What Is the Role of the First Aid Officer in the Workplace?

The first aid officer or a first aider is the person who holds the certificate in first aid, achieved after taking a course that complies with the standards and requirements provided by the NZQA, including the New Zealand Resuscitation Council and First Aid Guidelines of the Department of Labour.

The role of the first aider in a New Zealand workplace is to administer reasonable amount of treatment in the case of emergency.

They also need to cooperate with the employer (PCBU), be aware of the first aid equipment on sight and the contents of the first aid kits.

First aid kits need to be maintained. Since the first aiders already have a lot on their plate, this is best left to somebody else. Rent your first aid kits from Alsco New Zealand, and you will get regular and careful maintenance and restocking included in your annual flat rate.

What Are the Qualities of a First Aider?

According to the NZQA and their Training Requirements for Quality Provision of Unit Standard-based
First Aid Training, the first aiders need to be able to:

1. Assess the situation in a timely manner, identifying dangers to the patient, themselves and everybody present in the workplace. When assessing the situation, they need to come up with ways to deal with the hazard.

Rationale: Placing themselves into risk, the first aiders are actually, indirectly, placing into risk the bystanders and the patient themselves. That is why it is essential that the first aider is capable of quickly assessing the situation and make sure nobody is in imminent danger, including themselves.

2. Assess the severity of the illness or injury in order to quickly call 111, briefly and precisely explaining the situation to them. For this to happen the first aiders need to be able to recognise symptoms of potentially lethal states, such as heart failure, stroke and similar. They also need to be able to decide whether the person should be taken to the ER or to the GP.

Rationale: The most important decision that a first aider faces is whether the patient needs urgent medical care, routine care or no medical care at all. That decision determines all the actions that come after this. In case of life-threatening situations like strokes and heart conditions, minutes make the difference between life and death. That is why it is essential that the first aiders know how to make this call.

3. Establish the uninterrupted air flow through the airway of an unconscious patient. First aiders should know how to free the airway so that the patient gets good air supply. They should know how to do the head tilt and chin lift. After that, the patient needs to be put into a recovery position which is also something a first aider should be able to do.

Rationale: There are different ways other than head tilt plus the chin lift to open the airways for an unconscious patient. More effective ways are cervical spine immobilisation and jaw thrust, but these skills are considered to be above the level of workplace first aid level. The important thing is for the patient to get the air and this simple procedure is enough in most cases.

4. Correctly perform CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is essential for any first aider. The first aider will already know what is the correct rate of compressions, the depth of those pushes and the place on the chest that needs to be pressured. They should also know how to efficiently and correctly perform the mouth-to-mouth.

Rationale: Timely use of CPR and AED has been shown to increase the chances of survival from the cardiac arrest significantly. For this to happen, the CPR needs to be done correctly. First aiders need to be confident in their CPR skills, because lives very well depend on it.

5. Manage bleeding. Bleeding needs to be stopped instantly, in order for the patient to survive. This is done by applying pressure to the appropriate places to stop the blood flow. First aiders need to know how it is done properly.

Rationale: Sudden and extreme blood loss can lead to fatal outcomes in patients, as well as to serious injuries. That is why the first aider needs to be the one who will stop the blood loss until the emergency unit arrives.

6. Recognise and deal with common medical emergencies. First aiders need to be able to recognise the symptoms of coronary syndromes, stroke, seizures, breathing difficulties, choking and diabetes emergencies.  They also need to know how to help the patient and buy them time until the ambulance arrives.

Rationale: It is essential that the first aiders are capable to identify the life-threatening issues, but to be more focused on the symptoms than the solutions. They need to realise that their emphasis should be on allowing the patient to receive the attention of trained professionals.

7. Manage common injuries. Burns, fractures, cuts, eye and head injuries should all be manageable by the first aiders.

Rationale: The workplace injuries are usually light fractures, burns, cuts and the like. Therefore, the treatment of these injuries should be something that a first aider can do anytime.

How Long Does a First Aid Certificate Last?

To be first aiders, your employees need to obtain a certificate first. Once obtained, the certificate is valid for 2 years. After two years, a refresher course needs to be taken.

If two years and three months pass from the moment a first aider took their course, they need to retake the original first aid course.

The courses need to be conducted by an institution which has been approved by the NZQA. The courses should be conducted under the following standards: 6402, 6401 and 6400.

However, there have been some changes, and these standards have been replaced with 26551 and 26552. Since then, there has been one more shift back to the previous set of standards.

How Long Does a First Aid Course Last?

NZQA requires from the institutions that provide the first aid courses to allot the following time:

However, this doesn’t include the breaks in the courses. These are the times that is used for teaching and assessment.

Courses are essential for equipping the first aiders with enough knowledge and skills to save lives and help injured employees. However, if they don’t have the tools and supplies to do so, they will be much less efficient.

Get fully stocked first aid kits from Alsco NZ. Rent them and avoid upfront costs while also ensuring regular and thorough restocking included in the price.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by Freepik

Connecting With Our Local Community: Alsco Supports ARHT

Serving customers, returning a profit and giving back to shareholders used to be enough in old-school business management.

Not anymore! Modern up-and-coming businesses are shifting the focus on leaving a legacy.

What this means is that businesses are reevaluating the overarching strategies for the benefit of the community at large.

The impact of day-to-day business operations on the environment and the community is a trending topic among New Zealand modern businesses. Not only because these trends are up to the minute.

But because this is how you build a sustainable business in the contemporary world.

