3 Reasons Why You Should Introduce Healthy Snacks At Work

We all know how busy and stressful things can get at work. As an easy and quick way of releasing stress, many employees turn to snacks.

More often than not, that means grabbing a bag of crisps, sugar-loaded candy bars, cookies, or some other unhealthy snack.

Apart from stress-related eating, employees are also prone to eating out of boredom. Sometimes, we just can’t stand doing anything, and munching on a bag of crisps gives us a sense of taking action.

Many employers tend to forget that a workplace can have a critical role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. First, we spend at least a quarter of our day at work almost every day, and second, we are often influenced by our co-workers. Many employees find it hard to eat healthily at work while others blame their work and colleagues for their diet failures.

Choosing healthy options for your employees is a great way to promote productivity and support good food choices.

Not many people understand that healthy snacks can be just as tasty as unhealthy ones. Old habits seem to die hard and many employees are not immediately willing to give up on the snacks they are used to.

So then, is it useful for investing in healthy snacks? And can they turn your office into a healthy workplace for your employees?

3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Stocking Up On Healthy Office Snacks

1. Healthy Office Snacks Are Food For The Brain

It’s no secret: common snacks are low-nutrient foods that hurt our mental performance and health. By choosing unhealthy snacks, we deny our brains the fuel it needs to work properly.

Healthy snacks are usually a perfect mix of nutrients containing brain foods that boost our memory and overall health. They also give us enough energy for the rest of the day with the little risk of burnout or crashing.

You can expect your employees to be more focused on their work, as well as to have more energy during work hours than if they were on unhealthy snacks.

2. Healthy Snacks Boost Everyone’s Moods

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates provide a quick shot of energy that burns out quickly. That’s why those who love candy bars and crisps tend to be hyper before crashing somewhere around the afternoon, leaving them feeling tired, unmotivated and craving more sugar. Obviously, this is not good for productivity.

Unhealthy snacks negatively affect the mood of your employees. This is understandable because of the sugar crash experienced after the body has burned all of the possible energy. When you crash, you experience a dramatic shift from happy and up to down and out.

These mood swings can cause a chain reaction with one employee feeling down affecting others in the workplace as well. This is why healthy snacks are a better option for the entire office. They lead to higher energy levels which in turn engender positive emotions that can affect those around them as well. No one can deny the power of positive vibes on productivity and motivation.

3. Healthy Snacks Provide Opportunities For Bonding

Supporting healthy diets at your workplace is also an excellent chance for your company to host social and educational events.

One way to introduce your employees to healthy snacks is to organise tastings. Find a few easy and healthy snack recipes. Serve them to your employees for the tasting. It is also useful to provide an info sheet above each snack that contains the recipe and the list of benefits that snack offers.

The tastings will also provide you with valuable information on which healthy snacks are popular and which are not worth investing in.

You can take this even further by creating a full-scale information campaign with lectures, group activities, and posters reinforcing the benefits of healthy foods and diets.

Employees should be encouraged to participate by giving their suggestions and recipes. This is the way to reinforce healthy habits and support teamwork.

Top Off Your Campaign With Overall Employee Safety

Ensuring a healthy office environment is a great addition to your campaign supporting healthy food choices. Alsco provides a wide range of products and services that satisfy specific safety and sanitation needs of different companies.

Our Hygiene Systems cater to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. From high-end hand care products to odour eliminators and deep cleaning services, it is our ultimate goal to help you ensure a healthy working environment that boosts productivity and motivation among your employees.

For many years, thousands of New Zealand business have chosen us the top provider of the widest range of services. Our products are known for their quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Call us now and we will help you choose the rental programmes or purchases that will best meet your company’s specific needs.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

What Medicine Should Be in the First Aid Kit?

You can, if you want, include the over-the-counter medicine into your first aid kits, but this is not necessary. According to the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016, medicine is not required.

However, it is not definitely concluded whether these types of pain relief pills should be kept in first aid kits.

Those who are pro pain relief medicine in the first aid kits argue that this is necessary for those workplaces that are very far away from the pharmacies and the medical institutions.

They also claim that people buy and use these types of medications freely, anyway, so having them within the reach doesn’t make any difference.

Those who are against the pain relief medicine in the first aid kits argue that every kind of medicine should be given, prescribed or administered by a medical professional. They say that people in the case of emergency should not use pain killers freely since a proper diagnosis needs to be given first.

The law says that this is up to the employer to decide. Therefore, if you want first aid kits that contain pain relief medications, you can have them, but it is advisable to practice caution.

Alsco New Zealand offers rental service for first aid kits. We offer fully stocked first aid kits, packed with supplies of your choice, so they match your company needs. Get your first aid kits today.

What Is Needed in a First Aid Kit?

So, if there are no medicines required in a first aid kit, what is? The contents of the first aid kit can be classified into three categories:

1. Sterilisation and sanitisation supplies
2. Wound dressing supplies
3. Resuscitation supplies
4. Other supporting tools and supplies

Sterilisation and sanitisation supplies are needed to reduce the chances of infections and cross contamination. Especially in the case of open wounds, it is essential to keep them sterile. For that purpose, you should stock saline solution, wet wipes and hand sanitisers.

Saline solution is used to keep the wound sterile and to wash out any outside dirt and dust that many have come in contact with the open wound. The wet wipes and hand sanitisers are used to sanitise the first aider’s hands so that the contamination is prevented.

Wound dressing supplies are among the first things that come to one’s mind when somebody mentions the first aid kits. They include adhesive dressings, wound dressings, bandages and eye pads.

• Adhesive dressings should be in assorted sizes and you need at least 20 of them. They are very handy and easy to use. However, you need to make sure they are individually packed, so you avoid de-sterilising them.
• Wound dressings should be in at least two sizes. One size can be the square dressing of 12 cm. Take 6 of those. The other size is 18 cm and two of such square dressings is quite enough.
• Bandages can be stretch and regular, triangle bandages. They need to be packed separately, and you need two of each kind. There are bandages tailored especially for the eye wounds. Bandages are used to position the wound dressing in place and protect it from the outside influences. Those are the eye patches.

Resuscitation supplies are actually the resuscitation mask. It can be used in combination with a portable AED, but it is used mainly as the addition to the CPR compressions. By placing it over the patient’s mouth and nose, you can help them maintain the breathing rhythm without contaminating them with your viruses and bacteria.

