Media Release
Date: 17th February 2012
ALSCO TO OFFER FREE FIRST AID AT WORK AUDITS AS OSH GUIDELINES GET MORE
STRINGENT
ALSCO,
supplier of rental linens, mats and uniforms, is to offer free no obligation audits to small and medium size New Zealand enterprises
to help reduce the impact of workplace accidents and ensure businesses are compliant
with ever more stringent Occupational Safety and Health first aid requirements.
Workplace injuries happen to 600 people every week,
and kill one New Zealander a week[1].
Apart from the significant human toll, the effect on a small or medium sized
enterprise can be terminal.
According to Gavin Smith, the designer of a tailor
made “managed” first aid system, although New Zealand workplaces are getting
safer, the requirements for businesses to comply with Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH) are getting tighter and more robust.
Gavin, New Zealand manager of ALSCO First Aid,
specialists in managed first aid systems, says an increasing number of
Australasian businesses are now opting for this type of system. They elect to
contract their first aid kit management to an “all in one rental service”
because the DIY approach doesn’t meet the stringent OSH or Australian state
requirements.
Gavin adds: ` We have grown this Kiwi developed
service so that we are the only true national provider. We have started to pick
up regional and national organisations, as well as smaller owner operators,
because of their need or desire to standardise systems. We do offer peace of
mind, but at the end of the day it’s about doing what’s right.’
He explains: `Many businesses will have bought a
kit a few years ago and forgotten all about it. Secondly, they will most likely
have put it somewhere and in an emergency no one can find it. Thirdly, you’d be
amazed at how many still have a red cross on them. But most significantly, when
we do a first aid kit audit we find that most kits have not been checked
recently. The rules have changed too; everything in the kits needs to be single
use. You can’t just have a bottle of eye wash for example. There has to be
single, sealed, sterile packs.’
Gavin explains: ` A lot of businesses don’t realise
how much they spend managing their kits overall. It’s false economy just to
consider supplies alone. They don’t know if their kit is being serviced to the
correct standards if it has been allocated to a staff member, or how robust
their internal auditing ability is. But many businesses now prefer to have it
all done for them, and know that they are meeting relevant OSH requirements. A
rental programme for around a dollar a day per kit removes the need to supply
and check the kit yourself. Servicing of our kits onsite only takes a few
minutes for one of our trained service team.’
In New Zealand there are four versions of kit
available; large for up to 50 employees; small for up to 15 employees, plus a
food version of each (with upgraded product
that is both “blue” visible and metal detectable). There are
supplementary kits for small off-sites, vehicles, and specialist workplaces.
The company also offers additional equipment such as AED’s (defibrillators) and
eyewash stations
Further Information:
ALSCO, originally the New Zealand Towel Supply Company, has been
providing services to New Zealanders for over 100 years. It specialises in
providing fully managed rental, leasing and laundry services for linens and
uniforms, washroom and hygiene products, business consumables and managed first
aid systems.
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ALSCO Inc, a family owned
company which employs 2500 people in Australasia and 15000 people worldwide.
Contact: Peter Boyes: Boyes Public Relations 0275 540 500
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