WO2015055971A1

WO2015055971A1 - A method for tracking hand washing

Info

Publication number: WO2015055971A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/000460
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Clark
Original assignee: The Aluline Group Limited
Priority date: 2013-10-14
Filing date: 2013-10-28
Publication date: 2015-04-23
Also published as: GB201318140D0; GB2519166A

Abstract

A method for tracking hand washing is assembled and integrated into a hygiene critical environment (100), comprising RFID readers (102), integrated into non-contact hand wash and dry systems (104), linked to electronic tags (103), worn by individuals (105), such tagging not infringing the rights of individuals, but ensuring compliance with strict hygiene sequence rules set out in individuals' conditions of employment, whereupon should said hygiene sequence not be adhered to, individuals' exit from a hygiene critical environment may be barred by electronic means until there is compliance, but such non-compliance reported and a line-manager, for example, informed at any location in the world.

Description

A method for tracking hand washing.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for tracking hand washing and hygiene control to minimise the spread of infection particularly within commercial premises where food is prepared and in hygiene critical arenas such as hospitals and nursing homes. It is generally recognised that the majority of bacterial infection is spread through an individual's hands by cross contamination whereby harmful germs are spread onto food from other food, surfaces or equipment. Guidelines by the Foods Standards Agency advise, for example, that hands should be always washed thoroughly after touching raw meat, poultry and unwashed raw vegetables, and before anything else is touched.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A common focus of attention by concerned manufacturers to reduce cross contamination is in the washroom area after an individual's visit to the toilet where these days no devices need to be actually touched to wash hands afterwards with soap and water and dry them. Appropriately placed infra-red detectors facilitate remote hand wash and rapid air dry. Infrared detectors in public toilets allow an individual to wave a hand in front for automatic flush. One drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is that responsibility is on the individual to carry out these remote, non-contact hygiene activities in the washroom. There is no compunction to do so and cross contamination can still occur, with the consequent spread of bacteria and virus. A second drawback and shortcoming in the prior art is that hygiene control is incomplete in the washroom. The hygiene loop is not closed. All the remote tasks common in the prior art can be carried out but the door handle to the washroom remains unclean and still needs to be grasped and turned for the individual to exit. If one individual has not followed the hygiene recommendations correctly there may still be contamination on the door handle waiting to infect the diligent individual. Designs of some cloakroom areas where there is high footfall and ample space eliminate the use of doors for entry and exit by use of angled walls, for example in motorway service areas. Hygiene control for the individual can be 100% in these situations.

However in smaller confined spaces such as in commercial kitchen environments doors to washrooms containing toilets are a necessity and provide the challenge to overcome cross contamination.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art and close the hygiene loop by providing an effective method for reducing cross contamination after visits to the washroom / toilet and minimising the spread of infection.

It is a second object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by providing a non-contact hand wash tracking system which instantly reveals in real-time an individual's hand wash non-compliance. It is a third object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by providing a non-contact hand wash tracking system which instantly reveals in real-time an individual's identity in the event of hand wash non-compliance.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by providing a non-contact hand wash system that can be policed by a single individual monitoring any number of washrooms in any number of countries around the world simultaneously through satellite operations.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings in the prior art by providing a non-contact hand wash system tailored to the needs of a variety of applications including the food industry, the NHS, nursing environments and typical busy restaurants and kitchens, which are often under pressure to deliver and where employees may be tempted to take short cuts regarding washing hands. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for tracking hand washing in which non-contact electronic hand wash and dryer systems incorporate RFID readers, preferably located in a hygiene critical environment to reduce cross contamination and minimise the spread of infection comprising a plurality of RFID readers attached to walls and ceilings; RFID readers linking up with remote tag receivers which are preferably attached to name badges affixed to individuals who need to use the hygiene critical environment, such RFID readers configured to monitor and track individuals' hand washing sequence and allow or deny exit from a hygiene critical environment depending upon whether the individual has washed hands or not. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided in a food industry application a non-contact hand wash and dry tracking system preferably located in a washroom comprising a plurality of combination hand wash and dryers incorporating a plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of remote tag receivers attached to, for example name badges affixed individually to any number of employees, a further RFID reader affixed adjacent to the entry and exit door of the same washroom which allows or denies access to adjacent food production areas depending upon whether the individual has washed their hands or not.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided in a NHS / health care application a non-contact hand wash and dry tracking system preferably located in one or more wards of a hospital or nursing home incorporating a plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of remote tag receivers attached to, for example name badges affixed to any number of nursing staff, a further RFID reader affixed adjacent to the entry and exit doors preferably in the ceiling of the same ward area which allows or denies access to patients depending upon whether the individual has washed their hands or not.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic lock out incorporated into the system of a non-contact hand wash tracking system, whereby in a plurality of stations should one individual fail to hand wash, all the occupants of that location at that moment in time are automatically prevented from exiting, until the negligent individual has accomplished the essential protocol. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a non-contact hand wash and dry tracking system linked to a monitoring computer sited anywhere in the world, whereby should an individual fail to undertake the correct hand wash procedure and attempt to exit the area a warning indicator of 'exit denied' will be posted and recognised immediately on a computer screen in real time resulting in whatever disciplinary action is deemed suitable.