It’s about leaving the world a better place. Yet, supporting your local community also makes good business sense. Leaving one’s stamp in the community sphere is becoming increasingly important to today’s customers. Companies are under the magnifying glass of massive global and local audiences.

Sustaining our business is what we do, but what gives us a sense of purpose is sustaining human life. Today we’re looking at what Alsco does to do just that.

Alsco Backing Community Projects and Initiatives

Alsco fosters its company core values by putting them into practice. We’re a proud supporter of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and are a part of the mission sponsorship for more a decade already.

We take pride in supporting many other local community initiatives and organisations, too. Being committed to making things better for everyone, we’re actively involved in helping the community – New Zealand and overseas.

Back in the day, 50 years ago, when Alsco was starting out in New Zealand, the community played the key role in making Alsco what it is today. This is the way we like to give back. Here are some of our community engagement and charity activities so far:

• Annual support of the ASB Classic tennis tournament
• Fundraising for the Auckland City Mission Cook-Off charity event, tending to the homeless and less privileged
• Gifting products of no commercial use to Medical Aid Abroad, City Mission, Shine and SPCA through Alsco’s First Aid Products Repurposing Program
• Passing along used bed linen and blankets to the needy
• Donating supplies to New Zealand organisations, such as St John Ambulance Cadets, New Rising Foundation and Elevate Christian Disability Trust

ARHT’s Mission

The Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s mission is not to let anyone in the Auckland community end up stranded. It provides a well-qualified, efficient aeromedical service.

A powerful sense of mission underpins everything these guys do. And they cover a wide range of activities. From providing emergency air ambulance and accident casualty transport to rescue searches and airlifts.

The crew line-up consists of experienced pilots, paramedics and crewmen. These guys are watching over Aucklanders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

A large number of successful interventions makes being a part of ARHT’s mission a delight for its supporters.

ARHT’s Amazing Lifesaving Stories

ARHT keeps creating amazing happy end life stories miles away from Hollywood happy ending cliches. Those people keep on turning the bad luck of many Kiwi people into good luck. And these plots never get overused. Or you get tired of hearing them.

ARHT has a collection of stories from people who are now alive to tell them. We’ve handpicked some of them for you.

Nathan’s head injury

Just one wrong step made a truck driver Nathan Russell in need of the rescue helicopter help. Stepping out of his two-metre high truck while transferring some work gear inflicted major head injury on Nathan.

The injury was bad enough to require an urgent neurosurgery. And hadn’t it been for the ARHT’s emergency transport service, Nathan may not have survived.

David’s cardiac arrest

Defibrillator Avoid WHS fines. Get a portable defibrillator that is regularly checked and maintained. Learn about defibrillators…

David Willis, the father of two has survived a severe cardiac arrest against all odds while on his Omaha Beach holiday. The event took place while David was beach-jogging at the break of the day.

Luckily for him, he didn’t have the beach all to himself as he had been expecting. Since AJ Hazelhurst and his wife Julie were just taking their two dogs for a walk. It was their regular.

But what helped David beat the odds is that Julie took her mobile phone with her. It was by a stroke of luck, as this wasn’t what she would normally do.

Using the AED app on her phone, Julie pinpointed the location of the nearest defibrillator in the local surf club. A lifesaver arrived with the defibrillator and helped shock David’s heart back to the action.

That’s when the ARHT crew touched down at the site of the accident and helped resolve this true lifesaving drama successfully.

High On the Idea? Jump On Board and Get Behind ARHT

Alsco is passionate about being a part of worthwhile causes like this. Lending financial support to ARHT gives our company a strong sense of mission. We’re bound and determined to show care and concern for our community.

And we’re no less determined to build on this legacy in the future.

Being only partially Government funded, Rescue Mission relies on the Auckland community support. Individual and corporate sector donations are vital in making ARHT push forward.

So, if you feel stirred to action and want to hear more uplifting stories with lives being saved, you should become a supporter. If you do, your contribution can save someone’s life, as the funds go directly to a specific mission flown by one of our helicopters.

With ARHT every cloud has a silver lining. Help make this proverb become our future reality too. We take pleasure in spotting each ARHT’s rescue chopper cropping up in the Auckland sky.

Donate to ARHT now and join us in knowing you are a part of something truly great.

Also, everyone’s invited to fly the flag for ARHT to ensure these amazing guys keep on taking to the skies saving people’s lives.

6 Ways To Deal With Absences Of Your Employees

A little known fact is that employee absenteeism eats up 5-17% of an organisation’s total payroll.

People who don’t come to work are not contributing to the success of any business.

Absenteeism is one of the often neglected problems in the business world.

It shows only after careful analyses of employees’ behavior and it is generally hard to deal with.

These are some of the signs to look for when trying to diagnose the absenteeism problem in your company.

• Repeated/frequent absenteeism
• A noticeable pattern of Monday and Friday absences
• Excessive tardiness
• Leaving work early
• Frequent absences due to vaguely defined illnesses
• Unauthorized leave
• Last minute requests for leave
• Excessive use of sick leave

This article will try to identify the causes of absenteeism and offer some possible solutions for the problem. Since the solution to this problem is usually very case-specific you will find that not all the things listed here may be applicable to your problem. Still, if you take things listed in this article as a starting point, you will be on your way to root out absenteeism from your organization.

1. Set Attendance Expectations

Have a set of company policies and expectations regarding attendance and always remind your employees about the importance of following these policies.

Have them notify a manager about the absence within a certain period of time, specifying the reason they won’t make it work, including their illness’ nature, and when they can get back to work.

