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Americans Encountering More Unkempt Restrooms, Triggering Negative Perceptions of Businesses

Milwaukee, Wis. — The “ick factor” in public restrooms appears to be growing, according to a survey that tracks Americans’ attitudes toward restroom facilities. Almost 70% report they’ve had a particularly unpleasant experience in a public restroom due to the condition of the facilities—a nearly 20% increase since 2012.

That’s bad news for businesses since Americans say they judge establishments based on the state of their restrooms. According to the 2016 Healthy Hand Washing Survey conducted by Bradley Corporation, most consumers believe a bad restroom indicates poor management, lowers their opinion of the company, shows the business doesn’t care about customers, and makes them think the company is lazy or sloppy.

“The vast majority—91%—told us that a business with high quality products or services should have high quality restrooms,” says Jon Dommisse, director of global marketing and strategic development at Bradley Corp. “Likewise, in the workplace, 88 percent of workers think the condition of restrooms is one indicator of how a company values its workforce. Yet, only half rate their workplace restrooms as excellent or very good compared to 62% one year ago.

Bradley, a manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories, restroom partitions, emergency fixtures and solid plastic lockers for 95 years, also delved into what factors makes restrooms so unappealing. Chief restroom grievances include toilets that are clogged or not flushed; a really bad smell; an overall appearance that’s dirty, unkempt or old; and partition doors that don’t latch closed.

Key restroom improvements Americans would most like to see include improved cleanliness, a completely touchless experience, better stocking of restroom supplies, and a never-ending supply of paper towels—even if there are dryers.

As for restroom improvements they’ve seen over the past two to three years in specific types of facilities, respondents gave the highest marks to medical buildings, airports, restaurants and higher education facilities. At the other end of the spectrum, restrooms in convenience stores, gas stations and truck stops deteriorated the most.

Americans make no secret about their disdain for coming into contact with germs in public restrooms. Restroom entrance door handles, stall handles and faucet handles are the surfaces that make them the most squeamish. Almost 60% of respondents say they operate the toilet flusher with their foot to avoid germs. More than half use a paper towel to cover the door handle while others use their butt to open and close doors.

When it comes to concerns about other people not washing their hands, restaurants and health care facilities are the two types of establishments that give Americans the most anxiety.

“It pays off for businesses to provide clean, stocked, easy to use washroom facilities with touch-free fixtures to ensure the user has a positive experience,” Dommisse said. “In our eighth year of doing this national survey, it remains clear that the condition and cleanliness of the public restroom are always in the spotlight, and affect customer, employee and stakeholder perceptions.”

The Healthy Hand Washing Survey queried 1,062 American adults online Dec. 10-13, 2015 about their hand washing habits in public restrooms and concerns about germs, colds and the flu. Participants were from around the country, were 18 years and older, and were fairly evenly split between men and women (47 and 53%).

NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison is no stranger to life in the fast lane. By the end of his racing career, Allison had accumulated 84 credited victories. This includes winning the Winston Cup and the Daytona 500 not once, but three times.

At 78 years old, Allison lives a little slower paced life in Statesville, North Carolina. Now retired, he spends his time around home when he’s not helping his grandson Robbie launch his race career. With the added time at home, Allison has time to enjoy amenities around the house, many of the same amenities that are important to non-racing legends, including plenty of hot water. When his water heater began to fail in June 2015, he wasted little time finding a new solution.

 
Heading up the replacement of Allison’s old water heater was Robbie Clark of North Meck Plumbing of nearby Huntersville, North Carolina. Clark, a veteran of the industry, has sustained his career of 31 years by abiding by one simple but often overlooked rule: provide top-notch customer service.

“We depend on lasting relationships,” Clark explained. “That’s why we work tirelessly to provide our customers with high quality, reasonably priced solutions.”

The solution to Allison’s hot water replacement was a State 50-gallon Premier® Hybrid Electric Heat Pump water heater. Having installed three to four State units a week for the last 30 years, Clark was confident that this unit would effectively service Allison’s 3,000 sq. ft. residence, which includes two-and-a-half baths, a kitchen, and a laundry room.

“I’ve tried nearly every State product, and regardless of the type of model you prefer I find them to be superior to everything else on the market,” said Clark. “From manufacturing to support services State has made customer satisfaction a top priority, and that’s something that results in loyal buyers.”

As an ENERGY STAR® qualified product, the 50-gallon Premier Hybrid Electric Heat Pump is one of the most energy-efficient water heaters on the market. With an energy factor of

2.75, homeowners can save an average of $392 per year compared to standard electric models.  In addition to the savings delivered by utilizing heat pump technology, this unit features premium features such as a user-friendly display, vacation mode, and a heavy-duty anode that protects the tank for up to 10 years.

