Setting up hand hygiene in a school or office
People clean their hands when it is easy. A simple plan for where to put what, and how to keep it going.
4 min read
Put it where hands already go
The best hand hygiene plan removes effort. If someone has to go looking for soap or sanitizer, most of the time they won't.
- Hand wash at every sink: toilets, kitchens, canteens and science rooms
- Sanitizer at every entrance and reception desk
- Sanitizer in classrooms, meeting rooms and shared work areas
- Sanitizer beside shared equipment such as printers, tills and water dispensers
Build the habit into the day
- On arrival in the morning
- Before eating and after break time
- After using the toilet
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose
- Before going home
Keep it running
An empty dispenser teaches people to stop trying. Give one person responsibility for checking and refilling on a fixed schedule, and keep spare stock on site. Larger pump bottles suit busy sinks and entrances; pocket bottles suit staff who move around.
For younger children, keep sanitizer under adult supervision and out of reach when not in use, because it contains alcohol. Hand wash at the sink should always be the first choice for them.
Make it visible
A short demonstration works better than a poster alone. Global Handwashing Day on 15 October is a ready-made moment to run one with pupils or staff each year.