Your February TriEx Update
We are well into 2018 now and TriEx is entering it's busiest time of the year with our Flu season upon us! Our flu packs have been sent out and we already have bookings coming in.
Currently, the United States is experiencing an influenza epidemic, due to an unusually deadly strain of the virus circulating in the Northern Hemisphere. 4,000 people are dying each week in the US due to influenza. It's critical that people protect themselves with a Flu vaccination this year. You can read more about this below.
WorkSafe NZ are currently focusing on Clean Air in the workplace. Many workers are killed or hospitalised each year due to airborne contaminants and particulates. You can read about the steps you can do to reduce dust and contaminant exposure below.
One of our Occupational Health Nurses recently ran an exercise at Canterbury Linen Services to raise awareness of Heart Disease, which is the number 1 leading cause of death in New Zealand. This was of huge value to Canterbury Linen Services, and you can read more about below.
Gallagher Bassett is also sponsoring a new initiative called the CheckPoint series, which is a web series that looks at raising awareness of Mental Health via video games.
Enjoy the read! From the TriEx Team.
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Influenza Epidemic in the US
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Airborne Particulates
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Heart Disease Awareness
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The CheckPoint Series
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Vaccination is the best protection against influenza
The influenza season is upon us and we are approaching the time of year where our nurses will be out vaccinating New Zealand workers across the country.
Complications from influenza can be deadly, and it's not uncommon for previously healthy people to be hospitalised due to influenza. Each year around 400 people in New Zealand are killed due to the flu, and this year it is looking like the flu season could be more severe.
Currently, there is a flu epidemic spreading across the United States which is killing 4,000 people each week. This has been caused by an unusually deadly strain of the virus circulating around the Northern Hemisphere. Officials say that the epidemic is expected to get worse before the end of the flu season.
Thankfully for the Southern Hemisphere, this year's vaccination is a quadrivalent vaccine, covering the four main strains we are expecting in New Zealand.
The best way to protect yourself and your team from the flu is to have an annual flu vaccination. Because the virus spreads so easily, you're also protecting those around you who may not be able to get the vaccination. The more people who are vaccinated, the less chance influenza has to spread. |
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Control airborne particulates in your workplace
Every year, an estimated 600-900 people die in New Zealand from work-related health issues and a further 5000-6000 are hospitalised with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic illnesses from workplace exposure to airborne contaminants.
Dust and other airborne particulates are a difficult hazard to manage, as the particles that cause the most damage are very difficult to detect visually. Normally the only time you'll see them is during the late afternoon as the sun shines through a crack or window and creates a haze or shaft of light.
WorkSafe NZ have launched the Clean Air programme, which is their first targeted intervention on work-related health. To reduce the risk of exposure to airborne contaminants, businesses can do the following.
- Eliminate airborne contaminants from the workplace
- Minimise risks
- Issue Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
- Fit test RPE
- Monitor workers' exposure to airborne contaminants
- Provide workers with information and training
To read the full story click here.
To learn how our qualified Occupational Hygiene Team can help you reduce the risk of respiratory ill-health in your workplace, call us on 0800 487 439 or email enquiries@triex.co.nz
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Heart Disease Awareness at Canterbury Linen Services
33% of deaths annually are caused by Heart Disease, and is the leading cause of death in New Zealand. Every 90 minutes, a New Zealander dies due to Heart Disease.
Recently one of our Occupational Health Nurses, Alex Pajel ran a challenge to raise awareness of Heart Disease at Canterbury Linen Services where she is a contract nurse.
Alex ran a presentation about Heart Disease, where she explained how it can be prevented, what risk factors contribute to heart disease, and what the primary signs and symptoms of a heart attack are. Everyone was encouraged to dress up in their best red outfits, and then the 3 best-dressed winners won a gift card. |
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This was a fantastic exercise that everyone at Canterbury Linen Services got behind, and a great example of the additional care that our Contract Nurses provide to their companies.
For more information on how TriEx can supply you with an onsite Occupational Health Service, call us on 0800 487 439 or email enquiries@triex.co.nz
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The CheckPoint Series
Gallagher Bassett is proud to be sponsoring The CheckPoint series, which aims to raise Mental Health awareness via video games.
