March Industry News

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recently released their first global Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Community Settings, designed to help governments, businesses, and organizations encourage better hand hygiene outside of health care facilities—like in homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

The guidelines focus on three basic requirements:

• The right materials: soap and water, or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Clear reminders: simple signage explaining when, why, and how to clean your hands
• Easy access: handwashing or sanitizing stations that are convenient to find and use

They also reinforce five key times when handwashing matters most:

• Before preparing food
• Before eating or feeding others
• After using the restroom or handling waste
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• Anytime hands are visibly dirty

In the United States, the necessary facilities are usually in place, but habits don’t always follow. A quick glance around many public restrooms shows that plenty of people still skip washing with soap or don’t scrub for the recommended 20 seconds.

One of the easiest ways to encourage better habits is by posting clear, visible reminders where people need them most.

Explore our library of downloadable wall clings and signs here.