Other supporting tools and supplies can include scissors and tweezers. You can use them to cut the supplies like dressings and bandages into appropriate sizes and to open the packages. Avoid using your teeth because you can contaminate the supplies accidentally.

If there are foreign objects in somebody’s ear, eye or splinters in the skin, tweezers can help a lot. That is why it is useful to include them in the first aid kit. Gloves are obviously for the protection of your hands while the claps and safety pins are there to help keep the bandages attached and positioned well.

What Is First Aid Equipment?

Besides the first aid kit with its basic supplies, you may want to boost your first aid efforts and acquire additional first aid equipment. This can include the stretches and trolleys, for example, if you have the first aid room or if your industry is high risk and collapses and faints can happen.

This can include:

• Oxygen therapy units and the like.
• Eyewash stations
• Defibrillators

Oxygen therapy units are a precious addition to the CPR efforts. They ensure that the oxygen easily reaches the victim’s bloodstream which is essential for the survival and the total recovery.

The eyewash stations are conveniently positioned stations that are used in case of eye injury. They are very easy to use and they are very intuitive. You should use them if there is any need to wash your eyes, especially if they are contaminated with some sort of chemical or you need to sanitise the eye due to injury to dress it properly.

Defibrillators or AEDs are irreplaceable items in case of cardiac arrest. They are automatic, which means you don’t need special training to use it. The first aider simply needs to open the patient’s shirt, place the AED pads on their dry skin and start the AED.

You can rent all the eyewash stations, AEDs and first aid kits from Alsco New Zealand. In that way, you don’t have to pay upfront for all the first aid supplies you need to make your workplace safe.

You just pay a flat monthly rate and get your first aid all set up. Moreover, we come to install, check and restock all the first aid kits and regularly make sure that the first aid equipment is functional and operative.

Solve all your first aid issues by contacting Alsco New Zealand. That is the most reliable and the easiest way to make sure you are 100% prepared.

4 Reasons Why You Should Clean Your Work Desk Frequently

Everybody wants to have an organised workplace, but just wanting work desk cleanliness not the same as having it.

This has nothing to do with being organised and clean in general. Sometimes, it’s just about being way too busy to pay attention to the details. Who can think about the appearance of their work desk when there is so much work to do and so little time to do it all?

As it turns out, there are four reasons why you should pay more attention to your work desk cleanliness. Some of them are so crucial, you will definitely start thinking about them the moment you enter your office.

1. It Helps You Relieve Stress

We all know how frustrating it can be trying to work on a cluttered desk. After all, all that clutter can influence your state of mind as well. Plus, if you ever need to find something quickly, it’s definitely easier to do so if your desk is well organised. Otherwise, you’d have to struggle to look for it under all the mess every single time.

On the other hand, having everything well-organised means it will take you much less effort and time to find it, which is especially helpful when it comes to finding those really important things. Needless to say, this can also greatly reduce your stress levels.

Moreover, a good organisation can be connected to visual synergy – your eyes won’t be distracted by the disorder on your desk. This means that you’ll be able to stay calm no matter how much work you actually have.

2. It Leaves A Great First Impression

Everybody knows how important first impressions are. True, they are mostly used in the context of dating and relationships, but they are just as important when it comes to your office.

You have to admit that it doesn’t look good when somebody enters your office just to see a messy desk. Regardless of how much work you have, a disorganised desk sends a bad message about you to your clients and coworkers.

On the other hand, if you’re organised, you’re telling people that you are reliable, trustworthy, and in control of your work. Of course, it’s good to actually have these qualities, but you should also be able to show them. Therefore, spend some time cleaning up your office desk, at least for others if not for yourself.

3. It Is Healthier

Anything that’s cluttered creates nooks and crannies where dust and dirt can collect unnoticed. And if there’s one thing you need to know about dust and dirt is – it can have really bad effects on one’s health.

While this is especially true for those with asthma or allergies, those effects can be just as bad for those who don’t. Some particularly nasty effects include sore throats, itchy eyes, and runny noses.

When those things hit a person, it makes it very hard to focus on work. Productivity can suffer badly from something as “innocent” as a dirty desk. When things are neatly organised and set in their proper places, cleaning becomes an easy task. That’s because of this way, you eliminate any hidden places and spaces where dust and debris can be found. Additionally, keeping things organised lets you easily see what’s clean and what’s not.

4. It Inspires Others To Follow Your Example

If your desk is always messy and disorganised, others might think that it’s okay for their desks to be the same. They might not even notice the clutter on their desk, and this can really become a problem if it starts happening to somebody like a manager. It can set a very bad example that can have terrible consequences if people choose to follow it.

On the other hand, when you keep your desk clean, you also inspire others to do the same. Even though this is mostly psychological, it can still brighten up your workplace. When everyone’s desks are clean, the work environment becomes rather pleasant, which can have a positive effect on the morale of the employees.

At Alsco, we know perfectly well how important workplace hygiene is. We’ve been helping Australian businesses maintain high levels of workplace cleanliness for years.

We provide cost-friendly solutions your company could use to improve the lives of your employees. Everything from safety to hygiene is covered by our extensive product line.

Give us a call today and we can help find the purchase or rental package perfect for you specifically.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

32 Great Tips To Convince Your Employees To Join Your Green Initiative

Going green is a positive, environmentally conscious trend among modern companies all around the world, and many new and experienced business owners want to go down this road.

However, a lot of them have a feeling that it is difficult to make the first step.

The truth is, it isn’t hard at all to start making your company more eco-friendly.

All you need to do is take care of simple things first, things that at first sight look too mundane to be addressed.

Any company can do this, and what’s more, not only will it not bankrupt you, it may even make you become more successful and get you to make more money.

It will make you more sustainable, it will help you cut costs. And, honestly, a Carbon Tax is in the works, and it will essentially make all businesses cut down on their carbon emissions. So, trust us when we say that going green is always an excellent choice.

However, you are not the only one in your company (right?). That’s why you will need to advise and convince everybody that is part of your company on how important and useful this is.

Bellow, you will find 32 tips and tricks for convincing your employees just how important the green initiative is, as well as how easy it is to become a part of it.

