Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
Most water-free hand cleaners, such as hospitals use, contain alcohol to kill bugs such as E-coli, salmonella and listeria. As such you cannot use them in a food preperation area.
Do you know whether there is any acceptable (for use with cold water) alternative? Is hot water a necessity for clean hands? Is thoroughly washing with soap, but using cold water unacceptable? I don't mean from an HSE point of view, I mean from a germ killing point of view?
I am curious how hot (scientifitcally) the water has to be to kill germs (I would think HOT) and how many people do actually wash their hands in water of that temperature... [?]
Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
*rant mode on*
Most H&S is plain commonsense. It's the over-zealous use of it as an excuse that causes the problems. A classic example is no conkers without goggles. The HSE said it was total rubbish. It's not a case of eliminating risk but of managing it to a acceptable level.
*rant mode off*
Off to darkened room
Completely agreed, the only way that you can eliminate risk completely is not do something (don't fly, don't drive, don't leave the house, don't eat). That isn't practical or desirable.
It is interesting that commercially risk is often related to cost. I remember that in one industry that I worked in, there was a 'cost per life' (i.e. a financial price tag that each death cost). Safety measures were introduced IF either they required by law/regulation OR if the financial cost in 'lives saved' outweighed the 'cost to implement'. A lot of people would think/hope that EVERYTHING is done to prevent death/injury, but that is not the case: what is required is done and what is practical (financially) is done.
I think that too much H&S works to eliminate common sense (as people rely on it more, they don't use common sense and don't think for themselves enough). I remember seeing a programme on TV that said that if we all had a spike in the middle of our steering wheel (instead of an airbag), then we would all drive a lot safer and have less accidents!
Interesting area: risk - H&S etc... (just not when it gets silly!)
Boo