How factory washroom refurbishment can boost hygiene and happiness amongst workers

Your washrooms might not be the most visible part of your factory, but they are some of the most important.

Used by employees throughout every shift, if your factory washrooms are poorly maintained, outdated or inadequate, your team's well-being could be affected.

You spend money on other key safety features to ensure their health and safety, so your bathrooms should be no different.

Clean, modern and well-designed washrooms send a clear message to employees and visitors that their health, comfort and dignity matter.

So, if you want to increase hygiene and keep your employees safe, happy and productive, here’s some simple upgrades you can make to your facilities.

Factories face unique hygiene challenges 

Factory washrooms often undergo heavier usage and tougher conditions than other commercial facilities, such as offices and therefore face their own unique challenges. Depending on the industry, workers may be bringing in:

• Dust and dirt

• Oil, grease or industrial residues

• Mud and moisture from outdoor work

• Higher levels of contamination from production environments

There may also be more frequent use during shift changes and breaks and greater wear and tear on flooring, cubicles, fixtures and surfaces.

This heavier usage also requires stronger cleaning products to clean and sanitise these spaces, which can also have a more damaging impact on your chosen materials.

Upgrade your factory washroom facilities 

Refurbishing your factory washrooms provides an opportunity to replace any difficult-to-clean or damaged features with more hygienic and durable alternatives. To upgrade your facilities, you should: 

1. Choose durable, non-porous materials

Choosing durable, non-porous materials for your toilet cubicles and work surfaces ensures they can withstand heavy use. For example, solid-grade laminate is water, scratch and chemical-resistant. This means that it will last longer and can be deep cleaned when required.

2. Install strong, easy-to-clean flooring 

As with the surfaces and cubicles, you should also install strong flooring that can withstand high footfall. This floor needs to be slip-resistant to increase health and safety and easy-to-clean to ensure maintenance is quicker and easier.

3. Select seamless or low-joint surfaces 

There are lots of clever and stylish ways you can reduce the number of joints and surfaces where dirt and germs can build. Wall-hung sinks and toilets reduce joints and make it easier to clean under and around. As do larger trough sinks made from stainless steel.

What’s more, seamless wall cladding is a hygienic alternative to tiles and reduces grout lines that can quickly cause mould and dirt to gather, leading to discolouration and bacteria.

4. Upgrade to touch-free technology 

One of the quickest and most effective ways to boost hygiene in your factory washrooms is through touch-free technology. It’s time to replace outdated fixtures with modern ones, for example:

• Automatic taps and soap dispensers

• Sensor flushing systems

• Automatic hand dryers or paper towel dispensers

• Sensor lighting

By reducing touch-points in this way, you can avoid bacteria building up and germs being spread between employees and eventually, around the factory.

5. Ensure good ventilation 

Good ventilation is so important to ensure that spores and bacteria do not build up in the air and pass from person to person. Plus, this helps with odour control and comfort. After all, no one wants to use a humid or smelly bathroom.

6. Optimise washroom layout 

More efficient bathroom layouts not only make your washrooms easier to clean, with fewer corners and hidden spaces, but they are also better for your employees.

More structured, open-plan layouts make it easier for individuals to move around one another, and dedicated sections, such as hand washing stations, make it more efficient to navigate the space and use the facilities quicker.

Is it time to update your factory facilities? 

Well-designed washrooms will support everyday hygiene habits, particularly handwashing, and reduce the number of surfaces and touch-points that can build up dirt and bacteria.

Clean, accessible facilities can encourage employees to use them properly and comfortably, increasing employee productivity and well-being.

In busy factories with a high footfall, durable materials are a must. So, if you’re ready to upgrade your factory washrooms to boost hygiene and morale amongst workers, we can help.

Get in touch with our talented team today to find out more about our washroom design and refurbishment services.