It would be best to have them provide evidence too, such as a note from a doctor that states they are unfit for work.

These attendance expectations can also be incorporated into your company’s leave policy.

2. Identify The Underlying Issues

When you notice signs of absenteeism, you need to try to define and address the problems behind it, that is, to find out what the causes of absenteeism are and see if you can do something to eliminate them.

Before you decide to apply some harsh measures, try to find out if there are some issues with the work environment which make your employee skip work.

Are they under a lot of unnecessary stress due to the amount of work they need to do? Is the chain of command properly established? Is there maybe a need to improve the workplace hygiene? Is the employee a victim of bullying? Do they maybe have some personal problems which are out of their control?

Once you figure out all the facts, you will be more prepared to deal with the employee’s absenteeism problem.

3. Deal With Stress In The Office

Have you ever felt the need to take a day or two off from stress? Your employees do too! Hence the need to recognise it as a significant health and safety issue.

Create an atmosphere in the office that is conducive to work and will reduce stress in your employees. Work on making the office a safe working environment and make sure that everyone is properly trained to perform their duties.

Openly recognising work-related stress as a genuine problem also helps remove the stigma connected to it. Make it a habit to discuss and resolve issues among employees, and make the appropriate action.

Get your employees involved in creating a stress management policy in your workplace. Encourage them to share their opinions about their duties and the management as well.
If possible, employ extra staff or reorganise duties to reduce the need for overtime work.

4. Give Them Something More Than Just Work

A great way to encourage employees to keep coming in is to provide them with extra experiences that will help them bond with their fellow employees. A First Aid course like that on offer with Alsco is one good idea.

Not only does it totally detract from any topics that are too focused on work, but it also gives your employees great life skills to apply in their day to day lives beyond work.

There are a lot of cases where employees don’t miss work simply to attend and have fun with their friends.

5. Make Sure Your Workplace Is Clean

Did you know that substandard hygiene in the workplace also leads to employee absenteeism?

Now you know why your workers would rather head out to get coffee instead of making one in your office kitchen. This is the same reason why they spend too much time in the washroom lining up for the only clean toilet cubicle, or why some get sick way too often.

It’s time to clean up. You can start with having a fresh, clean, and hygienic washroom – something Alsco can help you with.

Alsco’s washroom services include a whole range of hygiene and washroom rental programs throughout New Zealand.

Invest in eco-friendly, functional, hygienic products for odour control, hand hygiene, and even First Aid in your washroom. Then watch it all be worth it when your employees start to feel fresher, cleaner and healthier in your workplace instead of always dreading to be inside it.

6. Be Someone They Can Talk To

When you notice that a particular employee leans heavily on the absences, the first instinct is to berate and scold. It’s understandable and it is a part of the human nature. But that will likely drive them even further away into more absences.

A better way to go would be to take the time to listen and get to the heart of the matter. You don’t have to do this every day. All you need is occasional moments to check on them. Water cooler conversations reveal a lot more than any office meeting will.

Absenteeism is a really big problem for organizations these days. Speaking from the financial point of view, it can have effects so strong that they may shut down companies.

However, if treated systematically and patiently, absenteeism can easily be reduced to negligible levels. All you have to do is give this problem the attention it deserves and dedicates some time to solve it.

Alsco is your partner in this effort. Alsco’s rental services are a great way to keep your company’s premises fresh and clean for the benefit of your employees, clients and yourself.

Contact Alsco if you have any questions regarding the improvement of your company’s work environment. Our friendly representatives and experts in the field of business hygiene and sanitation will be happy to give you some useful advice.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons by Famartin

5 Easy Steps To Improve Employee Wellness

A company, no matter how successful and rich, is nothing without its employees.

That is why it is essential to take care of their health and overall happiness in the company.

One of the most important parts of the modern company management is the management of human resources.

The phrase “human resources management” may sound a bit dehumanising, but what’s behind it is a set of measures that every company needs to take if they want their workers to feel like they are treated with respect.

Wellness refers to the overall health of employees covering all aspects: from the physical, mental, to the emotional and psychological.

Employers who tend to their employee’s wellness will benefit from the greater productivity it brings. Aside from lowering health care costs, wellness programs in the workplace can also help in reducing employee absenteeism.

Whatever the company’s size, these wellness programs for employees make a great impact on the bottom line. In fact, the American Journal of Health Promotion has published a study on workplace wellness programs that showed 26% lower healthcare costs, 26% less sick leaves, and 32% showed a decline on workers’ request for disability claims and compensation.

In this piece, we look at five lazy ways to get a leg-up on workplace wellness. We call it lazy because we don’t believe you have to stress out over wellness! That, after all, won’t make you all too well, now would it?

1. Understand The Problem

The first thing to do in order to plan your wellness programs properly is to establish the current state of affairs. If you don’t know how your employees feel, you won’t be able to solve their problems in an effective way.

A good way to start is by creating a questionnaire and asking some physical wellness questions followed by questions about their psychological and emotional well being. This way you will have covered all the important points and you will get a clear picture of the current condition your workers are in.

2. Start Small

Get your workplace wellness program started with simple steps. These can include stuff like disseminating useful information on healthy diet and exercise, or providing healthier options for meals in the cafeteria.

These may seem like baby steps that your employees may not take seriously at first but they are better than not having started anything at all.

Come up with fun and creative ways to promote your wellness advocacy in the workplace and you can expect your employees to start reconsidering their lifestyles. The next thing you know, cigarette breaks will no longer be a thing and your employees just might start living active, healthy lifestyles.