1. Print On Both Sides

This one is quick and easy. Get a printer that can make double-sided copies and prints. Furthermore, try to avoid using colored prints. If you get colored one-sided prints, you will waste a lot of money, and a lot of resources, for nothing.

2. Recycle Cartridges

Paper is not the only thing that you can recycle. Cartridges can be replaced and recycled as well.

3. Don’t Use Paper If Possible

So one of the first things you should do is waste as little paper as possible. This means that have as much of your work online. Don’t forget to backup all the files you place in the cloud. If you must have a physical document in your hands, have your people review it, and scan it.

4. If You Use Paper, Recycle It!

Now, if getting totally rid of all paper is impossible, then recycling is simply a must. And not only should you recycle, but you should get recycled materials as well. So, get paper that has been coloured and processed via eco-friendly methods and processes. Also, get paper that has very little, to no, chlorine bleaching.

5. Consider Obtaining Green Software

Use software programs like GreenPrint that can identify wasteful printing and alert the user about the possible wasted paper space. It also recommends ways to eliminate it. In fact, GreenPrint claims to save businesses 17 percent on printing materials every year.

6. Misprints Can Be Reused

Give away notepads made of recycled misprints and so everyone knows their misprints can still be used and not just thrown away.

7. Reuse For Packing

If your staff needs to ship packages, have them reuse shipping boxes and shredded waste paper as packing material.

8. Dress Casual Every Day

What about implementing a business casual clothing policy? Instead of wearing very formal and stuffy clothing, they can switch to something more casual. You may end up saving on dry cleaning, and on air conditioning.

9. Save Resources By Working From Home

What about working from home? Sounds crazy, maybe even a bit lazy, but honestly, it really can help your company save up some cash and make it waste less natural resources. You can communicate with your employees as much as you can via Skype or other tools, and go to the office only when you really have to.

This will get you to use less gas for transportation, among other things.

10. Encourage Workers To Leave Their Cars At Home

Help reduce traffic congestion by encouraging everyone to carpool, take public transit, bike, or walk to work if the workplace is reasonably near their home.

11. Electric Cars? You Know You Like Them

Get a hybrid or electric car. Not only are they very safe, cost-efficient and good for the environment, but they look pretty cool too. Encourage your employees, and get them to follow your example. Let them follow your lead.

12. Experiment With Work Day Lengths

Consider having your employees work 10 hours a day for 4 days instead of 8 hours a day for 5 days. This helps cut energy costs for the company and travel costs for everyone. Who wouldn’t love three-day weekends?

13. Promote Natural Light

Natural light helps employees with productivity and satisfaction. So, make the most of the natural daylight and use it as a free source of lighting in the workplace instead of having all those artificial lights on all day.

This can work perfectly for all the desks that are close to huge windows.

Also, advise everyone never to leave the lights on at night when it’s time to go home.

14. Use Recycled Materials Whenever You Can

Stock up on recycled pens and pencils and encourage everyone to use them. It’s also better to get refillable pens and markers instead of buying disposable ones.

15. Biodegradable Is The Future

Getting a good deal of your office materials replaced with biodegradable versions is also a good way to go green.

16. Biodegradable Cleaners Today!

Have your cleaning people use biodegradable cleaners exclusively. Unlike regular cleaning agents, these will not influence the health of your staff. They will actually help eliminate harmful substances, while not being toxic for the cleaners, or for the environment.

17. Introduce Some Greenery

Go Green by having some greenery in your office. This means get some plants in there. Plants absorb airborne pollutants, as well as emitting oxygen into the air.

This will make your workplace much healthier, not to mention, much prettier.

18. Replace Your Mats

Instruct employees on the use dust control & floor protection mats. Place these mats by the door to keep dirt, dust, and bacteria from invading your workplace. It will reduce the need for everyday vacuuming and cleanups using harsh chemicals.

19. Prevent Wastefulness With Office Supplies

Advise the office manager to regularly keep tabs on your supplies cabinet. This helps keep employees from being wasteful with the office supplies.

20. Give Your Workers A Treat

Explain the importance of cost savings to your employees and perhaps come up with a program that allows you to throw pizza parties, organize lunches or dinners for everybody.

You can do it using the money you all have saved from conserving your office supplies. This will make the savings more tangible for everybody and encourage their efforts.

21. Update Your Mailing List

Keeping your mailing list updated all the time will keep everyone from sending out unnecessary letters. This means you’ll be saving on paper, printing, and postage.

22. Save Water

Promote conservation of water in the office kitchen or washroom. Toilet flushing wastes a lot of water. You can limit the amount of water wasted per flush by putting a brick in the tank.

23. Buy In Bulk

Avoid buying individual packets of coffee, creamer, sugar, pepper, salt, jam, and other consumables for the office pantry. Get them in bulk instead. Make sure to keep them organized and sanitary.

24. Unplug It If You Don’t Use It

Advise employees to unplug their computers, printers, scanners, photocopiers, and other devices before they leave work. Did you know that a huge percentage of office power is consumed by machines that are not even being used?

These are the machines that may be off but are still plugged into an outlet. This makes them one of the biggest environmental culprits and expenses today called ‘standby power’ or ‘phantom power’.

25. Switch Off Your Displays

Instead of using screensavers, have everyone set monitors to power off instead. Basically just turn everything off when it’s not about to be used for several minutes or more including the lights.

26. Say No To Bottled Water

Discourage bottled water use in the workplace and even at any work-related event or meeting. Raise awareness about why you need to stop drinking bottled water and the alternatives you can switch to.

27. Replace Plastics

You might also consider a one-time investment for glass and silver plates for you and your employees to use in the office kitchen or cafeteria during lunch breaks.

28. Promote Bringing Your Own Utensils

Instead of using disposable spoons and forks, encourage everyone to bring their own reusable utensils so you don’t throw away large quantities of plastic on a daily basis.

29. Pack Food In Reusable Containers

Encourage employees to bring lunch to work in reusable containers. As much as possible, avoid getting delivery and takeout as these usually end up being a pile of packaging waste in your office’s trash bins.

Your employees can also bring in their favorite mug from home to reduce or even eliminate the use of paper cups.

30. Make Recycling A Habit

Make sure each department has their own small recycling bins so that recycling becomes everyone’s habit in your company.

31. Assemble A Green Team

Couldn’t think of more ‘green’ ideas for the workplace? Build an employee-run ‘green’ team or committee whose members will brainstorm and come up with more Earth-conscious measures for your office. This will make everyone feel more involved and create a team atmosphere.

