With hand hygiene being crucial to maintain a hygienic environment, it’s important to consider not just hand washing, but the drying process too. After all, we know that bacteria thrives on damp surfaces, so why would hands be any exception? In fact, in some reports it has been found that damp hands are 1000 times more likely to spread bacteria than dry hands. That is why we provide a range of both hand dryers and paper towel dispensers to suit your hygienic needs. In this blog, we will help you identify the best hand drying solution to maintain hygienic standards within your environment and where they are best used.
Hand dryers
With an average drying time from 10 to 15 seconds (depending on the model), our range of hand dryers provide a quick hand drying solution. It is important that staff ensure that all moisture is removed before carrying on with their work duties. Providing touch-free activation, we offer several dryers that incorporate anti-bacterial HEPA filters which remove 99.9% of bacteria during operation making them ideal for hygienic environments where contamination is not a concern. Filters should ideally be replaced or cleaned (if possible) to maintain efficiency.
Creating zero waste, they provide a more environmentally friendly option than paper towels, but location is vital to ensure that they do not spread airborne bacteria into hygienic environments and cause cross-contamination.
Paper towels & dispensers
A preferred drying process for areas with more stringent requirements, our paper towel dispensers provide an alternative to hand dryers that is easy to clean and therefore helps maintain hygiene standards. The actual rubbing process of the towel against hands can remove bacteria from the skin which may have otherwise been missed. These single-use towels collect any of the lingering bacteria after hand washing before being safely disposed of in a bin or waste bag. Once you have effectively washed your hands, using a paper towel can still remove even more germs, greatly increasing overall hand cleanliness.With fresh towels minimising cross-contamination concerns, they are usually preferred in food processing and preparation areas as well as high hygiene environments.
Key considerations
It’s important to take the following considerations into account when choosing an appropriate hand drying solution:
Sustainability
Hand dryers can be preferable in facilities aiming to reduce waste and improve sustainability. Modern, energy-efficient hand dryers have a smaller environmental footprint compared to the continuous use of paper towels and do not result in waste that needs to be hygienically stored and disposed of.
Cost considerations
Although hand dryers may have a higher initial cost due to the technologies involved, such as infra-red sensors and filtration systems, they can be more cost-effective in the long-term due to the ongoing expense of purchasing and disposing of paper towels.
High traffic areas
In high-traffic areas where many employees need to wash and dry their hands quickly, paper towels can prevent queues and ensure a faster turnover. Hygiene stations also provide a speedy alternative for circumstances such as this, with variations featuring built-in soap dispensers and hand dryers, this innovative equipment offers both hand and boot sanitisation in one neat package.Which drying solution is best for your needs?
While both provide a quick and effective method of drying hands, the best solution for your needs would ultimately depend on the location of the drying station. The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), British Retail Consortium of Global Standards (BRCGS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) usually recommend paper towels in hygienic areas where contamination is a key concern. This is due to the effectiveness of paper towels in removing bacteria and the airflow of hand dryers causing a concern of bacterial spread during the drying process itself.We would recommend that facilities use a hybrid approach, using paper towels in high-risk areas and hand dryers in low-risk or administrative areas. Regardless of the method used, companies should ensure that hand drying facilities are well-maintained and that staff are trained in proper hand hygiene practices.
Download our free buying guide on hand drying solutions here.
If you would like to find out more about our range of hand drying solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Teknomexperts on +44 (0)1603 788 833 or email mail@teknomek.co.uk.
