupp
said: “Hospitals are in constant use so after
an outbreak we would generally provide
a thorough surface clean using a hypochlo-
rite solution.” In a typical-sized ward this
would take around four hours and the ward
would be immediately available for use
on completion.
Fogging option
He says fogging systems can also be
used to kill harmful pathogenic organisms,
whether these are airborne or on surfaces.
“However, fogging should be used only in
non-populated areas,” he added.
OCS uses the Otex sanitising unit which
converts oxygen into ozone, a naturally-
occurring disinfectant. “If using a hydro-
gen peroxide fogging system the ward would
need to be vacated during cleaning and for a
minimum of four hours afterwards,” he said.
“However with the Otex fogging system the
area can be inhabited as soon as the process
is finished.”
The challenges involved in cleaning up
after a cruise ship outbreak are entirely dif-
ferent from those involved in a hospital ward
says Mark Phelps, company microbiologist
for ISS facility services healthcare UK.
“Hospitals contain ill patients and can
house a host of pathogens from viruses
and bacteria to multi-drug resistant Gram-
negative rods and others,” he said. “Cruise
ships on the other hand are generally associ-
ated with viruses such as Norovirus.
“The main intention is to remove the
offending pathogen from the environment,
but micro-organisms have varying survival
rates. Respiratory viruses are highly trans-
missible at the time of the outbreak but will
die out when the source of the organism
(people) is no longer present.
“On the other hand, the spores of
C.Diff icile can survive for extremely long
periods - and in a busy hospital with a high
bed occupancy a robust deep cleaning regime
will be required.”
The type of cleaning method used depends
on the needs of the customer, he says.
“Chlorine dioxide-based products are gaining
greater popularity with some hospital trusts,
while the use of fogging systems - using
According to Rollins soft furnishings such
as carpets, curtains and upholstery are dif-
ficult to surface clean since a hypochlorite
solution could damage them. “In these
cases, steam cleaning would be effective
since Norovirus is inactivated at tempera-
tures above 70 degrees C,” he said.
He claims a hospital would be somewhat
easier to disinfect. “In a hospital ward there
are not so many complex surfaces and the
infection control teams are well prepared,”
he said. “Deep cleaning would be carried
out around the patients and anyone infected
could be isolated. Staff would be equipped
with personal protective equipment and
would bag anything soiled or contaminated.”
According to Rollins, steam cleaning and
fogging systems are becoming more popular
since they provide a reassurance that disin-
fection is taking place. “Disposable microfi-
bre cloths also provide a greater efficiency
and effectiveness in surface cleaning com-
H E A LT H : O U T B R E A K S
Hygiene for Health September 2011 21ECJ
outbreak busters
either hydrogen peroxide or ozone - are also
particularly useful in clinical areas exposed
to a nosocomial pathogen such as C.Difficile.
“The use of microf ibre is also gaining
momentum as this is an excellent tool for
cleaning the patient environment and is a
very 'green' solution. Steam cleaning may
also be used for difficult-to-clean items such
as beds.”
According to Phelps it is impossible to
clean and disinfect every surface and piece of
equipment with conventional cleaning. “The
only technology capable of achieving this is a
‘whole room decontamination’ system using
a vapour or fog,” he said.
After a major outbreak, a ward would need
to be sealed off and taken out of service
and a thorough deep clean would take sev-
eral days, says Phelps. “If a fogging system is
used, this would take the best part of half a
day depending on the size of the area, labour
resources and whether there is somewhere to
temporarily house the patients,” he said.
“A cruise ship would also be very variable
since the contaminated areas may be either
the passengers’ cabins or the public areas
of the ship, which would be more difficult
to decontaminate.”
Mike Rollins agrees that the decision
whether or not to take a stricken cruise ship
out of service would depend on the size of
outbreak. “Cruise ship companies are well
aware of the Norovirus hazard and have
trained personnel to cope with the threat,”
he said. “So usually, only known contami-
nated areas would have to be restricted
until the decontamination process has
been completed.”
Quand une maladie se déclare dans un epace confiné, par exemple dans un navire de croisière, une maison de retraite ou une salle d'hôpital, la direction doit agir rapidement pour éliminer toute poursuite du risque sur les occupants. Ann Laffeaty explore les techniques les plus récentes de nettoyage à la vapeur, entraînement par brouillard et oxydation qui pourraient neutraliser les risques après qu'une maladie se soit déclarée.
Wenn eine Krankheit in einem begrenzten Raum ausbricht - beispielsweise auf einem Kreuzfahrtschiff, in einem Pflegeheim oder auf einer Krankenstation - dann muss die Verwaltung schnell handeln, um jegliches Risiko für zukünftige Passagiere, Patienten oder Bewohner zu eliminieren. Ann Laffeaty informiert sich über die neuesten Dampfreinigungs-, Zerstäuber- und Oxidationstechniken im Handel, mit denen die Risiken nach einem Ausbruch neutralisiert werden können.