3. Empowered Employees Are Better Employees

Part of wellness includes making your employees feel empowered. In order to be better at their leadership and other skills, a lot of employees go for seminars or classes. Those that can help them be better workers for the company.

Unfortunately, they often go for classes that are still work-related thinking that can boost productivity and enhance their employee’s lives. While that surely does one of those things, serious work-related seminars will only remind them of their work.

Why don’t you try something different? Something they probably didn’t think they need but is actually very useful. A First Aid course with Alsco not only takes them out of the cycle of perpetual work, it also gives them important life skills.

4. Pay Attention To Environmental Aspects Of Wellness

If you are still unsure about where to start with improving your employees’ hours at work, try making their work environment cleaner and healthier. Hygiene is an extremely important factor in the workplace. If your company is a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and other germs, nothing else you do will make any difference.

But making sure your office is clean and environmentally friendly is not only important for physical health of your employees. It will also make them happier and more willing to come to work regularly. This will, in turn, reduce sick leaves and absenteeism rates, positively affecting your finances.

The best places in your building to start your clean office effort are washrooms. Alsco’s range of washroom products enables you to always have eco-clean premises no one will be weary of visiting.

Another area in which Alsco can be of great help is odour control. Use this in areas that are the most frequented! Our system can be customised to release subtle fragrances at timed intervals.
These two little tweaks combined provide great passive sources of wellness.

5. Be Friendly And Learn To Listen

Lastly, a great thing you can start doing for overall wellness in your workplace is keeping your door open for when your people need to talk to someone.

It might take some time to get them comfortable enough to open up completely so be encouraging but not forceful, friendly but still professional, and eventually, you will find them coming in more and more to open up about what frustrates them.

Naturally, it’s just as important to act on their concerns if possible. Especially, if it actually involves the workplace. You’ll find that something this simple works wonders.

Alsco can help you go a long way in ensuring your employees’ well being.

Our products and services are designed to create a friendly environment at work and make doing business a pleasure. Call Alsco today and find out about all the ways in which we can help you make your company even better.

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by pressfoto

Running a Successful Restaurant in 10 Steps

How you ever wondered why the idea of owning and running a restaurant is so appealing to so many people?

Would successfully running a restaurant be the best proof of their business skills?

Maybe people just like the idea of being labelled as a “restaurateur” and having a team of professional chefs who can make amazing food.

However, owning and running a restaurant is not as easy as it might sound, especially if you want to make it eco-friendly as well.

The Start

1. Take Care Of The Details

Before starting a restaurant, you should deal with the basics, like the name, menu, and overall concept of your future restaurant. The details are extremely important, and they shouldn’t be just witty or appealing – they should tell a story. Everything from the colour palette and theme to lighting and table linen should be chosen for a reason.

2. The Suppliers And Equipment

When deciding on these details, don’t just think about the price; the quality is just as important. Starting off right can save you both money and time, so think about eco-friendly kitchen mats, cloth roller towel dispensers, kitchen hardware and all the other tools you might need.

3. The Employees

Your chef is the heart of your restaurant, so it’s essential to find the right one. However, you should also do your best to hire the staff that fulfills your requirements. Another thing you should think about is uniforms, since they will make your restaurant look more professional, which will be greatly appreciated by the customers.

4. The Financing

Not spending too much money at the very beginning is essential for the overall success of your restaurant. Of course, the quality should still be the most important aspect, but keep the prices in mind if you want your investments to pay off.

The Running

5. Stay In Control

Running a restaurant is not easy, so you might find these few Restaurant Doctor’s tips useful:

• Cost Effectiveness (prioritise spending)
• Control (take a hands-on approach)
• Creativity (don’t be afraid to try new things)
• Cleanliness (instil the right routine from the beginning)
• Customer Service (happy customers are the ones who will return)

6. Keep Your Kitchen Running Smoothly

One of the most famous chefs of today, Gordon Ramsey, said that “chefs and their brigade have become today’s theatre and in many cases are taking to the actors’ stage like seasoned professionals,” so make sure your kitchen is functioning like a well-oiled machine.

7. Set The Prices

Getting this step right can mean a lot in terms of attracting customers. It’s okay to offer special deals, but if the prices are too high, there won’t be many diners who can afford to eat there. On the other hand, if the prices are too low, people might think there’s something wrong with the food, so it’s important to find the balance.

The Promotion

8. Think About The Marketing

Making your restaurant successful requires a lot of promotions and marketing. There are many techniques that can help you reach your goal, but the best way to do so is to focus on the local community and decide on the target demographic.

9. The Importance Of Being Green

The mainstream diners prefer restaurants and food that are eco-friendly. They want to know that the place they chose does not harm the environment, so making sure your restaurant abides by the environmental laws might determine the success of it.

10. Leave A Good Impression

You want your customers to remember your restaurant and spread the word about it, so you need to give them something positive to talk about. This is especially important since in the modern world, with all the social networks available, words spread much faster.

Of course, these are just a few things to consider if you want to ensure the success of your restaurant. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for help and take advice from those who’ve been there before and understand the struggles of owning and running a restaurant.

Clean And Bright Restaurant

The first impression lasts, especially if you are running a restaurant. There’s nothing in a restaurant more re-assuring to a patron than how clean, fresh and bright the white table linens are. With clean looking tables it will totally set the mood and image of your whole establishment.

