Is it just me, or do you all think we’re becoming a hand-washing Nazi nation?
I know we’re all afraid of swine flu, but all I hear from politicians, educators, and health experts lately is how hand washing will save us all.
Forget about packed offices and plants were workers on practically sitting on top of each other. And forget about the fact that about 50 percent of workers don’t have any paid sick time so taking time off if they get sick is not an option. No amount of hand washing is going to save you if your coworkers sneezes in your direction.
But hand washing is the easy target everyone is aiming for.
There’s even new technology that can spot the “no hand-washing” offenders. It’s called HyGreen hand hygiene senors and it works sort of like a “Breathalyzer for the hands,” according to an MSNBC.com article.
HyGreen hand hygiene sensors, developed at the University of Florida, can detect whether doctors and health care workers have followed hand-washing procedures before making contact with patients. If they don’t, their ID badges will vibrate and alert a database that the employees failed to wash up.
Do we really think you can force adults to wash their hands?
Many just don’t think it’s that important, according to one study by the authors of “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything.”
Their research found:
* One in five adults don’t wash their hands after using the restroom
* Only 15% of adults wash their hands after coughing or sneezing
* Three out of four adults don’t wash their hands before eating
We all know the type, right? We’re in the company bathroom washing our hands when the gal or guy comes out of the stall and heads right out the door.
“Hey,” you want to say, but you don’t because that’s just not polite or your business, right?
Well, I was reading a Washington Post Q&A held last week by columnist Lily Garcia, and I came across this question from a reader:
Downtown, D.C.: I’ve seen a new coworker in the restroom three times now, and she has never washed her hands. I’m disgusted. Can I mention it to HR (no names, of course)? Especially with everyone worried about flu, I wonder what to do besides open our mutual door with a paper towel.
Running to HR because someone doesn’t wash their hands makes me feel uncomfortable. It reminds me a bit of the hysteria after September 11 when government officials were telling us to watch our neighbors for any suspicious activity.
What ever happened to privacy folks? You can stay clear of this individual if you like. I know, there’s always a risk dirty Sally will end up touching a cupcake at the next office birthday party, and then put it back because she thinks her butt’s getting too big. And you could end up picking up that exact cupcake not knowing what transpired.
But do we want to create an over-the-top intrusive workplace where everyone is watching everyone?
Thanks goodness Garcia showed some common sense in answering the question:
Rather than embarrassing this individual, you should ask you HR department to post signs in the restrooms reminding people of the importance of hand washing. Many companies do this routinely during flu season, and many more companies are posting such notices now as the threat of H1N1 looms.
Alas, posting signs may not always do the trick.
Here’s a hysterical video of what actually helps get people soaping up:
I don’t care how many signs you put up, there’s just something about the lure of a cupcake, no?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:08 am
With N1H1, the real rub is that the most recent studies have indicated that most transmission is through the air. Healthy rats were put into cages that were occupied by infected rats after the rats were removed. The healthy rats did not contract N1H1. When kept in proximity to infected rats, however, healthy rats did get N1H1.
Handwashing makes everyone feel better about it, but it may not have any meaningful impact. It is still the best defense against transmitting many other infections, however, so it still should be promoted. I never understood why some people used paper towels to open bathroom doors (throwing them on the ground if no trash can was nearby) until I saw a guy come out of a stall and head straight to the door without washing. That did it for me! Not only did I udnerstand, but I started using paper towels, too.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Running to HR may not work well, but if there’s a subtle, yet tactful way to “remind” them that would be great! Easier said than done though. I will mention that these “non-hand-washers” do become “water cooler” talk. Folks notice, and they chat about it. If you’re not washing your hands, just know that folks have taken notice. They aren’t going to borrow your pen, use your computer or let you borrow anything of their’s for that matter!
October 14th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
There is something to what you say Michelle about water cooler talk. I remember an editor I had long ago who used to readjust and rub his crotch area often in front of the whole newsroom, and then hang all over your desk and touch things. Needless to say, it wasn’t a pleasure eating lunch with him, and it was the talk of the office.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Someone should pitch this to “The Office,” maybe then the non-hand-washers in our offices will be more inclined to wash their hands.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
How do you know that the “non hand washer” has not studied up on reports about how the door handle in the restroom has more germs than the toilet seat and due to that fact, choose not to wash their hands in the restroom, but instead use the industrial strength hand sanitizing wipes and gel in their desk?