Global Handwashing Day

15 October is Global Handwashing Day, an annual opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of proper handwashing habits to help prevent the spread of infection and reduce sickness.

Hands are a natural breeding ground for germs, in fact they are one of the principal carriers of disease-causing germs. Nearly 80% of infections are spread by hands, so encouraging good hand hygiene behaviours is an effective way to stop germs spreading.

Handwashing for Schools

The simple act of washing hands can reduce the risk of getting a stomach bug by as much as 47%. As role models, teachers can help form children’s identity with hygiene from a very young age, with the potential to build a positive foundation and instil good hygiene habits that will last a lifetime.

Download our School Hand Hygiene Toolkit to help spread the word on why hand hygiene matters. Included in this pack are hand washing tips and fun ideas on how to engage kids in learning about this important topic.

Contact Initial for hygiene solutions to ensure a safer, healthier environment for your children.

Initial launches Bio-enzyme based soaps

Kinder to hands and kinder to the environment:

We believe passionately in the hygiene benefits of good handwashing practices. That belief, combined with our belief in the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly products has seen Initial South Africa on a journey to replace as many of the chemicals used in the business as possible with more environmentally friendly products.

In May 2019, Initial took another step in this journey by introducing a bio-enzyme based soap range that not only cleans your hands immediately (like traditional soap) but also creates a long-lasting, protective bacterial layer at the same time (unlike traditional soap).

In addition to the long-lasting protective barrier they create on the hands, bio-soaps are better for the environment. They contain no harmful chemicals, the surfactants are plant-based and fully biodegradable, and the enzymes created by the bacteria are non-toxic, non-irritating, non-gaseous, non-flammable, non-pathogenic, non-hazardous, and completely biodegradable.

Up Your Hand Hygiene Game!

Did you know that 60% of South Africans don’t wash their hands after they use the bathroom? And proper hand hygiene can be directly linked to the spread of illness, which in turn increases the rate of absenteeism for businesses.

Absenteeism costs the South African economy R12 - R16 billion per year. Help your staff up their hand hygiene games by using our guide to help you build a good hand hygiene strategy - which minimises cross contamination - and help curb absenteeism.

Download Your Comprehensive Handwashing Guide now.