ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A Japanese embargo on washroom air dryers - put in place by a powerful business lobby early in the pandemic - has been lifted following the results of new research.

A decision to restrict the use of hand dryers was made in May 2020 by the Japan Business Federation, operating under the name Keidanren. The move to ban dryers followed discussions with a panel of medical experts amid transmission fears during the global pandemic.

Dryers in the washrooms of all offices and production sites in Keidanren's 1,400 member companies were unplugged or taped over, with warnings displayed regarding their use.

But after carrying out multiple experiments and simulations, Keidanren has now concluded that the risk of infection from water droplets and microdroplets in the air after handwashing is "extremely low" even when hand dryers are in use.

"We have confirmed that hand dryers do not spread infections," said a Keidanren official. "We need to take steps based on evidence rather than accepting certain views without questioning."

The change to the guidance on air dryers applies to offices and factories but could be extended to cover other industries as well such as restaurants in which Keidanren's guidelines are used as a reference. However, the lobby group is calling for all hand dryers to be disinfected with alcohol and kept clean.

The World Health Organisation advises people to wash their hands with soap and water and dry them with paper towels or a warm air dryer to help prevent COVID-19 transmission.