Initial UK - Specialists in washroom, cleaning, facilities, and clinical waste services

Caring for Your Washroom

22/06/2007

Contribution to FM World from Initial Washroom Solutions.

Research shows that poor washrooms can cast doubt on a company’s professionalism and well cared for facilities do play an important part in maintaining a good reputation. It’s worth giving your toilets a little more attention.

1. The basics

The law requires you to provide employees with "adequate" washing and toilet facilities. This means that they must:

  • Be separate for men and women - unless they are in a lockable room intended for the use of one person at a time
  • Be clean, well lit and ventilated
  • Contain toilet paper and sanitary disposal facilities
  • Have hot and cold running water and soap
  • Have a wash basin and a method of drying hands
  • Contain showers where the nature of the business makes showering necessary

2. Fresh Air

Our sense of smell has a strong impact on our perception of cleanliness and unpleasant odours give the impression of an unhygienic washroom. When questioned 47% of respondents felt that automatic air fresheners are an essential part of good washroom maintenance. Washroom users prefer ‘natural’ type smells rather than a heavy perfume.

3. The ‘sneeze effect’

The ‘sneeze effect’ of flushing toilets can contaminate washroom surfaces, not least the toilet seat! Physical contact with these surfaces increases the risk of the spread of infection amongst washroom users. Toilet seat sanitizers positioned in every cubicle provide users with a means of cleaning the seat before use, considerably reducing health risks associated with shared toilets and providing complete peace of mind for each user. Anti-bacterial seat wipes were viewed as an important provision in good quality washrooms by 46% of respondents.

4. Touchy subject

The safe disposal of feminine hygiene dressings is a critical and sensitive issue. The potential risk of infection and illness from cross-contamination is dangerously high if the correct procedures are not in place. Ideally, companies should employ specialist service providers to ensure they comply with the legal requirements that govern the safe containment and disposal of such controlled waste. When it comes to disposal units themselves, no-touch units rate particularly highly with women. In fact, following trials, 87% of users stated they preferred to use no-touch products, with 77% of them declaring that they would think better of an organisation if they had no-touch facilities. With no-touch sanitary disposal units the lid opens automatically when a hand is placed over an infra-red sensor and closes after the waste is deposited. They require no physical contact by the user, ensuring the user has complete hygiene certainty.

5. Lather up

Bacteria thrive on the warm, moist conditions present on bars of soap and using communal bars of soap can merely spread these germs among users. A sealed soap dispenser is the most hygienic solution, with liquid soap the most popular with users - 86% stating a preference for this type of cleanser.

6. Wet to dry

All washrooms must be equipped with a means of hand-drying and paper towels are users first choice (48%), closely followed by automatic hand dryers (41%). No-touch paper dispensers not only meet user preferences but also limit waste. The user passes their hand in front of the sensor to activate, with only one sheet of paper presented each time. Once the sheet is torn off, the machine is reset for the next activation. Washroom service providers can take away the hassle of keeping on top of stock, with most offering a telesales back up service for repeat orders, that will be delivered directly to your door.

7. Accessible for all

The Disability Discrimination Act requires businesses with public access, to ensure their washrooms are accessible to all users. Make sure you consider the following:

  • Choose easy to use products that can be accessed by the less able
  • Products should be simple to operate, hygienic for all and reflect the needs of all users
  • Air freshening products need to operate in Accessible toilets, which often have automatic lighting. Make sure you choose an airfreshening system that is not reliant of light to operate
  • Products and services that promote exceptional hygiene standards should be provided, as those standards are more important in Accessible washrooms than in any other
  • Provide sanitary and nappy disposal as well as vending for both sexes as Accessible washrooms are often unisex

Boxed Text:

A major study undertaken by the University of Surrey into washroom behaviour, on behalf of Initial Washroom Solutions, highlighted that a bad experience of an organisation’s washroom facilities can have a significant affect.

This isn’t just limited to customers, with many employees interviewed suggesting that the state of the washroom facilities also reflects on the company as an employer. Younger interviewees even discussed factoring the condition of the washrooms into their decision to take a job.

The research also looked at how the washroom experience could be enhanced. Aside from overall cleanliness respondents also cited a number of additional facilities as essential.

Anti-bacterial seat wipes, automatic air fresheners and toilet seat covers all rated highly as desirable attributes of a good quality washroom. However, it was touch free facilities that rated highest. 56% of those surveyed stated a preference for the toilet flush, sanitary bin, toilet seat, taps, soap dispenser, hand dryer and bin to be touch free.

 
News RHS image