In order that the nature of the present invention may be clearly understood an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1a and 1b depict schematic plan views of a method for tracking hand washing in a sequential process in a typical restaurant / kitchen / staff application according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a schematic plan view of a method for tracking hand washing in a sequential process in a typical food industry application according to aspects of the present invention.

Figures 3a and 3b depict schematic plan views of a method for tracking hand washing in a sequential process in a typical NHS/ nursing application according to aspects of the present invention.

Figure 4 depicts a diagram showing an electronic wiring method for tracking hand washing according to aspects of the present invention. Figure 5 depicts an outline drawing of UK, Scandinavia, Europe and Africa according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In figure 1a a schematic plan view of a typical washroom 100 and toilet 101 depicts a method for tracking hand washing in a sequential process shown by the arrows in which RFID reader 102 automatically identifies and tracks ID tag 103 containing electronically stored information which is attached, for example to individual X, who is entering the washroom at point A and identified by RFID 102. When individual X has finished at the toilet 101 their correct movement is to progress towards hand wash system 104 in the direction of the arrow where electronic tag 103 activates the non-contact hand wash and dry system 104 after which another RFID 102 located in the hand wash system reads the individual's tag giving clearance to exit at point A where sensors positioned preferably on the wall or ceiling automatically open exit A, thus completing the hygiene loop without the individual touching any common object.

In figure 1b the hand wash tracking system is on red alert due to the individual Z not progressing towards and using the non-contact hand wash system 104 and thus breaking the hygiene loop as shown by the arrows. RFID reader 102 sends an alarm to a monitoring computer 106 indicating that the individual, who is identified by electronic tag 103, did not use the hand wash system and exit A remains closed until the hygiene loop has been successfully completed. Figure 2 depicts a schematic view of a food industry application containing a strict hygiene control centre 07, leading to a cordoned-off food production area 108. Individual Z has entered through open door B, neglected to present hands for non-contact wash and dry and is now waiting to enter food production area 108 via closed door 109. Meanwhile individuals X and Y have presented their hands for wash and dry and have made their way to access door 109 expecting to go through to the food production area. Because of individual Z's negligence ceiling mounted reader 110 maintains closure of access door C+- to all. In addition the identity of Z is conveyed in real time to a monitoring computer 106 for line- manager discipline. In figure 3a a schematic plan view of an infection control unit designed to track hand washing and thereby minimise the risk and spread of infection is shown in a sequential process in a plurality of typical NHS/ nursing applications. Individual X has entered Ward 111 by access point A and progressed immediately to non-contact hand wash and dry system 104, where their electronic ID tag 103 is read at 102. The individual is then free to move around arena 11 , which may be a ward in a hospital. In order to progress to another arena 112 the tag 103 is read by RFID reader 110, which may be sited in the ceiling, and the individual moves to wash hands at unit 104 in arena 112 and so on through the nursing institution as and when required.