32. Let Everyone Know!

Share these tips with your colleagues. Spread awareness in the entire workplace. You can put up signs, posters, and bulletin boards everywhere in the office.

Share studies and statistics about the company’s imprint on the environment. Share the company’s long-term goals and ask for suggestions, opinions and other ideas as well.

Now, we spoke so much about how to be part of the green initiative, but we haven’t mentioned just how much it influences workplace morale, employee retention, and, of course, cost reduction. You will see amazing strides in all of these areas after you go green.

The good news is, there are companies like Alsco that strongly support ‘Green’ businesses. We provide services that will help every business owner, big or small, achieve total workplace sustainability.

Get in touch with Alsco today and our friendly staff will be more than happy to assist you with everything you need to get your ‘green initiative’ started.

Photo courtesy of Max Pixel Images by Panasonic DMC-Fx9

When Should You NOT Use Defibrillator?

In most cases, you should use an AED in case of a cardiac arrest. However, there are instances when the AED should not be used

• If the victim is in water or is wet for any reason.
• If the victim is surrounded by the combustible material.
• If the victim is less than 12 months old.

These are the situations when you should not use the defibrillator. In addition to these, there are situations when you should use your AED with caution:

• If the person has a pacemaker
• If the victim has a medication patch
• It the victim is a child under 8 years of age or weighs less than 25 kg

In all other situations in which you are dealing with a person who is unconscious and unresponsive, you should perform CPR and use the AED. Whether the AED will or will not administer the shock is not up to you. The device itself will analyse the pulse and make that call for you.

For this to happen, you need to have a functional AED ready and easily accessible in your workplace. Get it today from Alsco New Zealand for a monthly fee.

When Should AED Be Used?

AED should be used in case of a cardiac arrest. The symptoms of a cardiac arrest usually include a sudden collapse with irregular or no pulse or heartbeat. The victim is unresponsive, so they don’t react to your calls, shakes and touches.

However, cardiac arrest and heart attack are very similar in their symptoms. While AED can help with the cardiac arrest, it is not effective in the case of a heart attack.

If the person is suffering a heart attack, the only thing that can help them survive until the ambulance arrives is CPR. The AED shock will do no harm, but it will do no good either.

So, how do you know if the person is having a heart attack or a cardiac arrest? You don’t. There is no time for you to make these conclusions and diagnose the condition. If you determine that there is no pulse or the heartbeat is irregular, don’t hesitate and start with the CPR and AED immediately.

While AED won’t help with the heart attack, it will not do any harm either, so it is best to cover your bases, just in case. AED simply won’t administer a shock if the heart rate is not “shockable”.

Should AED Be Used Before or After CPR?

You need to start CPR the moment you see that a person has collapsed and doesn’t have a pulse. CPR is used to continue the blood flow that has stopped due to heart failure. If the blood stops, the brain doesn’t get its oxygen and can die. CPR should be done immediately while the AED is set up.

Image Source: stjohn.org.nz

Shout for help if there is anybody nearby who can hear you. Tell them to call 111 and ask for the ambulance. Grab the nearest AED and start performing the CPR while the other person sets up the AED so you can use it, preferably within a minute.

How Long Should You Perform CPR after a Successful Shock from the Defibrillator?

Generally, the AED should be performed as soon as possible, but some researches showed even a minute-long CPR before the AED shock helped the outcome of these first aid efforts. Setting up your AED will last at least a minute and there is no reason why that time should not be used for CPR.

In that way, you have prevented the complete halt of the blood flow, which is essential for the preservation of all important organs and tissues and you have administered the shock within the first two minutes from the moment of the accident, trying to restore the electrical function of the heart.

When Should You Stop CPR?

If you are in a safe situation when performing a CPR there are only a handful of reasons why you should stop CPR:

• There is an obvious sign that the person is better. They are breathing and/or are responsive.
• A trained medical professional has arrived to the scene and is taking over.
• You have done 40 pushes and you are quickly checking for the pulse.

In other words, unless the person is well, don’t stop with the CPR until the ambulance has arrived and somebody is taking over the CPR from you.

What Are the Chances of Survival When Using AED?

This depends on the time that has passed from the moment you the cardiac arrest happened and the moment you have started the defibrillation.

According to the USA researches and findings, if you shock somebody’s heart with an AED within a minute of their cardiac arrest, their chances of survival are 90%. With every minute passing, those chances drop from 7% to 10%. The Australian resources claim that the success rate within the first minute is 70%.

There have been initiatives around the world for the portable defibrillators to be placed in the public places. This also happens in New Zealand. Due to the importance of the quick response and the timely use of the AED, it is logical that people want to have it nearby at all times.

The majority of cardiac arrests that turn out fatal happen in home. This is because there are no AEDs in most households and while the ambulance arrives, it is usually too late to help.

Some of the cardiac arrests will happen in the workplace. Those who already have heart issues are in a greater risk of suffering a cardiac arrest than those who don’t. You can never be 100% sure that all your employees are aware of the state of their heart.

Therefore, you need to do whatever is in your power to make your workplace as safe as possible for everybody. This includes acquiring portable AEDs and installing them, so that they are always within a reach.

There is no need to buy so many AEDs. You can rent them from Alsco New Zealand for a reasonable monthly fee. Call Alsco NZ today and get your workplace AEDs.

Why Is Hi Vis Clothing Orange?

When it comes to external work environments, orange is the most commonly used colour for hi-vis clothing (followed by yellow).

Why? There are two big reasons:

1. Orange offers the best visibility against almost any background – especially natural greens or industrial greys and whites. While yellow is also very effective, it doesn’t work that well in the indoor environment and against white and grey walls.
2. Orange is the closest to red and red means “stop”, “danger” and “caution” in context of safety and warnings. Humans inherently perceive red as a sign of danger.

The reasons for this are both cultural and possibly evolutionary. But why not red then? Red is also effective, but the prevalence of colour-blindness (particularly in males who make up the majority of most outside workforces) makes red impractical as it is indistinguishable from green to those people affected by this common condition.

These two reasons explain some of the reasons why hi vis standards in NZ require for all hi vis clothing to be orange and/or yellow. However, colour is not the only thing that makes hi vis clothing work. Let’s find out more.