If you want to have an easy and economical way to revitalise your restaurant, Alsco is here to help you. Call us now, our friendly representative is waiting.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons by ChildofMidnight
Photo courtesy of Freepik by @rawpixel

How to Make Your Employees Happy in 7 Simple Ways

Most business owners want their employees to be happy, as happy employees will put more effort into everything they do.

They love their job, and they are filled with positive energy that inspires everybody around them to be just as productive and enthusiastic about the job as they are.

Those kinds of employees – energetic, productive, loyal, and passionate about their work – are also those who share the dream of their employers and want to see the company grow bigger and more successful by the day.

With all that in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that employee happiness is becoming more and more important, which is why many companies are trying to emphasise the value of balance between professional and personal life. If you would like to do the same for your employees, here are seven ways in which you can do just that.

1. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

The attitude you show around the office will be the same one you’ll get from your employees. They tend to look up to you since you are, after all, their boss. So, if you act all serious and professional, they will act the same way around you. This doesn’t mean you should goof around like a clown in order to cheer up your employees; just be yourself and don’t be afraid to laugh and joke from time to time. It will set a good example, lighten up the work atmosphere and make you seem more approachable.

2. Do Things Together

Laughing is healthy, and too formal work atmosphere where nobody is allowed to make a sound can be very stressful and actually prevent your employees from being productive. Therefore, it’s a good idea to occasionally introduce something new into the work routine; you can come up with some entertaining team-building activities that will help your employees bond and relax. For example, organising the Alsco’s first aid training for employees is one practical way to do that. It is unusual, interesting and most importantly, very useful in everyday life.

3. Evaluate Employee Happiness

When evaluating our employees, we usually take into consideration things such as the quality of their work, productivity, performance, etc. So why not include happiness as well?

Ask your employees what they like about their job and what they would change. Take their answers seriously and think about the solutions. Also, make sure they feel comfortable and safe talking to you about the problems.

4. Focus On The Positive

Things don’t always go according to the plan, but that doesn’t mean you should get mad and scold your employees. The bad news is always unpleasant, for both you and them. Instead, try to engage your employees in finding a solution to the problem – ask for their opinion on what could be done better and encourage them to learn from the mistakes.

5. Celebrate The Good Things

Whether it’s somebody’s Birthday or you’ve just made a great business deal, don’t hesitate to celebrate your successes. It doesn’t have to be anything big – buy some snacks and drinks if you’re celebrating a Birthday, or take your employees out for a dinner night if it’s something more important. Snow them that you care about them as much as you care about the company.

6. Keep The Negativity Away

Things like gossip, envy and politics can really ruin the positive atmosphere at work. Sure, they are natural and you can’t avoid them completely, but you should know how to recognise them and deal with them in the right way.

Communication is always the best way to go about it. Or, you can also improve the team spirit with Alsco uniform rentals, which can provide a beautiful, personalised look for your teams that will keep them united. This guide will help you learn how to size workwear for maximum comfort and a perfect fit.

7. Make Sure Everything Is Clean

Cleanliness and proper hygiene are extremely important when it comes to the happiness of your employees. Nobody wants to work in a dirty and dusty office, not to mention that bacteria in the workplace can even make your employees sick and unable to work.

That is why cleanliness in the office should never be taken for granted. With Alsco, you have many sanitation options that make sure your office is fresh and conducive to happy employees.

From standard services like:

• hand hygiene
• odour control
• washroom services

to more specialised services like:

• feminine hygiene
• clinical services
• first aid,

we’ve got it all.

Alsco has been one of the most reliable names when it comes to quality cost-effective commercial services. We provide highly-customisable services for businesses across here.

If you’re looking for ways to get things done better, call us today. Our friendly customer service representatives are more than happy to help you out!

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by Freepik Exclusive

5 Unusual Ways of Looking at Employee Health

You know what they say: health is wealth. The term “bottom line“ can often be heard in many companies. It refers to the importance of profitability in any business-related job and field.In other words, it is the result of employees’ hard work, and being so, it shows how important employee health really should be to every company.

The good thing is that, nowadays, many companies truly are emphasising the importance of employee health, and it’s not just about physical health anymore but the mental one as well.

A recent Workforce and Virgin Pulse survey has shown that many people (48.4 percent) consider their physical, mental, and emotional health to be closely related to one another. With all that in mind, here are five aspects that influence your employees’ well-being, which you might find surprising.

1. Hygiene

Many companies offer their employees gym memberships, health plans, etc. However, as nice as those things are, they aren’t the ones you should be focusing on. Poor health comes from poor hygiene, so instead of trying to improve your employees’ health, focus on preventing illnesses in the first place.

For example, if you work in a school, you can use this School Washroom Guide to figure out the role of a properly sanitised washroom in improving employees and students’ health and safety.

Installing hygienic systems like those from Alsco’s washroom service line will go a long way when it comes to dealing with contaminants and bacteria that tend to float around the office.

Alsco’s Fresh & Clean offers a thorough assessment that will allow us to offer you products and services that are tailor-made with your company and your employees’ needs in mind.

2. The Financial Aspect

Having a steady paycheck is great, but it doesn’t do much for those employees who are struggling with their budget. Feeling financially secure and in control can greatly help reduce the stress levels of your employees, and everybody knows that stress can harm one’s health in many ways.

Although you can’t change the bad habits of your employees who spend more than they can afford, you can reduce the need for spending by offering affordable and healthy food in your office. Another thing you can do is invest in seminars and programs that can teach your employees some basics in terms of budgeting and help them become smarter with their money.