Quando si verifica lo scoppio di una malattia in uno spazio circoscritto, per esempio una nave da crociera, una casa di riposo o un reparto d ’ospedale, l’amministrazione deve agire rapidamente per eliminare qualsiasi rischio per passeggeri, pazienti o residenti futuri. Ann Laffeaty scopre quali sono le più nuove tecniche di pulizia con vapore, nebulizzazione e ossidazione disponibili sul mercato che possono neutralizzare i rischi dopo lo scoppio di una malattia.
Specialist agent
One recent example of an outbreak at sea
occurred in July 2009 when the Marco Polo
– a passenger liner operated by Transocean
Tours of Bremen – was hit by an outbreak of
Norovirus as the ship cruised around the UK
coast. Hundreds of passengers and crew were
infected and the operator had to end the
10-day cruise after only a few days at sea.
Infection control specialist SitexOrbis was
responsible for decontaminating the ship.
According to head of marketing Debansu Das:
“Using our fogging service we were able to
totally disinfect 375 staterooms on 11 decks
as well as public spaces, lifts and communal
areas in just five hours once the ship was
back at Tilbury docks. This type of cleaning
task would take days using more traditional
methods.”
The SitexOrbis fogging system works
by irreversibly binding, penetrating and
immobilising bacteria, viruses and fungi
so that they cannot replicate, says Das. It
is said to be non-toxic, non-irritant and
non-corrosive.
“The vaporisation machine produces a
fine mist of a specialist cleaning agent that
breaks through the cell wall of the microbe,”
said Das. “The fact that the system produces
a vapour means it can penetrate hard-to-
reach places.”
The chemical – DuoMax - is said to be
effective against bacteria, fungi and yeasts
including E.Coli, Clostridium Difficile, H1N1
Swine Flu and the Norovirus.
SiexOrbis has also been called upon to
deep clean hospitals, care homes and hotels.
“Following an outbreak in a hotel there is
often no need to shut,” said Das. “For exam-
ple, 60 guests were infected after a Norovirus
outbreak at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough.
Fogging removed the outbreak and there
were no further cases of infection reported
from the staff or guests.”
He says there has been increasing demand
for the company’s deep cleaning services -
and that this may be partly due to new, more
stringent legislation.
“Contractible diseases are not exempt
under law,” he said. “This means an organi-
sation will be guilty of an offence if a per-
son’s death is caused through the way the
company has been managed. Organisations
take this very seriously and want to be seen
to be taking every precaution possible.”
Easy hygiene with
the Shopster Des Tub
Effective floor wiping with
the Twix double mop system
VERMOP Deutschland GmbH
Tel. + 49 9342 878-800
info@vermop.com, www.vermop.com
F l o o r C l e a n i n g
TWIX® 30 CM
H E A LT H : M O P P I N G E Q U I P M E N T
Continued page 24
Visually clean, or
hygienically clean?
Often, consciously or unconsciously, the assessment of cleaning is
based only on the visual result. Surfaces and floors are considered
clean when no dirt or smears are evident. But mopping systems
specialist Vermop asks, is this always enough? Is a more
differentiated approach needed in individual areas? Is 'apparently
pristine' the same as hygienically clean?
Appearance is an important aspect
in assessing whether cleaning
has been carried out correctly.
When there is no evidence of dirt
or smears, the area is considered clean. This
often applies even in hygienically-sensitive
areas such as hospitals, residential facilities
for the elderly and nursing homes.
But the number of hospital-acquired infec-
tions is rising steadily from year to year and
altered microorganism habits are reported on
a regular basis. For this reason, it is impor-
tant in assessing hygienic cleaning to include
criteria other than, and more detailed than,
a clean appearance alone.
These are, for example, the cleaning proc-
esses and methods used, the organisation
of the cleaning procedure in the individual
areas, the frequency of cleaning, the organi-
sation of the cleaning trolley and the level
of knowledge of the cleaning staff regarding
cleaning and hygiene.
All these points should be subjected to a
risk assessment. This ensures that bacterial
contamination in cleaning is reduced or even
made impossible.
Many hospitals are faced with the problem
of rising infection rates so they assess indi-
vidual areas intensively and critically in order
to get the resulting problems of resistant and
altered microorganisms under control. This is
where cleaning has a significant influence.
When patients are admitted, it is not usu-
ally clear whether or not they are the carriers
of infectious diseases. This can only be deter-
mined through time-consuming tests. While
they are waiting for results, regular general
cleaning is carried out without special stand-
ards or safety measures.
