The Hidden Cost of Poor Hand Hygiene in Fleet Operations

Many fleet businesses invest in PPE and vehicle safety measures yet overlook one of the biggest health risks: the lack of proper handwashing facilities for mobile workers. The irony? HSE decision-makers often have cleaner hands than the workers actually exposed to dirt, bacteria, and contaminants.

For many fleet managers, cost and complexity have been the biggest barriers to providing proper hand hygiene. Less than 4% use heated handwash units, while nearly 90% rely on industrial wipes. However, WHO, CDC, and NHS guidelines recommend washing hands with water and soap—rather than wipes—when hands are visibly dirty or have been in contact with bodily fluids.

Scientific research also backs the importance of hand hygiene. A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that increasing access to hand hygiene can reduce infectious diseases by up to 21-31%.

ShoulderSink offers a smarter alternative—an all-in-one hand hygiene station that provides water, soap, paper, sanitiser, and a bin in a compact, easy-to-install unit. Unlike heated systems, it is fully mechanical, reliable in all weather conditions, and designed to eliminate cross-contamination risks.

Cold Weather Use

While ShoulderSink can freeze in extreme temperatures, this is only a problem for a few days a year. It is easily portable, can be brought inside overnight, and can stay functional throughout the day by filling it with boiling water in the morning.

At the Health & Safety Event, visit our stand to see ShoulderSink in action and learn how it helps reduce sick days, improve compliance, and create safer working conditions for fleet-based businesses—all without the cost and maintenance headaches of heated handwash units.