3. Useful Skills

Working in an office can sometimes become exhausting and boring, so if you really care about your employees’ well-being, provide them with options that can help them improve themselves and their lives. Organising and going to seminars and lectures can boost your employee morale, increase their happiness, and teach them something new.

For example, you can sign up for Alsco training programs that will provide your employees with a little extra in regards to their work routine.

Alsco’s First Aid course is also a great option, as it makes employees feel more confident in case of emergencies both at work and outside the office. Include the Emergency Response & Evacuations course and your employees will feel much safer at work.

4. The Importance Of Feelings

How a person acts often depends on how they feel. So, if there is something bothering your employees, they are more likely to become ill and unable to do their best at work. Of course, you, as their employer, should try to help them. This might sound a bit complicated as you can never know how bad it really is and you can never fully understand something you’ve never felt.

However, the point is to help them help themselves by encouraging them to visit your HR department or if it’s something serious, talk to a counsellor. Never underestimate the effect of psychological trauma on a person’s well-being.

5. Comfortable Environment

Working in a beautiful, well-lit office with plants and big windows is not the same as working in an old, smelly place that looks like it could fall apart at any moment. Workplace matters, and it’s not difficult to make it comfortable.

Consider something like Alsco’s Odour Control system. This automatic, wall-mounted air freshener dispenses a measured dose of fragrance at intervals that you can program and control.

We all know that smells can affect our mood. So, introduce pleasant scents into your workplace, since they will relax your employees and make them feel better while at the same time eliminating any unpleasant smells that would otherwise surely affect their mood.

For over 50 years, Alsco has been the only company to call on when you need a wide range of reliable, affordable, and highly personalised services for your business. Alsco covers a wide range of services from commercial linen to uniform rentals.

We also provide hygienic systems that tend to the needs of your employees when it comes to comfort, hygiene, and good health.

Contact Alsco now if you care about upgrading your employee care programs. Our friendly customer service staff will find the best and the most affordable solution for you!

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by Freepik Exclusive

Washroom Rights Every Employee Should Know

Even though the topic of employees’ workplace washrooms rights isn’t something that’s usually discussed, it is important for every worker to know their rights.

With that in mind, here are some things related to the topic of washroom rights that every employee should be aware of.

You Must Have Workplace Washrooms

Every workplace must have a washroom for the employees (except if your work includes constant travelling between different locations).

If you’re working at one location, like in an office, then your rights about having a washroom available are pretty clear. Your building must have a washroom facility you and your colleagues can use, and it must have both a toilet and a basin for you to wash your hands.

For example, if a school is your workplace, here’s all you need to know about your school washroom requirements.

However, if you are a part of a mobile work crew, then a washroom with all the necessary elements must be available within a quarter mile of your working site.

There Must Be Enough Facilities

The number of washroom facilities you should have depends on how many employees there are, regardless of their gender.

In this section, the numbers are related to female employees, but they do apply in gender-neutral washrooms as well.

• Between 1 and 5 employees, 1 toilet and 1 hand-washing facility.
• Between 6 and 25 employees, 2 toilets and 2 hand-washing facilities.
• Between 26 and 50 employees, 3 toilets and 3 hand-washing facilities.
• Between 51 and 75 employees, 4 toilets and 4 hand-washing facilities.
• Between 76 and 100 employees, 6 toilets and 5 hand-washing facilities

When it comes to male employees, the numbers are:

• Between 1 and 15 employees, 1 toilet and 1 urinal.
• Between 16 and 30 employees, 2 toilets and 1 urinal.
• Between 31 and 45 employees, 2 toilets and 2 urinals.
• Between 46 and 60 employees, 3 toilets and 2 urinals.
• Between 61 and 75 employees, 3 toilets and 3 urinals.
• Between 76 and 90 employees, 4 toilets and 3 urinals.
• Between 91 and 100 employees, 4 toilets and 4 urinals.

You Must Have Washroom Breaks

We all have washroom-related needs, even at work. A study has shown that an average worker spends about 41 hours every year in the washroom. Every employee should be provided with a few breaks in order to be able to take care of their needs, freshen up, and regain energy. Washroom breaks are no exception here.

There Should Always Be Hygiene Supplies In The Washroom

This might seem like common sense, but it’s surprisingly often overlooked. In every workplace washroom, there should be both cold and warm water available as well as soap. Also, there should be either a hand dryer or paper towels for employees to dry their hands.

In the workplace, taking take care of health and hygiene is essential. So, every employee should and must have access to hand hygiene facilities and supplies.

You Should Have Privacy

The way washroom is designed is extremely important, as it should be done appropriately. This has nothing to do with the quality of the facilities, but with the placement of the toilets. Needless to say, the toilets should be separated by a cubical and a door, so whoever is using them can have some privacy. This is a standard design for all workplace washrooms and there are no reasons not to follow it.

The Washroom Should Be Clean and Well-Maintained

All the washroom facilities should be cleaned every day, and the supplies (toilet paper, soap, etc.) should be checked regularly and refilled if needed. It’s also a good idea to clean up all the washroom facilities at the end of every workday. It might not be necessary but it’s highly recommended in order to ensure the cleanliness of the washroom. This includes mopping the floors, cleaning the toilets and basins, emptying the trash bin, refilling the soap, replacing the toilet paper, etc.

You Don’t Need Showers In The Workplace

In most workplaces, showers are not necessary. However, if you’re working in a lab with lots of chemicals that could be harmful or in a gym where people sweat a lot, then you should be provided with shower facilities (with both cold and warm water). In those cases, showing helps employees maintain their hygiene and safety.

