Skin health and hygiene specialist, GOJO Industries-Europe, has launched a ‘Hand Sanitiser Integrity’ campaign to help businesses sustain safe and effective hand hygiene practice.
When hand sanitiser demand outpaced supply during the pandemic, many turned to dispensers and bottles that could be refilled from large sanitiser containers. According to a recent study of hand sanitiser refilling behaviours, 70% of businesses sometimes refill hand sanitiser system cartridges, and 60% of them plan to continue those practices when supply chains return to normal, post-COVID.
However, they may not be the safest or most effective solution – and can actually pose a risk to public health. These ‘open refill’ dispensers are typically serviced by pouring product into them and are usually ‘topped-off’ from gallons or drums of sanitiser that are not equipped with pumps for individual, portion-controlled product usage.
Problems associated with this system include branded hand sanitiser products being refilled with other formulas, products mixing into unknown chemical combinations, inadvertent contamination or degradation, and product tampering. All of which can mean an uncompliant and potentially harmful end product.
Furthermore, mixing hand sanitisers can result in a poor user experience, producing a watery or sticky product, and can also cause skin irritation, which can all contribute towards lower levels of compliance. The wrong product could also jam the pump, rendering the dispenser unusable.
To ensure hand sanitiser safety measures up, the integrity campaign recommends buyers should:
- Opt for products that meet key standards, including EN 14476 and EN 12791.
- Ensure the product is dermatologically tested.
- Check that refills are sealed to prevent contamination. Smart, safe, and sustainable, PURELL SANITARY SEALED refills simply snap into place on site. Since they are sealed at the point of manufacture, the product inside is protected from contamination.
Chris Wakefield, Managing Director UK & Ireland at GOJO Industries-Europe, commented: “We understand that, during the pandemic, businesses sought other solutions in an effort to protect people, and bulk style sanitiser systems plugged that need. However, the widespread use of these, together with a surge of unsafe products in the market, means there is currently a greater risk to human health and safety.
“As a steward of public health, we are committed to helping businesses return to high quality, products and practices. Thanks to the carefully selected ingredients in PURELL products and its SANITARY SEALED refills, businesses can have confidence that they are offering hand sanitiser that is effective and uncontaminated.”
Dermatologically tested, PURELL’s scientifically advanced formulation has been proven to maintain skin health, whilst killing 99.99% of the most common germs that may be harmful. It has also passed key norm EN14476 in just 30 seconds. PURELL remains the market leader, thanks to its focus on formulation without compromise.
