restroom, they are taking shortcuts in completing the task,” Dommisse explains. “Seventy percent admit they have skipped the impor-tant step of using soap. That’s 15 percent points higher than last year’s findings.” This leads to an obvious question: Why aren’t they using soap? “Responders said mainly because no soap was available, the sink or soap dispenser were broken or the restroom was too unclean.” All three reasons showcase how manag-ers, BSCs and JanSan workers can positive-ly affect and improve occupant handwashing in their facilities. More Americans also said they have seen someone else leave a public restroom with-out washing their hands at all. This year, 81 percent witnessed a non-washing event compared to 74 percent last year, Dommisse says. Another important survey response may also help guide professional cleaners — men continue to lose the battle of the sexes in the handwashing department, according to Dommisse. The survey found that, while 74 percent of women say they always wash their hands in a public bathroom, only 60 percent of men say they do. Even worse, 24 percent of men stated in the survey that handwashing is not impor-tant at all. Based on these survey results, JanSan workers may want to take extra safety pre-cautions and spend some additional time cleaning in men’s rooms. Infection Connection Dommisse states that the CDC is forthright in their communications concerning how hand-washing with soap remains the number one preventer of spreading germs. In fact, sci-entists believe that our hands may transmit up to 80 percent of all infections, so handwashing is key to stop-ping the spread of infection and stay-ing healthy. Dommisse says illnesses that can be spread by poor hygiene practices include diarrheal diseases, food-borne illnesses, re-spiratory infections, etc. Dommisse provides the following exam-ples: ■ It is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50 percent. 1 ■ Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be pre-vented. 2 ■ Handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16 percent. 3 Specifically looking at public restrooms, www.cmmonline.com 15
CMM – Archives November 2013: 15
