It is a little known fact that there is an estemic problem with the design of public bathrooms. Floors get wet and dirty, people don't wash their hands properly and you dirty your hands just exiting the room. This all needs to change and can be easily fixed . Just people need to become aware of the problem. Below I will list what I believe to be the worst offenders in the designs of bathrooms in Australia and how these can/ should be fixed.
1. Soap dispensers not over basin
Soap dispensers being located away from a basin means that messy bathroom users leave soap smears on the benches. This is compounded when there is a low basin/ soap dispenser ratio and people wet their hands before reaching to get the soap. Wet basins are a breeding ground for germs and often this soapy water splashes off the basin onto the floor. Dirt from people's shoes then mix with this sudsy liquid and creates a muddy sludge on the floor which is not only slippery but yet another job for bathroom cleaners. This problem can be fixed by doing the following:
a. placing soap dispensers over basins
b. improving soap dispenser/ basin ratio
a. placing soap dispensers over basins
b. improving soap dispenser/ basin ratio
2. Dryer not above/ next to basin/ over floor
Dryers not being located above/ next to the basin is a pet hate of mine. The reason for this is that after washing your hands, nine times out of ten you will need to walk from the basin, hands dripping, to a dryer. Then at the dryer hot air blows the remaining water on your hands straight onto the floor creating a drip trail and puddle to follow. As mentioned above this then mixes with dirt from peoples shoes creating dirty bathrooms and a safety hazard. The most irritating part of this is that it is so simple to fix this problem with one of the following options
a. Place hand dryer above basin so water blows right down the drain.
b. Place hand dryer closer to basin and provide a drip tray below the dryer to catch excess water.
a. Place hand dryer above basin so water blows right down the drain.
b. Place hand dryer closer to basin and provide a drip tray below the dryer to catch excess water.
3. Push enter/ pull exit bathroom doors
In the male bathroom it is surprising how many men either do not wash their hands or only rinse their hands under water before leaving the bathroom. This problem calls into question the sanitation of door handles after these men have used the bathroom. This means after washing your hands, you may be re-contaminating them by touching the handle on the pull door. This simple design flaw can easily be fixed by changing the design of the entrance
a. Where possible change doors from push entry to pull entry
b. Place bathroom entrance in the middle of the wall and use a barrier to obstruct vision of the bathroom.
c. Place basins near door and toilets out of view.
d. Use a curtain in place of a door.
a. Where possible change doors from push entry to pull entry
b. Place bathroom entrance in the middle of the wall and use a barrier to obstruct vision of the bathroom.
c. Place basins near door and toilets out of view.
d. Use a curtain in place of a door.