‘Smart’ hand sanitizers that provide data on workplace hand hygiene across the country are being trialled across the country, as part of a study by the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds on how best to get people in with the Covid-19’s latest hand hygiene guide.
The new technology can capture the attention of consumers with integrated video screens to display the latest hand hygiene guidelines in the workplace and provide valuable real-time data for employers to use in their fight the against Covid-19.
Developed by hand hygiene technology company Savortex, the sanitizers can track in real time how often or not they are used, with some capable of sending reminders to employees to wash their hands, or restrict construction access to those who do not. They could also help companies to operate more sustainably by being able to register the refill of advertisers more efficiently.
Using the data from the experiments, the researchers from the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds will analyze their effectiveness, how people feel about integrating smart technologies into their working lives, the idea of health and safety management in the workplace, and help employers ensure the best use of sanitizers in a variety of environments.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has changed not only how people live and work, it is also changing perceptions about the strongest day-to-day interactions, such as shaking hands, or reaching for the door handle of a public building. Understandably many people are now tired of returning to busy offices and workplaces where distribution could be more at risk.
Good hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of disease in environments such as offices, where people mix in close contact, regularly rubbing on potentially contaminated surfaces, such as door handles and tapes.
As the recognized approach to disease prevention worldwide, not only to capture the risk of Covid-19 virus, studies show that good hand hygiene can capture the risk of respiratory virus 55 per cent¹, or reduced to five times less for health workers.²
Dr Sophie Rutter from the University of Sheffield School of Information said: “In many areas, such as healthcare, staff are compelled as part of their job to clean their hands regularly for obvious patient safety reasons, but as is not known. In fact, what motivates people to wash their hands in offices can be difficult and expensive for employers to run health and safety campaigns to encourage people to follow health and safety guidelines.
“We know that good hand hygiene is effective in stopping the release of Covid-19, so this project will help us find solutions to ensure safe and clean office environments, and their own. played to stop the release of Covid-19. “
The data generated by something as simple as a smart handheld cleaner may look awful to some, but Dr. Rutter believes, is also essential in supporting places- work to reduce the risks from colleagues who spread the virus to each other.
She said: “Adopting the highest standards of hand hygiene is so important if we are to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on our daily lives, so there is no need to power it up. Employers can create a healthy and safe environment for everyone, but it will improve everyone ‘s wellbeing by reducing the risk of virus spread in our workplaces. “
Nicholas Gill from Savortex said: “Previous university research on how the right messages would help school children improve their hand washing has encouraged us to see how we can use technology to fight the pandemic by promoting good practice in hand hygiene. in the workplace.
“The pandemic has been instrumental in the rapid development of new and innovative solutions to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and empower companies to take control of employee hygiene and well-being management. This not only reassures people returning to work that they are in a safe environment, but can also help companies work faster and more stably to keep their employees safe. . “
The trials will begin in several office locations in the spring, including government departments and corporate headquarters.