The Hygiene Case for Flat-surfaced Locks in Healthcare Environments

Infection control is one of the highest priorities in healthcare environments. Estates managers, clinical leads, and product manufacturers are under constant pressure to deliver facilities that support cleanliness and patient safety.

Yet one of the most overlooked contributors to infection risk is the humble lock.

From IPS panels to furniture cupboards and access hatches, locks are touched multiple times a day by staff but rarely considered in infection control strategies. Traditional recessed locks create dirt traps that harbour bacteria and make thorough cleaning almost impossible. In contrast, flat-surfaced cam locks are designed to support modern hygiene standards, making them an essential upgrade for today’s healthcare estates.

The Hidden Hygiene Risks of Traditional Locks

Legacy lock designs (such as pin hex, crown, or square head) were not created with infection control in mind. Their recessed faces, deep grooves, and exposed ridges create surfaces where dirt and bacteria can accumulate unnoticed.

These flaws lead to several risks:

• Inconsistent cleaning: Recessed keyways are difficult to disinfect effectively, meaning they are often overlooked.
• Infection control gaps: Dirt build-up undermines cleaning regimes and risks spreading pathogens.
• Visual clutter: Bulky lock designs can appear institutional and out of step with modern healthcare design.

In environments where every surface must be easily wipe-clean, traditional locks represent a hidden weak point.

Why Flat-surfaced Locks are Different

Flat-surfaced cam locks are engineered to eliminate these hygiene pitfalls. Their smooth, flush faces remove ridges and recesses, making them easy to wipe down during routine cleaning.

The benefits include:

• Improved infection control: Smooth surfaces prevent dirt traps, supporting high hygiene standards.
• Faster cleaning: Estates and cleaning teams can disinfect locks as quickly as other wipe-clean surfaces.
• Antimicrobial compatibility: Coatings are more effective on smooth faces, providing an additional layer of defence.
• Modern appearance: Sleek designs support a therapeutic, non-institutional look in patient-facing areas.
  
  

More Than Just Hygiene: Safety and Usability

Flat-surfaced locks don’t just address hygiene, they bring wider advantages for healthcare estates:

• Tamper resistance, reducing risks of unauthorised access to IPS panels or storage.
• Ligature resistance, with low-profile designs that minimise risks in mental health settings.
• Ease of retrofitting, allowing existing furniture, panels, and hatches to be upgraded without replacement.
• Clear engagement indicators, helping staff confirm locked/unlocked status immediately.

Together, these benefits make flat-surfaced cam locks a small change with big impact across safety, hygiene, and efficiency.

Supporting Whole Estate Hygiene Strategies

Infection control is not just about wards and clinical spaces. Bathrooms, bedrooms, corridors, and treatment areas all contain locks on IPS panels, access hatches, and furniture. Without hygienic designs, these locks become weak points across entire estates.

By specifying flat-surfaced locks consistently across facilities, estates managers can:

• Standardise cleaning routines.
• Reduce the risk of missed surfaces.
• Extend the lifespan of furniture and panels through easier maintenance.

Consistency also simplifies training for estates and cleaning teams, ensuring every component supports the same infection control goals.

Update Hygiene, Strengthen Safety

Outdated locks with recessed designs can trap dirt and undermine infection control in healthcare environments. Flat-surfaced cam locks provide wipe-clean simplicity, improved hygiene, and added tamper resistance, all while fitting into standard lock footprints.

It’s a small upgrade with significant benefits for patient safety and operational efficiency.

📞 Call us: 01952 890158
📧 Email: sales@contoursecure.co.uk
🌐 Or visit: www.contoursecure.co.uk to request a sample or discuss how flat-surfaced cam locks can support your infection control strategy.