Hand Sanitiser – Your questions answered…

By now we have all heard the Government telling us their key message. To wash and sanitise our hands to within an inch of our lives. But do we actually know the facts behind the Hand Sanitiser gels that we use every day?

Do you have a plan to install Hand Sanitiser systems in a way that can really protect your staff and visitors? Do you know what makes a Hand Sanitiser gel works? Do you know the risk areas of your business?

Hand Sanitiser – Q&A

What percentage of alcohol should your Hand Sanitiser contain?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that they have tested a 3ml dose of a 60% alcohol-based Hand Sanitiser over a 30 second period and this test result killed the sample virus.

Both Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol is the ingredients that kill viruses, therefore you should always check when sourcing Hand Sanitiser gel that one of these ingredients are included.  Most health authorities prefer to see 70% or even 80% alcohol content rather than the bare minimum of 60%.

How sustainable is your supply of Hand Sanitiser?

Demand for hand sanitiser is outstripping supply throughout the world by about 10:1. Most Hand Sanitiser manufacturers are based in mainland Europe, with several countries such as France, having banned any sales of Sanitiser outside of their own country.

Therefore, to find a reliable supplier is very difficult as businesses re-open, draining the remaining good quality sanitiser that may currently be available. This is a low-cost item to your business, but it is an essential hygiene requirement so finding a supplier to serve you well into the future is vital to give you peace of mind.

Are all Hand Sanitisers equal?

Due to the worldwide shortage, there are growing numbers of variations to the ingredients being used in Sanitisers on the internet. Ensuring your product has an EC number which is a European registration and the recognised standard is a good way to make sure the product contains the correct ingredients and meets the European Chemicals Agency criteria.

A good quality sanitiser will have added ingredients that will help moisturise your hands and also make sure that the gel has a neutral PH value, this is essential as a neutral PH will protect the hand’s natural oils and will save any staff complaints too.

What is the best way to dispense Hand Sanitiser gel?

Small handheld sanitiser bottles are widely available but are more suitable for personal use rather than business use. The best way by far is a wall-mounted, lockable dispenser system which is available in both Manual and Automatic versions. Both the Manual and Automatic systems should dispense the correct dosage of Sanitiser onto your hands every time. A loose-fill dispenser is also a good solution as this means that less plastic waste is being produced so you are also helping to protect the environment.

Where are your risk areas?

This is to a degree down to your individual business activity and our washroom consultants will be able to advise you in this area. However, the rule of thumb is to locate a dispenser at all entrance and exit doors, communal areas such as kitchens and staff rooms, meeting rooms, shop floors, corridors, reception areas, and outside every washroom. Another way of establishing risk is to consider every area that has door handles or appliances that may be touched.

United Hygiene Solutions – Floorcare, Washroom and Clinical Waste solutions.

We provide a personal washroom and floorcare service. Your washroom speaks volumes to both your employees and visitors about how your business is run and how you treat people.

Let us help you make the right first impression with our fully trained reliable service team and a range of products to suit your needs.

United Washrooms range of products:

Air Fresheners, Feminine Hygiene Bins, Toilet Rolls, Hand Cleaners, Hand Sanitisers, Hand Dryers, Nappy Bins, Dust Mats

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