Photo by Fran Jacquier on Unsplash
By Taylor Shackelford, Environmental Health Specialist
Handwashing with soap is an important practice that helps prevent infections and the spread of germs. Here’s why:
- Touching the face: People will often touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without realizing it. Germs on the hands can enter the body through these openings, leading to illness.
- Contaminating food and drinks: Germs on unwashed hands can contaminate food and drinks during preparation or consumption. Certain types of food or drinks can provide a suitable environment for germs to multiply, increasing the risk of illness.
- Transferring germs to objects: Germs on unwashed hands can be transferred to objects like handles, tabletops, condiments, etc. When another person touches these objects, they can pick up the germs and potentially become sick.
Regular handwashing helps prevent diarrhea, respiratory infections, and even skin and eye infections. It is especially important for food workers to maintain proper hand hygiene. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends the following handwashing practices for food workers:
- Wash hands before preparing or making food, before putting on gloves, and before starting work.
- Wash hands after eating, drinking, or smoking, blowing the nose, sneezing, coughing, handling dirty equipment, handling waste, performing cleaning duties, using the toilet, handling money, and touching the body.
To ensure effective handwashing, follow these steps:
- Wet hands with water at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lather with soap.
- Scrub hands for at least 10-15 seconds, making sure to clean all surfaces and underneath nails.
- Rinse hands for 10 seconds, removing all soap and dirt.
- Dry hands with a clean disposable towel or drying mechanism.
- If the faucet does not have a motion sensor, use a disposable paper towel to turn off the faucet and when touching any door handles.
By practicing proper handwashing, we can significantly reduce the risk of spreading harmful microorganisms and promote a healthier environment for everyone.
Handwashing resources:
Cobb & Douglas Environmental Health Blog 