Technological Innovations Impact Hand Washing
Anyone associated with the food industry appreciates the critical importance of sanitation, the most basic and important aspect of which is proper hand washing.
Notably, eighty percent of all illnesses and infections are transported by touch. In turn, according to the World Health Organization, an individual who washes their hands often is 24 percent less likely to acquire a respiratory illness, and 45 percent to 50 percent less likely to get a stomach bug.
Fortunately, with each passing moment, science and technology lead to new innovations which enhance our knowledge of food-borne illness, as well as our ability to combat it. One of these innovations, while currently being used only in hospitals, may potentially have wide-ranging applications in the food industry as well.
The system, known as Hygreen, enables companies to monitor and keep track of hand washing. It is currently being tested in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit of Shands, at the University of Florida Medical Center. The units require an employee to simply run their hands beneath a wall mounted sensor which can detect the presence and level of soap on the individual’s hands. If the employee’s hands are clean, a green light turns on.
Conversely, if the sensor detects low levels of cleanliness, or that too much time had elapsed between hand washings, a badge worn by the employee will vibrate softly. The badges and sensors communicate wirelessly with a computer which logs the collected information and can monitor compliance.
"I do wash my hands more often," said nurse Carrie McGirr, R.N., who volunteered to help test the HyGreen system. "It's a fairly simple process to learn."
While seemingly basic, proper hand washing requires one to follow certain basic guidelines which should be both trained and enforced.
Put simply, one should scrub vigorously with water and soap until lather appears, making sure to get between fingers and fingernails. This should be done for at least 20 seconds. Briskly dry with a towel.
While better than nothing, the popular sanitizing hand gels have been shown to be far less effective than hand washing. The reason for this is simple. When you use a hand sanitizer, the bacteria and viruses have no where to go so they remain on your hands. Conversely, when you use soap and water the germs are washed down the drain. A vigorous drying with a towel will ideally get rid anything that washing left behind.
Air dryers, once popular, are seen less and less frequently. They are generally thought to take too long to finish the job of drying, and studies have shown that paper towels are actually more effective at removing dirt and bacteria.
It is possible, however, that they will make a resurgence. At least that’s what the people at Dyson hope. The Dyson AirBlade is similar to other air dryers but it uses room temperature air which is blown out at over 400mph. It is a futuristic looking machine that is supposed to dry hands completely in less than ten seconds.
We are only left pondering, however, whether the AirBlade is strong enough to help open the bathroom door . . .