How Do Hi Vis Vests and Jackets Work?

Hi vis vests and jackets utilise the fluorescent and reflective properties of different fabrics so that the wearer is more prominent against their surrounding while performing their job.

In other words, hi visibility clothing achieves its goal through conspicuity. In order to be conspicuous, every hi vis item needs to be easily detected and recognised.

To make the hi vis clothing easily detected, it is necessary to choose the right colours and to ensure contrast against the background.

Contrast is achieved by fluorescent and reflective fabrics on hi-visibility clothing. Therefore, there are two types of hi-vis clothing, based on the way in which they achieve increased visibility:

• Fluorescent hi-vis clothing is not fluorescent on its own, but it is dyed to achieve that effect. The hi visibility effect is achieved by the special dye “soaking in” the light of a certain wavelength and emitting it. Obviously, for this to happen, there has to be enough light, so this type of hi vis clothing will not do much good when the sun is down. Also, the UV lights do not have the appropriate wavelength, so the fluorescent hi vis clothing isn’t working well in those conditions, either.
• Reflective hi visibility clothing usually includes a hi vis vest or overalls that have reflective tapes on it. There is no hi vis clothing that is entirely made out of reflective fabric. This type of clothing reflects the light that is pointed directly to it. That is when it is the most useful and that is why the reflective tape is used on hi vis vests for traffic workers and those workers that work at night. The headlights of a car will throw the light ahead of the vehicle and if there is a person in front of the vehicle, the driver will see them due to the reflective hi vis tape for clothing.

Contrast is very important to achieve high visibility. Fluorescent and reflective materials will help to achieve it, but the choice of colours also plays an important role. To ensure better detection, it is necessary to use colours that are the most easily seen.

However, besides improved detection, colours are also essential to ensuring better recognition. Let’s explain how colours make us detect items more easily and recognise them in certain contexts.

Which Colour Is Most Easily Seen?

The answer to this question depends on the period within a day, but also on the context in which the colour is seen. For example, during daytime and from a distance, yellow-green is the most visible colour.

However, after dark, we are more likely to spot blue-green shades. On the other hand, you are more likely to spot red or orange against the green environment outside. How does this even happen?

This is all due to the fact that we perceive colour as waves. There are three types of the wavelength that colour travels in: short, medium and long. This classification is a bit loose, but it can explain the general principle behind using certain colours for hi vis clothing.

Another element that determines the visibility of a certain colour in a given moment is the amount of light. That is due to the biological features of our eyes that are designed to use light to perceive colour.

Namely, our eyes use the system of cones and rods to see. While cones are used to sense wavelengths, the rods are there to ensure vision when there is not much light in the surroundings. Both cones and rods are photoreceptors.

If a colour is most easily seen it ensures easy detection. That is the first factor, out of two, that needs to be fulfilled to ensure the effectiveness of hi vis clothing. The second one is recognition.

How Does Colour Contribute to Easy Recognition?

It is obvious that different colours have different meanings for us. Some people will say blue colour soothes them, while others will tell you that yellow stimulates them to work. This happens due to some evolutive principles, but also due to some cultural factors.

For example, humans will very likely spot red colour because that is the colour of edible berries that our ancestors used to eat. In time, the ability to spot red against green got imprinted into the collective memory of the human race. This is an example of how evolution dictates some of our responses to colours.

Is that it? We like red because it was once important to pick berries? It’s not as easy as that. In time, we, as humans, created different cultures that associate different meanings to different colours.

For example, red is the colour of love, energy, passion in Western cultures. In certain parts of Asia, it is considered to be the colour of good luck and fertility, while some African cultures consider it the colour of death. Therefore, culture and society often make us associate colours with different meanings.

That is why it is important to observe colours in different contexts. While on the road or in a warehouse with heavy machinery or even on a construction site, you will know that you should look out when you see red or orange. Also, when looking for a person who works on such a site, you will look for that bright-yellow vest.

In other words, we recognise orange and yellow in the context of such workplaces and situations as colours or warning. That is precisely how hi visibility clothing works in terms of colours. By adding some fluorescent dye to them, yellow and orange are made even more visible.

However, that is not enough when the sun comes down. That is why hi vis clothing also uses fluorescent colours, and/or hi vis tape for clothing to stand out even more. Fluorescent fabric is obvious, but the reflective tape is still a bit of a mystery. Let’s shed some light on it.

How Is Reflective Fabric Made?

The reflective tape can be micro-prismatic and glass bead reflective hi vis tape for clothing. We know that the fluorescent effect on the hi vi clothing is achieved by simple dying of the fabric. On the other hand, the hi vis tape for clothing works in an entirely different way. It is all about tiny prisms and beads. Here are the two most commonly used types of reflective tape:

• Micro-Prismatic Tape is plastic vinyl in its base. The plastic vinyl is formed into tiny micro-prisms. They are sealed in the tape. The prisms may be small, but they still reflect the light. Moreover, there is a lot of them and they reflect the light back to the source. The micro-prismatic tape is durable and long-lasting. It comes in different colours and shapes, but the downside is that it is quite expensive.
• Glass Bead Reflective Tape is what you see on most hi visibility clothing. Safety hi vis clothing usually has this type of silvery-grayish tape on it. This type of reflective tape is much cheaper than the micro-prismatic one and it still gets the job done. You just need to make sure you maintain it properly.

If you rent your hi visibility clothing from Alsco NZ, you won’t have to worry about the maintenance, at all. For all our customers, we collect the dirty garments on a regular basis and replace them with the clean ones. We take the garments to our facilities where it is being laundered with great care and using industrial level cleaning agents.

This regular laundering, pickup and delivery are all included in the monthly price of your hi vis clothing. Contact Alsco New Zealand today and learn what is the best offer for your flat monthly rate.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

ARHT on Saving Lives: Just in Time for Medical Emergencies

Morning time is when we’re summoning up all the strength we can muster so we can face whichever adversity the day throws at us.

Being accountable for a company’s future or performing any job role responsibly is not all plain sailing. But what if you were responsible for other people’s lives?

The crew of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust lives with this responsibility 24/7, 365 days a year. And they’re doing a great job! ARHT rescue service is an Auckland based emergency aeromedical service.

