With the world opening up to the new normal it is now imperative that businesses, schools, colleges, universities and hospice’s give easy access to hand sanitisation. It is a key part of reducing the spread of viruses through the population and is supported by the UK government.
It can be daunting if its the first time you have had to look into these products and we have put together some top tips to keep in mind when making your purchase. We will walk you through some of the pitfalls to avoid and some essential requirements.
1) Automatic or Manual?
In the workplace it can be difficult to decide whether to go for the more expensive automatic dispensers or to settle on the manual option. There is no right or wrong here but you have to consider the environment that the dispenser will be used in.
Manual Hand Sanitiser Dispensers:
Pro’s: Lower Cost per Unit, Easy Maintenance, Fast Dispensing
Ideal for: High Traffic Areas, Colleges, Universities, Construction Sites, Offices, Shops
If it is used in a high traffic area then a manual may be the right one for you, it allows fast dispensing of the gel, spray or foam. Customers and employees can access it quickly as they pass through entrances and corridors if you have a large workforce this will reduce the opportunity for bottlenecks and therefore avoid the issue of difficulties with social distancing in tight spaces.
A drawback with a manual dispenser is that the volume of gel dispensed is relative to the pressure applied by the user which can cause more of your hand sanitiser to be dispensed than is necessary. The knock-on effect is that you will need to refill your units more regularly and therefore incur more costs. Finally, manual dispensers increase the number of contact areas that people have to touch before they are protected by the sanitiser itself so regular cleaning will still be required.
Automatic Hand Sanitiser Dispensers:
Pro’s: Reduced Contact Areas, Volume Control, Easy to use by Elderly and Young
Ideal for: Schools, Hospices, Bars/ Restaurants, Construction Sites, Offices, Shops
Automatic hand sanitiser dispensers are perfect where you have low-speed traffic, entrance areas, hotel lobbies, schools or hospices. The dispensers can be programmed to dispense exact amounts of hand sanitiser allowing you to control more closely the usage of your products. They are perfect for people who have difficulty with push buttons such as the elderly and small children.
An automatic dispenser also reduces the possibility of cross-contamination by reducing the number of contact surfaces required to dispense the product.
The primary drawback to automatic dispensers is the cost implication of the initial unit. Automatic dispensers may also require more technical upkeep and servicing although they are designed to be simple to replace elements should they have problems in the future.
2) What to Look For
When looking at the dispenser market there are hundreds of options available but here we list a few key things to look out for.
Large Sealed Reservoir: This will reduce the number of times you have to refill the units, in large establishments this could become a daily requirement.
Sanitizer Product: Some dispensers will only work with one type of product ie Gel only which will mean you can’t use liquids or foams without purchasing a new unit.
Leak Free: Ensure the unit you decide on is well constructed as leakage could cause damage to flooring around the unit and beyond, alcohol hand sanitisers can be corrosive to some floor types.
Returns policy: Make sure you choose a distributor who will accept returns or replace units should they break within a reasonable time period.
3) Refilling Your Units
In a similar way to printers, hand sanitiser dispensers can be designed to only work with one type of refill cartridge, these can cost the same or more than the original unit and deliver only very limited amounts. This could cost you far more than you thought very quickly.
We have ensured that all our units are reservoir refills which means you can simply open them and pour in more liquids or gels when it is necessary to refill the unit.
4) Decide What Product You Will Dispense
There are three main hand sanitiser types available on the market which have varying uses and costs associated with them.
Gels: These are the most common hand sanitisers available and contain agents to thicken them from a liquid to a gel. They are effective and often have between 60 and 70 % alcohol content which is highly effective against bacteria and viruses.
Liquids: These lack the viscosity of the gels which is caused by the higher volume of alcohol content, typically around 80%. These have a shorter shelf life as the alcohol can evaporate quite easily reducing the effectiveness of the products. Liquids are generally dispensed as a spray and can be used on surfaces as well as on the hands. Liquids are also the cheapest option when buying in bulk.
Alcohol Free Foam: Foam works particularly well as it doesn’t suffer from evaporation issues and when used is retained on the surface of the hands for longer than alcohol increasing the time that protection remains. They cost less per measure dispensed as they are aerated at that point vastly reducing the volume used by each customer or employee.
5) Location Location Location
If your unit locations are going to be generally in a small shop then a wall mounted hand sanitiser dispenser is perfect for you. Typically 900ml to 1L units take up very little space and can be signposted on entry.
You may be thinking that you don’t have enough wall space to place a hand sanitiser in an accessible location, then we also have sanitiser stations. These are free standing units and come in a variety of sizes. Perfect for Hotel Lobbies or events with large floor spaces. They can even be branded for your business and have more options for dispensing action such as foot operated dispensers.
6) Visibility
Finally, ensuring your dispensers are used with help to protect your staff and your customers from spreading bacteria and viruses into your establishment. Place your dispenser in a location that is prominent and accessible, preferably not in the back corner of your shop but right at the entrance.
Decided? Purchase Your Dispensers Here:
If you need any help with making your decision about which unit is best for your circumstances please feel free to discuss it with one of our team, we can help ensure you get the right product.
More information about our range of Hand Sanitiser Dispensers