World Hand Hygiene Day 2026
A practical Guide for Facility Managers
World Hand Hygiene Day, marked annually on 5th May, is an important reminder that good hand hygiene remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of infection in workplaces. For all businesses across the UK, commercial cleaning can play a key role in helping organisations create safer, healthier environments.
5 Key Steps for Workplace Hand Hygiene
1. Provide Easy Access to Handwashing Facilities
Customers can take practical steps to support your teams by encouraging regular handwashing with soap and water. By providing professional dispensing solutions within washrooms, kitchens and shared areas, your employees, visitors and customers are more likely to wash their hands regularly when the facilities are convenient and hygienic. Also ensure that washrooms and kitchens are frequently cleaned and sanitised, and that they’re fully stocked with essentials such as soap and paper towels.
Fact: Despite high self-reported figures, studies show less than 50% of office workers actually wash their hands after using the toilet. Speak to us about our range of professional dispensing solutions. We can offer a wide range to suit every workplace and may be able to offer a free trial.
2. Install Hand Sanitiser Stations
Providing accessible alcohol-based hand sanitiser stations or dispensers at entrances, reception areas, meeting rooms, kitchens and breakout areas can further improve hygiene standards. This further supports hand hygiene when handwashing facilities are not in the immediate area.
Fact: Office environments are high-risk; the average person touches surfaces that are exposed to 840,000 germs every 30 minutes, with 80% of communicable diseases spread by touch.
3. Promote Good Handwashing Habits
Encourage employees and visitors to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, before eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching shared surfaces or equipment.
Fact: Handwashing reduces the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds by 16–21% and diarrheal diseases by 23–40%.
4. Keep Highly Touched Surfaces Clean
Regular disinfection of high-touch points including door handles, light switches, desks, phones and communal equipment can also significantly reduce the spread of germs.
Fact: Germs on hands can be transferred to surfaces and survive for hours or days. Shine Cleaning Solutions are committed to providing specialist virucidal cleaning sprays to ensure germs and bacteria are killed on highly touched surfaces, reducing cross-contamination and absenteeism in the workplace.
5. Inform and Remind Staff of Regular Handwashing
Clear signage and staff awareness campaigns can be effective ways to reinforce positive habits. Facility Managers may wish to use World Hand Hygiene Day on 5th May as an opportunity to remind staff about illness reporting procedures and the importance of staying home when they’re feeling unwell to help prevent outbreaks.
How Shine Cleaning Solutions Can Help
By partnering with Shine Cleaning Solutions, we can support our customers in promoting strong hygiene practices internally. Businesses can reduce absence through sickness, protect wellbeing and maintain a cleaner, more productive workplace all year round. Get in touch for a consultation!