Your November Update
The end of year and Christmas madness is just around the corner, but we have a lot of great information this month to get you through. Summer is beginning next week (even if it doesn't feel like it!) and that means plenty of time spent out in the garden for some. We have important information about Legionnaires disease and steps you can take to prevent it.
Men - especially young men - are a big focus at present, especially around speaking up and their mental health challenges. We have shared some info on both the WorkSafe 'Be A Safe Guy' campaign, and information from Movember about men's mental health and their 'Be a man of more words' campaign.
This month we also have an update on our expanded environmental and asbestos services. Our First Aid team have been busy, and we have a great summer special on first aid courses to make the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 much sweeter!
The flu vaccination season is always a very busy time for TriEx, and we know how important it is for some clients to schedule theirs as early as possible. We have info on the 2019 programme and details on how you can book now.
We hope you enjoy the read!
Ngā mihi nui, from the TriEx Team.
|
|
|
Environmental Update
|
|
Be A Safe Guy
|
|
|
Men's Mental Health
|
|
First Aid News
|
|
|
Flu Vaccinations 2019
|
|
Home Gardener Safety
|
|
Environmental Update
Did you know that Asbestos exposure is highest among Plumbers & Electricians — Asbestos can be found in many homes built prior to the year 2000 and you could be unknowingly putting your health and your employees health at risk. 
- Do you know where Asbestos is commonly found in a building?
- Can you identify Asbestos?
- Do you know what to do if you expose Asbestos?
- Are you aware of the health risk if exposed to Asbestos
Sign up for one of our 4 hour Asbestos Awareness for Tradespeople courses and find out the answers to these questions and more.
Coming January 2019
On site Asbestos Fibre Counting — TriEx will have the capability to carry out on site Asbestos fibre counting giving real time results and making your site even safer.
BOHS IP402 Training — We are pleased to announce our revised BOHS IP402 (Surveying and Sampling Strategies for Asbestos in Buildings) training will be available again early in the New Year.
To learn more about our asbestos services you can contact our team on 0800 487 439. |
|
Be A Safe Guy
Have you seen the 'Be A Safe Guy" campaign around? In the last 5 years more than 40 workers under 30 years old have lost their lives in the workplace. This alarming statistic has lead WorkSafe to launch their 'Be A Safe Guy' campaign last month, primarily aimed at the young Māori male workers. WorkSafe enlisted the help of an aspiring young Māori comedian, D’Angelo Martin, to help communicate directly with the young workers. The campaign is aimed at reducing workplace injuries and fatalities and focuses on the work whānau and looking out for each other.
WorkSafe Strategy and Performance Manager Jude Urlich said “Speaking up can be hard to do but we know that when workers get involved in health and safety that everyone benefits.”
You can watch the video and download some great poster resources for your workplace on their website. |
|
Men's Mental Health
November 19 was International Men's Day. This little known day is actually a very important day as its aim is to celebrate positive male role models and to raise awareness of men's issues. This includes mental health and the prevalence of male suicide. This date also coincides with Movember which also addresses not only prostate cancers but also men's mental health and suicide prevention. In New Zealand, 75% of suicides are men. |
|
|
|
Check out this video from the Movember Foundation about how talking saves lives.
|
|
Our Psychological First Aid course is a valuable tool for workplaces. Often it is very difficult to know how to respond to or help someone who is in emotional distress, however doing something is always better than nothing. As with any First Aid course, the aims of Psychological First Aid are to preserve life, provide help, promote recovery and provide comfort.
To learn more about our Psychological First Aid courses, click here.
|
|
First Aid News
The end of 2018 is approachi ng with the start of 2019 just around the corner. The start of the new year is a great opportunity for you to train or refresh your team in First Aid. For the last week of December and from January 14 through until February 8 we are running all of our Workplace and Refresher First Aid courses at $99. To take advantage of this Summer Lifesaver Special click here.
TriEx will be delivering the updated 6400 Series First Aid courses from next year. This will be a 12 hour comprehensive course covering 6400, 6401 and 6402.
Our First Aid team delivered our first courses into the Auckland market last week. This was a great opportunity for our Auckland clients to experience what has been delivered by our exceptional team in Christchurch. Our Auckland based First Aid Trainer & Nurse, Ritchie Verano is supported by our Christchurch First Aid team. To learn about Ritchie click here.
