Imagine a bustling Cape Town restaurant filled with tourists, a Sandon office with handshakes sealed, or a kindergarten in Durban where Tots play and touch everything in sight. What do they have in common? Each faces an invisible threat – bacteria, viruses, and pollutants that thrive in common spaces.
Disinfection has always been important, but we cannot negotiate in 2025. As South Africa is consistent with global health standards, businesses need to implement strict hygiene protocols to protect their employees, customers and communities. Proper disinfection is more than compliance, as antibiotic-resistant bacteria increases and the permanent effects of Covid-19. It's about responsibility.
According to Jeffrey Madkins, Marketing Manager at Unilever Professional, South African businesses are under pressure to support the standards of top cleanliness. “The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OHSA) and food, cosmetics and disinfectants take a clear responsibility to businesses to ensure a safe and hygienic environment,” he says. “But many businesses still lack unconsciously.”
Madkins shares all organizations with six key sanitation strategies, whether hospitality, retail, education or business.
1. Frequent disinfection of high-touch surfaces
The warm climate of South Africa promotes bacterial growth and surface disinfection is essential. Door handles, lift buttons and card machines are everyday hot spots for bacteria. Looking beautiful doesn't mean sterility. Therefore, strict disinfection schedules using SABS-approved cleaners like the handy Andy and Domesto are key to reducing cross-contamination.
2. Disinfecting equipment before reuse
Whether it's a kitchen slicer in Johannesburgdeli or a workstation in a Durban Call Center, shared equipment is one of the most overlooked risks of contamination. Companies need to implement structured disinfection to ensure proper disinfection before reusing. This is especially important in the food industry where HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) guidelines delegate strict cleaning protocols.
3. Normal (HVAC) System Maintenance
Bad maintenance heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be breeding grounds for mold, bacteria, and airborne viruses. Insufficient air quality is a quiet contributor to workplace respiratory diseases, and regular service of air filtration systems is essential to prevent contaminant circulation.
4. Safe food handling and storage practices
Food-borne illnesses are a major public health concern in South Africa, with listeriosis and the outbreak of salmonella being headlined in recent years. Cold chain management is extremely important, and restaurants and retailers need to store their meals at safe temperatures and prevent contamination according to health regulations. Proper stock rotation, labeled expiration dates, and temperature controlled storage must be standard practices.
5. Scheduled waste disposal to prevent contamination
Improper waste disposal can have devastating effects, from attracting pests to spreading diseases. Organizations must go beyond basic waste management by implementing sorted recycling and hazardous waste disposal practices. They should integrate waste disposal into their sanitization plans, including regular collection, proper isolation, and using the correct cleaning solutions to prevent bacterial accumulation in the waste area.
6. Implementing strict staff hygiene protocols
Hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent illness. Currently, South Africa's regulations require stricter compliance with workplace hygiene policies, particularly in food handling and healthcare settings. Employers must ensure that staff are trained with proper hand washing techniques and ensure that sanitization stations are available in high traffic areas. Failure to implement these standards can lead to fines, reputational damage and violations of the Health Act.
In a world shaped by the health crisis, sanitization is no longer about compliance. It is a brand differentiator. Customers choose businesses that prioritize hygiene, employees are more productive with clean workspaces, and schools see better attendance when hygiene measures are enforced.
“The pandemic has forever changed how people view cleanliness,” Madkins says. “Organisations that prioritize disinfection in 2025 don't just protect public health. They protect their future. And in an economy where trust is everything, clean businesses are successful,” he concludes.
For more information about how Unilever Professional can support your cleaning needs, visit https://www.unileverprofessional.co.za/.
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