Avoiding the Hyper-speed “Handwash”
The hands of Healthcare and Foodservice workers are contaminated frequently, calling for high-frequency handwashing. This is the wheelhouse of ABHS, Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer. In most scenarios, it provides a highly effective alternative to time-consuming soap/water washes.
In Foodservice, thanks to the onslaught of Coronavirus, ABHS is increasingly made available to prep and wait staff even though the FDA guidelines favor soap and water washes. A properly applied hand sanitizer has proven to be very effective in killing Coronavirus, the Flu, the Common Cold, and now there are formulations also effective on Norovirus. https://handwashingforlife.org/journal/a-smarter-new-weapon-to-avoid-norovirus-outbreaks/
The definition of a handwash in Healthcare has already been expanded to include the methodical application of hand sanitizer. Caregivers are trained on the conditions that call either for soap and water or hand sanitizer but are rarely trained in the thorough application of ABHS.
Alcohol kills pathogens quickly – provided it comes in direct contact! It is not going to be effective in areas of the hand that are missed. Some users get lost in the speed factor and fail to get total coverage. The amount of alcohol is important as is the formulation and contact time.
Similar to training soap/water handwashing, visually monitored UV tracers help the trainee learn quickly and remember the lesson for a lifetime. Using the ProGrade Scorecard, apply GlitterBug®Gel, inspect with a UV lamp, and mark the Scorecard, taking off 1 point for a spot missed and 5 points for an area. Deduct from 100. This is your ProGrade ABHS Proficiency score. Adjust technique when someone fails to meet your standard for coverage. Retest as required.
Note: GlitterBug® GEL is not a sanitizer and does NOT kill germs. It is an innovative product formulated for teaching, testing, and evaluating hand-sanitizer application technique.
https://www.brevis.com/products/139587/gbgel-glitterbug-gel-bottle
https://www.brevis.com/products/823597/gbxkitgel-glitterbug-gbx-kit-with-gbgel-to-teach