A New Framework for Cleaner, Safer and Healthier Public Spaces
- 3 min read
- Castle
Industry experts are calling for clear and effective cleaning standards to be introduced across workplaces and public spaces in the UK, building on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Handwashing Standards.
Welcoming these handwashing standards as a strong foundation for providing safe and healthy facilities, the main body representing the UK’s cleaning, hygiene and waste sector has released a new guidance framework aimed at improving public health, saving lives, reducing the billions lost annually to sickness absence, and preventing thousands of missed school days each year.
The organisation argues that higher levels of cleanliness in workplaces and public areas—combined with the WHO’s recommended handwashing practices—offer the most effective way to reduce the spread of common infections, such as flu, and to bolster protection against future pandemics.
The newly published ‘Strategic Framework for Achieving Cleanliness and Hygiene in Public Environments’ builds on WHO guidelines by offering systematic direction on developing cleaning and hygiene policies designed to limit the transmission of infectious diseases.
The framework is intended to support managers across a wide range of sectors, including leisure, retail, hospitality and public transport, in creating hygiene policies tailored to the specific needs and challenges of their environments. These policies incorporate both cleaning procedures and methods for measuring outcomes.
A pilot project is planned to test the framework in one or more schools, gathering evidence on its effectiveness in reducing pupil absences and limiting the spread of infections within the wider community. It is hoped that successful results will encourage widespread adoption of the framework in workplaces and public settings across the UK.
According to the organisation, improved handwashing will undoubtedly help reduce illness, but must be paired with higher cleaning standards to have the greatest impact. The framework provides expert guidance on designing effective cleaning regimes that contribute to cleaner, safer and healthier environments. Higher cleaning standards are seen as essential for protecting public health, saving lives and reducing the economic burden of sickness absence.
The author of the framework emphasises that adopting a regulated national standard would create a consistent approach to cleaning across various environments and public spaces. Allowing organisations to develop their own policies based on the framework’s guidelines could help build greater resilience across the UK while also reassuring the public about the cleanliness of shared environments. A national standard is described as a crucial foundation for supporting health and wellbeing.
The framework includes guidance on:
- Definitions of hygiene and cleanliness
- Risk assessment
- Establishing cleaning and hygiene standards
- Implementing cleaning procedures
- Ongoing monitoring and improvement
It is designed to be adaptable for different environments. Key considerations include:
- Identifying sites and surfaces with a high likelihood of contamination or infection spread, such as hands, high-touch points (door handles, light switches, shared equipment), cleaning tools and areas where food is prepared or handled
- Developing detailed cleaning protocols, including recommended frequencies, appropriate products and correct application techniques
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