Duplicity Of Standards

So much rhetoric and concerned hand-wringing is made of hygiene (especially in hospitals) that it shows misunderstanding and ignorance or just essentially an apathetic attitude. Confusion demonstrates that those with the knowledge of cleanliness control are either not directly involved or totally ignored. It appears that administrators take influence priority over professional medical (nursing) staff. A large part of the problem is education and another is the control of movement within a building. The lack of security is a closely associated factor and vulnerable and sick people are very exposed.

Three related areas can be considered together:

• Swimming pools
• Hospitals
• Health and safety

The concept of hygiene ignorance is clearly seen at public swimming pools. There is no consistent standard of hygiene control and management of different pool centres have a range of standards. This promotes anarchism. There is a major difference between Europe and the UQ (aka UK) Ltd and that is simply basic concepts such as swimming costumes that do not have pockets and harbour germs, bathing caps for anyone with hair (male and female). The total ignorance of hygiene is demonstrated by men standing bare-foot at a urinal then walking directly to the pool area without any personal cleansing of, minimally, feet.

Much is made of MRSA and other fatal infectious problems in the UQ (aka UK) Ltd hospitals and the difference between clean and well-managed foreign establishments. The clues to the solution are here. Basic concepts of hygiene control. Not difficult.

Handling cash money (coins or notes) has always been a serious issue. The contents of pockets, handbags... cannot be known or what may have been transferred from earlier use. This is especially important when handling food. Or it should be. The results of the sampling of tables in food outlets are notorious. Faecal matter from unwashed hands, presumably.

The impact of Health and Safety legislation in many cases is very sensible, yet publicity is always given (mostly by the press and TV-news sensationalism) to its exploitation. The screams of red-tape and bureaucracy are predictable and it just about wrecks any attempts for safety-awareness at the outset as if safety concerns are peculiar and constitute a bad concept. It is another example of undermining positive efforts and to destabilise society.

• A simple example would be disallowing painting wooden ladders. It should be obvious that paint can cover over serious defects within the structural integrity of a potentially dangerous ladder and its replacement is essential to ensure the safety for the user.