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Practical Steps for Safer Workplaces
Good hand hygiene remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. However, achieving consistently high standards takes more than simply placing a bottle of sanitiser near the entrance.
Recent guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF highlights the importance of making hygiene facilities convenient, accessible and easy to use. For workplaces, schools, gyms, hospitality venues and other shared environments, this means creating a practical hygiene system that supports good habits throughout the day.
Why Hand Hygiene Still Matters
The WHO’s latest Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Community Settings cover households, public spaces and institutional environments where healthcare is not routinely delivered.
This makes the guidance particularly relevant to businesses, schools, fitness facilities, transport hubs and hospitality venues.
According to the WHO, effective hand hygiene can reduce cases of diarrhoeal disease by 30% and acute respiratory infections by 17%. It describes hand hygiene as one of the most cost-effective public health investments available.
Although these figures reflect worldwide outcomes, the underlying message applies equally to UK organisations: accessible facilities and clear hygiene procedures can help reduce avoidable illness and support healthier shared spaces.
Make Hygiene Easy and Accessible
One of the strongest messages within the guidance is that hygiene facilities should be conveniently located, accessible and simple to use.
People are more likely to maintain good hygiene when the right products are available exactly where they are needed. In a commercial environment, this could include:
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Hand sanitiser dispensers at entrances and reception areas
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Wet wipe dispensers beside shared equipment
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Surface cleaning wipes in meeting rooms and communal areas
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Clear instructions explaining when and how products should be used
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Reliable stock levels and a regular refill schedule
The WHO Hand Hygiene for All initiative also identifies workplaces, schools, childcare centres and transport hubs as important settings for improving access to everyday hand hygiene.
Businesses can support this by positioning hand sanitiser dispensers in visible, convenient locations rather than expecting staff and visitors to search for them.
When Should Hands Be Cleaned?
The WHO identifies five particularly important times for hand hygiene in community settings:
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Before preparing food
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Before eating or feeding another person
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After using the toilet or handling faeces
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After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
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Whenever hands are visibly dirty
Plain soap and water should be used to wash hands thoroughly. When hands are not visibly dirty, the WHO states that an alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol can be an effective alternative.
The correct product must always be selected for the intended purpose and used according to its label. Surface wipes, for example, should not automatically be assumed to be suitable for use on hands.
Hand Hygiene and Surface Cleaning Work Together
Hand hygiene is only one part of a complete infection prevention and control strategy. Frequently touched surfaces and shared equipment also require appropriate cleaning.
Door handles, desks, touchscreens, gym equipment, counters, handrails and communal kitchen surfaces may be touched by many different people during the day. Introducing conveniently located wet wipe dispensers makes it easier for staff, customers and visitors to clean shared surfaces before or after use.
WHO guidance on environmental cleaning and infection prevention describes cleaning staff as an important first line of defence against healthcare-associated infections. It also reinforces the role that both hand and surface hygiene play in controlling transmission.
Although this particular WHO resource focuses on healthcare facilities, its core principle is valuable across many professional environments: cleaning is most effective when it is supported by suitable products, clear procedures, staff training and consistent implementation.
Focus on High-Touch Areas
A workplace hygiene plan should prioritise the surfaces people touch most frequently. Depending on the setting, these may include:
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Door handles and push plates
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Lift buttons
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Shared keyboards and telephones
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Reception counters
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Tables and desks
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Kitchen appliances
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Toilets and washroom fixtures
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Gym and fitness equipment
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Shopping trolleys and baskets
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Touchscreens and payment terminals
Providing antibacterial and surface cleaning wipes near these locations can make cleaning quicker and more convenient. Always check that the chosen wipe is suitable for the relevant surface and follow the recommended contact time and disposal instructions.
Build Hygiene into Everyday Behaviour
Products alone cannot create a strong hygiene culture. The WHO’s guidance also emphasises the importance of information, behaviour change and supportive environments.
Businesses can encourage better hygiene by:
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Displaying clear reminders near hygiene stations
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Training employees on correct product use
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Assigning responsibility for checking and refilling dispensers
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Monitoring whether stations are being used
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Reviewing the placement of equipment
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Keeping facilities clean, operational and well stocked
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Making hygiene part of everyday workplace procedures
The WHO’s infection prevention and control training resources include educational materials covering hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. These can help organisations develop clearer internal procedures and staff training.
Choose the Right Hygiene System for Your Environment
Every organisation has different requirements. A compact office may only need a desktop dispenser and a few strategically placed sanitiser units, while a busy gym, school or public venue may benefit from several high-capacity stations.
The Hygiene Company supplies a broad range of commercial hygiene solutions, including:
Effective placement is just as important as product selection. Hygiene stations should be positioned near entrances, shared equipment, communal areas and other points where people naturally need them.
A Practical Approach to Better Workplace Hygiene
The latest WHO guidance shows that hand hygiene should not be treated as a temporary response to outbreaks. It should form part of a reliable, long-term approach to public health and workplace safety.
By combining accessible hand hygiene facilities, appropriate surface cleaning products, clear information and dependable stock management, organisations can make good hygiene easier for everyone.
Explore our range of commercial wet wipes, dispensers and hygiene solutions, or contact The Hygiene Company for help creating a system suited to your workplace.
The Hygiene Company is not affiliated with or endorsed by the World Health Organization. WHO guidance has been referenced for general educational purposes. Always follow product labels, applicable UK regulations and your organisation’s infection-control procedures.