A handwashing support system for the person-in-charge
Risk-Based Handwashing: Self-Motivated Compliance & Tracking
Handwashing For Life believes that food workers’ self-motivated handwashing instincts can be harnessed and nurtured by providing them with regular feedback on their team compliance.
Background:
Food workers have a strong need for frequent handwashing but little time or motivation. They are asked and trained to wash often but are never informed as to their performance as a team. Employee turnover amplifies the need for team performance feedback.
Hypothesis:
Competitive instincts can motivate handwashing compliance once workers have regular feedback on current team performance, measured by Hand Washes per Team Member Hour (HW/TMH).
Preliminary Actions:
√ Antecedent research provided the HOW to wash to the chosen risk-based standard.
- Complete the development of two technologies to monitor team handwashing compliance to assist the operator in setting the policy of HOW OFTEN to wash, the HW/TMH factor. May also check HW/MS Hand Washes per Meals Served, if this data is readily available.
- Conduct a study in three different operating cultures, brands, to establish that weekly team performance feedback can improve and sustain compliance, irrespective of operational differences and priorities – Fast Food, Casual Dining, and Healthcare kitchens.
- Identify and recruit the three participating brands, agreeing the protocol and publication.
- Select five locations for each brand, one as control and four to serve as the competitive driver. All use the same soap and electronic dispenser. All stores are started in the same general time frame, without special training.
Reporting phases:
- Baseline. Run for three weeks.
- Announce data collection capability. Run for three weeks.
- Team reports shared within unit personnel. Run for three weeks.
- Reporting opened across all four stores. Run for a three-week minimum, preference for 40 weeks to evaluate sustainability and set training cycles. First round for publishing will be at 12 weeks. A follow up at 52 weeks will be sought.
Publication:
USA, Journal of Food Protection
