Your May Update
May is a month full of important health awareness dates in New Zealand and globally. May 7 was World Asthma Day - a day dedicated to asthma awareness and a good time to think about the health of your lungs - and May 31 is World Smokefree day.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term for the diseases emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma. COPD is the fourth top cause of death with 15% of New Zealanders aged over 45 having COPD. Most cases of COPD are linked to smoking, however this can also be caused from breathing in chemical fumes, dust and toxic substances while carrying out work.
With the health of your lungs in mind we have information this month on Silica Dust, the risks of Organic Solvents and Respirator Fit Testing for your employees. For more information on World Smokefree Day you can visit the Smokefree website and download the World Smokefree Day toolkit here.
Earlier this month was also New Zealand Immunisation Week and the theme for 2019 was Protected Together #immunise. This was a great opportunity for workplaces to encourage employees to get up to date with immunisations to help reduce the spread of illness. With measles a hot topic right now it is still a good time to check you are up to date.
Workplace Flu Vaccinations are also an important way to help keep your team happy. We are still vaccinating in workplaces and there are still spaces available later this month, in addition to our nationwide vouchers. Learn more below.
Is your workplace getting behind Pink Shirt Day this Friday, May 17? We will be throwing on our pink shirts and will be holding shared lunches in our Auckland and Christchurch offices. Learn more about how you can get involved below.
Enjoy the read!
Ngā mihi nui, from the TriEx Team.
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Silica Dust
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Protecting Your Team
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Respirator Fit Testing
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Risks of Organic Solvents
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Silica Dust
What is Silica & Silica Dust?
Silica is everywhere. It’s part of bricks, concrete and mortar. It’s in tiles and the slates on our roofs. It’s found naturally in stone and rocks. Even some fillers and plastic composite products use silica. Left alone, silica is safe. But if you work on materials that are made up of silica, you’ll be releasing dangerous silica dust. Activities such as concrete drilling, cutting, grinding, fettling, mixin g, handling, dry shovelling and tunnelling can all result in exposure.
The industries with the highest risk of exposure include construction, quarrying, mining, concrete manufacturing, brick & tile manufacturing, foundries, abrasive blasting, roading and monumental masonry work.
Silica dust is the very fine dust that’s created when you cut, drill, grind, chip or sand materials and products like stone, bricks, concrete, tiles or mortar.
Why is Silica Dust Dangerous?
Silica dust can be harmful if you breathe it in. Silica dust particles are much smaller than normal dust (sometimes invisible to the naked eye) - and they can get deep into your lungs and stay there, permanently damaging the lung tissue and eventually leading to serious lung diseases in some people. Silica dust can cause silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
Read the full article over on our blog including how to eliminate and minimise the exposure.
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Influenza is Risky Business
It's not too to ensure your team are protected this flu season. Our team began vaccinating at workplaces across the country in March. We still have some availability for the end of May for our nurses to visit your workplace.
If you did not receive a flu pack in the post this year or would like more please contact our flu t eam to have information sent out or you can download a digital copy here.
This year we have an online booking form for ease of booking and this has proven to be popular, however we still have our traditional booking form available as well.
Flu Vaccinations (Auckland & Christchurch)
$26.00 50+ vaccinations per site visit
$28.50 20-49 vaccinations per site visit
$30.50 10-19 vaccinations per site visit
For onsite visits outside these locations please speak to our flu team.
Flu Vaccination Vouchers (Nationwide)
$37.50 per voucher
TriEx can also provide you with nationwide flu vaccination vouchers for ease and flexibility for those employees not available on vaccination day, for remote employees, or if you do not meet our minimum number for an on-site visit. These vouchers are incredibly popular and can be redeemed at a large network of vaccinating Unichem or Life Pharmacies throughout New Zealand.
To learn more about our flu vaccination programme, or to book visit our flu website here.
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Respirator Fit Testing
If anyone in your team wears Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) then as the PCBU you must provide information, training or instruction on how to correctly use, wear, store and maintain the RPE.
Fit testing is required by AS/NZS 1715 before a respirator is worn in the workplace to ensure that workers are wearing properly fitting RPE, with an effective seal to the face. A fit test should be conducted at issue of RPE and then at least annually and/or;
- Whenever a different size, style, model or make of respirator is used.
- When any facial changes occur that could affect fit, such as significant weight changes or significant dental work.
It is also a good idea to complete fit testing alongside annual health monitoring where our Occupational Health Nurses discuss respiratory history and exposure history as well as completing spirometry (lung function testing).
TriEx carry out Qualitative Fit Testing for half face respirators, used in environments where the hazard is less than 10 times the WES (workplace exposure standard).
