Despite constant reminders of the need to practice good hygiene during a global pandemic, roughly 12 per cent of adults don’t wash their hands after using a public or private restroom, according to UK research.

Research company OnePoll, along with hygiene safety products and services provider Citron Hygiene, surveyed 2,000 British adults on their hand hygiene habits before and during COVID-19.

Encouragingly, the majority of adults (78 per cent) are washing their hands more frequently and for longer. On average, respondents spend 19 seconds washing their hands eight times a day – this is up from 12 seconds per wash and five times a day pre-COVID.

Additionally, 85 per cent said they always wash their hands after sneezing, and 83 per cent do so after coughing – a major increase. Before the pandemic, those numbers were 30 per cent and 45 per cent.

Key findings

• 40 per cent of the respondents wash their hands after using a smartphone – up from 20 per cent before the pandemic.
• Half are using hand sanitizer more often.
• 20 per cent wash their hands more for personal hygiene reasons, 13 per cent do so out of fear of contracting COVID-19 and only 5 per cent do it to protect others.

Citron Hygiene VP Robert Guice said it was everyone’s responsibility to stay hygienic, but that it was sad to see that many are not doing this.

“Despite habits shifting, there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially as restrictions ease and we are given more freedom.”

The CDC recommends washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

When soap and water are not readily available, a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol is required to limit transmission of the virus.

Webinar: Workplace Hygiene Management During a Pandemic

Presented by Dr Michael Taylor (Greencap)

COVID-19 has presented a series of challenges to our health, safety and business continuity. Whilst many of the recommendations for combatting this novel coronavirus are still being debated, the principles underpinning good workplace hygiene will still mitigate much of the risk, and provide a framework for managing this outbreak, and future pandemics.

This webinar covers what we know about COVID-19, how long it persists in the environment, transmission, PPE, and disinfection, and touches on wider principles which can be used to rapidly respond to future emergency situations.

Interested in myosh HSEQ Webinars?

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What is HSE Software and How Does myosh Work?

myosh is a cloud based workplace health and safety platform that works with you and your team.

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myosh is fast and fully configurable HSE Software that is easy to use and adapt for any Industries.

Over 50 configurable modules integrate to collect HSEQ data.

Modules are used to manage hazards, investigate incidents, manage risk, conduct audits and much more.

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We encourage you to treat your software technology like a team member. The myosh academy is designed to empower your team with the skills to ensure they use their software tools productively. Everyone learns differently, so the academy holds a variety of resources including videos, guided learning and verified online learning courses for each myosh module.

Your investment in myosh helps you and your team manage risk, compliance and improve workplace health and safety. Today, successful organisations view safety as an asset, and health and safety spending as an investment. This is because a safe workplace adds measurable business value, and can drive tangible improvements in performance, profit, and culture.

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HSEQ Job Directory

Demand for the Occupational Health and Safety Services industry is forecast to expand significantly over the next five years. Organisations in a range of industries are constantly looking for savvy, articulate professionals who can demonstrate how minimising risks and improving safety and health performance contributes to performance, profit, and culture.

Get ahead of the curve and advance your career in HSEQ today. View the latest health and safety consultant jobs from around the world.

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The Facts and The Figures

Organisations are constantly reminded that health and safety failure is expensive. And whilst this is certainly true, there are benefits to health and safety success that go beyond cost-avoidance. Today, successful organisations view safety as an asset, and health and safety spending as an investment.

Download the report and discover the tangible and measurable benefits that health and safety initiatives can have on:

• Organisational Productivity
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• Insurance
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myosh Academy

Your investment in myosh helps you and your team manage risk, compliance and improve workplace health and safety.

We encourage you to treat your software technology like a team member. The myosh Academy is designed to empower your team with Knowledge, Skills, Tips and FAQS, and to ensure they use their software tools productively.

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