Maximising hand hygiene compliance

The way our food is produced – from the sourcing of ingredients to the manufacture and packaging – is a subject that attracts close scrutiny. Each individual link in the food production chain shares equal responsibility for the safety and hygiene of the end product. Just one weak link and the chain can snap, risking consumer health and brand loyalty. So, getting it right is vital, and one of the key elements is good hand hygiene.

Good hand hygiene systems are not just nice to have extras for food processing companies – they are essential to the smooth running of the entire business. If just one employee doesn’t follow proper procedures then this can put the entire workforce – and company – at risk. So, what can businesses do to maximise compliance? 

Select products that balance formulation: Giving production workers access to products and systems that they enjoy using can help achieve a greater success rate in reducing infections and cross-contamination through compliance. This plays just as important a role as product efficacy. The high frequency with which employees must clean their hands means that the user experience must be a positive one. Formulations that are too runny, sticky, smelly, or that cause dryness or irritation can put users off using the hand sanitisers provided, causing adherence to fall.

Select products with good functionality: Of course, efficacy is also important, so only soaps or hand sanitisers whose effectiveness has been proven through independent scientific testing should be considered. Similarly, they should not affect the taste or smell of food, so must conform to EN 4120:2007 or Tetrad Test ASTM International E3009-15.

The best products will successfully combine proven efficacy with soothing, moisturising ingredients that care for skin, so that employees can use the products knowing that their hands will be kept in good condition.

Select products that work quickly: As well as being effective, they must act fast and dry quickly. Many people do not spend very long washing or sanitising hands, so selecting products that reach their stated efficacy levels quickly is vital.

Select easy-to-use dispensers: Touch-free dispensers are intuitive, easy-to-use, and make a great choice for food processing sites, due to their increased hygiene ratings. Due to the harsh wash-down environments in which they are situated, dispensers must also be durable and robust.

Position dispensers strategically: The correct positioning can make a huge difference in promoting hygienic behaviour. Put simply, effective opportunities for hand hygiene must be readily available at the point of use – so that they are there just when they are needed. 

Continuous education: Eye-catching notices and posters work well to keep hand hygiene top of mind – they can not only prompt people to clean their hands but can also act as a reminder of the best techniques. 

The right products and systems have an invaluable role to play in the promotion of healthy hand hygiene behaviour. A trusted partner should be willing to work with you to optimise your approach, helping ensure that the correct products are selected to support Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programmes; that dispensers are positioned in the right locations; and providing support materials so that the act of hand hygiene becomes second nature. 

By implementing these hand-hygiene measures, food processing firms can minimise the risk of infection for staff, visitors and customers, which not helps protect the business and also safeguards the well-being of employees and consumers alike.