World Hand Hygiene Day 2021: Countries Lift Ban on Electric Hand Dryers in Public Restrooms

Bruxelles/Overseas 5 May 2021 – On WHO’s World Day of Hand Hygiene, 5th May, the electric Handdryer Association (eHA), the official body that represents the global hand dryer industry, points out the importance of proper hand hygiene and welcomes several countries’ decisions to lift bans on electric hand dryers in public restrooms and workplaces.

It has been proven that hand dryers do not spread the COVID-19 virus. As such, last spring, the UK government was first to announce exactly this, with the Spanish government following closely behind in easing regulations on the use of hand dryers in public places.

More recently, on 13 April 2021, the powerful Japan business organization, Keidanren, lifted the ban it introduced on the use of hand dryers in restrooms, offices and production sites, after concluding the risk of spreading the coronavirus from their use is negligible.

Germany also Eases Hand Dryer Restrictions

Late in April, the German workplace authority, namely the Federal Ministry of Labor, has lifted its regulations recommending against the use of electric hand dryers in public toilets and washrooms. This is due to the fact that good hand hygiene plays a significant role in the fight against COVID and, thanks in part to the eHA, the public now understands the importance of thorough hand drying, by whatever means, as a crucial part of the hand washing process.

Johannes Behrens, Head of Sanitary Division at eHA Founding Member Starmix/Electrostar and Member of the Lobbying Committee, points out: “We welcome the decision of the German workplace authority, although it’s frustrating that it took a long time for governments to revise their rapid, uninformed decisions made at the beginning of the pandemic to restrict hand dryers in public places. The hand dryer industry has lost a lot of business, particularly during the early stages of the global pandemic, and it will take some time to catch up again. However, this process also strengthens our argument that electric hand dryers are hygienic, sustainable and energy efficient.”

Third Party Approval

Organizations such as WHO, CDC (Centers of Disease Control) and Johns Hopkins Medicine also acknowledge that hand dryers equal hand hygiene. Correct hand hygiene has five steps; wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry your hands.

WHO states: “Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.”

As an industry association, eHA supports health organizations such as WHO by providing information at all levels of the health system. People working in the health sector are challenged the most as they need to protect others and themselves. Policy-makers must act on relevant science and work with facility managers to provide the best hygienic standards possible. Therefore, eHA acknowledges the WHO World Hand Hygiene Day as a critical day on the global calendar – particularly during this pandemic.

About:

Companies supporting the alliance »electric Handdryer Association – eHA« are representing an efficient, sustainable and innovative market. Modern products in the air-based hand drying business are characterized by being environmentally friendly, efficient, and economically attractive. Together we make electric hand drying the leading system!

Press Contact: Udo Sonnenberg, Phone: 0049 30 20218804, E-Mail: mail@handdryerassociation.org

Corona-Check-Site: https://handdryerassociation.org/corona-check-on-electric-hand-dryers/