Handles are a common source of germs in workplaces. Whether attached to a door, gate, machine or any object, workers must touch them. Pull handles, for instance, require a manual pulling force. As workers continue to pull them, they’ll accumulate germs. Fortunately, there are antimicrobial pull handles available to neutralize germs.
What Are Antimicrobial Pull Handles?
Antimicrobial pull handles are manually operated handles that are characterized by the use of an inorganic antimicrobial compound. They look like most other pull handles. Antimicrobial pull handles feature a bar that you can grip and pull to swing open the object to which it’s attached. Only antimicrobial pull handles, however, feature an antimicrobial compound.
The purpose of the antimicrobial compound is to inhibit germs from spreading. Germs can consist of bacteria and molds. When left unchecked, they can accumulate on surfaces. Antimicrobial compounds are designed to neutralize germs such as these so that they are able to spread.
How Antimicrobial Pull Handles Neutralize Germs
While they all feature an inorganic antimicrobial compound, there are different types of antimicrobial pull handles. Most of them use ionic silver to neutralize germs.
Pull handles that use ionic silver feature an antimicrobial compound consisting of three parts: silver ions, silver zeolite and an ion exchange. The silver zeolite will release the silver ions to neutralize germs. As environmental moisture increases, so will the amount of silver ions released.
Silver ions are designed to neutralize many different types of bacteria and molds. It’s believed that germs ingest silver ions. And upon doing so, the silver ions destroy their cells from the inside. Silver has also been shown to interrupt the replication process of certain germs. With their ability to interfere with RNA replication, silver ions can stop these germs from multiplying and spreading.
Applications for Antimicrobial Pull Handles
Antimicrobial pull handles are commonly used in the healthcare industry. Hospitals, doctors’ offices and other healthcare facilities often feature them. Germs, of course, are common in healthcare facilities. As patients seek medical care, they may unknowingly spread their illness to other patients, guests and even workers.
Rather than traditional pull handles, many healthcare facilities are equipped with antimicrobial pull handles. Antimicrobial pull handles should still be sanitized using a cleaning product. With their inorganic antimicrobial compound, though, they offer a higher level of protection against germs. The silver ions in the antimicrobial compound will neutralize germs to lower the risk of transmission.