With over 1000 missions a year, they’re keeping a watchful eye on Aucklanders needing urgent medical attention, a rescue mission or medical transport. And they’re always on the dot when there’s some lifesaving to be done.

The History of ARHT Rescue Services

It was back in 1970 when the Auckland Surf Life Saving Association started the ball rolling. They leased a Hiller 12E helicopter for surf rescues on Auckland’s west coast beaches. Making it the world’s first civilian rescue helicopter service.

These guys were good news to the community, even more so when they were brought on the air. Namely, the helicopter lifeguards started delivering surf reports straight from the chopper to the Radio Hauraki’s live broadcast.

The audience loved the glad tidings the flight crew brought them. So this resulted in successful fundraising which fixed the crew up with a new summer base and a landing pad.

Fast-forward to the present day, the service has thousands of rescue missions behind them.

The best way to taste a little bit of what ARHT does is via looking into the real-life stories of people they’ve helped.

Andy’s Long Ride Home

It was a July Friday afternoon when Andy Corles pulled out of the driveway to pick up his 4-year-old after her playdate. The family had just been packing for a holiday, but Andy never returned home that day.

It was raining heavily and Andy slid out of control while rounding a corner. The car hit a pothole, the bank and then flipped onto its roof.

The passersby dialled 111 and the local police and the ambulance crew showed up in no time. But Andy needed ARHT’s quick action. Otherwise, it would have been a three-hour drive by roadway to the nearest hospital.

ARHT flew him to the Auckland City Hospital in just 24 minutes. The Corles family believes Andy wouldn’t have made it without the rescue helicopter crew. The recovery was a long one, but Andy’s come out as tough as nails. His own words would suffice:

“A doctor asked me what I wanted to achieve at the spinal unit. I said I’m going home in a manual wheelchair. He told me it was great to have goals, but to be realistic. Well, I proved him wrong. It took a lot of work, but it was worth it in the end.”

Andy’s taken up hand cycling as he had promised. But not only that. He’s about to compete at Nicholas Browne Challenge and hopes to raise $4,500 for the ARHT while doing it.

14-Year-Old Finley Falls Down A Cliff Face

What appeared to be a cheerful walk with a mate on Grant Island, Mahurangi, turned out to be a disaster for a 14-year-old Finley Savage. A dreadful fall 15 metres down a cliff face left Finley with multiple head and arm injuries as well as a broken femur.

They had no phone on them so mate Robbie ran to fetch help. While he did so, these were exact Finley’s thoughts.

“I was falling in and out of consciousness when I heard the sound of those rotors. Best sound I’ve ever heard!”

Luckily, he’s fully recovered from the accident. Here’s what he says right off the top of his head to urge everyone to continue helping the chopper.

“After the accident, my mum said how lucky we were that the helicopter was there because we never thought we’d ever need them. If you can help them help others then please do so.”

If They Hadn’t Been Here, Finn Mightn’t Be Here Today

The two boys of the Macleans family share the common children’s restlessness. But sadly, what all four members of the family have in common is the same chronic condition – asthma.

The little three-year-old Finn has developed the condition at just six months of age. But what happened on 24th November 2015 was something they hadn’t seen coming. The boy got ill during the night and at one moment the parents noticed that the boy had gone a bit blue under his bottom lip.

The ambulance arrived within minutes. But it was the peak hour and they couldn’t have risked transporting Finn to the hospital by road. It took ARHT 13 minutes to get the toddler to the hospital.

After winning the battle with Finn’s severe asthma attack with the help of the helicopter, this is what the mum Jade’s reaction was.

“I think that getting Finn there quickly was the big difference between it going well and going south,” Jade says, trying to hold back tears. “It’s really sad to think had they not been here Finn might not be here today. We’re just really, really grateful.”

ARHT Has Alsco’s Wholehearted Support

The stories above testify to the ARHT’s immense value for the Auckland community. Alsco likes to be first in line when it comes to supporting such valuable community-driven organisations.

We’ve been providing financial contributions to ARHT for more than a decade. Moreover, everybody at Alsco can’t stop raving about this worthwhile cause.

Don’t Stay Behind – Give Your Support to Those Who Leave No One Behind

It’s vital to know anyone can help with the rescue mission. Being a part of it literally means helping more lives being saved. How can you contribute funds to the helicopter mission?

There are a few different ways. You can:

• Become a sponsor, choose your monthly donation and get a special mission certificate
• Become a fundraiser superstar, organise an event or a challenge to raise money on ARHT’s behalf
• Make a donation in memory of a loved one
• Contribute by purchasing ARHT’s high-quality products
• Help fund the purchase of two new rescue choppers
• Leave a charitable gift in your Will

Another thing you can do is jot down ARHT’s hotline number. It’s good to have it on you in case of an emergency. You could save it on your phone and share it with your friends and colleagues.

You never know whose luck this number can turn around when things go downhill.

FREEPHONE 0800 4 RESCUE (0800 4 737283)

What You Need to Know About Pop Up Restaurants

The term ‘Pop-Up Restaurant’ became a trendy term as far back as 2014. Historically, there were ‘supper clubs’ and ‘underground restaurants’ which were considered exclusive, until people realised that they can now be made accessible to the public for a limited amount of time, hence the birth of pop-up restaurants.

As of 2019, there has been steady growth in this trend. If a budding chef or foodie wants to test out their menu for a fraction of the cost of setting up a conventional restaurant, then this is the way to go.

The main reasons why pop-up restaurants are worth doing include:

• It’s not as costly as setting up a conventional restaurant
• It’s the best avenue for testing out new and exciting concepts that will get people talking
• It’s easy to latch on to existing brands and events where a ready audience awaits
• Similar pop-ups can be set up from town to town or state – like a tour waiting to happen

Here are a few pointers on how to set up a profitable pop-up restaurant.

Have a Business Plan Ready

A pop-up can serve as a major step towards owning a chain of renowned restaurants. As a budding chef, it’s important to have a business plan that outlines short and long term goals. This allows for adequate planning and in the long run, booming business. Check out some great sample business plans here.

Location, Location, Location

A pop-up restaurant can be set up in a back alley in any neighborhood that gets plenty of foot traffic, or even an abandoned building (provided it’s safe), or in a gallery or at a community event. It’s important to do your research on what will appeal to your demographic – are they mostly young, inner-city types or families with kids? Popular festivals and events are worth keeping an eye on – do they attract the type of people who would love your food? Whatever – if there are lots of people walking by at the right time of day for lunch or dinner – then a pop-up is a good bet.

