Are you BOG STANDARD?
The toilet should be a safe space. We want men living with incontinence to feel confident and supported, whether they are in their workplace or out and about socialising with family and friends.
That’s why, together with Prostate Cancer UK, we have created BOG STANDARD, a set of guidelines designed to educate and ensure businesses and the public sector are providing men with the facilities they need to dispose of incontinence waste with dignity.
Research into Male Incontinence commissioned by phs Group discovered:
To achieve Bronze, organisations and businesses need to provide male incontinence bins in their washrooms. These bins were specifically designed for the disposal of incontinence products. They ensure men have access to washroom spaces where they can dispose of their waste discreetly and hygienically.
To achieve Silver, as well as providing male incontinence bins in washrooms, businesses organisations must offer additional support with the installation of vending machines to provide easy access to incontinence products. This ensures people always have access to the products they need.
As well as providing Male Incontinence Bins and vending machines with incontinence products, to achieve Gold you must also raise awareness of Prostate Cancer. Our handy toolkit provides tips and templates to help businesses raise awareness amongst their employees, customers, and visitors.
To support essential research, such as the TRANSFORM trial, businesses can also participate in fundraising activities.
Proudly show your commitment
Organisations who adopt BOG STANDARD will be provided with optional ways to show their commitment, including a plaque, reception signage, or a window sticker.
These serve as an immediate visual cue to customers, demonstrating that your business organisation supports men living with incontinence, and offers washroom facilities to meet their needs.
Creating BOG STANDARD washrooms so men don't miss out on life
Why should my business be BOG STANDARD?
- 1 in 8 men will get diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Over 52,000 men every year in UK receives this life-changing diagnosis.
- One in three men over 65 are estimated to have a urinary incontinence problem in the UK, with 1 in 25 men aged over 40 will experiencing some form of urinary leakage every year in the UK.
- Furthermore, the NHS estimate that between 3-6 million people in the UK suffer with some degree of urinary incontinence.
- Four in five men (79%) miss day-to-day activities due to fears about leaking and not having easy access to bins to dispose of their used incontinence products in public.
Choosing to support and achieve BOG STANDARD is a crucial step in addressing the often overlooked but significant issue of male incontinence and prostate cancer.
By adopting BOG STANDARD, business and the public sectors will play a pivotal role in creating supportive environments where men can dispose of incontinence waste with dignity.
Our commitment: phs Group and Prostate Cancer UK
As the leading hygiene services provider in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, phs Group know what men need when they visit the washroom and are driven to provide facilities that enable all men to dispose of their incontinence products with dignity.
phs Group has been partnered with Prostate Cancer UK since 2023. The two-year partnership aims to improve research and support those diagnosed with prostate cancer while securing the goal of ensuring male hygiene bins are available in all public and workplace washrooms.
Prostate Cancer UK is the largest men’s health charity in the UK, understanding and helping men navigate the issues they face during and after treatments for prostate cancer. This can include incontinence because of prostate removal or other treatments such as radiotherapy.