What Employers Can Do To Improve Their Washrooms

Unfortunately, in terms of washroom rights, there are some companies who do the very least, just enough not to get in trouble. They are only looking for ways to save money, but that is a bad way to do it. The washroom is not a place where you should try to save up, as it doesn’t really require much. Most of the things it does require are pretty much the bare necessities for maintaining the hygiene of the users. Plus, it is possible to provide your employees with everything they might need, from the facilities to enough breaks, and still spend much less money than you might expect.

When it comes to saving money, one thing you could and should do is go green. If you choose eco-friendly options for your washroom, you’ll be able to use toilet paper made of recycled materials, natural soaps, and if you want to go one step further, even solar panels that can help you save money on electricity. There are a lot of benefits, and going green is not necessarily expensive.

As the one in charge, it’s your job to ensure that your washroom is up to the highest standards. It’s not just about having a place to go when you need to go, there’s much more to it.

If you truly do want to optimise your workplace and improve the productivity at your office, the best thing you can do is ask your employees what they would change. Talk to them about anything they might be unhappy about and see what you can do to solve the issues and make them happier. This way, you will create a much more positive atmosphere and boost your employees’ motivation as well as their respect for you and your company.

The chances are, there probably is something they would change, even if it’s something small and seemingly insignificant. Some of the most common complaints are related to the washroom conditions, so do your best to improve your washroom as much as you can.

Improve your washroom facilities, partner with Alsco. With our fully-managed washroom systems, you’re sure to have a clean, hygienic and well-maintained washroom for your workplaces. Contact us now!

8 Housekeeping Mistakes To Keep In Mind

Housekeeping is an important job regardless of whether we’re talking about a private home or a hotel.

From changing bed sheets and towels to cleaning every corner of a room, housekeeping is always necessary.

We will try to cover some of the most common mistakes that housekeepers in hotels and motels make as well as ways to prevent those mistakes while making sure your employees are safe.

Not Checking The Linen

One of the worst possible mistakes that can ruin the guests’ whole vacation is not checking the linen properly.

When changing bedroom linens, plush towels and dirty bathroom towels, it’s important to also check whether there are any holes in it. Similarly, when changing bed sheets, it’s essential to make sure they are actually clean.

Replacing dirty sheets with dirty sheets is unacceptable, even if done by accident, and it will definitely be noticed. It only takes a minute to check, and it means a lot to the people who’ll be using the linen.

Not Using The Advantages Of Linen Laundry Services

There are many rooms housekeepers need to go through in order for the rooms to be ready for people who’ll be staying in them, so why not make their work a bit easier? By using a linen laundry service, you could help your employees be more productive with their time and less stressed out.

Your housekeepers will be able to work faster and clean more rooms, and you will know that the linen is always cleaned properly and with the right kind of products.

Make the right move by contacting a linen laundry service, such as Alsco, today. Not only will Alsco clean your linen properly, but they will do so in a way that minimises your carbon footprint, keeping both your conscience and your linen clean.

Bad Communication

If you’re running a bigger hotel, you probably have many rooms and enough housekeepers so that they could share the workload and take care of all the rooms in time.

However, having more housekeepers means there has to be more communication in order for all the rooms to be cleaned in time. It can really make a difference since bad communication can result in many rooms not being finished before the guests arrive.

With all that in mind, it’s essential for you to set up a good communication system that all the housekeepers can follow at all times. It can be anything from texting to coming up with a more organised plan, as long as all the housekeepers know which rooms have been cleaned and which need to be. Thus, communication should be one of your priorities.

Not Training Your Employees

Having to stick to deadlines can sometimes be really stressful, regardless of what you’re doing. Even though the housekeeping job itself might not be that complicated, it doesn’t mean the tasks can’t be difficult for the employees, especially if they aren’t prepared for them. It’s your job to ensure that all your new housekeepers are well prepared and fully aware of what their job includes and how they should do it. They need to know all their responsibilities and best ways of finishing their tasks efficiently. It shouldn’t take you more than a few hours a day to prepare them, and it can do wonders for the workflow.

Not Restocking The Toiletries In Time

This might seem like a small and irrelevant mistake, but it is still a part of housekeeping that shouldn’t be overlooked. It might not play a big role in the room quality, but we all know that it’s always the little things – like toiletries – that matter the most when it comes to your guests’ opinions of your hotel.

So, make sure that drinks like tea and coffee are available at all times and that there’s always toilet paper in the rooms, and your guests will surely enjoy their stay.

Not Enough Planning

Planning is important in every field of work, and housekeeping is not an exception. When entering a messy room, every experienced housekeeper will know where to start cleaning and how to finish their job quickly and efficiently. However, for some new housekeepers, it might take time to adapt to the job and learn how things should be done. That’s why it’s a good idea to plan how to clean the room in advance instead of just entering a room and hoping for the best.

For example, if they first vacuum the room and then clean the sheets, the bed might turn out to be much messier than before and even covered in crumbs – so, in this case, they would learn to clean the sheets first and vacuum later. This shows how planning can help your employees be more efficient.

Not Throwing Out Old Linen In Time

Every item has its expiration date, including linen. It might not always be easy to tell when your linen needs to be replaced, but if you notice any marks of wear and tear on the bed sheets, it is a good sign that they need to be changed.