The pilot episode "Introducing Mental Health" explores the themes that will be covered in the show: tackling mental health issues using the power of video games. Throughout two seasons of webisodes, the series will explore a range of mental health issues, provide insight from those that have experienced these struggles, as well as discuss the use of video games for wellbeing and resilience.
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The CheckPoint Series Trailer
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GB’s Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Drew Spilsbury is delighted that GB is supporting such a worthwhile project and organisation.
‘‘GB is constantly looking for new and creative approaches to help clients promote better mental health at work. We’re really excited to be supporting an initiative that aims to address this challenge through engaging new technology’’ he said.
To read the full story, click here.
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Workplace Training Calendar
Download our full training calendar here.
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 Learn more about our First Aid
courses here
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 Learn more about our Asbestos
courses here
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2018 Flu Vouchers
This year for the first time, TriEx is offering nationwide provision for your influenza campaign.
We have partnered with Unichem and Life Pharmacy this year to redeem our Flu Vouchers.
This means if you opt to use Flu Vouchers, your team can take them to any vaccinating Unichem or Life Pharmacy in the country to receive their vaccination.
This is great if you have workers outside of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, or if your team is unable to be there on vaccination day.
To learn more about Flu Vouchers, go to theflu.co.nz.
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Psychological First Aid
Psychological First Aid is a 4 hour course which is designed to help prepare learners to respond to a person who may be experiencing emotional distress in the workplace.
Winter is often a time when people's mental wellbeing is most vulnerable, so Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of our courses.
Our next course is Tuesday March 20th.
To see the rest of our Psychological First Aid schedule and to book, click here.
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NZ Workplace Health & Safety Awards
The 2018 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards are coming up and entries are open now.
Every year there are unsung heroes who go above and beyond to ensure that New Zealand workers get home safe, and now is the chance for them to be recognised.
The finalists and winners will be celebrated at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the SKYCITY Convention Centre on 30 May.
Entries close at 5pm on 4 April.
Download the entry form and find out more about the awards here.
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IT Division
Need an IT geek that isn't very geeky? Then James from The IT division is your man!
We've been using James for his IT services for many years and we've been lucky to have found him. He loves what he does and he's very knowledgeable on all technology topics and reliable.
Since TriEx's acquisition by Gallagher Bassett, our IT systems are being shifted over to their in-house IT support team. We're sad that we'll be seeing less of James but we're happy to recommend The IT Division to all of our clients and suppliers.
Call The IT Division today on
0800 FIXED PC or email info@itdivision.co.nz
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Alsco
Cardiac Arrest is a life threatening condition that's 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.
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City2Surf
The South Islands biggest participation event, the annual City2Surf is less than a month away!
This iconic Canterbury fun run brings thousands of people together to celebrate our beautiful city and challenge ourselves with either the 14km or Sport Canterbury 6km event.
Cardiovascular exercise like running is one of the best ways to stay fit and health and fight off heart disease and high blood pressure.
The City2Surf is on Sunday March 18. Entry is $25 up until the day of the event, and $30 on the day.
Click here to register.
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Stumpmaster Limited was fined $90,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $18,500 in January after a member of the public was struck by a falling tree.
The defendant was cutting down a palm tree on a property and had not set out an adequate exclusion zone, despite having suitable signage at their office and extendable barriers in their vehicle on-site.
The victim received fractures and lacerations and was hospitalised for 6 days.
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Easton Agriculture Limited was sentenced earlier this month and ordered to pay reparations after a worker was killed in 2016.
The worker had become trapped in a potato harvester, that lacked guarding over a nip point between two exposed rollers. The company also lacked a lone worker policy and standard operating procedure for safe operation of the machine.
For reasons that could not be published, the company was not fined (they could have been liable for a fine up to $330,000 if it was), but they were ordered to pay reparations of $85,000 to the victims family, and $3,500 in costs.
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To stay up to date with the WorkSafe NZ Prosecution summaries, you can check out their website here.
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Site Safe
Safety Liaison Groups
The minutes for the Northern Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting date is on April 11.
The minutes for the Wellington Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting date is on February 22.
The minutes for the Southern Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting date is on April 26.
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New Zealand Institute of Safety Management
The Canterbury branch events are available here. There are no Canterbury Branch events currently scheduled.
The Auckland branch events are available here including the Auckland Branch meeting on March 6.
The Wellington branch events are available here including the Wellington Branch AGM on May 15.
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