Cold Weather: Hand Wash Units or Hand Sanitizer?
By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director
Generally speaking additives in sinks are not allowed. Many states require that only potable water be
used in sinks — even though the sinks also have to be marked with decals that warn users the water is
not safe for drinking. Consequently, these water-filled hand wash stations will freeze in cold weather,
and then they are of no use to anyone. They are also a challenge to thaw. The units are heavy when
full of ice, and any technique for "hurrying" the thawing process risks damage to the lines.
PSAI standards call for sinks to be moved inside in freezing weather. If there is no place to do that on
the job or event site, hand sanitizer stations are an alternative to consider. Sanitizer does not typically
freeze due to the alcohol content, and those dispensers can be serviced fairly easily in the field in all
types of weather. However, there is always debate about whether sanitizer is an acceptable substitute
for soap and water.
As with so many things, the answer to whether you can skip the soap and water in favor of hand
sanitizer is, "it depends." The best — and most legally acceptable — hand washing strategy in one
situation is not necessarily the best answer for another; the unique circumstances of each event or
location will carry the day.
First, let's look at hand washing with soap and water versus hand sanitizer from a purely scientific
point of view. We can probably all agree that providing the means for hand washing is important for
promoting public health as well as for bolstering the revenue of portable sanitation companies. But
can anyone demonstrate that one or the other of
these methods is more likely to protect and
promote public health?
At this point, the scientific community does not
yet agree on whether hand sanitizer delivers the
same positive results as soap and water. For
example, the US Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) say hand sanitizers don't kill all kinds of
germs, and they might not remove other
substances from hands that would be detrimental
to health. Meanwhile, a study from the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) says hand sanitizers are
sometimes more effective than soap and water.
WEEKLY EDITION NOVEMBER 13, 2019
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