New colleague won’t adhere to workplace policies

I work in a GP practice and there is no wiping down of surfaces nor has it ever been mentioned

Readymeals I dont think what MaggieTulliver has said is normal practice in all GO surgeries.

I had a late appointment recently and as I was waiting, the receptionist came around and wiped all the chairs down and the window and door handles. At a subsequent hospital appointment I was met at the door by two nurses offering me a hospital mask (you can't wear your own) and hand sanitizer. As soon as I got up from my chair in the waiting room, someone came and wiped it down.
So yes, they are taking it seriously here at least.

Ask for some more notices to be displayed prominently in the washroom, OP.

CleoPanda, I am sorry you are so distressed but it is important that people are doing things that are necessary rather than going overboard because then people do get complacent. Washing hands is a must because even without the virus, other germs spread. Wiping everything down is not necessary because the science says that it is highly unlikely that Covid is transmitted this way. We used to worry about HIV in the same way and those infected were treated like lepers with everything they had touched treated with great suspicion. We don't want to go back to that situation so nobody who believes the science should be scorned.

MaggieTulliver that’s appalling, all GP practices should be following the Government NHS guidance which is very clear about the infection control requirements.

I take personal responsibility for myself. Always carry hand gel and antibacterial wipes...

CleoPanda
As I'm probably one of the posters your referring to I can tell you that I'm as certain that I can be that I had the virus ( together with several other people in my area) last December.
I lost my sense of taste and smell then and still don't have any.
As far as safety is concerned I don't rely on anyone to keep me safe in all walks of life: that's my responsibility.

I totally understand you Mamma66. I would be cross if I had a colleague like this. It was always easy to recognise which of my fellow workers were not washing hands after using the loo by the lack of noise from the hand drier and the speed with which they vacated the cloakroom following the ‘flush’. I don’t think you are being petty.
Perhaps the suggestion made by jaylucy is the best way forward. Good luck.

I would assume no-one is doing it and wipe everything before I start. Saves any annoyance on your part.

Unless you have actually been in the toilet at the same time as her and witnessed her not washing her hands or wiping down I don't think you have a right to accuse her. However, if you have, then you should speak to her directly, in a nice way, rather than talk behind her back or report her to superiors.

Irritating when you think people aren’t following basic hygiene rules in any circumstances. I always have a small sealed plastic bag in my pocket or handbag with a few antibacterial wipes in and if I’m using any toilets outside of the house I always clean before I use and make sure I use antibacterial gel when I’m outside again - having washed my hands of course. I feel quite safe doing that. You never know who has been there before you and what they have or don’t have.

Drop it into the conversation about how much of a nuisance it is to have to wash your hands, etc but how surprised you were on how quickly it became the norm - then ask her which tune she uses for the 20 second handwash.
Personally, even though you might think that everyone else is following protocol, you can't guarantee that they are every time so I'd do the wiping down before and after regardless along with the handwashing.

the complacency and derision from people who don’t care.

That's neither true nor fair, judging from the comments made so far CleoPanda. We all have a responsibility to take the greatest of care with hygiene; washing hands frequently, making sure that we wear masks where appropriate etc. But unless OP is following this lady into the toilet and actually standing and watching what she does, how can she possibly know that she isn't washing her hands or wiping down surfaces? And for another poster to suggest that she possibly doesn't wear a face mask when out and about either, is just ridiculous unless she's being followed home! The only way to make sure that you're hygiene safe is to take individual responsibility as far as is possible.

I have read somewhere that the 'virus on surfaces' issue is now thought to be less of an issue with the main transmission being airborne as droplets. Personally I don't worry about what I touch in a wc as long as I thoroughly wash my hands before leaving. That and regular use of hand gel seems to be adequate precaution in my view. Obviously if this colleague is not washing her hands I'd be less worried about the surfaces in the wc than all the things that they touch elsewhere in the building / documents they hand to you etc.
Until I retired recently I worked in a secondary school. We had all sorts of protocols in place but mostly everything was underpinned by members of cleaning staff who constantly wiped down surfaces, handrails and door handles etc. I noticed some staff doing far more cleaning than I did - I'm aware I often forgot things like wiping a keyboard after use especially when I was in a hurry to get to a lesson. One colleague thoroughly cleaned everything before and after use and wouldn't let the students wipe down their desks at the end of a lesson but insisted on doing it all himself. We are all responsible for our own and others' safety but if we don't trust others completely we should take those extra precautions on their behalf.
Yesterday I was in school again working as an exam invigilator, which included supervising toilet breaks. When each student emerged I asked if they had washed their hands, despite hating asking, then squirted them with hand gel anyway in case they had lied!

MaggieTulliver

Beyond petty OP. I work in a GP practice and there is no wiping down of surfaces nor has it ever been mentioned. I despair at what Covid is doing to people....

omg.... Seems I was right to decide not to see my GP until the pandemic is over. And doctors wonder why patients are putting off consulting them?

When using a public toilet there are no facilities to wipe down surfaces or people employed to do so after each use. Washing hands is the most important part of a toilet visit. You should concentrate on that. Do what Gordon Ramsay did or perhaps still does and have a washbasin installed outside the toilet so people can be seen washing hands - he even had a camera so he could check on hand hygiene.

Well a bit of common sense needed here, you use the wipes when you go in
to use toilet, and your nit picking on the new lady

Unless you are her line manager, I would pass on your concerns for the line manager to deal with. Being new you need to give your colleague the benefit of doubt but equally I do get your worries.

So the message is that being ultra careful and hygienic during a pandemic is not necessary?
It’s clear which posters haven’t had Covid, or lost someone dear through it.
Believe me, if you had experienced this dreadful virus, you would not be mocking the OP for being concerned.
As for not bothering about wiping down surfaces or washing hands , I despair.
I’m sitting here crying now as i’’m overwhelmed by the complacency and derision from people who don’t care.

this is why the country is in such a mess with all these lockdowns as a small minority could not care less about other people its time these people get a grip of the situation once and for all for the safety of all wake-up and do the right thing

The simplest solution will work - have you asked her, directly, rather than sniping with the rest of you, behind her back? Do you go to the loo immediately after she does, and smell the sing, to see if the scent of antiseptic is still lingering, before it has the time to dissipate, and that the soap is still 'wettish'? Or, must she come out with wet hands, which she then wipes on the seat of her jeans, to show that she has washed her hands? If she has Covid-19, you will not not get it because she does not wipe down the loo seat and the sink, believe me.

Even on a hospital visit last week. I used the toilet and was able to wash my hands, but nothing there to wipe down surfaces. No idea how often someone goes in to clean it, I was just very careful!

She's acting in a risky way, careless with regards to her colleagues safety.
She's dangerous. Just as dangerous as a health and safety breach in normal times. She's undermining the Covid safe requirements of the workplace. Has her immediate manager/supervisor spoken to her about it.? Is she aware? There must be a disciplinary procedure in place if she continues to ignore health and safety like this.

MaggieTulliver

Perhaps you should report her to the police

????

If these suspected transgressions are referred to contradicts the companies additional Covid-19 H&S instructions then the OP need only report the matter to whoever is responsible for safety in the department/office/company.

The company then has a legal obligation to investigate the issue and also keep the name of the whistleblower anonymous. No other action need be taken by the OP.

Jennifer
The OP has posted before on GN so I'm assuming it's genuine, sad to say.
It's a pity it's against the law to have a camera in the toilets ( insert sarcastic emoji)

I agree with the last few comments.
Is this one of ‘those’ threads though I wonder?