Hygiene in the workplace depends on more than handwashing alone. It requires clean washrooms, maintained hygiene equipment, suitable consumables, regular attention to high-touch surfaces and structured cleaning routines across the facility.
The importance of regular handwashing and good hygiene habits has received significant attention in recent years, and for good reason.
South African health authorities continue to emphasise the role of hand hygiene in preventing disease. The Gauteng Department of Health describes regular hand hygiene as a simple but powerful routine that supports health at home, in the workplace and across the wider community.
At CSG Cleaning, our teams see every day how strong hygiene practices help protect customers, visitors, staff and the properties we manage from unnecessary contamination. Hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to break the chain of infection, but it works best when supported by the right facilities, equipment, cleaning routines and workplace culture.
For facilities that need a dependable, managed solution, commercial hygiene equipment can help ensure essential washroom equipment remains available, maintained and suited to the needs of the workplace.
Why Handwashing Is Still One of the Most Effective Hygiene Practices
Workplace hygiene starts with personal hygiene. Washing your hands thoroughly is still one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from infectious diseases easily spread through contaminated hands.
Throughout the day, our hands pick up an incredible number of microorganisms (germs) from:
- Door handles and railings
- Shared equipment
- Phones, keyboards and desks
- Cash, documents and packaging
84.5% of healthcare workers’ mobile phones were found to carry bacterial contamination, highlighting how easily frequently handled devices can contribute to the spread of microorganisms.
We also touch our faces far more often than we realise, including our mouths, noses and eyes, which makes them easy entry points for these organisms.
Regular, proper handwashing:
- Reduces your chance of becoming ill
- Lowers the risk of spreading germs to colleagues and customers
- Supports a healthier, more productive workplace
To strengthen this hygiene barrier further, handwashing should be supported by regular cleaning or sanitising of frequently touched surfaces throughout the facility.
How to Wash Your Hands Correctly
- Many people wash their hands regularly, but not always correctly. Here’s a simple, effective method to support good hygiene in the workplace:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water, then turn off the tap.
- Apply soap and lather well for at least 20 seconds (longer if hands are heavily soiled).
- Rub your hands together rapidly across all surfaces of your hands and wrists.
- Don’t forget:
- Backs of your hands
- Wrists
- Between your fingers
- Under your fingernails
- If possible, remove rings and watches, or slide them to wash underneath, as microorganisms can hide there.
- Rinse well under running water, ensuring all soap is removed.
- Dry your hands using paper towels or single-use cloth towels.
- Dry under rings thoroughly – moisture can be a source of future contamination.
Where possible, choose sensor-enabled hygiene equipment (taps, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand dryers) to reduce unnecessary touchpoints.
When Should You Wash Your Hands at Work?
To support strong hygiene in the workplace, hands should be washed thoroughly:
- After using the toilet
- Before, during and after preparing food
- Between handling raw and cooked or ready-to-eat food
- Before eating
- After handling rubbish or working outdoors
- After handling animals or animal waste
- When arriving at work or another person’s premises
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
These simple habits, supported by visible hygiene reminders and accessible facilities, significantly reduce germ spread in busy environments.
Hygiene in the Workplace: What It Says About Your Brand
The condition of your premises, especially your washrooms and shared spaces, says a great deal about your organisation. Clean, functional and well-maintained facilities support employee wellbeing, visitor confidence and a professional business image.
As a business, ask yourself:
- Do we care about our environment and our business image?
- Do we respect our employees and our customers?
- Do we want to improve productivity by enhancing staff health?
- Do we want to create a safer workplace?
- Do we want to promote better focus, morale and performance?
If the answer is “yes”, then hygiene in the workplace is not optional; it is a core part of how you operate.
A strong hygiene culture:
- Reduces illness-related absenteeism
- Supports compliance with health and safety standards
- Reinforces professionalism and brand trust
- Creates a more comfortable, welcoming environment
Workplace Hygiene Extends Beyond Clean Hands
Handwashing is most effective when the wider workplace supports good hygiene. Employees cannot follow suitable practices consistently if soap dispensers are empty, taps are not working, waste bins are overflowing or washrooms are not cleaned according to their level of use.
A complete workplace hygiene approach should consider usage levels, peak periods, cleaning frequencies, equipment condition, consumable availability and responsibility for inspections, restocking and fault reporting.
Cleaning routines should cover washrooms, shared kitchens and high-touch surfaces such as toilets, basins, door handles, lift buttons, shared equipment, kitchen appliances and waste areas. Frequencies should be tailored to each space, with professional cleaning teams managing planned cleaning, inspections and deeper hygiene requirements.
Partner with CSG for Better Hygiene in the Workplace
Good intent alone isn’t enough; hygiene needs the right combination of:
- People: staff who understand and follow basic hygiene practices
- Processes: clear cleaning schedules and hygiene protocols
- Products & equipment: reliable commercial hygiene equipment and consumables
These elements can be brought together through professionally managed washroom hygiene services, shaped around the facility’s usage levels, schedules and hygiene requirements.
If you’d like to strengthen hygiene in the workplace, from handwashing facilities and washroom management to shared-space cleaning and fully managed commercial cleaning solutions, CSG Cleaning is ready to help.
