‘Seconds Saves Lives’ this World Hand Hygiene Day

5 May 2021

Handwashing is the single most effective action you can take to stop the spread of infection.

In fact, the World Health Organisation estimates that appropriate hand hygiene prevents up to 50 per cent of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery.

Good hand washing can prevent food poisoning in food preparation and service. If you neglect hand hygiene, you risk being non-compliant.

And, of course, we’re all aware of the importance of handwashing to stop the spread of COVID-19.

But hand hygiene isn’t just a quick rinse and wipe dry on the back of your jeans.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water, making sure you include the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

Thoroughly dry your hands with a disposable towel.

If you’re an employer in the food production, food service or health and aged care, you have an obligation to provide your appropriate handwashing stations, and to ensure your staff understand correct handwashing procedure. When you wash your hands is just as important as how!

Wash your hands after:

• going to the toilet
• handling raw food
• blowing your nose
• handling garbage
• touching your ears, nose, mouth or other parts of the body
• changing a baby’s nappy
• smoking
• every break
• handling animals.

Chempower Australia has personal hygiene solutions that are gentle on skin. Dispensing systems purpose built for your particular need – whether it is in the kitchen, bathroom, on an aged care ward, or in client / resident restrooms – will make it easy to meet compliance around hand hygiene.