Frequently Asked Questions About Meritech Automated Hygiene Systems

A good manual hand wash is effective in reducing hand bacteria counts, no doubt. However, the manual hand wash method cannot be guaranteed to be consistent from person to person and day-to-day, otherwise this would be a good alternative. Manual handwashing is inherently variable. Important aspects of the hand wash, such as amount of soap, amount of water, coverage of the hand (fingernails, fingertips, between the fingers, wrist, etc.), and duration of the wash vary from wash to wash. By automating the process, these aspects are closely controlled and each person receives a high-quality hand wash regardless of the human variability factor. If you haven't experienced any problems in the past, then statistically you are overdue for a problem. CleanTech^® standardizes each hand wash, guarantees clean hands, and leaves skin feeling softer with each wash! And this innovative technology provides a more sustainable approach to hand hygiene as it wastes zero water or chemical. Meritech has performed a series of independent laboratory studies that clinically prove CleanTech^® automated handwashing systems remove more than 99.9% of harmful pathogens from hands with each 12-second wash cycle, providing an equivalent result as a full 1-minute manual hand wash.

Temperature does not affect the efficacy of handwashing events. The water temperature human hands can handle maxes out at around 105º F which the vast majority of pathogens can survive. Where water temperature comes into play is with compliance. People are more likely to wash their hands well and for the recommended amount of time if the water is comfortable. 

The effectiveness of our CleanTech^® systems does not rely on water temperature, however, cold water can cause compliance problems simply because it is uncomfortable. Using the CleanTech^® system is a satisfying experience and motivates people to wash their hands if the water is at a comfortable temperature.

If the handwashing station is installed far from a hot water source, or if the hot water line runs through a refrigerated room, a booster heater can be installed near the system. Some State and County Health Departments also have requirements in regard to water temperature for handwashing that you should be aware of. Meritech can assist in optimizing the temperature output of your CleanTech^® automated handwashing station, simply contact us if you need support. 

The key to promoting appropriate employee hygiene behaviors is to lead by example and to create a culture of employee hygiene that extends from the top-down throughout the organization. Behavior management begins with employee onboarding and training and is continued throughout ongoing training and day-to-day reinforcement. Compliance monitoring is highly recommended to validate your processes and to identify problems before they fester into spoiled food product or recalls. Meritech can provide full training programs for any industry, including ways to talk about hand hygiene, ways to encourage hand washing, and ways to monitor compliance in order to proactively address employee hygiene issues.

Yes! Wearing gloves does not remove the need for handwashing. A hand hygiene event should happen prior to donning gloves. Gloves can have unseen defects or can be torn during use, providing a point of contact for the skin. In addition, bacteria can multiply rapidly in moist environments underneath gloves. We should also note that just like your skin, gloved hands can pick up germs so it is important to perform an additional hand hygiene event after donning gloves. 

Automated handwashing is highly recommended in facilities that use gloves due to the high risk of cross-contamination! To start, the use of gloves creates the perfect warm, moist environment perfectly suited for breeding colonies of pathogens on the hands. Furthermore, studies show that gloves are not as reliable of a barrier as we might hope they would be. In a study conducted by BioScience Laboratories that tested randomly selected vinyl food-grade gloves, 80% were found to have pre-existing punctures or tears. In the study, when hands were washed properly prior to gloving, no significant microbial growth was observed on the surface of the glove. In another study, hands that were initially inoculated with E. coli before donning gloves were determined to have significant counts on the outside surface of the gloves after use. This research supports the notion that, when hands are not properly washed prior to donning gloves, there is a risk of any pathogens on the hands inside the glove to cross-contaminate external surfaces.

For those companies that do use gloves, the CDC recommends washing before gloving due to the rapid growth of bacteria on gloved hands, and due to the risk of punctures and tears during use. When hands are washed effectively prior to wearing gloves, the risk of cross-contamination is reduced, but the key is that the manual wash must be effective. Only a CleanTech^® automated handwashing system can guarantee an effective hand wash prior to gloving every time.

Hand sanitizers are an easy, quick alternative when handwashing with plain soap and water or with a CleanTech^® automated handwashing system isn’t convenient or possible. Hand sanitizers often have a form of alcohol, such as ethyl alcohol, as an active ingredient and are used as an antiseptic. While convenient, research shows that alcohol gel is not an equivalent substitute for handwashing, and the CDC and FDA recommend that hand sanitizers only be used when a manual or automated hand wash option is not readily available. Instant hand sanitizers are not an acceptable method for handwashing in any food applications (production or food service). This is due to the fact that people rarely use the appropriate amount and contact time required for hand sanitizer to kill the volume of transient pathogens present on their hands. Furthermore, sanitizers are not healthy for the skin. Actually, many sanitizers damage the skin to the point that it makes it easier for many pathogens to colonize in the cracks of dried and dead skin. Most importantly, alcohol gel sanitizers are not effective in killing and/or removing many pathogens, and so the use of alcohol gel can actually promote the spread of disease by creating a false sense of security that results in less frequent and effective handwashing. A perfect example of a situation where gel sanitizers are a poor solution is in controlling norovirus on cruise ships. The CDC has clearly stated that alcohol gel does not kill or remove norovirus, and cruise lines are being required to encourage more regular handwashing among their guests or to provide CleanTech^® automated handwashing stations. When instant hand sanitizers are used in any application, people are misled to believe that they are cleaning their hands; therefore they lessen their trips to a sink with soap and water. This false sense of security actually increases cross contamination and infection rates.

CleanTech^® systems have four nozzles pointed straight up from the bottom of each cylinder that are specifically designed to wash and sanitize under the fingernails. We also recommend that fingernails be kept trimmed at all times. 

Paper towels are the most sanitary means of drying hands. Studies have shown that the use of high-quality paper towels increases the effectiveness of the wash and promotes better skin health. Many organizations, however, are adopting hand dryers to eliminate the waste of paper towels. If you are considering implementing hand dryers, we have tested and identified hand dryer options that present the lowest risk of cross-contamination with the highest level of effectiveness at the best cost, and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction.