Many years ago, myself and a few colleagues become interested in the basic hygene practices of the various types of engineers we worked with. So we started an informal observational exercise and the creation of a database. The idea was that if you saw someone use the restroom, you would note if they actually washed their hands (rare) and if not, a note of which field of engineering they were in. Over a period of a few years, we developed quite a large database, and it even broadened out into several other engineering companies beyond the one it started at…
I don’t remember the complete set of details, but:…
Less then 10% of engineers actually washed their hands after using the rest room…
Traffic engineers were the most likely to wash their hands
Structural and Electrical engineers were nearly evenly tied for being the least likely to wash their hands…
There were over 15,000 observations before we all lost interest…
Just as an observation. I’ve seen lots of people use the facilities at DMS and NOT wash their hands.
How does the old joke go?
An Aggie and a Citadel cadet were in the restroom one day. The Aggie notices the Citadel cadet doesn’t wash up. The Aggie says, “Hey, at A&M they teach us to wash our hands after going.” The Citadel cadet says, “At the Citadel they teach us not to urinate on our hands.”
Yet, everywhere you go there is a reminder to “wash your hands” if you are an employee. Of course, it is a good idea for everyone.
I worked at a medical research lab where we handled blood and blood components, and urine, daily. And various fun isotopes. I would un-glove, wash up before I left the lab, go down the hall to the restroom, wash up AGAIN before touching any vital body parts, then wash up again after finishing up.
And wash up again upon entering the lab, before gloving up.
A lot of people think washing your hands after peeing is about getting pee off your hands… except it’s just a good opportunity to maintain sanitary hands instead of spreading germs like wildfire.
This is why, if you are planning a business bathroom strategy, you need to have a trash bin within easy tossing distance of the door. Many folks are of the opinion that if you toss the towels on the floor often enough, the janitorial staff will tire of it and put a basket there. It does seem to work.
I am of the opinion that restrooms should not have doors, but that’s a whole 'nother can o’worms…
I have seen some public bathroom doors that have a thing you can put your toe under to pull the door open so you don’t have to touch the dirty doorknob.
There are trash cans within a short distance of all bathrooms here… one in CA, and one in Purple. People are just too damn lazy and inconsiderate to carry a piece of paper towel 5 feet to dispose of it.