To learn more about our full range of first aid courses, click here.
|
|
Book In Now For 2019
Our Join The Fight  Against Influenza campaign was a great success for 2018, and TriEx saw a bigger uptake in workplace flu vaccinations compared to last year.
The latest figures out show that there was a high uptake of influenza vaccinations in New Zealand, which has been credited for the significant decrease in flu cases reported here. This year the government funded flu vaccination was the Quadrivalent which included 4 strains of flu, giving broader protection against the circulating strains of flu.
Many businesses have made it clear to us that they want to begin booking for the 2019 flu season early. Because of this demand we are now taking pre-bookings for the 2019 season which will begin mid March.
The 2019 vaccinations will be the Quadrivalent 4 strain vaccine again, covering 2 flu strains from 2018 and 2 new flu strains:
- A/Michigan/45/2015-like virus
- A/Switzerland/8060/2017-like virus (New)
- B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (New)
- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
Did you sign up to the FluTracking website this year? They published weekly reports for Australia and New Zealand and over the next few months they will publish their full findings.
To learn more about our flu vaccination programme, or to register your interest for 2019 visit our flu website here.
|
|
Gardening & Legionnaires Disease
As Spring rolls into Summer the home gardening season really kicks off. Gardeners are at a high risk of catching Legionnaires from handling potting mix or compost. Alarmingly Canterbury has the country's highest rate of Legionnaires in NZ, at 62 cases in 2017 - and NZ has the highest reported incidences in the world!
Here are 5 simple steps to take to avoid Legionnaires:
1. Open your bags of potting mix or compost carefully using scissors and not ripping the bag.
2. Wear a correctly fitting disposable face mask and gloves,
3. Dampen down the potting mix or compost to reduce dust.
4. Work in a well ventilated area.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling.
The illness can be mild through to fatal, and is more common in older people but can effect anyone.
For full information visit this article on the CDHB Website.
|
|
|
1737 Mental Health Line
It is important to remember that help is always available if you’re feeling sad, anxious or depressed. The National Telehealth Service have an easy to use text and phone line for this purpose.
This number is free to call or text any time, 24 hours a day. You will get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor.
- Are you feeling anxious or just need someone to talk to?
- Are you feeling down or a bit overwhelmed?
- Do you know someone who is feeling out-of-sorts or depressed? Let them know they can call or text 1737
You can find posters on our resources page, that you can print and hang on the wall in your workplace to help raise awareness.
|
|
Alsco
Cardiac Arrest is a life threatening condition that is unlikely to be survivable unless treatment is received within minutes. CPR must be administered immediately, but a defibrillator is essential for recovery.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device kept in public locations that the public can use in the case of an emergency. Are very expensive however and must be checked, maintained and/or replaced every 3 months (with large penalties for not doing so).
Alsco Fresh & Clean can provide your business with a leased AED, and they'll check, maintain and/or replace your unit every 3 months at no extra cost to you.
To learn more about Alsco's AED's, click here.
|
|
Workplace Training Calendar
Our latest training calendar came out earlier this month. Take advantage of our $99 Summer Special on our First Aid training. Download our full training calendar here.
|
|
|
Unsafe Asbestos Removal
Unqualified and unsafe asbestos removal during a house demolition has landed a builder, Richard John Knight, with a fine of $3000 (reduced from $10,000).
Mr Knight was not only unlicensed for the work, but he also failed to safely manage the risk of asbestos during the demolition, nor did he wear appropriate PPE. He also allowed others to enter the house unprotected.
This was the first sentencing under the new asbestos regulations.
Read the full article here
|
|
Fit for purpose safety gear
If a risk is identified in your workplace, it is critical that you ensure it is controlled. Agility Building Solutions was sentenced recently, after a painter was injured (in their own workplace) after falling from incorrectly installed mobile scaffolding. The painter suffered major brain trauma and multiple fractures in the 2 metre fall. The risk of fall was previously identified, however there were no checks in place.
They were fined $150,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $42,180.04.
|
|
Safety Liaison Groups
The minutes for the Northern Liaison Group are located here. The next Commercial meeting is on December 5.
The minutes for the Wellington Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting is on December 13.
The minutes for the Southern Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting is on December 13.
|
New Zealand Institute of Safety Management
The Canterbury branch events are available here including the Canterbury Breakfast Meeting on November 30 and the Christmas meeting on December 13.
The Wellington branch events are available here including the Wellington Branch Networking & CPD on December 4.
The Auckland branch events are available here including the Auckland Branch Christmas Function on November 6.
|
|
|
|
|
