SKIN sanitisation company Deb has written about the role hand hygiene can have in protecting against infectious outbreaks and preventing downtime due to sickness.
According to the company, people are often infectious one to two days before any cold and flu symptoms appear, meaning eliminating workplace sickness is not as simple as keeping sick workers away from work.
Absenteeism due to sickness can be very costly. Winter, for example, often sees up to 58% of a workforce struck down, costing companies in lost time and productivity. Recent reports show influenza cases have increased by 10% in 2008, illustrating the need for preventive measures, the sanitisation solutions provider claims.
Preventive measures include immunisation, hand cleansing, sanitation and informed hygiene. Education, motivation and role modelling by management can be used to encourage preventive approaches.
Hands are said to be among the most insidious vehicles for the spread of germs. he company says shaking hands and touching common surfaces can be sufficient to spread contamination and infections.
Hand hygiene can be enhanced by using soap and water or by using alcohol hand sanitisers. Deb says it has just released an alcohol-based foaming hand sanitiser called InstantFOAM which it claims can kill a high proportion of the bacteria on skin for infection control.
However, it warns products are only effective if implemented together with an informed infection control program. The company says it is working with companies and organisations to educate the workforce regarding hand hygiene.

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