ALSCO To Offer Free First Aid at Work Audits

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 [http://theyworkforyou.co.nz/portfolios/acc/2010/jul/20/accident_compensation#minister_6]. 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.
http://www.alscofirstaid.co.nz/

ENDS

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