A typical day of hot water usage in the Allison household includes showers, laundry, dish washing and more. The new State unit has no problem providing plenty of hot water for the Allison home. While daily showers, quick runs of the dishwasher and a few loads of laundry a couple times a week are the norm, Allison finds comfort in knowing that his water heater can handle times of high demand.

“I’ve worked hard, both personally and professionally, to see to it that things were done correctly. And choosing a State water heater is further evidence of that,” said Allison. “It’s just a good piece of equipment that will do the job and do the job right.”

In Memory of Judy Allison — November 7, 1941–December 18, 2015

According to the National Equipment Register, construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year.¹ Professional contractors rely on their tools to get the job done, and without the necessary equipment, it can cost companies significant time and money.

“Simple security measures and practices can help keep jobsites protected,” said Mike Bykowski, Senior Product Manager at KNAACK^®, LLC. “After hours, construction sites can become an easy target for theft and vandalism, but there are measures that professionals can take to ensure expensive tools and equipment are kept safe.”

According to the Great American Insurance Group, “an estimated 90% of equipment thefts take place between 6 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Monday.”² There are many ways that tools and material goods can be kept safe, from extra lighting around the jobsite to storing tools in a locked storage box.

Safety Tips to Guard Against Theft

One of the most secure measures a company can take includes keeping tools and equipment in a safe and secure location, like a jobsite storage box. Additional tips include:

• Signage: One of the number one and lowest-cost deterrents is adding a simple sign. Consider adding a sign that reads, “24 Hour Video Surveillance”. Another sign offering rewards to those who turn in thieves or provide valuable information on crimes is also a helpful deterrent.
• Security Lighting: Motion-censored lights or extra lighting can deter crime. Darkness often invites crime so the more light, the better the protection.
• Barrier protection: Adding some type of barrier protection, like a fence or guardrail, makes it tougher for thieves to get in and take supplies out. Look for ways to keep the important items properly secured and protected with barriers.
• Controlled access to the jobsite: Having just one entry point in and out of the jobsite will cut down on crime. Geo-Fencing, a virtual barrier using GPS to track behaviors using mobile phones, has proved helpful for both crime prevention and inventory.
• Documentation: Always photograph, document and record the serial numbers for equipment, tools and material goods for insurance purposes in the event that something is stolen. This will be extremely handy if a company or individual wants to claim any stolen items with an insurance company.
• Jobsite Box Protection: Tools and equipment should be kept in a safe and secure location. With the extra security of a jobsite box, like the KNAACK^® 4830-D, criminals do not stand a chance of getting to the most valuable tools on a construction site. The KNAACK^® 4830-D is both weather and theft resistant and features an integrated, three-point locking system and secondary locking drawer.

While these tips will not guarantee important items are always safe, it will strongly deter theft and vandalism. Construction jobsite crime can not only cause financial hardship, but also delay production schedules. If a jobsite does fall victim to theft, having a contingency plan in place can make replacing stolen tools much easier. Both local police numbers and jobsite owner name and number should be on file and accessible to all on the jobsite. In addition, always ensure equipment and tools have the proper warranties and have been registered with the manufacturer.

In support of the International Code Council’s (ICC) Building Safety Month in May and the National Safety Council’s (NSC) National Safety Month in June, KNAACK^® will be kicking off a new campaign entitled Can’t Crack A KNAACK^®. The goal is to promote awareness of jobsite security and the value of protecting tools and equipment. KNAACK^® will be hosting contests on their Facebook page to feature customers and fans who #ShowUsYourScars. KNAACK^® boxes are recognized for their security and durability and users are encouraged to share their stories of how their storage boxes survived damage from attempted theft, automobile accidents or weather. Visit www.facebook.com/knaackstorage to share photos and stories for a chance to win cool KNAACK^® prizes.

ABOUT KNAACK^®

KNAACK^®, a WernerCo brand, is the industry leader of jobsite storage equipment, including storage chests, field stations, rolling work benches and hand tool boxes. KNAACK products are designed and built to the highest standard. Well beyond traditional tool storage and security, KNAACK innovation takes jobsite protection to the next level. KNAACK products are manufactured in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For more information, visit www.knaack.com.

FEBCO’s MasterSeries backflow prevention assemblies provide lead free certification to NSF 61G standards, with redesigned check and relief valves delivering superior performance and reduced pressure loss.

The recently redesigned product line utilizes investment-casted stainless steel internal components for extended valve life and reduced maintenance. Compact N-pattern models are available for installation in tight quarters.

Applications for the MasterSeries assemblies include fire suppression systems, potable water supplies, and agricultural and municipal irrigation.

For more information visit www.FebcoOnline.com.