Habits of microorganisms
The spread of microorganisms can only be
understood when their fundamental habits
are familiar. The most significant feature of
microorganisms and bacteria is their tiny
dimensions. They are only a few thousandths
of a millimetre in size. The bacterial cell con-
tains very little space for the storage of dif-
ferent enzymes or proteins. However, the
high adaptability of the microbial metabo-
Hygiene for Health September 2011 23ECJ
as the natural reservoir for microorganisms. These can be passed on by sneezing or cough-ing, for example, through hand and skin con-tact or through the excretion of urine, blood and faeces. The germs which cause influenza are transmitted via the air we breathe. E.Coli, for example, is passed on through the gas-trointestinal tract and Staph. Aureus via the skin. These are just a few examples from the
lism means that it is always able to produce
the enzyme required to process a nutrient.
There are many nutrients for bacteria, eg,
dirt, the dregs of beverages and body fluids.
At the same time, their requirements in terms
of variety are low.
Humans as carriers
In the transmission of infectious diseases,
humans play a major and very significant role
•How is cleaning carried out?
•How frequently is cleaning carried out?
Pictures and pictograms make the plans
easy to read and understand.
Cleaning method
A fur ther step toward reducing the
spread of germs is the selection of the clean-
ing method.
From a hygiene and ergonomic perspec-
tive, it makes sense to use pre-wash process
with pre-soaked cloths. The cloths should be
stored in a closed box or bucket with a lid in
order to avoid cross-contamination. When
cleaning cloths are repeatedly dipped into
the same cleaning or disinfection solution,
microorganisms detach themselves from the
cloth and remain in the solution. They can
then contaminate the next cloth dipped in
and be transferred to other areas - where
they can lead to infection.
When surface cleaning is completed in
a patient room, the cleaning cloths must
be hygienically collected in a laundry net.
Under no circumstances may they be left
lying around on the cleaning trolley. This is
the only way of avoiding the spread of germs
and contamination.
When choosing the cleaning method for
the floor, the following points are decisive:
•The method must be simple and
easily learned
•The spread of germs should practically be
ruled out by the use of this cleaning method.
Over the years, cleaning methods in which
the cleaning covers are pre-soaked in the
cleaning liquid or disinfectant solution have
proved their worth, particularly in hospitals.
For this pre-wash process, the covers are
placed in a box and a defined quantity of
the cleaning or disinfection solution poured
over them. The cleaning operative then
attaches the covers directly from the box to
the holder, ergonomically and without touch-
ing them.
The choice of method should be based
on hygiene considerations. Sources of error
should be ruled out to the greatest possible
extent. The use of cleaning systems which
allow two-stage wiping with a double-sided
mop are to be recommended.
This means that dirt particles and microor-
ganisms can be loosened with one side of the
cleaning cover and then removed from the
floor with the other side. After cleaning, the
covers are discarded without direct contact.
The mop should be discarded into a sack with
a lid, so that here too the spreading of germs
is reduced.
Hygiene benefits of this cleaning method:
•Cover change is carried out without
direct contact with the cover
•The removal of microorganisms and dirt
is more effective than in the one-stage wip-
ing process
•The spread of germs is reduced.
September 2011 Hygiene for Health24 ECJ
H E A LT H : M O P P I N G E Q U I P M E N T
huge range of microorganisms.
The danger of microorganisms being
spread through cleaning staff is particu-
larly high. They come into contact with many
patients, medical staff and visitors as well as
passing through numerous rooms, areas and
wards. And they do so with above-average
frequency. Therefore a high level of personal
hygiene is particularly important for clean-
ing staff.
Cleaning material as a carrier
A cleaning sponge which is used in a
number of areas offers bacteria a huge res-
ervoir in which microorganisms can multiply
particularly freely. In order to curb reproduc-
tion, these points have to be observed in the
selection of cleaning utensils:
•Cleaning utensils may offer no breeding
grounds for microorganisms
•Cleaning utensils should permit disinfec-
tion or be washable at 95°C. Critical items
are, for example, wooden handles
•It should be possible to remove dirt and
microorganisms easily and thoroughly from
the surface.
Hygiene fundamentals
It is particularly important to minimise
the further spread of germs through clean-
ing. With regard to cross-contamination and
the spread of germs, special consideration
should be given to the organisation of clean-
ing processes.
Important points for hygienic cleaning:
•Cleaning should ensue from the top
down and from the back to the front, ie, to
the exit door.
•Surfaces are only considered hygieni-
cally clean when they have been wiped with
a cloth. Microorganisms can only be removed
by being wiped away. This principle also
applies for the cleaning of floor coverings.
