Hand Hygiene Policy
Please note this is a guide to a policy and procedure. It is not meant to be directly copied and it is
highly recommended that all members develop documents specific to their service and needs. This is
not an exhaustive list and there may be other essentials required.
Sample Policy Statement
Named service ________aims to keep children happy and healthy by supporting the children to
understand the importance of hand washing. This policy is underpinned by the Childcare (Pre-school
Services) Regulations 2016.
Good hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing transmission of Infection, and staff will
support children in using the proper technique for hand washing (see below).
Sample Procedure:
 Hand washing facilities are available in each childcare room, toilets, nappy changing areas,
food preparation areas and cleaning areas.
 Children can avail of the hand washing facilities when they need and they will be encouraged
and supported to practice this new skill. (see hand washing poster)
 The water available will be no hotter than 43 degrees with cold water, liquid soap and paper
towels supplied too.

Staff will encourage children to wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating any
food and after playing outside.
 Guidelines on handwashing are displayed in the Service. These guidelines incorporate visual
images that are appropriate for staff and children (see posters below).
Staff must wash their hands before the following:



The start of the work shift
Eating, handling/preparing food or assisting/feeding a child;
Preparing meals, snacks and drinks (including infants’ bottles).
Staff must complete hand washing after the following:


Using the toilet or helping a child to use the toilet;
Nappy changing/handling potties;

Playing, or handling items, in the playground – e.g. toys, sand, water;

Handling secretions e.g. from a child’s nose or mouth, from sores or cuts, blood or body
fluids (faeces, vomit, spit, nappies, pads, pus and urine);

Handling or dealing with waste or rubbish;

Handling of raw meat;

The removal of disposable gloves and/or aprons;

Handling pets/pet litter, animals/cages/animal soil, etc.;

Cleaning the Service;

Washing/handling of soiled clothes;

Coughing or sneezing;

When hands are dirty.
Remember:
o Hands are washed with warm water and liquid soap.
o Cuts are covered with water proof plasters.
o A hand cream is used to protect staff skin.
o Nails of staff are clean and short.
o Alcohol hand rubs are useful, but they will not kill germs that cause diarrhoea.
o Always cover cuts with water proof plasters.
o Use a good hand cream to protect staff skin.
o Do not wear jewellery on hands, a plain wedding band is acceptable.
o Nail polish is not acceptable.
o Nails should be kept clean and short.
o Liquid soap dispensers are utilised within the Service.
o Dry hands properly with paper towels.
Handwashing should be performed as follows:
• Wet hands under warm running water to wrist level
• Apply liquid soap. Lather it evenly covering all areas of the hands for at least 10 seconds. Include
the thumbs, finger tips, palms and in between the fingers, rubbing backwards and forwards at every
stroke (see posters below)
• Rinse hands off thoroughly under warm running water
• Dry with paper towel using a patting motion to reduce friction, taking special care between the
fingers
• Use the disposable paper towel that has been used to dry the hands to turn off taps
• Dispose of the disposable paper towel in a waste bin using the foot pedal to avoid contaminating
hands that have just been washed
This policy was agreed and adopted by _______________________(name of the childcare service).
Date:__________________________________ Signed by:___________________________ on
behalf of management This policy will be reviewed on (insert date)__________________________ in
collaboration with staff and parents.
Useful Resources
The following posters are available to download:
The correct handwashing technique:
http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandWash_Poster.pdf?ua=1
Alcohol hand rub technique:
http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf?ua=1
Handwashing poster for children: Be a germ buster!
https://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/LifeStages/SchoolHealth/MIDSchapters/File,14323,en.pdf
The following checklist is from the ‘Management of Infectious Disease in Childcare
Facilities and Other Childcare Settings’ Appendices: https://www.hpsc.ie/A-
Z/LifeStages/SchoolHealth/File,13445,en.pdf
Examples of Songs that can be used when washing hands
The following are a few examples of hand washing songs. Choose a song that you enjoy, teach it to
the children, and practice singing it while they wash their hands. The songs listed below should take
approximately 20 seconds to sing through twice.
Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands
(Sing to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
Wash, wash, wash your hands,
Play our handy game.
Rub and scrub and scrub and rub
Germs go down the drain.
(repeat)
Good and Clean
(Sing to the tune of "Happy Birthday")
Wash my hands so good and clean
Wash my fingers and in between
Watch the germs all go away
Now they're clean, I'll go and play
(repeat)
This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands
(Sing to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush")
This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands, every single day.
This is the way we scrub our fingers, scrub our fingers, scrub our fingers,
This is the way we scrub our fingers, every single day.
This is the way we rinse our hands, rinse our hands, rinse our hands,
This is the way we rinse our hands, rinse those germs away!