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Everything you need to know about hand sanitizer


Everything you need to know about hand sanitiser

Hand hygiene is one of the foundations of health and safety, particularly in the workplace. Whether you manage a bustling restaurant, a busy corporate office, or an industrial site, clean hands can have a big impact on your operations. While regular hand washing is essential, you can take hygiene at your facility to the next level by promoting hand hygiene too. So, how are all these concepts related, where does hand sanitiser come in, and how can you choose the right product for your business? 
 
We’ve got you covered with all the basics as well as helpful insights on how our range of hand hygiene solutions can support you.
 

Why is hand hygiene important? 

Our hands touch countless surfaces on a daily basis, some of which may be anything but hygienic. Contaminated hands can carry and spread germs rapidly, potentially causing illness. This means that by prioritizing hand hygiene, you can significantly reduce such a threat. When running a business, this can lead to fewer sick days and a more productive workforce.
 
The Tork range of hand sanitisers and hand soaps acts as a frontline defense, helping you to minimize hygiene risks and protect both your employees and your business from the costly impact of workplace illnesses.
 

What is sanitising?

Cleaning and sanitising your hands tackle the problem of germs from different angles, working together to promote high hygiene standards. 
 
While cleaning is the process of physically removing dirt and microorganisms from our skin as well as surfaces, it doesn’t necessarily kill all germs. It does, however, help reduce their numbers and the risk of spreading infections. The other way around, while sanitizing your hands reduces germs to safe levels, it doesn’t necessarily remove dirt by itself. That’s why implementing both approaches is important at your facility. 
 
There are many hand sanitising methods depending on the situation. When it comes to personal hygiene, hand sanitiser is a wonderful solution.
 

What does hand sanitiser do?

Simply put, hand sanitiser is designed to kill germs. It works as an effective way to promote hand hygiene whenever access to water and hand soap is limited or unavailable. 
 
There are generally two types of hand sanitisers — alcohol-based and alcohol-free. Either can come in different formats, from gel to foam. Each has different characteristics, so let’s take a closer look to help you decide the best choice for your facility.
 

Choosing the right hand sanitiser for your facility 

Choosing the right hand sanitiser is key to fulfilling your business’s hygiene needs. Let's dive into some considerations you may want to look into for the decision.
 

Alcohol vs alcohol-free 

Alcohol and alcohol-free hand sanitisers work in very similar ways, so, when choosing between these types, keep in mind the needs of those who will be using the products.
 

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser 

Most hand sanitisers are alcohol-based. Depending on the formulation, the active ingredient in this kind of product is around 70% alcohol concentration [1] and tends to be ethanol (ethyl alcohol), isopropanol, or a combination of both. The quality of the formulation and the right mix and balance between all the ingredients ensure effectiveness — in other words, those factors make the hand sanitiser strong enough to kill most germs on the skin.
 
When you apply hand sanitiser, the alcohol-based ingredients break down the protective membranes of bacteria and viruses, effectively destroying them. It works quickly, evaporating after application and leaving you with more hygienic skin without the need for water. It’s worth noting that hand sanitiser does all that while not penetrating the skin, and thus, not entering the body.
 

Alcohol-free hand sanitiser 

Alcohol-free hand sanitisers use alternative antimicrobial ingredients, like benzalkonium chloride, instead of alcohol to kill germs. [2] Tork hand sanitiser uses lactic acid instead of alcohol, making it non-flammable as well as easy to transport and store.
 
This means both alcohol and alcohol-free sanitisers are great options to promote hand hygiene among your employees and guests.
 

Which kind of hand sanitiser should I use in my facility? 

When it comes to hand sanitiser format, one is not necessarily more effective than the other, it’s mostly a matter of personal preference. Understanding the characteristics of each can help you figure out the right one for your facility.
 

Foam hand sanitisers 

Foam hand sanitisers have a light texture that makes them comfortable and pleasant for users. Also, they spread very easily over the skin.
 
With the effective power of foam, Tork has you covered. Our hand sanitiser formulas are also dermatologically tested to reduce the likelihood of skin irritation even with frequent use.
 

Gel hand sanitisers 

The dense texture of gel hand sanitisers makes them generally pleasant and easy to rub into the hands without spilling. These characteristics together with its efficacy, make gel hand sanitiser the preferred option of many.
 

Liquid hand sanitisers 

While liquid hand sanitiser is not as easy to handle and could more likely drop on the floor or nearby surfaces, it still provides great performance and little build up.
 

Spray hand sanitisers 

In terms of formulation, spray hand sanitiser and liquid hand sanitiser formulations are usually the same. However, many prefer the sensation of spray on the skin as well as the convenience of this format for thorough application. 
 

Manual vs automatic dispensers 

Once you choose the right hand sanitiser type and format for your facility, you’ll need some way to supply it. Tork offers a range of manual and automatic dispensers to cater to your business needs and promote frequent hand sanitization at your workplace. So, which kind to go for? We’ve summarized their characteristics to make the decision easier for you. 
 

