Training

Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies

December 6 to 12 is National Handwashing Awareness Week, and our Safety Training Tips editor reminds us of the importance of washing one’s hands to help prevent the spread of germs and disease.

Every year when flu season arrives, we are reminded of the importance of washing our hands frequently as a way to help cut down on the spread of the virus. This year, with the H1N1 flu making the rounds in addition to seasonal flu, the importance of handwashing is being emphasized even more (perhaps too much so, some experts say). You can help prevent sickness and absenteeism in your workplace by training employees how and when to wash their hands.


Whatever safety meeting you need, chances are you’ll find it prewritten and ready to use in BLR’s Safety Meetings Library on CD. Try it at no cost or risk. Here’s how.


Not all handwashing is alike—or effective. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) devotes a whole division, the Clean Hands Coalition (www.CleanHandsCoalition.org), to informing us about the proper, effective way to wash infectious germs from our hands before we infect ourselves by touching our faces, or spread infections to others by shaking hands, etc., and those people then touching their faces. The CDC gives these handwashing instructions:

  • Wet the hands with warm running water, apply liquid soap or clean bar soap, and lather well.
  • Rub the hands vigorously for 20 seconds or longer.
  • Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of the hands, wrists, thumbs, between the fingers, and under fingernails.
  • Rinse well.
  • Dry with a disposable towel or by hot air.
  • Use a towel to turn off the faucet and, if possible, use it as you exit the restroom door.

Use alcohol-based sanitizers when soap and water are not available. The CDC recommends hand sanitizers that contain at least 60 percent alcohol. When using hand sanitizers:

  • Apply about a half teaspoon into the palm of the hands.
  • Rub the hands together, covering all surfaces until they’re dry.

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Washing hands properly won’t be as effective if you don’t wash your hands at all the appropriate times. In order to keep hands as free as possible from germs, wash:

  • After using the toilet.
  • After changing diapers (the baby’s hands should be washed, too).
  • After touching animals or animal waste.
  • Before and after preparing food, especially raw meat, poultry, or fish.
  • Before eating.

  • After blowing the nose.

  • After coughing or sneezing into the hands.
  • Before and after treating a wound or cut.
  • Before and after touching a sick or injured person.
  • After handling garbage.
  • Before inserting or removing contact lenses. 

Why It Matters …

  • This year the H1N1 flu is very active throughout the United States. Stay informed at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
  • Studies have proven handwashing to be very effective in preventing infection and the spread of infection.
  • Flu often comes into households through children, so point your employees who have kids to www.HenrytheHand.com for kid-friendly instructions and posters.

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3 thoughts on “Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies”

  1. Confined space attendants serve as lifelines to safety for confined space entrants. That’s makes the attendant’s job a crucial responsibility—one that only well-trained, reliable, and highly motivated employees can handle.

  2. Ergonomics is the practice of fitting the job—including every job task—to the worker, and that includes communication. Our Safety Training Tips editor provides some examples and tips.

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