MENOMONEE FALLS, Wisconsin,
July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- According to a national survey, nearly 70 percent of
Emiratis who have experienced unpleasant public toilet conditions
report leaving the business without completing their intended
business, will think twice about returning or will never return.
Magnifying the problem, more than 60 percent of respondents say
they told someone else, posted a comment on social media or
complained to management. Such findings indicate undesirable toilet
experiences prove costly for business.
The survey also found that unpleasant toilet conditions may be a
prevalent issue for a number of business owners, as more than
two-thirds of Emiratis have had a particularly unpleasant
experience in a public toilet due to the condition of the
facilities. Water on the floor, a bad smell and an old, dirty or
unkempt appearance top the list of problems experienced in UAE
toilets.
The results are part of the second annual Healthy Hand Washing
Survey conducted in the UAE by Bradley Corporation, a leading
manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories,
partition cubicles, emergency fixtures and solid plastic lockers.
In 2014 and 2015, the online survey was fielded in early May.
When asked what they would most like to see improved with public
toilets, cleanliness is the most mentioned improvement, while
having to walk across a wet floor is named as the action that makes
the majority of public toilet users extremely or very
frustrated.
"Our survey underscores the fact that objectionable restroom
experiences create damaging and lasting impressions that make it
hard for businesses to recover in the minds of consumers," says
Jon Dommisse, director of global
marketing and strategic development for Bradley Corporation.
"Regular cleaning and stocking, offering easy-to-use touch-free
fixtures, and creating a welcoming environment can help ensure
users have a good experience."
Going to Great Lengths to Avoid Germs
The quest for cleaner public toilet environments may explain why
respondents rank toilet entrance door handles, cubicle door handles
and sinks as the top three surfaces they dislike touching. In fact,
the majority of Emiratis employ a variety of techniques to avoid
germs in a public toilet. 67 percent use a paper towel so they
don't have to touch the door handle, toilet flusher or faucet
handle. Others open and close toilet doors with their hip while
some operate cubicle latches with their elbow.
Germ avoidance also carries over into the workplace. 82 percent
of respondents say they consciously take steps to limit exposure to
a sick colleague's germs by using a few different strategies. They
avoid the sick colleague, abstain from shaking that person's hand
and wash their own hands more frequently.
Coming into contact with germs in certain types of facilities
also weighs on the mind of Emiratis. Restaurants, health care
facilities and malls or shopping areas are the places they are most
concerned about somebody not washing their hands.
The Healthy Hand Washing Survey queried 571 adults May 7-18, 2015 about their hand washing habits in
public toilets. Participants were from around the UAE, 18-plus
years of age, and were split between men (48 percent) and women (52
percent).
For more than 90 years, Bradley Corporation has designed and
manufactured public facility hand washing and sanitaryware, and
today is the industry's comprehensive source for plumbing fixtures,
washroom accessories, toilet cubicles, emergency fixtures and solid
plastic lockers. Headquartered in Wisconsin/USA, Bradley serves the
airport/transportation, industrial, health care, recreation,
religious facility, stadium, education, and corrections markets
worldwide. For more information, contact Bradley: +1414- 530-0844;
Fax: +1262- 251-5817; www.bradleycorp.com.