Through correct cleaning alone, germs can
be reduced by up to 80 per cent .
•Fresh cleaning covers and cleaning
cloths should be used for each patient room.
•Patient rooms which may be the source
of infection should always be cleaned and
disinfected at the end of a cleaning day.
Course of action for hygienic cleaning in
a hospital room:
Cleaning the sanitation area:
•Pour sanitary cleaner into the WC bowl
and allow it to work
•Remove refuse
•Clean the WC bowl and the direct vicin-
ity with a clean cloth in the predetermined
colour (eg, red)
•Clean other surfaces with a clean cloth in
the predetermined colour (eg. yellow)
•Clean the floor with a clean sanitary
cover.
Cleaning a patient room:
•Remove refuse
•Clean the areas furthest from the patient
first, then those close to the patient. Clean
the floor with a fresh cleaning cover which
moistens the floor area and then lifts the
loosened dirt.
Cleaning surfaces
The surfaces in the patient room of a hos-
pital are divided into near-patient areas and
those further removed from the patient. The
deciding factor is how frequently skin and
hand contact occurs (eg, door handles, light
switches, bed frame, bell, bedside locker,
table, chairs).
Such surfaces as door handles and light
switches, with which people frequently come
into contact are always to be regarded as
critical and must therefore be given particu-
lar consideration.
An important aspect when cleaning sur-
faces is the transmission of microorganisms
through cleaning equipment or textiles. A
chain of infection from the human to the
object and then back to the human is a very
real possibility. This route of transmission is
interrupted only though hygienic cleaning
and disinfection. In order to prevent micro-
organisms spreading, special emphasis must
be placed on this interruption.
Cleaning textiles made of microfibre have
a better mechanical effect on the surface
than other materials. As a result, a larger
number of microorganisms and dirt particles
can be removed than with other textiles.
Therefore cleaning cloths and covers with
a microfibre content should be chosen in
preference to other materials.
Cleaning and disinfection plans
For all cleaning in hygienically-sensitive
areas, cleaning and disinfection plans are
absolutely necessary, and are actually man-
datory in some countries. These plans should
be displayed directly on the cleaning trol-
ley. Furthermore, the cleaning staff must be
trained in the use of this plan at least once
a year.
The plan should be structured into the fol-
lowing areas:
•What has to be cleaned?
•What is used for cleaning?
Hygiene for Health September 2011 25ECJ
H E A LT H : M O P P I N G E Q U I P M E N T
Le balayage humide constitue une opération essentielle au sein de tout espace public, et les producteurs de systèmes dans ce domaine ont fait de grande progrès, ces dernières années, dans l'élaboration de solutions plus viables, ergonomiques et sûres. Nous examons le rôle important tenu aujourd'hui par les systèmes de balayage humide pour le maintien des normes d'hygiène.
Das Moppen ist eine wichtige Tätigkeit in jedem öffentlichen Bereich, und die Hersteller solcher Systeme haben in den letzten Jahren beträchtliche Fortschritte bei der Entwicklung von nachhaltigeren, ergonomischeren und sichereren Lösungen gemacht. Wir untersuchen die entscheidende Rolle, die moderne Moppsysteme bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Hygienestandards spielen.
La pulizia con il mop è un’operazione fondamentale in ogni area pubblica e i produttori di tali sistemi hanno fatto grandi progressi negli ultimi anni per sviluppare soluzioni più sostenibili, ergonomiche e sicure. Esaminiamo il ruolo fondamentale che i moderni sistemi di mop giocano nella manutenzione degli standard di igiene.
A further interesting cleaning process is
that involving a disinfectant tub and a two-
sided cover. Cleaning solution or disinfectant
solution is added to a disinfection tub with
dosing unit. By operating a pedal with the
attached mop, the lower side of the mop is
saturated with moisture. The second mop
side, which is on the top, remains dry. The
floor area is cleaned with the moistened side
and then the mop is turned so that the dry
side can lift the loosened dirt. After the floor
has been cleaned, the mop is discarded into
the laundry sack.
Hygiene benefits of working with the dis-
infection trolley:
•Cover change is carried out without
direct contact with the cover
•The removal of microorganisms and dirt
is more effective than in the one-stage wip-
ing process
•The moisture in the cover can be
flexibly regulated
•The spread of germs is reduced.
The colour system
One fundamental principle of hygienic sur-
face cleaning is the use of a consistent colour
system. The cloths in different colours are
assigned to the individual cleaning areas
(WC, area around washbasins, surfaces). In
this way, faecal germs which are normally
found around the WC cannot be transferred
to the patient’s bedside locker.
