Safety and hygiene in the wee room

IN the aftermath of the pandemic, we’ve all seen a host of changes in our everyday activities. Hand-gel dispensers are still in operation in many retail outlets, hotels and civic buildings and we experience a considerable number of people still wearing masks in crowded spaces.

Hygiene has become an everyday essential for companies and service providers across the country and the public are demanding that more care and protection is provided to shoppers and visitors. This is particularly relevant in public spaces and publicly accessible toilets. Whether they are provided for by local councils or sympathetic business owners we have all become more diligent in what we touch or handle. This poses a significant problem for cleaning operatives who have to learn and understand new methods of making and keeping surfaces hygienically clean for the users.

In the last few years we have seen many toilets being upgraded to include touch-free taps and soap dispensers as well as flushing units. Infra-red door and lighting sensors have taken away the pull-cords and push plates that carry so many pathogens and dirt particles. In a few specialised cases the installation of automatic wash/dry toilet bowls have raised more than a few eyebrows.

The latest technology to be introduced is the contactless door entry system where you offer up your debit/credit card to a scanner and the door or barrier unlocks to give you access. These new systems bring with them a number of safety features in addition to the hygiene factor as they have proven to greatly reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour and vandalism that has been growing in recent times. It’s extremely difficult to keep vital toilet units in full working order, particularly when you’re faced with reduced staff/resources, so this type of technical solution is being embraced by many suppliers and providers to keep the public safer and the toilets functional for longer.

We’re already witnessing the next generation of security devices such as video, smartcard QR codes and sensory devices that could be used to enhance the user experience. Hand washing has been highlighted as an area of concern with estimated figures as low as 40% of males and 56% of females regularly washing after a visit to the toilet. Many now carry their own hand sanitising fluid but this isn’t a full substitute for proper hand washing with soap and hot water. The tremendous increase in the use of toilet tissue to pre-clean the toilet seat and surrounding sanitary ware has some stall holders reaching for seat sanitiser units to eradicate the discarded tissue being left on the floors.

The number of persons using ostomy bags and sanitary supplies has risen enormously and we are becoming more conscious of the need to provide sanitary bins in both female and male toilets. Perhaps we’ll see the reintroduction of digital vending machines to service these customers.

We all know what a good toilet looks like - we each have one in our own homes. It’s all about the management and control of these spaces and there’s absolutely no reason for any publicly accessible toilet unit to not be hygienically cleaned and serviced regularly. The abuse of the RADAR key system means that, particularly, accessible toilets are often not available to disabled users when they need them. So we welcome the new innovations that are creeping into our essential facilities. The whole industry seems to be embracing the introduction of these new wireless scanners and digital locking devices that will hopefully help us keep our public toilets open and ready for the next customer/ pandemic or safe from the daily attacks of vandals and those abusing substances. WWW.BTALOOS.CO.UK

The BTA is a member of the British Cleaning Council. The views of Council members are their own.

Access 12 months of past issues

Priority places on C&M webinars

Invitations to attend Cleaning Show London and Manchester

Access to regular premium content including podcasts, videos interviews and specialist reports

Make sure you reach your target

For further details please contact:

Michelle Andrews

Sales Manager | C&M Magazine

T +44 1737 855086

E michelleandrews@quartzltd.com