It can be hard to ensure that an industrial workplace is kept clean and tidy at all times. Operatives may be working with paint and solvents or handling greasy components and soiled machine parts, which means their hands will remain dirty for long periods of time. It is inevitable that some of these substances will be transferred on to the workbench, the floor or other surfaces.

But the washrooms of such premises should nevertheless be kept as clean and hygienic as those in any other workplace – particularly since washrooms at work matter more than many people may realise.

According to a recent survey carried out on behalf of SCA by United Minds, more than 65% of people rank dirty washrooms among their top three pet hates at work. Almost half the survey respondents said they would avoid using a workplace washroom at all if it were not sufficiently clean, and 72% felt the cleanliness of the washrooms at work was an important factor in whether or not they enjoyed their jobs. 

A second study carried out by Tork last year revealed that blocked or dirty toilets were the pet hate of 74% of people. Some 12% hated to find no soap or toilet roll, while others listed bad smells and broken locks as major bugbears. Other pet hates included flooded floors, cramped cubicles and warm air dryers that blow cold.

So it seems that people care greatly about whether or not their toilets at work are clean, dry, functional and well equipped.

Besides helping to ensure staff satisfaction, the washroom should be an hygienic environment in order to prevent the spread of any illness among employees who may be working closely together. Besides the misery that such infections may cause, they will also result in an increase in absenteeism – which will in turn affect productivity.

It therefore makes sense to equip industrial washrooms with fixtures and products that ensure their smooth running. A key priority will be to provide practical facilities and effective hand washing systems for hands that may become particularly dirty. Tork Oil and Grease Liquid Soap, for example, works well here since it contains fat-dissolving ingredients and is both perfurme and colour-free to minimise the risk of allergic reactions.

The soap is housed in a sealed bottle to prevent any contamination before use, and each long-lasting refill holds around 1000 does of soap.

Paper hand towels will help to remove any residual dirt from the hands after washing or rinsing. The Tork Matic Hand Towel Roll Dispenser, for example, will provide a long-lasting supply of hand towels dispensed one at a time to prevent cross-contamination.

For a low to medium capacity span industrial washroom, the Tork Xpress Multifold Hand Towel Dispenser in Wave design can be used to house everyday comfort or high value interleaved hand towels.

Conventional toilet rolls may seem an obvious choice for a workplace washroom, but toilet rolls may be used up quickly or even pilfered – and this means hygiene will be compromised and overall costs will go up.  A toilet tissue system such as Tork SmartOne Toilet Roll Dispenser would be suitable for this type of environment. The unit, which offers single-sheet dispensing, can cut consumption by up to 40%*, reducing both waste and costs. Meanwhile, the lockable dispenser prevents pilferage and product contamination, and the sealed casing improves hygiene.

Tork Hand Cleaning Wet Wipes will help to keep the hands clean in an industrial workplace between visits to the hand basin. These professional-quality impregnated wipes will effectively clean substances such as paint, oil, dirt and grease from the hands while also being gentle on the skin.

So it is clear that a clean, hygienic and well-stocked workplace washroom can have a significant impact on industrial operatives. Managers should therefore equip their toilets with long-lasting products that will keep hands clean and prevent cross-contamination to maximise hygiene and increase productivity – while also keeping staff happy.