Set up a “safe place” where you work with a portable handwashing station

Washing with soap and water is the key says professor

Effective hand washing techniques are very much a hot topic of conversation of late, particularly with regard to the recent spread of coronavirus around the world. An excellent idea regarding self protection has emerged in a recent article on The Guardian website, where the setting up of an individual’s so-called “safe place” can help prevent the spread of the virus.

The report’s author Dale Berning Sawa begins with a debate as to whether washing with soap and water or the apparently more convenient hand gels are best when it comes to protecting against coronavirus: and for this she enlists the help of a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Sally Bloomfield.

For this, the advice is clear: the use of hand gels is fine to an extent – but soap and water is better.

“The best option is soap and water. According to a 2019 study by the American Society for Microbiology, using running water and soap to wash your hands is more effective than a dab of gel that you have not quite rubbed in.”

Setting up a hand washing barrier in the workplace

The place where an employee might best protect themselves is actually where they work, such as their desk, indicated Professor Bloomfield.

“Bloomfield’s advice is to wash your hands with soap and water – or, if that is not possible, use hand gel – when you return to your “safe place”, by which she means your home, your desk or work station…”

Keeping the surroundings as clean as possible – especially desks and those computer keyboards – is a good start. If hands are then washed upon returning to that safe place, it give you an area to defend, as it were.

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The WashStand portable hand washing stations featured in the images above, were recently deployed in a suite of managed offices in Warwickshire in the UK. They enable staff to wash their hands effectively when they return to their own desk spaces.

Portable sinks for really effective hand washing

Teal produces an incredible range of mobile sinks and portable basins for every type of hand washing situation for use by anyone who needs to wash their hands effectively – including office and warehouse based workers.

There are vehicle mounted, wall mounted, mains powered and free standing hand wash stations as well as mobile sinks with pre-heated hot water.

The TEAL range of mobile sinks includes the MediWash, Hygienius and Hygienius ProWash, BigSynk, Super Stallette, TEALwash, Handeman Xtra, Compact Classic and WashStand.

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