Hand washing is still important
by SC Johnson Professional
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has begun, but it could take months before enough doses are produced and distributed around the nation for life to return to normal. That means that workplaces will want to continue to follow protocols to keep workers safe, including the use of hand sanitizers and cleaners. Here’s a brief look at the major considerations to think about when recommending hand cleaners/sanitizers for industrial work situations, provided by SC Johnson Professional.
Hand sanitizers
When selecting a hand sanitizer, its effectiveness and formula should be top of mind. Ensure that the formulas have complete broad-spectrum activity, which means they are fully tested and proven to eliminate germs when used properly.
In industrial work situations, it’s important that sanitizer formulas do not leave hands feeling sticky after multiple uses or affect latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves. Choose sanitizers with ingredients that avoid gelling agents since they tend to leave skin feeling sticky after multiple uses. Use a clinically proven formula that’s tested and proven to prevent skin dryness after each use.
By reading the manufacturer’s instructions, users should be able to determine efficacy. For example, SC Johnson Professional’s InstantFOAM Complete PURE foam hand sanitizer Kills 99.999 percent of germs in just 15 seconds when used properly, which includes applying one to two doses of product to clean hands and spreading across all part of hands until dry.
Make sure the hand sanitizer is using alcohol approved for use by the FDA and is not on the FDA recalled list: https://swie.com/pages/fda-hand-sanitizer-recall-list-updated?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg7el262b7QIVD4eGCh2S0QowEAAYASABEgLyVvD_BwE.
SC Johnson Professional offers a wide range of resources to promote hand hygiene. This includes posters and signs that remind employees about the importance of hand hygiene, offer tips on proper hand hygiene and hand sanitizing. These resources can be found at https://info.scjp.com/infectionprevention.
Industrial cleaners
When choosing an industrial cleanser, check the ingredient list. Ensure that the product is solvent-free or at least a low-solvent hand cleaner as solvents such as paraffin, thinners, petrol and white spirit are likely to remove too much of the skin’s natural oils depending on the level of usage.
Another recommendation is to use the least aggressive cleaner for the working condition. For situations that require a deeper clean, use products with natural scrubbing agents such as olive pits or cornmeal similar to SC Johnson Professional’s Solopol GFX. These scrubbers are natural and have the right balance between helping to get dirt off and being gentle to the skin. Cornmeal and olive pit scrubbing agents are uniquely suspended in the foam to give a deep clean without damaging the skin.
It’s highly suggested that these products should be located and dispensed in an area that’s easily accessible, specifically through a wall-mounted dispenser. Individually packaged cleaners and creams have more of a tendency of getting misplaced, resulting in the facility manager needing to buy more product sooner than they would have.
There are additional steps that can help avoid skin irritation aside from product ingredients. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves are commonly used to protect workers’ hands from harsh chemicals, extreme environments or other irritants. However, moisture produced by our sweat glands get trapped inside the gloves and moisture build-up can cause severe skin irritation.
Using pre-work barrier creams, like SC Johnson Professional’s Stokoderm Protect can provide a second line of defense, or on its own if industrial workers are unable to use PPE. Remember to only use a small amount, otherwise the skin may become greasy and pose as a challenge for workers handling tools.
Finally, don’t forget to use after-work restore products as another line of defense against skin irritation. Products like SC Johnson Professional Stokolan Classic condition the skin and restore skin barriers. Most conditioning products sold contain about 90 percent water, but a product containing 15 percent to 30 percent fats or oils is preferable.
This article originally appeared in the Jan./Feb. 20201 issue of Industrial Supply magazine. Copyright 2021, Direct Business Media.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The November/December issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Kimball Midwest. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and Mike Marks, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