Get the Necessary Licences and Permits

Maintain a good relationship and reputation with local council and authorities – follow the regulations when setting up a temporary installation such as a pop-up restaurant. For example, it’s important to find out if the location requires any rent or extra charges. There could be food handling certificates as well as liquor licenses (if this makes up part of the menu) and other permits that you need to obtain to ensure the pop-up gets the green light.

Focus on Marketing and PR for the Upcoming Pop-Up Restaurant

Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? But there are promotional avenues that need little to no funds and still get people talking about your pop-up. To begin with, family and friends are a great start. Make use of their social media networks to help get the word out. Next, connect with popular local media sites, local TV and radio outlets, and magazine editors to increase your reach. These connections will prove invaluable long after the pop-up event, so nurture them.

Setting Up a Temporary Kitchen and Dining Area is a Must

The pop-up restaurant differs in a few ways from a food truck. To begin with, a food truck may or may not have kitchen and dining facilities for its patrons. A pop-up restaurant is a precursor to having a fully-fledged diner and so these facilities are important to have. Invest in easily-mobile and affordable options. The design of the temporary dining room also needs to be eye-catching but realistic. This is because repeat patrons may have high expectations which cannot be fulfilled in upcoming pop-ups – keep it simple for now. Explore cost-effective rental options from providers like Alsco to get good quality restaurant and hospitality supplies.

Have a Well-Laid Out Menu

The main reason people would flock to a new pop-up restaurant is a menu with a twist. This doesn’t mean complicated recipe combinations, but merely a menu that offers something no one else is doing. Make sure the menu is clear and well-laid out. For example, have a creatively written blackboard at the entrance of the pop-up so patrons can know what to expect. More importantly, keep the prices friendly and in line with the chosen location. Festival charges may not be as high as an independent set up because a pop-up can leverage the existing temporary infrastructure already in place.

Plan For Your Next Pop-up Restaurant

In other words, Rinse and Repeat. One pop-up restaurant down, lots more to go. This means finding out from those who visited the initial set up to share their experience and general feedback, from the venue to the menu.

Remember after-sales marketing and PR. This is the time to make use of the reviews to make the next one better. One sure way of keeping the pop-up consistent is having a long-term relationship with a regular festival or event in the area. This means the pop-up becomes constant during each subsequent event and costs are predictable.

The Do’s and Don’ts When Setting up a Pop-Up Restaurant

• Do: Plan Ahead – Adequate planning, from funds to affordable suppliers, is crucial to make the pop-up restaurant a success.
• Do: Be Social – As an upcoming restaurant owner, it’s as important to develop a rapport with the locals as it is to wow outsiders. Look after the locals. Know who’s who in the zoo.
• Do: Be Open-minded – As an emerging chef or restaurant owner, you must be open to criticism. Flexibility helps you adjust a business plan, tweak the menu and stay focused on keeping your customers happy. Don’t live life in an echo-chamber with people who just tell you everything is perfect – ask for criticism, never get complacent and always strive to be better than the last time. Your customers will notice.
• Don’t: Spend More than Necessary – It’s important for a pop-up restaurant venture to be as cost-efficient (if not profitable) as possible. Make connections with affordable suppliers, take advantage of already existing events to keep overhead costs down, and remember that a fully-fledged restaurant is the end goal of the venture (money must be saved!).
• Don’t: Cut Corners – Do NOT set up a pop-up restaurant without the necessary permits and licenses. This could adversely affect future pop-up ventures applications and, ultimately, the restaurant or bistro you are working towards creating. Use affordable but quality equipment in order to avoid overspending on replacements or having malfunctions during the event.

Photo courtesy of Flickr by SteelMaster Buildings

7 Ways to Promote Your Business Online For Free

Imagine a time, in the not so distant past, where the ways to promote a business included printed fliers, advertisements in magazines and broadcast media or word of mouth.

It was a difficult and expensive way to tell the world about your business. Now, spreading the word has gone into overdrive thanks to the internet.

It’s now possible to pass a simple message about a business online to multiple people quickly and easy. In the long run, a business will have to spend on marketing campaigns to get the word out, but startups can take advantage of free avenues to promote business online.

Get Listed on Google My Business Listing and other Directories

It is now possible to post information about a business on local listing platforms, with the most popular being Google My Business Listing. There are many listing sites that have become popular with the growth of the online community. Facebook and Apple Maps are some of the biggest listing sites out there.

Other Listing platforms include Foursquare, Bing, Yelp and Hubspot among others. It is important for your listing to have the proper business name, correct location (a Map is a great bonus), company description, website link and any multimedia that can give searchers a deeper insight into the business. Keeping company information up to date for visitors is what keeps clientele coming back and referring the business to others.

Get an SEO-Friendly Website Up and Running

Nowadays, a business sans website is considered ‘fishy’. Therefore, it is important to have a detailed and eye-catching website that gives visitors and clients a clear picture of the business. To get more people viewing the site, make it SEO-friendly to allow it to appear among top searches for businesses of the same niche. When creating a website, ensure it is accessible on multiple platforms (mobile, desktop and tablet). It should also have a seamless user experience to avoid potential clients from skipping your website. Finally, avoid having duplicate and obsolete content on the website. This means there is a constant need to update the site to keep it appealing and have more traffic over time.

Make Social Media Your Friend

Social media has become any business’s best friend. This is because these platforms are a ready client base, if used adequately. To begin with, create social media pages for your business on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Make sure that the pages are regularly updated to keep visitors abreast on progress and changes. Social media is affordable and sometimes free which means costs when starting up a business down to a bare minimum.

Make Use of Multimedia Sites to Take Your Advertising To the Next Level

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words – imagine how much multimedia speaks for a business! Aside from social media pages for the business, have a YouTube channel with relevant information about the business. One can start with an intro video to the business that shows the setup, the team and overall goals of the business. An additional tool to have is a Flickr account that allows a business to have pictures related to the business all in one place.

Submit Listing to Search Engines

Submitting a business listing to online search engines is free and takes only a few minutes. Simply use the webmaster tools for popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing. You don’t have to pay to get into any of the major search engines’ free/organic listings. Google, for example, indexes your web pages automatically, as do most other search engines.

