Workplace washrooms: Challenges and solutions

The UK’s industrial leaders are acutely aware that worker productivity is on the decline, with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reporting a 1.7% drop in productivity in the manufacturing industries in the first quarter of 2018. Economic gurus and the media also report that this scenario is only set to intensify as concerns over Brexit escalate. One major factor that impacting on staff productivity is sickness and, although the average number of sickness absence days taken by UK workers has almost halved since records began in 1993, the ONS suggests that this may not only be linked to an increasing culture of presenteeism. 

Presenteeism is an issue for almost all businesses and the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) says that an astonishing 86% of companies report people coming in to work ill. Sick people at work take longer to recover and are less productive than those who are fit, well and rested. They also pose a health risk to colleagues as they may be contagious and could spread their illness. 

Hygiene concerns 

Even though research has proven that providing employees with a hygienic and pleasant washroom environment can significantly raise productivity and morale amongst users, the provision of a clean and well serviced washroom is often far from the norm. Recently Amazon was caught in a major media storm with reports and graphic images taken by warehouse staff of filthy workplace toilet horrors.

A survey from a bathroom fixtures provider recently revealed that one in ten employees would avoid using the workplace toilet because of concerns about hygiene. More than half of employees claimed that they had been ‘appalled’ by the condition of their workplace washroom facilities on at least one occasion over a six-month period. Among the reasons workers stated for not washing their hands after using the bathroom were a queue at the sink or hand dryer, a dirty sink, a bad smell, or a lack of soap. 

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, an employer must provide suitable and sanitary conveniences in readily accessible places which are well ventilated and lit, and separated for men and women.

But, apart from simply meeting their legal responsibilities, it is clear that UK employers must aim to exceed their Duty of Care and invest in their washrooms to provide quality facilities that promote staff wellness and so support higher standards of productivity. 

Here are some tips for creating a healthy and welcoming washroom environment that people will feel happy to use:

• Ensure that feminine hygiene units are maintained through a rigorous schedule by a reliable service provider. Use a feminine hygiene unit with exterior antimicrobial technology and odour eliminating technology
• Use urinal screens to keep drains flowing and to control odours in washroom urinals
• Keep foul smells at by with a urinal sleeve system with enzymes that help break down lime scale and uric salts as well as helping to emit a fragrance
• Take control of flushing and sanitising urinal systems with a urinal flush, water management and automatic dosing and cleaning management systems
• Install high quality purifying, fragrance dispensing, eco-friendly air systems which are aesthetically pleasing and robust enough to withstand heavy duty use
• Ensure that soap dispensers will withstand regular use and are regularly stocked
• Ensure that roll towel dispensers are well stocked or that there are sufficient hand dryers available for your washroom space