Health Chatter: Why hand hygiene matters at work
- Alice Monk
- Apr 17, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Unwashed hands are one of the easiest ways to spread and pick up germs at work. If everyone in your workplace washed their hands regularly, the risk of illnesses spreading would be greatly reduced.
How do unwashed hands spread illnesses?
The top illnesses contracted from eating with unwashed hands are diarrhoea, vomiting, and common respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu.
Without knowing it, we all frequently touch our noses, eyes and mouth – easy entry points for any germs we’re carrying on our fingers.
We can also spread those germs to others by touching food or drinks that they consume. We might touch a railing or a desk which another person then touches, picking up the germs we left behind.
Handwashing also plays a key part in preventing the rise of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily for illnesses such as diarrhoea and colds, but handwashing reduces the number of instances of these illnesses in the first place, resulting in fewer antibiotics being prescribed.
How do germs get onto our hands to start with?
A common source of germs is human feces, and even a tiny speck can contain thousands, if not millions of germs. That’s why it’s so vitally important to wash your hands after using the toilet.
In shared workplace toilets especially, you can never be sure who has used the door handles or flush lever with unwashed hands before you. So even if you’ve just popped in to flush a tissue, you should still wash your hands.
Germs can also get onto our hands when we cough or sneeze. Try to use a tissue, and always wash your hands afterwards. Dispose of your tissue straightaway and don’t leave it lying on a desk or work surface.
Raw meat can also be a source of harmful germs. Wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling or preparing raw meat.
How to wash your hands effectively to prevent the spread of germs
Use soap! Many people wash their hands with water but skip the soap. Soap is far more effective than water at removing germs.
After applying soap to your hands, spend at least 15 seconds rubbing it in to your palms, fingers, thumbs and nails.
Rinse thoroughly and dry with a paper towel.
Use the towel to turn off the tap and throw it in the bin.
You can use hand sanitiser throughout the day when your hands aren’t visibly soiled.
The World Health Organisation have produced a poster detailing how to effectively wash your hands. You can view it here.
Additional tips for hand hygiene at work
To get the most out of your hand hygiene routine, here are a few extra tips that can make a big difference in the workplace:
Know when to wash: In addition to after using the toilet or before eating, wash your hands after blowing your nose, touching shared equipment (like keyboards, phones, or door handles), handling rubbish, using shared tools or PPE, or coming into contact with animals or animal waste.
Hand sanitiser isn’t always enough: Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is useful when soap and water aren't available, but it isn’t effective on visibly dirty hands and may not remove harmful chemicals. It should complement—not replace—proper handwashing.
Moisturise regularly: Frequent washing or sanitising can lead to dry or irritated skin. Using a fragrance-free moisturiser can help protect the skin’s natural barrier and prevent cracking or soreness.
Support inclusive hygiene: Some people may prefer not to use alcohol-based sanitisers for personal, religious, or skin sensitivity reasons. Make sure there’s access to soap and water to support everyone’s hygiene needs.
Promote a healthy workplace: Hand hygiene plays a vital role in infection control. Encouraging good habits helps reduce illness-related absences and supports a healthier, more productive team.
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