Why Hand Hygiene is Important

1. CWS-boco Ireland believe in the
importance of hand hygiene

2. Why Hand Hygiene is important
80% WHO estimate 80% of infection is
transmitted by hand
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 80% of all infectious
diseases are transmitted by hands.
The risk of respiratory illnesses can be lowered by up to 45% through proper
washing of hands.
To emphasise the importance of proper hand washing, the WHO initiated in 2009
International Hand washing Day, which takes place annually on the 5th of May.
40 Seconds is all it takes!!!
A little water, soap and a clean towel are all you need to protect yourself
from disease agents such as the swine flu virus in daily life. A current
study by the private research institute Labor Enders shows for example,
that 99,99 % of the A/H1N1-viruses can be removed through proper
hand washing.
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie

3. Hand washing – when and how often?
.
When should you wash your hands?
Many infectious diseases are transmitted by hands. That is why proper
hand hygiene is an essential measure in any workplace.
Hand washing and drying recommendations for hygienic washing and
drying of hands in washrooms include, the use of hygienically clean
materials, which cannot be used more than once, Two systems are
generally preferable:
• Textile systems (Roller Towels). The drying system must ensure that
users are always provided with a hygienically clean portion of towel.
• Alternatively the use of disposable paper towels. Paper towels must be
easy to remove from the dispenser's
• before eating, or after handling raw food (meat etc.).
• after going to the toilet
• after sneezing, blowing one’s nose or coughing
• after coming into contact with waste
• after coming home from outdoors
• after coming into contact with dirty, soiled materials (e.g.
public transportation, handrails, handles, gardening)
• after handling animals
• after visiting the sick or contact with items of sick people.
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie

4. What is the correct way to wash
and dry your hands?
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie

5. Hand Drying
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie

6. Hand disinfection for an added
measure of hand hygiene
7 steps for hygienic hand disinfection
1. Wet hands completely, i.e. palms and backs, with alcohol-based
disinfectant solutions :
2. Rub the palm of one hand on the palm of the other hand and then
both wrists.
3. Rub right palm across the left palm and left palm across right palm.
4. Rub both palms together with fingers spread and interlocked.
5. Rub the outsides of the interlocked fingers on the opposite palm.
6. Rub the right thumb in circles in the closed left palm and repeat
procedure with the other thumb.
7. Rub closed tips of the right hand fingers back and forth on the left
palm and repeat procedure with left hand
The use of hand sanitizers is recommended as a supplement to
regular hand washing as well as to comply with general
precautionary measures in public institutions and facilities where
hygienic demands are particularly high (e.g. food industry). In the
medical field and food production hand sanitizing is obligatory
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie

7. Contact us or follow us for Hygiene services
Phone: 01 - 460 6000
Email: sales.ie@cws-boco.com
Internet: www.cws-boco.ie
Twitter: @CWSbocoIRL
©CWS-boco Ireland www.CWS-boco.ie