Hygiene benefits of the colour system:
•The danger of the cloths being mixed up
is reduced
•The instruction of cleaning staff who
speak different native languages is simpli-
fied as the method is so easy to understand
•The spread of germs is reduced
•The trolley is clean and hygienic
•Ergonomics are improved as staff do not
have to wring out the cloths
•Exact dosing cuts down on the consump-
tion of water and cleaning chemicals
It makes good sense to always park the
cleaning trolley directly in front of the door
of the room to be cleaned. This makes it a
signal for staff in the building, patients and
visitors. Caution – cleaning in progress in
this room. The floor covering could be wet
and slippery. The cleaning trolley does not
get in the way in the room to be cleaned.
Fewer germs are spread from room to room.
The cleaning trolley
The calling card in hygienic cleaning is the
cleaning trolley which should also be set up
in accordance with hygiene considerations:
•Easy to clean and, where necessary,
to disinfect
•No hard-to-reach corners and niches
•Use of a chemical centre to store chemi-
cals so they are not freely accessible
•Covered disposal sacks.
•Clean and tidy cleaning trolley. It should
only be stocked with items which are really
needed for general cleaning.
Regular hygienic cleaning lowers infection
rates, cuts costs and reduces human suf-
fering. Only responsible, well-trained staff
guarantee appropriate hygiene. This is the
principle which should apply for all staff
training. Only in this way can be spread of
germs be minimised and contained.
H E A LT H : E D U C AT I O N
Continued page 28
Spreading the
hygiene messageShould the industry seek to
educate the public on personal
hygiene, or should they leave
this to impartial experts?
We ask hygiene companies
whether they are spreading
the 'hygiene for health'
message – and if it is really
their place to do so.
Everyone seems to be a hygiene
expert these days. Since the recent
E.Coli outbreak in Germany and the
swine flu pandemic in 2009 it has
become all too easy to gen up on personal
hygiene because everyone – from the World
Health Organisation to our local soap manu-
facturer – is telling us how and when we
should be washing our hands.
Some organisations are posting informa-
tion on their websites; others are holding
hand hygiene workshops and yet others are
going into schools and demonstrating to
children how to wash their hands. Obviously,
the more people who can be reached via
these channels the better. But since hygiene
manufacturers have a vested interest and
products to sell, is it really their place to
educate the public?
The potential for bias is obvious, particu-
larly if a hygiene company promotes its own
products in these messages. But as experts
in their field, many hygiene companies feel
strongly that they have a responsibility to
give out such information.
Among these is Tork manufacturer SCA.
The company of fers hygiene advice and
information on its websites as well as via
printed material and PR, says SCA European
communication manager Alexandra Grubb.
“We do this to increase awareness of the
positive effects that hygiene can have - both
on our customers and on their clients,” she
said. “We also include a hygiene section in
our business school as part of our external
customer training, and we provide hygiene
information and educational campaigns in
schools, offices and other environments.”
SCA has a policy in place to step up its
hygiene information following any public
health scare. “Since the public’s attention
is much higher at such times it is an ideal
opportunity to increase general awareness
of hygiene,” says Grubb. “We link in to offi-
Hygiene for Health September 2011 27ECJ
cial health sites as well as producing our
own web content, PR and relevant studies
and research.”
SCA does not focus on any specific prod-
ucts in its hygiene information, says Grubb.
“We are convinced of the hygiene benefits of
using paper towels for the mechanical drying
of hands, but in general we tend to focus on
hygiene practices so we do not advocate spe-
cific products,” she said.
Deb offers information in the learning
zone of Deb Group’s website while a Deb
Support Package includes education and
training materials to raise skincare aware-
ness and encourage appropriate use and
compliance. “Latest news is also uploaded
on to our site and there are newsfeeds within
the learning zone section,” said Freeman.
Well-researched
Hygiene information is also available from
the ISSA says Keith Baker, ISSA’s director of
European services. “We proactively encour-
age our members to provide well-researched
web content to inform, educate and advise
the public,” he said.
Through its alliance partners, ISSA in
Europe supports hygiene courses managed
by organisations such as BICS International
and PIGC (Poland) and is currently cham-
pioning an initiative in Germany whereby
kindergar ten children will be taught
about hygiene.
The association also steps up its informa-
tion after an outbreak. “For instance, the
recent E.Coli scare in Germany led to ISSA
publishing authoritative accounts about
good hygiene practices on our European
website,” said Baker. “We also update our
news feed daily so that any topical issue,
such as a pandemic, is quickly identified and
information for guidance and help is readily
available,” he said.
The association feels that releasing
heightened hygiene information following
a health scare is completely justified. “ISSA
acknowledges that part of its role in promot-
ing its members and their products may lead
to a commercial opportunity,” said Baker.
