What the Company provides in the restroom is evidence of how they care about their employees

Let’s face it, in business the restroom isn’t considered a profit center. Because the restroom isn’t a profit center it serves as a reliable measure of how much a company cares about its employees and visitors. Restrooms don’t lie. When someone cares it shows.

Amenities which create a preferred workplace environment increase morale. When employees see examples of their employer doing the right thing for their wellbeing they are more likely to enjoy coming to work. Increased attendance equals increased productivity.

The way a business treats its workspace is a reflection of its operating standards and sends a tangible message to employees. The services offered by Freedom Hygiene have all been designed to enhance the workplace through improved hygiene and increased appreciation by employees and visitors.

The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has published multiple studies on workplace productivity relating to health risks and self reported work limitations. Studies show that women experiencing PMS performed less effectively at work immediately before and during their period. While there may be little an employer can do to alleviate the physical symptoms of PMS, it is possible for an employer to positively influence the workplace environment.

The physiological and emotional symptoms of PMS are affected by, and affect, the workplace, thereby impacting personal and group productivity. The addition of the feminine hygiene disposal system can be a key factor in the creation of a comfortable workplace environment for female employees.

Freedom Hygiene is always on the lookout for new innovations and ideas which serve our customer community. Currently we’re exploring several options for a “hands-free” exit from the restroom. This would avoid the waste and expense of using a paper towel to open the restroom door. Studies show about a third of people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom, almost two thirds don’t use soap and over 80% don’t wash long enough to kill germs effectively. Given that 80% of infectious illnesses are transmitted by touch, a hands-free exit would create a healthier workplace environment. Freedom Hygiene is all about a healthier workplace environment.

Keeping a safe and hygienic workplace is good for business

Attention to detail with respect to the health and safety of employees and customers is an upfront reflection of how a business is run. It’s not just good manners, its good business as reducing or eliminating health and safety risks keeps health care costs down, decreases absenteeism and improves productivity.

• The CDC has flatly concluded that hand-washing – or lack thereof – is the # 1 source of spreading bacteria
• Colds and flu, skin infections, blood and intestinal diseases are spread by hands – in restrooms and into workplaces
• 80% of infectious illnesses are transmitted by touch
• In the US people are sick more than 4 billion days each year at a cost of $950 billion in direct medical costs
• Colds account for 22 million missed work days and 7.9 million doctor visits each year
• Almost a third of people avoid using public restrooms out of fear of germs and over 60% try not to touch fixtures in restrooms
• Hepatitis can live on a restroom surface for up to 7 days and more than 6 million people in the US have Hepatitis

(Figures from the National Center for Health Statistics and Centers for Disease Control)

Within the restroom: The number one hot spot for germ transfer is the traditional sanitary bin in the women’s restroom. These bins require hand contact to operate and risk exposure to used products and contaminated surfaces. The old style bins are a priority for replacement with a hands-free feminine hygiene disposal system to increase safety for restroom users, children and custodial staff. Freedom Hygiene offers a safe and preferred method for disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Offices and workspaces: Do you know someone that eats snacks or lunch at their office desk? University of Arizona studies show that your office desk can harbor 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat! A small area on your desk or phone can host millions of bacteria that can cause illness.
Studies confirm that surfaces in personal work spaces such as offices or cubicles have higher bacteria levels than surfaces in common areas. Here’s the hard evidence, sample numbers of bacteria found per square inch:

This study concluded… ‘One good way to kill bacteria at your desk and help stop the spread of germs is to regularly clean your personal workplace.’

To enable employees to effectively clean and disinfect work surfaces, Freedom Hygiene provides workplace sanitizing wipes for use by employees. The wipe dispensers are stationed in central areas together with informational instructions to encourage appropriate use. This is both an efficient and effective means of controlling disease causing bacteria.

