Hand Sanitizers in Non-Health Care Facilities

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. However, recognizing that washing hands with soap and water is not always an option, we recommend placing non-alcohol based hand sanitizer dispensers in your facilities.

When a pandemic or epidemic has been declared, the University Committee on Hand Sanitizing recommends all departments purchase benzalkonium chloride (BAK) hand sanitizers. BAK’s are non-alcohol based sanitizers that studies have shown are effective at killing the influenza virus in lieu of the flammable alcohol based material.

Refer to the EHS Guideline for Placement of Hand Sanitizers in Non-Health Care Facilities for more information.