“But we would rather that eventuality, than
to not provide good and authoritative infor-
mation on public health and hygiene.”
So, is it ethical for a hygiene company
to give out hygiene information following
a health scare, or could this be seen
as scaremongering?
According to Baker: “All ISSA mem-
bers sign up to a code of ethics and this
includes social responsibility. Providing
information and education helps to fulf il
that responsibility.”
And SCA’s Alexandra Grubb adds: “I
believe it is highly ethical and part of our
responsibility to produce useful advice for
general health - particularly at times of
heightened concern.
“We have the knowledge and the expert
sources to enable us to talk credibly to the
public about the importance of good hygiene
practices. However, the purpose should be
to alleviate concern and provide information
on how people can reduce the risks to them-
selves and others rather than increase their
anxiety in an attempt to sell more products.”
September 2011 Hygiene for Health28 ECJ
H E A LT H : E D U C AT I O N
hand hygiene and the importance of washing
and drying the hands well,” she said.
Ve c t a i r m a r ke t i n g m a n a g e r M a t t
Wonnacott sees no problem in mentioning
the company’s products in hygiene messages
if they are relevant to the customer.
“If we receive an enquiry as to how our
products can help in the battle against a
certain health scare, we would provide the
customer with relevant information on those
products,” he said. “For example if an inter-
ested party is looking to reduce the threat of
MRSA due to a recent outbreak and asks what
we can supply them - and we have a proven
product that can actually reduce the threat
of MRSA - then why should we not inform
them of this?
“If proven facts link in with information
from WHO then I see no issue in advocating
certain products.”
However he says Vectair does not condone
'scaremongering' following a health scare.
“Placing more emphasis on a health scare
than is entirely necessary should be avoided
since this can cause unnecessary panic and
may increase the likelihood of panic-buying,”
he said. “We never wish to promote scare-
mongering in any shape or form.”
The company keeps a digital file of impar-
tial advice on how hygiene can help keep
people healthy. “Customers do require infor-
mation on hygiene from time to time and this
file is available upon request,” he said. “It
outlines the key measures that people must
help in the reduction of illnesses contracted
through poor hand hygiene - typically soap,
single-use hand towels and more recently
sanitisers and sanitising wipes,” said Richard
Millard, off ice building segment manager
EMEA at Kimberly-Clark Professional.
Responsibility to inform
“As a supplier of hygiene products we are
seen as being experts in this field and there-
fore have some responsibility for helping to
inform about the benefits of good hygiene.
“All our campaign materials are generally
available to be read or downloaded from our
websites with no obligation to buy the prod-
ucts. Users can choose to read our informa-
tion and then buy from other sources.”
Kimberly-Clark Professional has launched
a Healthy Workplace Project designed to
increase awareness of the benefits of good
hygiene to office-based staff. During health
scares the company also offers information
to customers to support government advice
on maintaining good personal hygiene lev-
els. Links to WHO are included on the KC
website and specific products are referred to
in this information.
Deborah Freeman, PR and corporate com-
munications manager of Deb, feels that it has
become widely accepted for hygiene compa-
nies to advocate the use of their own prod-
ucts to ward off health threats. “However,
our main aim is to educate people on the
importance of learning to adopt good hand
De nombreux fabricants de produits hygiéniques diffusent aujourd'hui une information sur la manière d'enrayer la propagation de maladies gâce à des régimes d'hygiène améliorés. Ils s'y emploient en recourant à leurs sites Internet, à des séances de formation et à des campagnes dans les écoles. Mais comme ils sont évidemment intéressés, leur appartient-il vraiment d'éduquer le grand public ? Dans quelle mesure leur information est-elle impartiale ? Ne seraient-ils pas mieux avisés de confier ce travail de sensibilisation à des experts du dehors?
Viele Hersteller von Hygieneprodukten verbreiten Informationen darüber, wie die Ausbreitung von Krankheiten durch verbesserte Hygieneregime gehemmt werden kann. Dies erfolgt über Websites, durch Schulungsveranstaltungen und Kampagnen in Schulen. Da diese Unternehmen jedoch ein starkes Interesse daran haben, fällt es dann tatsächlich in ihr Ressort, die Öffentlichkeit aufzuklären? Wie unausgewogen sind die von ihnen ausgegebenen Informationen, und sollten sie stattdessen die Hygieneschulung unparteiischen Fachleuten überlassen?
Molti produttori di prodotti per l’igiene stanno diffondendo informazioni su come lo scoppio di una malattia possa essere limitato migliorando i regimi di igiene. Queste informazioni vengono diramate attraverso i siti web, con sessioni di training e per mezzo di campagne nelle scuole. Ma, visto che hanno un interesse acquisito, è veramente loro il compito di educare il pubblico? Quanto obiettive sono le informazioni che forniscono e non dovrebbero invece lasciare l’educazione d ’igiene a degli esperti imparziali?
take to ensure they maintain
optimum hygiene levels.”
