“How to Wash Your Hands” signs are a fundamental public health intervention in commercial settings. These signs serve as a standardized, visual reminder to employees, translating public health guidelines into actionable workplace procedures. The primary function of this mandated signage is to reinforce proper hygiene techniques, preventing the transmission of infectious diseases and microbial contamination. Compliance ensures a uniform standard of hygiene across various industries that handle food or interact with the public.
Where Handwashing Signs Are Mandated
The necessity of posting handwashing signs is typically governed by local health departments, which often adopt guidelines established at the national level. Food service establishments, including restaurants and delis, are required to post these signs based on the FDA Food Code. This regulation stipulates that a sign notifying food employees to wash their hands must be provided at all handwashing sinks used by staff and must be clearly visible.
Occupational settings where employees may be exposed to biohazards also have specific requirements under federal workplace safety regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide readily accessible handwashing facilities, particularly in environments involving bloodborne pathogens. A sign serves as the necessary reminder to ensure personnel wash their hands immediately after removing gloves or other protective equipment. The requirement for visible signage extends to childcare centers, schools, and healthcare facilities, where the risk of pathogen spread is a constant concern.
The Required Handwashing Procedure
The content displayed on a compliant handwashing sign must detail a standardized, sequential process, usually based on guidelines from public health authorities. The procedure is typically broken down into five distinct steps designed to ensure thorough physical and chemical removal of transient microorganisms.
The five steps are:
- Wet the hands under clean, running water.
- Apply soap to create a rich lather.
- Vigorously scrub all hand surfaces for a minimum duration of 20 seconds, including the backs of the hands, between the fingers, and underneath the nails.
- Rinse hands well under clean, running water to remove all soap and dislodged contaminants.
- Dry hands completely using a clean, single-use towel or an air dryer, as wet hands are more likely to transfer germs.
Design and Placement Requirements for Compliance
For a handwashing sign to be compliant, its physical characteristics and location must support its function as an immediate reminder. The sign must be constructed of durable, water-resistant material, ensuring it can withstand the moist environment of a wash station without deteriorating. Readability is paramount, necessitating a clear design with high color contrast and a font size easily distinguishable from a short distance.
Placement is narrowly defined by regulation to maximize effectiveness. The sign must be posted at every handwashing sink used by employees, not just in the restroom, and must be clearly visible to the employee using the sink. This means the sign is typically mounted directly above or immediately adjacent to the sink itself. Many jurisdictions include visual aids or pictorial representations of the steps on the sign to overcome potential language barriers and ensure the procedure is understood by all staff members.