Not Cleaning The Carpets And Rugs Properly

Needless to say, it’s extremely important to keep your hotel clean, and carpets and rugs play a big role in that. It might not seem like a big deal, but try to clean your carpets at least once every few months. Even though deep cleaning your rugs and carpets is a task that can take a whole day, it will definitely be worth the money when you see the results.

Have You Made Any Of The Mistakes?

Housekeeping is not as simple as it might seem, and it can sometimes be very stressful, especially when working in a big hotel with a great number of rooms that need to be cleaned every day. However, by keeping all of these mistakes in mind, your employees can improve their productivity and motivation and reduce the time it takes them to clean each and every room.

Knowing the most common housekeeping mistakes brings you one step closer to avoiding them and dealing with them if they do happen. You can improve your housekeeping services and make your guests happier by allowing Alsco take care of all your linen-related needs. Alsco provides fresh and clean accommodation linen conveniently and inexpensively, every day.

Send us an enquiry now! Our friendly and well-informed staff are waiting to help.

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A Laundry Service: Do You Really Need It?

Letting a laundry service take care of all your laundry-related work and accommodation linens can be extremely helpful.

Having to do your laundry yourself would probably take a lot of your time, which would prevent you from focusing on other, more important things.

If you work from home, hiring a laundry service would allow you to take care of your other housework at your own pace without having to run around and constantly check your washing machine and dryer. You could take your time knowing that there is one less thing to worry about.

If you work in a hotel, using a laundry service would allow you to relax since you wouldn’t have to run from one room to another and think about putting another load in the washing machine. With all that in mind, here are just some of the advantages and disadvantages of hiring a laundry service, which will hopefully help you decide whether you really need it or not.

The Advantages

It’s Convenient

Of course, there may be some disadvantages of paying somebody else to do your work for you, but those disadvantages become much less significant if you take into consideration the convenience of paying for such service.

Hiring a laundry service means that your employees will no longer feel stressed out over the amount of work they have. Also, taking care of the whole linen process will be much easier since they won’t have to think about the cleaning process as well. This will help them feel much more in control of their work.

For example, if a hotel is using a laundry service, it means that the housekeeping employees don’t have to constantly change and clean dirty linen and toiletries. This will allow them to focus on other aspects of their work since all they need to do is send the dirty laundry away and receive them fresh and clean. This way, their workflow will remain undisturbed and they won’t feel so frustrated over the amount of work they have.

It’s Less Time-Consuming

Time is always important, especially in the world of business. There are always strict deadlines for housekeeping employees, which serve to ensure that the hotels guest have their room as soon as possible – and that they are satisfied with it.

So, if an employee has to spend time dealing with dirty laundry, then they can’t focus on cleaning the rooms thoroughly and on time. This is just one of the issues that using a laundry service can solve, as it allows employees to spend more time taking care of the rooms so their guests can truly enjoy their stay.

No Need To Spend Money On Cleaning Products

If you were to do all your cleaning yourself, you would also have to spend money on all the cleaning products you would need, and some of them can be quite expensive. On the other hand, laundry services mostly buy these kinds of products in a bulk, which means that they are much more affordable for them. From that point of view, it’s clear why it’s better to let laundry services take care of your cleaning needs instead of doing everything yourself.

It’s More Eco-Friendly

Lately, there’s been a lot of emphasis on going green, and lots of companies take pride in being considered eco-friendly. However, the thing is, going green can be rather costly as some equipment required for such a thing is not exactly cheap. In other words, if you’re running a small business, you might not be able to afford the equipment you would need for going green.

On the other hand, laundry services are all about customer satisfaction, so when it comes to laundry, they use only the best machinery. So, using a laundry service is definitely something you should consider if you want to implement an eco-friendly aspect into your business.

The Disadvantages

It’s Expensive

Just like everything else, hiring a laundry service can sometimes be quite expensive. In most hotels, linens are changed every day (depending on whether somebody’s been using the room recently) so the amount of linens that need to be cleaned can really accumulate.

Even though hiring a laundry service to clean the linen can cost a lot, you need to take into account that doing the laundry yourself would also mean spending money on things such as cleaning products, machinery, manpower, etc. – and all of those things can be expensive. However, even though the price of hiring a laundry service is a big disadvantage, the convenience definitely makes up for it

You Don’t Know Anything About The Process

Since you won’t be the one dealing with your laundry, you can’t really know anything about the process it will go through at the laundry service or the cleaning products they will use. Even though most laundry services make sure to use safe products, there is still no way for you to know what exactly they are using when taking care of your laundry.

The Standard Way Of Cleaning

The services are usually standardised, so every linen will be treated the same way. This means that if you have high-quality linen at your hotel, it might be a good idea to get informed about the best methods for washing sensitive linen and whether your laundry service can use such methods. In other words, you might need to make some special requests when it comes to the way your linens are washed at the service.

Luckily, many laundry services are willing to cater to all of their customers’ needs, just make sure to actually make such a request if you don’t want your linen to be treated like any other.

So, Do You Actually Need It?

If you simply have too much linen to take care of yourself, don’t hesitate to hire a laundry service that will make your work much easier. As your business grows, there will be more and more work, so letting another company take some load off your back will definitely help you keep everything under control.

In short, although there are some disadvantages to hiring a laundry service, there are many more advantages that would make such a decision pay off in the long run.

By outsourcing your laundry cleaning needs, you’ll be able to boost the productivity at your workplace, help your employees feel less stressed out, minimise your carbon footprint and save some money.

Need fresh, clean and quality linens every day? Alsco offers a comprehensive range of linen to suit your needs. Contact us now.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by Véronique Debord-Lazaro
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