Manual dispensers 

Manual hand sanitiser dispensers are cheaper and easier to maintain as they don’t require batteries to operate, saving you costs and time. They also operate very quietly, so, these may be the right choice if noise levels are a concern at your facility.
 

Automatic dispensers 

Automatic or sensor dispensers can be more accessible for some users while adding an extra touch of style to your establishment. Tork automatic dispensers offer controlled dosing, helping to cut down on overuse and waste in your facility.
 
Whether you decide to go with manual or automatic dispensers, also consider where and how you’ll place them. Opt for wall-mounted dispensers for a sleek and convenient option that can be placed anywhere in your facility. For sanitization at entry and exit points, outside of restrooms, or any other high-traffic areas, hygiene stands are particularly ideal.
 

What’s the right way to use hand sanitiser? 

Using hand sanitiser correctly is key to ensuring it effectively kills germs and keeps your workplace healthy and safe. This entails teaching your employees how much to apply and in what way, as well as when. To explore this topic further, check out our whitepaper on changing behaviours and attitudes towards hand hygiene.
 

How much hand sanitiser should you use? 

Using the right amount of hand sanitiser promotes hygiene while avoiding overuse and waste. This means that for general hand hygiene you’ll need enough sanitiser to cover the whole surface of your hands – as you would with hand soap. [3] The amount should also keep your skin wet during the recommended contact time. When it comes to hygiene critical industries, such as healthcare and food processing, it’s best to follow local efficacy standards and rules.
 
You can help ensure product quantities are supplied correctly at your facility with Tork Skincare Dispenser With Intuition® Sensor. This dispenser is dose-controlled, which means we’ve designed it to give each user the right amount of hand sanitiser in every use.
 

How to apply hand sanitiser effectively? 

Using hand sanitiser is very straightforward and simple. It only takes a few steps that you can explain in health & safety training sessions or print out on reminders around your facility.
  1. Check that your hands are not visibly dirty and that they are dry.
  2. Apply the recommended amount of sanitiser to cover your hands during contact time (about 30 seconds). 
  3. Rub your hands together until the sanitiser has completely dried.
  4. Make sure to cover your whole hand surface, including between your fingers and beneath your nails (you should have enough product to cover both hands — if not, just add a bit more). 
 

Using hand sanitiser safely 

Sharing the following tips with your employees can help ensure a good experience whenever they use hand sanitiser at work: [4]
  • Avoid touching your face until your hands are completely dry. This helps prevent accidentally transferring any germs.
  • Keep hand sanitiser and dispensers in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight and heat sources. This helps maintain product effectiveness and avoids fire hazards (alcohol-based hand sanitiser is highly flammable).
  • Avoid eye contact. If hand sanitiser gets into your eyes, it can damage your corneas (the outer layer of the eye). If this happens, rinse thoroughly with room-temperature water and seek medical advice if irritation persists.
  • Use hand sanitiser in a ventilated area. Inhaling hand sanitiser fumes and vapors comes with health risks, so ensure good airflow and ventilation to avoid this.
  • Do not put hand sanitiser near your mouth. This can be dangerous and may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or alcohol poisoning if swallowed. Be sure to keep it out of reach in areas where accidental ingestion could occur, such as near food.
In general, you should try to always read the hand sanitiser label — it provides all the necessary information on how to handle that particular product correctly and which precautions to take.
 

When should you sanitise hands? 

In a nutshell, there’s not a “one size fits all” recommendation for hand sanitizing frequency. How often should your employees use hand sanitiser depends on several factors, such as the type of tasks they perform, their level of contact with surfaces or other people, and personal hygiene needs. For example, some healthcare workers may need to sanitise their hands as often as 100-150 times during a work shift to keep themselves, patients, and other staff safe. [5] In healthcare specifically, the World Health Organization (WHO) established 5 critical moments to practice hand hygiene, aptly named the 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene.
 
These 5 moments are:
  • Before touching a patient
  • Before a clean/aseptic procedure
  • After bodily fluid exposure risk
  • After touching a patient
  • After touching patient surroundings
Most other jobs don’t typically require that level of rigorous hygiene. In any work setting, however, your employees might need to use hand sanitiser more often around high-touch surfaces and high-traffic areas or during flu season to keep germs at bay. 
 
In general, some good times to sanitise hands include:
  • Before preparing food 
  • Before treating a cut or sore
  • Before handling contact lenses 
  • Before and after contact with a sick person
  • When you move from one place to another, especially after being in a crowd 
  • Before donning gloves, which are a basic tool for cleaning and kitchen staff as well as healthcare personnel
At the end of the day, thorough hand hygiene is the unsung hero of a healthy, safe, and productive workplace. Despite its relative simplicity, it can go a long way helping you run operations smoothly and keeping employees feeling their best. By picking the right hand soap, hand towels, and hand sanitiser along with their dispensers, you're not just making any product choice—you could be investing in the long-term success of your business. Think ahead with the wide range of available Tork products.
 
Eager for more hand hygiene resources for you and your employees? Read about why hand hygiene is important in the workplace and personal hygiene and cleanliness at work.