Take Advantage of Free Email Marketing

Another way to promote business online is by making use of free email marketing platforms like Mailchimp. These allow a business to send out thousands of emails monthly to thousands of potential customers – so the potential for getting your message out there is limited only by your skills at writing good copy.

It’s important to note that the set up of an email marketing account takes time to create. There’s a client list to compile and branding to apply, so patience is key. Also ensure there are clear calls to action (CTAs) and contact options, otherwise you will lose customer acquisition opportunities.

Connect with Online Business Community Forums

Every startup business that wishes to be successful needs to connect with other like-minded entities. Online business community forums are the best place to start. These forums have discussion boards broken down into every relevant topic, giving your business a chance to advertise a product or service and offer advice to its members.

Well-known platforms such as Yahoo!’s OnStartups, YoungEntrepreneur and EConnect by Entrepreneur have hundreds of thousands of business people willing to share useful tips and advice. Consider also looking for local forums that offer discussions relevant to your business and locality.

Aside from advertising or finding business advice, a startup can use event sites such as 10Times or EventBrite to share information on events such as launch dates, conferences, forums, online events, and more. These sites segment their audiences and are a great way to showcase your business profile quickly and easily.

Promote Business Online Etiquette

• Keep your business information up-to-date – This means letting people know of a change of address or business category or even merging with another business. Keep your clientele up to speed on your business moves.
• Avoid over-promotion – When sending out emails or posts, ensure that they are regular but not too frequent. Too many posts or emails from the same business can put off a customer or visitor and give them an excuse to unsubscribe.
• Avoid using negative language against a competitor – There is a piece of the business pie out here for everyone, so focus on building your own business and avoid tarnishing a competitor’s business. It paints your business in a bad light.
• Respond and Deliver – When queries or complaints are forwarded to a business, quick turnaround time is vital. In addition, delivering a quality product or service in the record but realistic time is worth the effort in terms of customer satisfaction and advocacy – after all, referrals are the best and cheapest source of new business leads.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @freepic.diller

How To Make Your Business Travel Work For Your Personal Life

Business travel is interesting because you get to take an all-expenses-paid trip courtesy of your profession.

In a job that requires constant travel, it can become daunting because while travelling, you can’t fully enjoy the trip as you have obligations to fulfil.

According to research on business travel in Australia, 2.2 million Australians travelled for business in 2017, which was about 10% of the population.

At least half of these travellers probably took some time out to enjoy a personal vacation.

When travelling for business, it’s important to be smart and get a little vacation out of it. You can even plan your business trip around a family vacation, which is a definite plus. There are some neat tricks that you can take advantage of to make your business travel work for your personal life.

Take Advantage of Free Hotel Nights

When going on a business trip, where you lay your head at the end of the day needs to be comfortable and make the trip more tolerable. This is where you will look at fun spots either in or around the hotel. Thanks to companies like AirBnB, you can choose a cosy spot that makes it feel like a home away from home.

Many booking sites and hotels will have discounts and offers for regular customers. For example, some hotels will use a point system to reward you with a free night or more. In addition, you can choose a hotel package that offers discounted rates on rooms or will give you free nights.

Plan Your Business Travel Itinerary Around Family

The art of taking a personal vacation during business travel now has a name – Bleisure. When going on business trips, some of them can fall at the end of the week, like on Thursdays or Fridays. Because the company is still going to pay a return flight back home for me, make good use of it and take the weekend to relax.

We tend to miss family when taking business trips. So take a look at the work plan and identify a long weekend during the trip. You can have your family come to the town you are working in to spend time with you. You can book the return ticket on Sunday evening, then you and the family will all be back home in time to plan for a new week.

Use Your Account to Accumulate Frequent Flyer Points

If you are in the business of regular flight travel, then it’s a good move to use your own account to accumulate flying points. The main benefit of these points is that you can get free tickets once you reach your target.

Encourage the company you work for to allow you to make your own flight bookings. You can then use your account after some time to buy a ticket for a loved one or for a friend to squeeze in a vacation between business. We all want to live a good life and we can then use these points to upgrade to business class tickets. Even if you will be putting in hours, you might as well be relaxed while at it.

Budget Your Business Trip To Get Extra Vacation Funds

There are business trips that your company will want to get business class flights or five-star hotel rooms. This is another time that you can request to make your own bookings. Go for budget hotels and flights to save some cash.

Make use of the extra funds to travel to historical places in towns you visit as well as get some extra nights at a hotel for much-needed rest and relaxation. You don’t have to use the money at that time but you can save up and then go on a family vacation or on a solo retreat to rejuvenate.

Don’t Be Afraid to Combine Business and Pleasure

Business travel is sometimes the only way we will visit dream destinations for free. When you get the chance to travel to a holiday destination or a place you’ve always wanted to visit, grab the chance to go sightseeing. You may not be able to visit all the hot spots in the area, but you can try as much as you can to get some tourist time out.

If you have a tight schedule, take advantage of the sports bar or restaurant overlooking the ocean to unwind after a long day. You can enjoy a great meal, a fancy cocktail and some good music, without straining yourself. This is also a good time to make new friends and network with other business people.

Whenever you travel to a place where you have relatives and friends, you can give them a heads up that you’ll be in their neighbourhood. You can either meet at the hotel you are staying at or visit them where they are. This means you can get some work done and still connect with friends or family.

How Can You Enjoy Your Personal Vacation During Business Travel?

• Plan your leave days to get in some vacation time while travelling on business. Companies usually have a long term plan for their businesses, which means any work travel is known ahead of time. Try and take some personal days around your business trips and have a good time after working.
• Pack light when travelling for business. When taking a business trip, think about packing light so you’re able to move around for your personal vacation time. Packing light also gives you some space to buy some souvenirs to bring back home.
• Make the most of your business trip. Companies might have restrictive travel budgets and this means less time to relax while on business. This shouldn’t worry you, visit a well-known bar or beach not too far from your work location.
• Plan ahead and be flexible when on a business trip. Find out about travel and accommodation arrangements in advance. For example, you can get a bigger room or rent an apartment if you have a family or a loved one tagging along. You should also find out if all the bookings made can be adjusted or cancelled. This will allow you to get the most out of your bleisure trip and also keep you from paying penalties or cancellation charges and affect your budget.