Hand Sanitizer Stations VS CleanTech® Automated Handwashing Stations

Workers in all industries should wash their hands frequently during the work day. As they transition from workstation to workstation, use the restroom, or head to lunch there needs to be hand hygiene events to prevent pathogens from spreading throughout the facility. A commonly applied solution to this issue is the implementation of alcohol based hand sanitizer stations. While hand sanitizer is great in a pinch, it does have some pretty glaring pitfalls that can't be ignored.

Benefits of Hand Sanitizer Stations for Food Safety

hand sanitizer stationThe main perk to using instant sanitizer stations is convenience. They don't require power or water so sanitizer dispensers can be placed at entrances and any other areas throughout the facility for a quick hand hygiene event. One of the most common reasons people don't wash their hands is lack of time. Sanitizers are a great option for overcoming that hurdle. Additionally, using hand sanitizer is a method that is familiar to all and requires little to no training.

Pitfalls of Hand Sanitizer for Food Safety

While using a hand sanitizer station is faster than a manual hand wash and pretty familiar, it does present some issues. For one, sanitizers aren't effective against every pathogen. Certain gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria like Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, or Cryptosporidium won't be killed by an instant sanitizer. It's important to be aware of the types of pathogens where sanitizers won't work in order to keep everyone safe. Sanitizers also present similar issues as a manual hand wash due to the manual process needing to be executed perfectly to be effective. Often, dispensers will not provide enough sanitizer to adequately cover the entire hand and for the sanitizer to be as effective as advertised it must completely dry. Frequent sanitizer use also results in problems with skin health due to the drying effects from the alcohol. 

Learn more of why Hand Sanitizer is not best for food safety

Benefits of CleanTech® Automated Handwashing

The implementation of CleanTech® Automated Handwashing Stations accomplish the same goal of instant sanitizers: time savings. With a full wash and rinse cycle of just 12 seconds, workers will finally have the time needed to effectively wash their hands throughout the day. Unlike manual handwashing and hand sanitizers, automation leaves no room for human error, removing more than 99.9% of pathogens (including those hand sanitizer can't kill like Norovirus) for every user, every hand wash. By automating the entire process you can confidently provide the perfect hand wash to each of your employees. Another important benefit of CleanTech® is it's promotion of healthy skin by leveraging our proprietary hand hygiene solution, UltraPure and UPX. UltraPure and UPX contain skin softeners that leave your hands feeling refreshed and hydrated after every wash which results in more frequent use.

While CleanTech® can be less familiar to users than a hand sanitation station, the implementation of CleanTech® Automated Handwashing Stations is also now easier than ever with EVO's large color display. When a person walks up to a CleanTech® EVO station they'll be greeted with instructions on how to get started using the system. While their hands are being washed they'll also see a large countdown display that lets them know when to remove their hands after the 12 second hand wash is complete, making onboarding and training a breeze. The touchscreen display can also be used by managers to track detailed compliance data in seconds.

Learn more about how CleanTech® improves compliance

hand sanitizer stationOur CleanTech® EVO One unit can also be equipped with added footwear enhancements to ensure simultaneous hand and footwear pathogen removal. There are enhancements available for both wet and dry environments and the system can even be equipped with a controlled access turnstile that requires employees to clean both their hands and footwear before entering a production zone.

When comparing the two methods for food safety there is a clear winner. While hand sanitizer stations can be installed anywhere and are incredibly easy to use, they fall short in efficacy and can be damaging to your skin. Automation provides the perfect hand wash every time and only requires an outlet and minimal plumbing fixtures. Which method sounds better to you?

Find out which CleanTech® EVO station would work best for your facility

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