In figure 3b a schematic plan view pf an infection control unit designed to track hand washing and thereby minimise the risk and spread of infection is shown in a sequential process in a plurality of typical NHS/ nursing applications where the hygiene loop has been closed due to negligence. Individual Z has entered arena 111 and not stopped by non- contact hand wash and dry 104. Immediately ceiling mounted reader 110 picks up the omission and alerts remote monitoring computer 106 for line-manager discipline.

In figure 4 a wiring diagram shows an electronic method for tracking hand washing featuring mains electrical supply XX to Earth Block 114, Negative Block 115, Power Transformer 117 and Mains Relay 118. From the foregoing, connections are made to a Lamps Relay 119, PLC 120, Germicidal Lamps 121 , Soap Pumps 122, Sanitiser Pumps 123, Wetting Agent Pumps 124, Water Valves 125, Blowers 126, Blower Relays 127, and Sensors 128. A Kill Switch 129 activates a monitoring computer to non-compliance of the hand wash process, recognising the individual involved and the time and location where non-compliance occurred.

Figure 5 shows graphically how a multi-national head office, based for example in Prague, 130 can be linked via satellite to track in real time the non-contact hand washing and drying behaviour of employees in hygiene sensitive locations which have the present invention installed, giving confidence to customers of the system in any country of the world 131 that hygiene control for restaurants, kitchens, hospitals and / or nursing homes is being strictly enforced to minimise the risk and spread of infection through cross contamination by the hands.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein. The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. Therefore, the description provided herein is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined by the following claims and the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

Claims

1 A method for tracking hand washing in which there is provided non-contact electronic hand wash and dryer systems incorporating RFID readers, preferably located in a hygiene critical environment to reduce cross contamination and minimise the spread of infection comprising a plurality of RFID readers attached to walls and ceilings; RFID readers linking up with remote tag receivers which are preferably attached to name badges affixed to individuals who need to use a hygiene critical environment, such RFID readers configured to monitor and track individuals' hand washing sequence every time a toilet is visited and allow or deny exit from the hygiene critical environment depending upon whether the individual has their washed hands. 2 A method for tracking hand washing in which there is provided a non-contact hand wash tracking system according to claim 1 preferably located in a hygiene critical environment, for example a toilet of a restaurant kitchen, comprising a plurality of combination hand wash and dryers incorporating a plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of remote tag receivers attached to, for example employee name badges affixed to individuals to monitor every visit, further RFID readers affixed adjacent to the entry and exit doors of the aforesaid hygiene critical environment which allow or deny access to adjacent food production areas depending upon whether the individual has washed their hands.

3 A method for tracking hand washing in which there is provided a non-contact hand wash tracking system according to claim 1 preferably located in a hygiene critical environment of a hospital ward, hospital operating theatre, nursing home and /or sensitive care area comprising a plurality of combination hand wash and dryers incorporating a plurality of RFID readers, a plurality of remote tag receivers attached to, for example employee name badges affixed to individuals, further RFID readers affixed adjacent to entry and exit doors of the aforesaid hygiene critical environments which allow or deny access to adjacent patient care areas depending upon whether the individual has washed their hands.

4 A method for tracking hand washing according to claim 1 in which there is provided an automatic lock-out incorporated into the location of a non-contact hand wash tracking system whereby should one individual fail to undertake hand washing given a plurality of non-contact hand wash and dry stations available, all the occupants in that location at that moment in time are automatically prevented from exiting, until the negligent individual has accomplished the essential protocol.

5 A method for tracking hand washing according to claim 1 whereby should an RFID reader post a warning indicator of 'access denied' or 'exit denied' to an individual full details are alerted immediately to a monitoring computer sited anywhere in the world.

6 A method for tracking hand washing according to claim 1 which is integrated into a hygiene critical environment of poultry farming to reduce the risk of spreading infection. 7 A method for tracking hand washing according to claim 1 which is integrated into any other hygiene critical environment to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

8 A method for tracking hand washing substantially described herein and / or in the accompanying figures.