MANUFACTURING TIDBITS
HANDWASHING: BRINGING THE SINK TO THE PLANT FLOOR.
IF THE EMPLOYEE WON’T GO TO THE SINK, THE SINK MUST COME TO THE EMPLOYEE. by TR CUTLER
Martin Watts, founder and CEO of Ozark River Manufacturing, wants to get handwashing out of the bathroom. Experts agree that gloves, masks, and social distancing are essential; equally important according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), and other epidemiologists is that handwashing remains the frontline defense against the spread of disease. Since 2004, the company has been the leader in handwash compliance, delivering safety and convenience in the design and delivery of NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certified portable hand sinks.
Manufacturing environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals attest to proper handwashing protocols, the importance of NSF certification, and how manufacturing remains an essential business during the pandemic.
Ozark River Manufacturing may be small (16 employees), but it was the only manufacturer of its kind able to meet the immediate demand of an order for the Jacob Javits Center “Makeshift Hospital” in NYC earlier spring 2020.
Watts oversees a team that provides a critical and convenient solution to improve personal hygiene and the ability to comply with state and local handwashing codes, critical to fighting the spread of diseases like COVID-19. These portable hand sinks feature instant hot water technology and convenient quick connect tanks. Without the expense of plumbing, manufacturers gain the hygiene benefits of instant hot water with indoor portable sinks ensuring that the twenty-second handwashing rule is practiced. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water as frequently as possible because handwashing reduces all types of germs and chemicals on hands.
Manufacturers recognize portable sinks as integral for reopening
NSF certified portable sinks important for manufacturers
Bathrooms are often situated quite far from a manufacturing cell, making frequent handwashing impractical. Manufacturers are now devising strategies to safely reopen, recognizing the value of portable sinks, which require no plumbing, can be in public areas or near workstations.
Most handwashing stations are not NSF certified. NSF certification is a guarantee; a third-party endorsement that ensures that products can be cleaned and sanitized properly. To the average worker on the plant floor this may not mean much, but to health and regulatory officials, it means everything.
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Manufacturing Outlook / August 2020