The Dirty Secret

The Great Escape

Restrooms, also referred to as a Water Closet (WC), loo, washroom and mens/ladies room, are primarily about Toilets. And toilets are the porcelain pot of pathogens. This fixture is the temporary reservoir where disease causing germs face one of two destinies - Death by Flushing or Life by Leaving - escaping in search of a new host and an extended life cycle of gastrointestinal terror.

Frequent visitors to the "loo" are often those suffering with diarrhea. These sudden and uncontrollable attacks are the most common symptom of foodborne illness and also the most common source of Faecal Fallout. Strategies to contain the fallout are critical.

According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) most foodborne illness starts in the toilet. Just how do these Houdini-like hellions escape, out-maneuvering the science and engineering from such great global companies as Kimberly-Clark Professional, Franke, Nampak Tissue, Steiner Hygiene and many others?

The Pathogen Express

There are three primary escape routes from toilets:

1. The Toilet Sneeze. This is the aerosol effect that includes the physical conversion of sewage into invisible airborne pathogens. It's the fine mist of moist air that is emitted when toilets and urinals are flushed. This mist carries with it the microbes inhabiting the contents of the bowl. And the "Sneeze" deposits as a film on all surfaces.

2. The Unexpected Splash. Here users contaminate themselves by either accidental flushes or they are members of that rare group of caring Courtesy Flushers. It's good to care but don't breathe in the mist.

3. The Helping Hand. This is the Interstate, the Motorway and the Autoban that transport the germs to freedom.

Helping Hand contamination opportunities in the restroom are many. The nearer the toilet the higher the risk.

1.Starting at the source, good toilet paper is a wonderful invention not necessarily a good barrier. Seven layers are easily penetrated by invisible microbes. Finger break-through is also common depositing an invisible colony of norovirus, hep A, ecoli, salmonella or shigella - the big five of this underworld.

2. Contact surfaces around the toilet are many. Trace the movements of your hand, both intentional and unintentional, and one soon realizes the scope of the "hand contact" problem in these cramped, high traffic conditions. The toilet paper access, the toilet seat, the flush handle, your clothing, your shoes, the floor, walls, the cubicle latch, dispenser handles and the exit door. Whew! You're out! But are your hands carrying some invisible, unfriendly hitch hikers?

3. Washing hands can actually start with the potential of adding more germs as faucet handles are turned, soap dispensers actuated and paper towel levers are pressed. Protect your clean hands by using clean paper towel as barrier until after you exit the facility.

Note: Avoid restrooms equipped with only air dryers as no one has time to thoroughly dry their hands and wet hands transfer germs hundreds of time more effectively than dry hands.

Extra Note:  While we don't like providing this advice it is always wise to assess the risk of washing vs. not washing.  If you are faced with a high risk for contamination facility ... i.e.  one with open top soap dispensers, visibly dirty taps, levers and handles; or if the only option is to air dry your hands, it may actually be less risky to not wash your hands.  

Exit Strategies One final hurdle, getting safely past the door...

1. Look for restrooms designed with doorless exits, the strategy most commonly seen in airports and stadiums.

2. Grab an extra paper towel for the door handle.

3. Look for a hand sanitiser at the exit door. Best practice operators now position a sanitiser dispenser at the exit door to provide one last option to protect yourself as well as the family, friends and customers you will contact.