How Washroom Hygiene Prevents the Spread of Disease

Have you ever walked into a washroom and immediately walked right out again? It may have been a foul smell that put you off, or maybe it was just the general uncleanliness of your surroundings. Whatever the reason, the one word that generally springs to mind when faced with a poorly maintained washroom is: unhygienic.

It’s not just the obviously dirty or smelly washrooms that you need to worry about, though. Harmful germs and illness-causing bacteria are very common in washroom environments, spreading easily from surface to surface and leaving with unsuspecting patrons, even after washing their hands.

For this reason, it’s vital that every workplace adheres to basic standards of hygiene, not just for the sake of having a good reputation or making a good impression, but for the health and safety of everyone, whether it be employees, customers or visitors.

How do germs spread in washrooms?

Germs are spread in one of two ways:

Direct transmission: Germs are spread from person to person. For example, when an infected person touches are exchanges bodily fluids with someone else.

Indirect transmission: Germs are spread from person to object to another person. For example, if you touch an object or surface soon after an infected person has touched that object or surface, you might be exposed to infection.

In shared spaces, like office or commercial washrooms, there are many surfaces that could potentially be contaminated, from the doorknob to the sink faucet to the toilet seat.

And while, encouraging good hand hygiene is a good way to prevent the spread of germs and infectious diseases, it’s not always as effective as you may think.

It is a common misconception that the toilet seat is the most contaminated surface. In fact, sinks were found to be the most contaminated, followed closely by the faucet and waste bin. Which means, even after you wash your hands, you could still be exposed to bacteria that could make you sick.

Techniques to prevent the spread of germs

Proper disinfection, on the right schedule, along with the right hygiene equipment designed to prevent contamination and cross-contamination is the only way to minimise germs in the restroom.

Here are just some of the ways to ensure better hygiene in commercial washrooms and throughout the workplace:

• Choose touchless fixtures and soap dispensers
• Install automatic paper dispenser or hand dryers to prevent exposure to contaminated surfaces after handwashing
• Make toilet seat sanitiser available in stalls to minimise cross-contamination
• Consider placing hand sanitising stations throughout the building to promote hand hygiene in other areas

For complete hygiene solutions for the workplace, contact The Specialists