Spread the word, not germs

Deb has highlighted the importance of good hand hygiene practice in preventing the spread of increasingly common germs.

According to Deb, washroom studies from around the world have shown that 1 person in every 5 is walking around with unwashed hands. Employers have a responsibility to provide adequate skin care facilities for all employees and can encourage good hand hygiene practice by providing easyto- understand awareness materials such as posters, stickers for use in the washrooms, on floors, mirrors and doors as well as reminders on company intranets of the importance of keeping hands clean.

Phil Spark, marketing director at Deb advises: "Free downloadable posters are readily available from established suppliers to help promote good hand hygiene practices." A hand sanitiser should compliment routine hand washing and should also be used after coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces or items likely to have been contaminated.

Organisations can also provide personal issue sanitisers for 'hand hygiene on the move'.