Hands spread germs: If you care about productivity you need to know that studies demonstrate that 80% of germs are transmitted by hands. Hands spread germs; germs cause illness and illness results in absenteeism which impacts productivity (and funding for schools). Nothing stops the spread of germs like good old fashioned hand washing, yet up to 25% of people leaving the restroom don’t wash their hands and of those who do wash only about half use soap.

‘Hot spots’ for ‘hand-to-hand’ germ transfer are anywhere people congregate and may not have been able to wash hands easily between engagements. For example, conference rooms, cafeterias, outside elevators, reception areas and employee break-rooms. Freedom Hygiene offers sanitizing hand foams and gels which are placed in any area of concern with directions to encourage appropriate use. On-site hand sanitizers are a quick and easy way to ensure personal hand hygiene between meetings.

The added value of these Freedom Hygiene services is the regularly updated educational signage that is posted to encourage appropriate use. It is only when these sanitizers are properly used in the workplace that they can positively contribute to absenteeism and productivity. In addition to the signage, our proven track-record of service will give you the confidence that the units are always clean and available for use. When employees see their employer taking this initiative for their wellbeing they are more likely to participate.

A clean seat every time: When it comes to using the restroom many people reach for a toilet seat cover. This might provide a psychological feeling of protection; however they add to the solid waste entering the sewer system and often contribute to blockages. Freedom Hygiene offers a more effective (and more cost effective) means of making a restroom visit more hygienic. A spray unit in each stall provides a fast acting, non-irritant fluid which is sprayed on toilet tissue to wipe the toilet seat free from germs.

Safeguarding baby changing stations: If you have employees or visitors who use baby changing tables within your facility then try putting yourself in their shoes for a moment. Did you know that the average baby changing table is a ‘germ-fest’? Would you want to change your precious new-born on a surface that you’re not confident is germ free? Freedom Hygiene offers an inexpensive service that provides a spray system to enable the user to clean and sanitize the baby changing table effectively before use so that they can be sure it is hygienic. ]]> http://freedomhygiene.com/health-and-safety/feed/ http://freedomhygiene.com/toilet-seat-cleanser/ http://freedomhygiene.com/toilet-seat-cleanser/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:28:55 +0000 admin http://freedom.sextonenterprisemarketing.com/?p=83

Providing a more hygienic restroom experience

Employees and visitors want to be confident that surfaces are clean and germ free. This spray-on cleanser replaces toilet seat covers which offer no proven protection and often result in blocked plumbing because multiple covers are flushed at once.

This simple spray system enables the user to clean the toilet seat effectively before use. A fast acting, fast drying, non irritant fluid is sprayed onto toilet tissue and used to wipe the seat. This ensures a clean and hygienic surface is available every time.

The toilet seat cleanser eliminates toilet seat covers on the floor which are both a slipping hazard for restroom users and make the wrong impression about overall restroom cleanliness.

This system reduces environmental impacts by eliminating waxed toilet seat covers being flushed into the sewer system. It is often less expensive than seat covers. Units are professionally installed free of charge and regularly serviced by the Freedom Hygiene professional service team.

“I won’t touch them”
“They’re nasty”
“Just awful”
“Yuck”

The Freedom Hygiene system is safer, preferred and environmentally responsible

The Freedom Hygiene feminine hygiene disposal service places a hands-free unit in each restroom stall and this provides protection and peace of mind for all restroom users.

Safer and more hygienic: The hands-free, pedal operated units eliminate the need to touch surfaces with hands and therefore eliminate exposure to blood borne and other germs. The units also protect children from accidental exposure to discarded products. This creates a healthier restroom environment. This self contained system also safeguards custodial personnel from the hazards of exposure to blood-borne germs when emptying and cleaning the old style bins.

Employee preferred: The unique design ensures that previously discarded products cannot be seen or touched. An odor neutralizer within each unit removes unpleasant smells at the source. Women appreciate this service because it provides protection and peace of mind and allows them to dispose of used products safely in an environmentally responsible way.

Environmentally responsible: This eco-friendly technology reduces flushing of used products and plastic wrappers into the sewer system and the Bay. This also reduces (often eliminates) blockages and messy overflows.

