Gloves are not a substitute for hand washing

They can become contaminated “just like hands” says report

There is a growing awareness that “gloves are being misused” by them being deployed at the expense of hand washing, rather than in addition to it. They can, after all, easily become contaminated, which quickly diminishes their effectiveness, according to a recent report on the Cleaning and Maintenance Management (CMM) website. 

Gloves are an integral part of any medical facility’s safety and infection control regime, especially when a potential exposure to bodily fluids and blood is a possibility says the article, which adds that “they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time.”

The article quotes the World Health Organization (WHO) article Gloves do not replace hand hygiene – reminder from WHO.

“Hand hygiene is one of the most effective, affordable and universal tools we have to prevent the transmission of infections and provide high-quality, clean and safe medical care.”

The benefits of good hand hygiene

The CMM article reveals a number of startling benefits that arise from regular and diligent hand washing – and the problems that are caused by an over-reliance and inappropriate over-use of gloves.

Observations and conclusions include:-

• Financial benefits: the report claims that every dollar invested in hand hygiene provision can yield a return of $24.60.
• Waste reduction: excessive glove use “undermines infection prevention and control practices”, whilst at the same time adds a huge amount to levels of unnecessary medical waste.
• A lack of hand hygiene facilities: worryingly, 2 in 5 medical and healthcare facilities where care is offered, still lack even the most fundamental hand hygiene provision. The statistics for this are provided by the linked-to report regarding WASH in health care facilities in 2023.

The WHO in its World Hand Hygiene Day Campaign 2025 ran with the theme of “It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene”.

The environmental challenge

The CMM article reveals some worrying statistics with regard to medical waste, stating that the average university hospital can generate amounts equivalent to “360 African elephants” (1,634 tons) per year. Furthermore glove waste needs to be treated as being potentially infectious, needing specialist disposal or incineration.

The WHO provides a series of recommendations surrounding appropriate glove use and effective hand hygiene protocols.

“Focus on reducing unnecessary glove use to minimize healthcare waste; provide the necessary resources to enable hand hygiene to be practiced at the point of care.”

WHO Says Gloves Do Not Substitute For Hand Washing »

The range of Teal mobile hand washing units

Effective mobile hand washing for everyone – wherever they are

Teal produces a comprehensive range of mobile and washing units for every type of hand washing situation for use by anyone who needs to wash their hands effectively, whether they’re in hospital or medical facility, care home, an office environment, temporary accommodation or out in the field on a daily basis.

Mobile hand wash stations can also be hired »

There are vehicle mounted, wall mounted, mains powered and free standing hand wash stations as well as mobile sinks for use with pre-heated hot water.

The Teal range of mobile sinks includes the MediWash, Hygienius and Hygienius ProWash, BigSynk, Super Stallette, TEALwash, Handeman Xtra, Compact Classic, HandSpa, CliniWash – and now the new WashStand Xtra.