Following the 2009 swine
flu scare the company sent
out emails stating f acts
and f igures from external
sources. “We closely follow
information from WHO and
whatever warnings they
issue, we follow these in
our communications to our
clients, colleagues and con-
tacts,” said Wonnacott.
K i m b e r l y - C l a r k
Professional also sees no
issue with mentioning its
own products in general
hygiene messages. “We men-
tion those products that can
H E A LT H : C L E A N I N G C H E M I C A L S
Continued page 32
First line of defence
Cleaning chemicals and disinfectants play a vital role in the
provision of public health; they are the first line of defence
against harmful viruses and bacteria. Their safe and
effective use in public areas is therefore key to infection
prevention and control, writes Diversey.
Recent global outbreaks such as
the H1N1 virus, norovirus and
MRSA have illuminated the impor-
tance of infection prevention
and control, and illustrate just how quickly
disease can spread at both a national and
global level. As these outbreaks have dem-
onstrated, the social and economical impact
can be significant.
The risk and spread of infection is high-
er in institutions where there is increased
human contact such as schools, restaurants
and hospitals, to name just a few. This risk
remains throughout the year, with the public
at particular risk in the winter months as dry
air from heaters is suspected to affect the
mucus membranes in the nasal passages,
making them more vulnerable to pathogens.
Ensuring the public and organisations are
aware of the steps they can take to minimise
the risk of infection is therefore central to
safeguard public health.
Educating and raising
awareness of effective hygiene
and cleaning processes
For organisations to effectively arm them-
selves and the public against infection, it
is important that staff are trained to use
the right chemicals for the correct purpose
and surface. A well trained workforce will
help improve cleaning standards and ulti-
mately create a safer environment, whilst
also improving team commitment and
understanding. Specialist training cours-
es exist to serve such purposes, such as
the ones Diversey is offering, which aim
to increase hygiene aw areness and
product familiarisation.
Educating and raising awareness of
hygiene measures amongst the public is
equally important to minimise the risk and
spread of infection. This can be achieved
for example, by clearly advertising in public
spaces (through the use of posters, leaf-
lets, etc) the simple steps that can be taken
to ensure adequate hygiene standards are
maintained alongside the provision of
appropriate cleaning products, such as
hand washes and alcohol gel. Proper
h a n d h y g i e n e r e m a i n s t h e m o s t
e f f e c t i ve c o u n t e r m e a s u r e a g a i n s t
infection and the spreading of bacteria and
viruses, so it is important this message is
clearly communicated and emphasised
where possible.
Hygiene for Health September 2011 31ECJ
cleaned to minimise the spread of infection.
This is why it is critical that hands are sani-
tised regularly, especially after contact with
frequently touched surfaces. To thoroughly
disinfect hands, a Diversey product such as
Soft Care Med+ or Soft Care Des E is recom-
mended. Effective hand hygiene in combina-
tion with effective environmental cleaning
procedures will ensure the risk of infection is
minimised significantly.
Diversey offers advice and a wealth of sup-
port material to guide customers in defining
their hygiene protocols, and a wide range of
products for surface cleaning and disinfec-
Importance of hand hygiene and
environmental hygiene combined
In the last 25 years, there has been a
plethora of studies that have demonstrated
the effectiveness of hand hygiene to reduce
the risk of infection. Viruses like influenza for
example, are commonly transferred from per-
son to person or from surfaces via the hands.
Even individuals that do not fall ill can carry
and transfer viruses to others. Furthermore,
some viruses, for example influenza, can live
on surfaces for two hours or longer1 so it is
important to ensure all surfaces, particu-
larly those touched regularly, are thoroughly
product is suitable for a particular surface
and purpose.
Diversey, a leading global provider of
hygiene solutions, has a range of industrial
cleaners and disinfectants. Diversey prod-
ucts have been extensively tested and are
effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria
and viruses, to help you effectively arm your
organisation against infection.
The company has also launched a new
infection prevention campaign, Are You
Ready?, in an effort to raise awareness of
influenza and other illnesses. The initiative
will highlight the importance of infection
control and prevention and includes a range
of materials and tools to effectively support
and prepare organisations for potential out-
breaks. The campaign will cover a period of
16 months, commencing in September 2011.
Further information on infection, prod-
uct information, promotions and resources
on effective hygiene are available at: www.
cleanerandhealthier.com.
