How to Measure Handwashing Compliance
Despite the importance of handwashing by health care workers, 50 percent of workers fail to meet standards, according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Hand hygiene is an important aspect of cleanliness in order to prevent the spread of bacteria and illnesses. Whether you work in the health industry or food industry, employees must be trained on the proper techniques of handwashing in order to prevent patients and consumers from becoming ill.Things You'll Need
- Hand sanitizer
- Soap
- Water
Instructions
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Education
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Train your employees on the importance of hand hygiene. Teach them to wash their hands for up to 20 seconds with warm water and soap. According to Modern Medicine, they must wash the backs of their hands, palms, fingernails, fingertips, and fingers.
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Tell your employees to turn off the water using a paper towel after washing their hands. This prevents recontamination with bacteria and viruses from the faucet.
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Don't allow your female employees to wear artificial nails. Nails should be no longer than 1/4 of an inch, as bacteria and viruses can be harbored underneath nails.
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Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if faucets are not readily available. Employees should be instructed to use a hand sanitizer until the alcohol is absorbed into their hands.
Observation and Surveys
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Observe your employees regulary to ensure they are abiding by handwashing compliances. Everyone needs to be responsible for their actions if they don't follow hand hygiene applications.
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Locate improper handwashing techniques by conducting surveys amongst staff (such as doctors, nurses, food staff, etc.). Examples of survey questions can be downloaded at http://www.shea-online.org. Correct issues when compliance levels are low.
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Observe how much soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer is being used by employees to determine if your employees are measuring up to standards. Use motivation and positive reinforcement when your staff performs well.
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