Saves resources: Resources saved (money and time) can then be applied to other priorities. These units work 24 hours a day 7 days a week irrespective of unexpected peaks in employees or visitors using the restrooms or interruptions in custodial staff reporting to work. The elimination of blockages saves time and distractions as well as improving image.

The Freedom Hygiene professionally trained service team switches out all units with freshly sanitized ones at regular intervals to suit the needs of each business. This service is required by law in many countries because of the safety and environmental advantages it provides.

Making the workplace more hygienic

Study results can surprise us! Did you know:

• 80% of germs are transmitted by hands
• 30% of people do not wash their hands when leaving a restroom
• Many people sneeze or cough into their hands however few wash their hands immediately after sneezing into them
• 80% of people who do wash their hands don’t use soap or wash long enough to get rid of germs

If you’re concerned about absenteeism, germ ‘hot spots’ and the transfer of germs in places where many people gather then this service has been developed for you.

On-site hand sanitizers reduce absenteeism, improve attendance and pay for themselves through increased productivity. You already know that you can buy these sanitizers and in-fact some employees buy their own for use at their desk. The added value of the Freedom Hygiene service is the regularly updated educational signage that is posted to encourage appropriate use. It is only when these sanitizers are properly used in the workplace that they can contribute to absenteeism and productivity. When employees see their employer taking this initiative for their wellbeing they are more likely to participate.

Do you avoid shaking hands with people who obviously have a cold? This hand-sanitizer is ideal for areas where numbers of people congregate and may not have been able to wash hands between engagements:

• Conference rooms
• Outside elevators
• Reception areas
• Waiting rooms
• Staff lounges
• Classrooms
• Restrooms
• Signature pens at checkouts

On-site hand sanitizers are a quick and easy way to ensure personal hand hygiene between meetings. It’s the combination of assured availability together with changing educational material that leads to increased use and thus greater protection.

Effectively reducing the spread of germs in the workplace

Do you know someone that eats snacks or lunch at their office desk? University of Arizona studies show that your office desk can harbor 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat! A small area on your desk or phone can host millions of bacteria that cause illness.

Studies confirm that surfaces in personal work spaces such as offices or cubicles have higher bacteria levels than surfaces in common areas. Here is the hard evidence, sample numbers of bacteria found per square inch:

• Phone receiver 25,127
• Desktop 20,961
• Computer keyboard 3,295
• Computer mouse 1,676

The study concluded… ‘One good way to kill bacteria at your desk and help stop the spread of germs is to regularly clean your personal workplace.’

Studies also demonstrate that 80% of germs are transmitted by hands. Hands spread germs; germs cause illness; and illness results in absenteeism.

This Freedom Hygiene service provides disposable germicidal wipes together with informational instructions to enable employees to effectively clean and disinfect their work surfaces. The added value of this Freedom Hygiene service is the regularly updated educational signage that is posted to encourage appropriate use. It is only when these sanitizers are properly used in the workplace that they can contribute to absenteeism and productivity. When employees see their employer taking this initiative for their wellbeing they are more likely to participate.

This is an opportunity to reduce workplace acquired illness and to make your place of work safer and more productive through protection and peace of mind.

Safety and protection for our precious little ones

We asked mothers what they think of baby changing facilities and this was their answer: ‘Please create a hygienic environment when baby changing facilities are provided.’ Of all the areas that the Facilities Professional is concerned with it’s easy to overlook this important one. Employees and visitors want to be confident that the baby changing surfaces are clean and germ free.

Freedom Hygiene provides a simple spray system to enable the user to easily sanitize the changing table. The fast acting, non irritant fluid cuts through water marks and other residue to leave surfaces clean and germ-free.

Sanitizer units are professionally installed free of charge and regularly serviced by our professional trained service team.

This inexpensive service ensures a clean and hygienic surface is available for changing baby every time and is truly appreciated by caregivers, mothers and fathers alike.