Overcoming Underwashing

The dreaded cold and flu season is upon us, and while there
may not yet be a cure for these diseases, there is a secret weapon for
prevention, and it’s much cheaper than bottles of vitamins –
hand-washing.

Handwashingforlife with the support of Leadership Forum Members Steiner Hygiene and Kimberly-Clark Professional recently spent a full day at Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein conducting the first South African Handwashing Games. 300 professionals, management and staff participated in the games to determine what health care workers had the best hand washing technique. There were 19 perfect scores and a number of scores in the high 90s. Unfortunately, there were more bogies than birdies at this one day event. For more information on the Pelonomi vent open. For more information on conducting the Handwashing Games at your health care, food handling operation contact

Employee hand hygiene has long been dismissed by many senior managers in food processing as a “no-win” exercise. Regardless of how much time and effort is invested in equipment, chemicals and training, improved employee performance is seldom sustained. “We keep telling employees to wash their hands but they just don’t listen” is the oft heard response of management. The Baker Magagzine recently talked with Erez Malamud of Anat Bakery about his company’s focus on food safety and his experiences with hand hygiene. Read the full Anat story.

Polyoak Visconti Plastics in Cape Town has embarked on a ground breaking food safety programme that is a first in South Africa. Under the guidance of their plant health and safety officer Etienne Skein, Polyoak has initiated a 5 step process that will ultimately track employee hand hygiene performance (quality & frequency of hand washing) against pre-determined standards. Read the full story in attachment.

Handwashingforlife developed the SANI-TWICE process with South African food service sector in mind. Designed for situations when soap, water and paper towels are not readily available SANI-TWICE can dramatically reduce the risk for foodborne illness caused by contaminated hands of food workers. See it and try it at INFO CHEF or contact us for free demonstration at your location.

Learn more about protecting you, your family, your employees and your customers from the impact of Hepatitis A infection: Handwashingforlife® Best Practices: Hepatitis A