The Coronavirus pandemic has changed much of the way we go about our daily lives. People are especially savvy when it comes to hand hygiene. They understand that hand hygiene is an essential way of protecting themselves from person-to-person transmission via hand contact and contaminated surfaces.
Germs can spread easily throughout a building – either via person to person, surface to person or air to person – and hands that touch contaminated surfaces will inevitably transfer germs to other surfaces or directly to people.
Dr Gail Aitken, FRSPH, Head of Consumable Product Development at Rentokil Initial, says: “Transfer rates after touching a contaminated surface vary by pathogen, pressure, surface porosity and moisture level. Worryingly, 1% may still be present even after 7 touches.”
How technology is reducing the need to touch surfaces
As more businesses and consumers move towards touchless technology – especially in light of the pandemic which has brought health and safety and hygiene front of mind – No Touch technology can provide an effective solution for helping to reduce cross contamination opportunities.
In many homes we’ve seen the use of voice-powered technology such as Siri, Google Home and Amazon Echo, where a simple voice command allows requests such as lights to be switched on, radios to be turned off and TV channels to be changed without the user having to move. Many of us are also able to unlock our mobile devices or sign into apps with facial or fingerprint recognition, whilst no touch sensing enables us to simply open a door by no more than a wave of the hand.
Shopping has become no touch too – contactless cards eliminate an additional touch, and this has become even more important since the beginning of the pandemic and in likelihood has changed the way we shop forever. In fact, Amazon reported that searches for No Touch products have increased by a whopping 2,000% since the start of the pandemic!
Our restaurant, bar and pub experiences have also been influenced by Coronavirus. We no longer need to queue for table service, due to the availability of table service apps. In a twitter survey, NottinghamshireLive found that 70% of voters will opt for table service, even with restrictions lifted.
In Initial Hygiene’s Global Reset report, 74% of people said that they are now more concerned that other peoples’ poor hand hygiene could put their health at risk than before the pandemic.
For business providers and facilities managers, washrooms present one of the most problematic areas especially when it comes to maintaining hygiene levels and eliminating or reducing the need for contact. Since these spaces are typically visited by many users daily, it is a good idea to create hygienic washrooms that are as ‘hands free’ as possible.
How your business can benefit from No Touch hygiene solutions
Surfaces in washrooms can be ideal reservoirs for the microorganisms which can be released by spray from the toilet and or spread by people’s hands. Our No Touch solutions help to reduce the number of touchpoints in the washroom.
Initial’s No Touch hygiene solutions for handwashing, drying, sanitising and disposal of sanitary waste have built-in sensor technology so they can be operated without the user needing to touch any part of the unit.
We make it possible for our customers to provide the clean and hygienic washroom and hand sanitising facilities that users expect, ensuring less contact, less risk and less worry.
No Touch hygiene solutions from Initial include:
Sanitary solutions
Our sanitary bin units come in a variety of sizes to cater to washrooms and cubicles of all sizes.
An automated lid allows the user to dispose of the waste without touching the unit, and helps to reduce the risk of germs being picked up from previous users.
Hand drying solutions
Our paper dispensers have advanced, No Touch technology to dispense consumables without having to touch the surface of the unit.
They are quick, easy and convenient to use. A fresh piece of towel is presented for each user.
Handwashing solutions
Our Signature No Touch soap dispensers have a built-in sensor that detects users’ hands under the soap nozzle and triggers the dispenser to supply a precise dose of soap.
This gives customers a better handwashing experience.
Hand sanitising solutions
Our No Touch dispensers promote more frequent hand sanitising because it’s convenient and is more hygienic, avoiding the mess that tends to build-up around bottles where you have to press the lid to dispense.
Reach out to the hygiene experts
Now, more than ever, it has become vital for employers to ensure that workplace policies and conditions comply with health and safety regulations; especially when it comes to hygienically safe environments.
Customers and employees expect to feel protected when they are visiting workplaces and shared spaces. Users may not only be comfortable when seeing clean surfaces, but may also be concerned to see the other ways that shared spaces have been made hygienically safe. A global consumer sentiment survey from McKinsey has revealed a serious need for hygiene transparency.
By implementing no touch hygiene solutions, businesses are demonstrating that they care about their working environment and the people that visit their spaces.
Sources:
- https://www.barbourproductsearch.info/shaping-the-future-of-the-bathroom-environment-news084933.html
- https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/table-service-order-bar-nottingham-5615296
- https://res.mktg.initial.com/res/rentoki_mkt_prod1/9a685c8d1344ceffe13fbc09948d9ec7.pdf
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