14.10.2020, 21:45
Hygiene Essential to Getting Back to Business
Over 75 per cent of returning workers in the United Kingdom feel unsafe according to a survey commissioned by Kimberly-Clark Professional from Harris Interactive.
The survey which was undertaken to find out how Covid-19 has affected perceptions of cleanliness and hygiene in workplaces found 86 per cent of employees and the general public indicated they would avoid a location if they didn’t think it was Covid-secure – with eighty per cent of consumers also indicated they are now more aware of hygiene practices when outside the home.
Additionally, 78 per cent of employees surveyed as part of a sample of 1,097 adults felt there was a moderate-to-high risk of germs being present in office building – with 69 per cent identifying strict social distancing policies enforcement as an important indicator of safety in an office building, and 51 per cent indicating they wanted wearing masks to be made mandatory when entering work premises. Seventy per cent also cited the provision of hygienic hand washing and toilet facilities as hygiene requirements, confirming cleaning and hygiene-related factors as being of the upmost importance for six out of every seven people surveyed.
Visibility of measures taken by employers to ensure officers are safe was also a consideration for 62 per cent of the survey participants, with 58 per cent additionally indicating they wanting cleaning and disinfecting procedures to be communicated clearly.
When asked, ‘What are the most important areas to improve hygiene in an office building?’ 89 per cent of survey participants said the washroom is a key area where businesses can do more. Three in four thought the condition of the washroom was a reflection of how much the establishment cares about its customers/visitors, whilst the same proportion thought the condition of the washroom is a reflection of the hygiene standards for the rest of the establishment.
Commenting on the findings, Olena Neznal, Vice President of Kimberly-Clark Professional EMEA, says: “Early experiences out of the home have not met expectations, so more must be done.
“Fear and uncertainty have put businesses under pressure to balance the responsibilities of keeping everyone safe and staying up to date with protocols whilst getting businesses back on track.
“Only businesses which win the confidence of their employees and customers will thrive, and from this research it is clear that hygiene is now top of the business agenda.”
“Businesses are clearly not doing enough, and people are still scared, so these findings are crucial in guiding our ability to ensure we offer the best advice and solutions,” said Olena Neznal. “There are no shortcuts to workplace hygiene – we need to cover every angle.”
360˚ Hygiene & Protection Programme
Launched to help employers address some of these perceptions, Kimberly-Clark Professional’s 360˚ programme identifies the need areas, through assessing a building’s level of preparedness and identifying germ hotspots. Hotspots are objects such as door handles, sink fixtures, lift buttons, tables, and stair rails that are touched by many throughout the day and need frequent cleaning and disinfection to help break the chain in germ transmission.
The next step is implementing cleaning and disinfecting protocols and introducing the correct hand hygiene and surface wiping solutions. Finally, Kimberly-Clark Professional™ promotes hygienic workplace practices by providing communication tools to help create awareness, which is a vital and important part of making people feel safe.
Neznal explains: “We offer a free virtual hygiene walk – bookable through our microsite, https://home.kcprofessional.com/UK_PR_TTNS_0920 to review a facility and provide expert guidance on cleaning and hygiene protocols, recommending the right product solutions to tackle key hygiene hotspots.
“Reassuring customers and employees with visible hygiene actions has never been more important for a business’ survival, and yet not all are behaving this way.
“We have produced in-depth guides for each industry and selected the most appropriate products for every situation, offering a virtual hygiene consultation to ensure the right solution for your business.”
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