Restroom Doors

Restroom doors in food establishments should be designed so that after one has washed their hands, exit is possible without touching a surface.

Public Health Significance

• Food borne illnesses, colds, flus, Norwalk viruses and other infections can be transmitted by contact with a contaminated surface such as a door handle. Some organisms such as Norwalk virus are capable of surviving on surfaces for an extended period of time.
• A 2005 observational study commissioned by the American Society of Microbiology and Soap and Detergent Association found 17% of American adults do not wash their hands in public rest rooms.
• Observations by FDA personnel at more than 900 food operations in 2003 showed failures to comply with handwashing guidelines in 73% of full service restaurants and 34% of hospitals. In the personnel hygiene catagory, inadequate handwashing was the most common specific problem in all nine types of facilities where observations were made.
• According to Kimberly-Clark over 55% of the people surveyed feared door handles in public restrooms.

Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...

changing section 6-402.11 of the Food Code to add:

Toilet room doors must either open outward or otherwise provide some means of exit without having to touch a surface with the bare hands.

Attachments

None

Submitter Information