A sensitivity test is completed without RPE under a hood. The RPE is then worn and either a bitter or sweet solution is introduced into the hood whilst the worker carries out a variety of activities for one minute each including:
- Normal breathing
- Deep breathing
- Moving head side to side
- Moving head up and down
- Bending over (or jogging in place)
- Talking
- Normal breathing again
Education is given regarding care and maintenance of respiratory equipment and how to fit check RPE.
To learn more about this service contact our health team on 0800 487 439 or email enquiries@triex.co.nz.
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Risks of Organic Solvents
WorkSafe NZ has put out a Safety Alert highlighting the serious health and safety risks of using organic solvents in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation and lack of personal protective equipment. 
Organic solvents (eg toluene, thinners and MEK) are used to dissolve or disperse other substances.
Organic solvents are used in many construction and manufacturing workplaces. You can find solvents in a wide range of products including: adhesives, degreasing agents, fillers, cleaning products, lacquers, metal cleaners, ink, paint, resins, rust removers, surface preparation products, dry-cleaning products, fuels.
Organic solvents can be found in:
- adhesives (cyclohexane, acetone, toluene)
- paints and lacquers (toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone)
- degreasers (trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene)
- printing (turpentine, white spirits, xylene).
They can enter the body, mainly through inhalation of vapour and through direct skin contact, and into the bloodstream where they can cause adverse health effects.
Short term effects can include headaches, nausea, eyes, nose, throat and skin irritation, disorientation, feeling drunk/high, drowsiness
Long term effects can include mood changes, memory problems, concentration difficulties, tiredness, weakness.
Organic solvents readily evaporate in the air at normal temperatures. Therefore, high levels of solvent vapours can build up quickly in enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation and when room temperatures rise (eg small rooms or a shed on a hot day). If solvents are also absorbed through the skin as well as inhaled, the total exposure may be much higher.
WorkSafe has guidance on protecting workers from the harmful effects of organic solvents — the Quick Guide is available for download here. To read the full Safety Alert over on WorkSafe website.
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Pink Shirt Day
Friday May 17 is Pink Shirt Day. Pink Shirt Day is led by the Mental Health Foundation and is about working together to stop bullying. It is about celebrating diversity and promoting positive social relationships.
Everybody should feel safe, valued and respected no matter their age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or culture.
Make sure your workplace is involved this Friday. TriEx and Gallagher Bassett are celebrating with a shared lunch this Friday. The Pink Shirt Day website has resources, and content you can use at your workplace. Just visit their website here.
Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!
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Alsco Managed First Aid Kits
Your team are trained with life saving First Aid skills, but are your first aid kits up to scratch?
Alsco understands that has the solution with their managed first aid kit service to keep your business safe and compliant. These kits are easy to spot in your workplace and are set out with clearly marked and colour coded supplies. There is a kit for every situation from regular kits to portable and vehicle kits. The managed kits are regularly restocked by Alsco to ensure you never run out of supplies.
What's even better is Alsco put any of the "expired" first aid items to great use by donating to these to Medical Aid Abroad.
To learn about their managed first aid kits, click here.
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Workplace Training Calendar
Our latest training calendar is available through to the end of June. Our relaunched Electrical Workers First Aid & CPR courses start this month.
You can download our full training calendar here.
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Learn more about our
Psychological First Aid here
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Worker Loses Life
Pegasus Engineering was fined $250,000 earlier this month after a heavy steel beam fell and fatally injured a worker.
The worker was moving steel beams from a work trolley using a crane and the beam tipped and struck the worker.
WorkSafe investigated and found that Pegasus Engineering did not carry out an effective risk assessment and had not considered that there was a high risk of beams falling over. They had not provided workers with clamps to ensure that the heavy beams were secure while on the work trolleys.
In addition to the $250,000 fine Pegasus Engineering paid reparations in excess of $165,000. the maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1,500,000.
Read the full article here
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Mobile Stock Ramp Incident
A Palmerston based farmer, Robert Kirk Ashton, was fined $33,000 after his stock loading ramp fell on a truck driver, causing significant head injuries. The driver remained in hospital for 1 month and was unable to work for nine months following and has lifelong vision and hearing impairments.
Mr Ashton had not ensured that the 250-300kg stock loading ramp was without risks. It was found that handle could dislodge and there was no automatic brake system for when the ramp was being lowered.
This is a reminder for farmers that safety cannot be left to change and that stock loading ramps should be fitted with an automatic brake winch system. WorkSafe has a technical bulletin available here for owners and users of mobile stock loading ramps.
Read the full article here.
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Safety Liaison Groups
The minutes for the Northern Liaison Group are located here. The next Commercial meeting will be held on June 13.
The minutes for the Wellington Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting TBC.
The minutes for the Southern Liaison Group are located here. The next meeting will be held on June 20.
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NZISM Branch Events
The Auckland branch events are available here including the AGM on May 14 and the next monthly meeting on June 19.
The Wellington branch events are available here.
The Canterbury branch events are available here including the AGM on May 31.
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