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Paul Mulready, marketing manager at Northwood Hygiene Products offers advice on what facilities managers should consider when choosing dispensers and consumables for their washrooms.
In its annual Employment Trends survey, the CBI reported that labour shortages are having a significant impact on performance, with 38 per cent of businesses saying they have been unable to grow and respond to new business opportunities because of a lack of staff.
ONS data has also revealed that nearly a third of UK businesses have experienced labour shortages following an increase in economic inactivity after the pandemic. The number of workers in the UK has declined by 545,000, with Brexit accounting for a loss of more than 300,000 workers because of free labour movement ceasing in the EU.
Some industries, such as healthcare and social care and hospitality and tourism, are grappling with a scarcity of skilled workers, posing significant challenges in how they operate.
So, how can FMs manage their washrooms, whilst tackling these challenges?
Washrooms can be demanding to manage with maintenance teams needing to be on hand to keep them hygienic and tidy. These settings also need a constant supply of soap and paper to cater for visitors and staff will often need to carry out visits while the washroom is occupied.
With cleaning staff thin on the ground, it’s important for FMs to make their lives as easy as possible and enable them to carry out their work quickly. Some simple strategies can help to make their job that little bit easier.
Go high capacity
Among some of the more laborious tasks that a cleaner has to do is the repetitive checks to ensure that there are enough soap and paper supplies. High-capacity washroom dispensers that can hold more paper and disposables deliver better value and help to save on labour costs because they minimise the need for staff to visit frequently to top up supplies.
Jumbo toilet rolls, for instance, are often used in high footfall washrooms, and whilst they offer high capacity, they do need to be checked to ensure the paper has not run out. Maintenance staff may be tempted to replace a roll before it is completely finished to avoid having to go back to replenish it, but this can drive up paper costs and waste product, which is not good for the environment.
A high capacity, dual roll toilet roll system in a locked dispenser is a practical solution. There are dispensers, such as the Raphael TwinJumbo from Northwood, that ensure 100 per cent of the paper is used and restrict use to one roll at a time to deliver cost savings and extend the time between maintenance visits.
Optimise maintenance time
To reduce staff time, maintenance teams need to be able to replenish and wipe down dispensers quickly. Units that feature inspection windows mean staff don’t need to waste time opening them to check stock levels. Dispensers that are streamlined in design can be cleaned more easily, whilst units that can be opened with a universal key are more convenient.
Curtail waste
Consumables like soap, toilet paper and hand towels get used surprisingly quickly, so it’s vital to control the amount of product dispensed. Soap that’s dispensed in a measured shot, for example, discourages over-use and prevents mess in the washroom, which then needs to be cleaned up. Systems that are easy to load and won’t drip will also help to keep the washroom tidier, reducing the need for janitorial maintenance.
Pick the right dispenser
The wrong type of towel dispenser can significantly add to maintenance time, so it’s essential for FMs to select dispensers that are quick and easy to refill, helping to save time in the washroom.
It’s also important to consider how the units dispense paper. C-fold dispensers, for instance, don’t hold as many towels as other dispensers, meaning maintenance staff may fill them beyond capacity. The result can be that visitors pull large quantities of towels from the dispenser, which may end up thrown on the floor, making more work for the cleaner.
Z-fold towels, which are designed to dispense one at a time, are less wasteful and more practical. High-capacity roll towels are also a good option for high-footfall washrooms.
Choose durable units
Well-built dispensers will perform better and require less maintenance over time. Similarly, those that are lockable will prevent mis-use and theft, minimising the staff time required to re-order new units and replace tissues and towels that have been pilfered.
Labour may be in shorter supply, but it doesn’t mean the washroom has to compromise if providers take these simple steps to help them run more smoothly. The right choice of dispensers, paper and disposables can make all the difference to the washroom environment and the experience of the maintenance team in charge of it.