While we are seeing an increasing number
of targeted and effective cleaning prod-
ucts emerge, an important consideration
to ensure the sustainability of our environ-
ment is the role of green technology in pro-
viding a greater choice of environmentally-
friendly products.
Green cleaning technologies
Preserving environments has become a pri-
ority for businesses, with issues such as glo-
bal warming being so topical. Subsequently,
pioneering innovative green technologies
is becoming a necessity in order to protect
our environment, whilst of course protecting
organisations. Cleaning for health and the
environment takes more than products alone;
it also requires the right practices. There are
specially devised programmes to ensure staff
are adequately trained in green cleaning,
such as Diversey’s Healthy High Performance
Cleaning programme. In addition, a number
of Diversey’s chemical products are rigorous-
ly tested and certified by independent organ-
isations, such as Green Seal, Environmental
Choice, GreenGuard, EU Flower and Nordic
Swan. These products include glass cleaners,
general purpose cleaners, restroom cleaners,
industrial degreasers, carpet cleaners, floor
finishes/sealers and floor finish strippers.
Above all, it is important to remember that
simple cleaning measures can make a sig-
nificant difference to the provision of public
health. Ensuring staff are adequately trained
on the disinfectants available and their cor-
rect applications and equally, educating the
public on personal hygiene, will ensure the
risk of infection is minimised.
References
1.Centres for disease control and preven-
tion. 2009 H1N1 Flu ('Swine Flu') and You.
Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
qa.htm [Last accessed August 2011]
September 2011 Hygiene for Health32 ECJ
H E A LT H : C L E A N I N G C H E M I C A L S
tion for different application areas, as well
as a wealth of other support. More details
can be found on the cleaner and healthier
website: www.cleanerandhealthier.com.
Simple hygiene procedures
Surface hygiene procedures should focus
on the cleaning and disinfection of regularly
touched surfaces as this not only helps to
prevent infection but also helps to break the
chain of infection, in combination with a
good hand hygiene protocol.
Clean and disinfect all the sur faces
that are frequently touched on a regular
basis, including:
•Handles
•Telephones
•Light switches
•Furniture
•Lift buttons
•Keyboards
Different disinfectants will be effective
against different pathogens, so it is impor-
tant that the correct product is used for the
correct purpose.
Disinfectants
A range of disinfectants are available
on the market today, many with specialist
formulations or actives for specific surfac-
es/applications. Not all formulations are
effective against every microbe; different
disinfecting agents have different ways of
inactivating various microbes. Bacteria, bac-
terial spores, viruses and fungi are all differ-
ent – some sanitisers will attack the cellular
structure for example, while others act in a
different way. Therefore, it is important to
ensure the right disinfectants are selected
according to the situation.
The ideal disinfectant is:
•Ef fective against a broad spectrum
of pathogens
•Fast acting and acts in the presence of
organic material
•Compatible with detergents
•Low toxicity
•Should not corrode/degrade instru-
ments, metallic surfaces, rubbers, plastics or
other materials
•Odourless
•Economical.
Disinfectants vary according to their
ingredients or actives. The active in a disin-
fectant will help you to decipher whether the
Les produits de nettoyage chimiques jouent un rôle crucial pour le maintien de normes d'hygiène dans des aires publiques. Il est également vital de disposer de personnels bien formés, qui utilisent correctement les produits chimiques qui conviennent dans des situations données. Nous examions les points principaux à observer.
In öffentlichen Bereichen ist die Rolle von Reinigungschemikalien bei der Aufrechterhaltung von Hygienestandards ausschlaggebend. Außerdem ist die Anwesenheit von gut ausgebildeten Mitarbeitern, die die richtigen Chemikalien zweckmäßig und bestimmungsgemäß einsetzen, unerlässlich. Wir untersuchen die wichtigsten Punkte, die es zu beachten gilt.
Il ruolo dei detergenti chimici nel mantenere gli standard di igiene nelle aree pubbliche è fondamentale. È anche indispensabile avere del personale ben addestrato che utilizzi i giusti prodotti chimici per il corretto uso e nel modo giusto. Prendiamo qui in esame i punti più importanti da tenere in considerazione.
Please tick just one box in each section.
Your company’s main business activity:❑ Factory & industrial premises❑ Offi ces & commercial premises (including banks)❑ Contract cleaning/cleaning services❑ Distributors/wholesalers❑ Health authorities/hospitals/nursing homes❑ Central and local government❑ Hotels/catering/recreation (including leisure centres)❑ Education establishments (including universities, schools & colleges)❑ Other (please specify)
Number of company employees:
Are you personally responsible for purchasing
or specifying machinery, materials, products,
equipment or support services used in the
cleaning and maintenance of non-domestic
establishments? ❑ Yes ❑ No
❑ None of the above.
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