“It is estimated that most of the 120 million common colds contracted each year in the UK are caused by viruses spread through dirty hands,” said Manty Stanley of TEAL. “Sickness absence directly costs employers £494 year per employee.

“People use alcohol rubs as a substitute to handwashing but they just don’t work on C-diff, norovirus or even the common cold,” says Professor Jim Gray, consultant clinical scientist at the Specialist Virology Centre at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“Good hand hygiene, achieved through handwashing with running hot water and soap, is considered to be the singlemost important practice in reducing transmission of infection as hands harbour over 150 species of bacteria,” said Manty.

“People know the importance of clean hands but their problem is often finding somewhere to clean them quickly at work. Legislation is driving employers to plumb in more handwashing facilities with costly sinks, mains water supply and drainage.”

“Often the answer is a unit which washes hands properly, wherever and whenever you need to, independently of mains water and drains. That’s why the NHS uses the TEAL Hygienius because it meets their most stringent guidelines as you don’t even have to touch a tap,” said Manty.

“We recently exhibited at the Infection Prevention Society show in Bournemouth and put TEAL Hygienius by the refreshment points so you SEE people using them,” said Manty. “That’s the way so everyone holds each other to account.”

More information: www. washyourhands.co.uk.