The coronavirus pandemic has changed our daily lives in many areas, not only in the global approach to the topic of hygiene care, but also in the organization of professional work. A great many employers, out of concern for the health of their employees, have decided to introduce remote work. Today, with the prospect of a gradual return to offices increasingly on the horizon, responsible employers are thinking about ensuring a high standard of safety for their employees. This, of course, means introducing new procedures, health and safety standards, as this is crucial in the area of COVID-19 infection prevention.
Hygienic performance confirmed by independent tests
Proper hand washing with soapy water is the easiest way to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. Washing alone, unfortunately, is not enough, as drying is the most crucial element in this process. A person can carry up to 1,000 times more bacteria and viruses on wet hands than if he or she dries them thoroughly after washing. Dyson Airblade™ dryers are proven to be as hygienic as disposable paper towels. In a study conducted at the University of Bradford, researchers showed that using the dryer after washing hands properly resulted in a reduction of up to 40% in the number of bacteria on hands. Effective hand drying is therefore just as important as hand washing.
Thanks to the certified HEPA filtration systems used in Dyson Airblade™ dryers, drying hands is a fast and completely safe process. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) guarantees high efficiency in capturing unwanted particles from the air. Many experiments have been carried out, which have proven that the filters capture up to 99.95% of particles, including bacteria and viruses, from the air flowing through them. As a result, washed hands are dried with truly clean air.
Technology matters
Dyson Airblade™ isn't just about the safety of drying hands with purified air, it's about non-contact technology with infrared time-of-flight sensors that trigger the cycle. Dryers using such solutions are fully contactless, reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses on usable surfaces in bathrooms. This is especially important in places where many unfamiliar users meet, i.e. public restrooms in offices, malls, shopping centers or gas stations. The device uses sensors that accurately detect the presence of hands in 0.2 seconds and turn on the air flow without wasting energy, so the drying time for wet hands does not exceed 14 seconds. This, in turn, contributes to optimal user convenience. Dyson Airblade™ dryers are 76% less expensive to run than other hand dryers. Thanks to advances in motor and airflow technology, the device generates up to 85% less carbon emissions when drying hands than paper towels. Not insignificant is the fact that using dryers does not generate waste in the form of used paper hand towels.
The future of hygienic bathrooms
The pandemic situation has forced societies to change many habits. Hand washing has become not only a recommendation, but above all an activity to which we attach great importance. Proper, hygienic washing is no longer just the domain of surgeons entering the operating room, but has become a daily requirement of our functioning. In a global hygiene survey conducted in June 2020, Dyson examined how our behavior and beliefs regarding this aspect have changed. A significant number of respondents admitted that, compared to the same period before the 2019 pandemic, they now have more doubts about the effectiveness and safety of using hand dryers. 58% of those questioned said they would feel more at ease using dryers that are activated without touch, and another 47% said that installing filters in dryers to purify the air used to dry hands would also reduce their fear about the possibility of getting sick.
Seeing such a high level of concern from consumers about safety, Dyson commissioned Airmid Healthgroup, an independent laboratory in Ireland, to conduct a study on bathroom aerosolization caused by different hand drying methods. Experts examined the issue of aerosolization, as it sparked a number of discussions and spread many myths at the beginning of the pandemic. The aim of the study was to see to what extent different bathroom activities cause particles to move through the air, and whether the drying process itself with jet dryers such as the Dyson Airblade can affect the increase in aerosol levels in the air, which can potentially contain harmful pollutants, bacteria and viruses.
Participants in this study moved around the bathrooms without washing their hands, rinsed their hands with water (without using soap) or washed their hands with soap for 20 seconds according to WHO recommendations, and then dried their hands with Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers or used paper towels. The results of the study clearly showed that using Dyson Airblade™ dryers did not significantly increase the amount of particles in the air compared to just washing hands, wiping with paper towels or moving around the bathroom. Thus, it can be said with confidence that Dyson dryers are a safe, hygienic and cost-effective solution. For an employer or owner of a public facility, this type of bathroom equipment provides, first of all, the opportunity to ensure a high level of hygiene in the workplace, but also offers savings, which are undoubtedly of considerable importance here.
The use of Dyson Airblade™ touchless dryers is not only a comfort, but, above all, a safe return to work or the ability to freely use public areas.
For more information, visit the company's DYSON page on the A&B portal.
