5 Mystifying Types of Urinals From Around the World

Did you know that the average human should visit the washroom six to seven times a day? To some, this may be a dreadful task, especially if the washroom available lacks what you need.

Well, the great news is that you no longer need to fear. The global rise in ‘’urinal art’’ gives an aesthetic and hygienic option to relieve yourself.

The revolution of urinal art began in 1917 with Marcel Duchamp. He turned a urinal up-side-down and named it ‘’Fountain.’’

There are now diverse urinal designs found all over the world.

Going to the washroom is no longer a trivial matter. These unique urinal designs will amaze you.

Looking to upgrade your workplace washroom decor? Look no further. Have a glance at these quirky depictions and you’re sure to find one that tickles your fancy.

1. Resourceful Urinals

As with any other washroom appliance, urinals come with their downfalls. One distinct problem is splashback. This is when some of the waste splashes onto your clothes while using a urinal.

Splashbacks are detrimental to your washroom appearance and your workers’ health. The acidic nature of urine forms a stain which attracts dust and dirt. It makes your tiles appear off-white, which isn’t pretty.

The urinal designs below help in eliminating this problem for good!

Urinals that protect your shoes from the splashback. Image: Reddit

The above urinal has a protective shield, which is like a urinal screen. It curves outwards at the bottom to prevent water or waste from getting on your shoes or trousers. Your workers can use the washroom with this innovation.

Next, this urinal interior has a mini-soccer game for its users. What’s it good for?

  Urinal with a miniature screen. Image: Imgur

For one, it relieves your employees from work-related stress. Going to a workplace washroom shouldn’t be a nerve-racking activity.

Besides, it serves as a conventional reminder to aim well when using a urinal.

Couple this with wet area mats to absorb any waste that may splash from the urinal. Together, these efforts serve to control malodour and prevent the formation of stains.

There are also urinals with headrests. How convenient!

Urinals with headrest. Image: Flickr

After a long day, this may be helpful to unwind.

This next prototype involves a rather bold combination of a toilet and sink. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think it is.

Toilet sink combination. Image: Homedit

To conserve water in your workplace, this stylish combination is the way to go.  It recycles the water from the sink to flush the toilet.

2. Artistic Urinals

Without a doubt, these urinals are gorgeous. Not only are they colourful, but also display an array of creativity.

First, some urinals glorify all things music and take the form of musical instruments.

Recycle abandoned musical instrument urinals. Image: Pinterest

Are your employees music lovers? If so, then this is the best choice for your workplace washroom.

The unique shapes of these urinals make it easier to maintain hygiene. You can place a urinal cake at the bottom of the urinal. It isn’t out in the open, but your urinal hygiene always prevails.

Remember to handle urinal tabs using gloves to ensure you place them well.

If you thought you had seen it all, well it’s not over yet. This golden urinal found in Hong Kong is fit for a king and a real tourist attraction.

Golden toilet. Image: Pinterest

Not to mention, it is comprised of real gold gems and is valued at $4.8 million.

What’s more, it’s counterpart is this glass toilet. Although it only exists in theory, it would be a suitable addition for a classy touch to washrooms.

See-through, a toilet glass. Image: Pinterest

There are plenty of elegant urinals located globally. Oftentimes, these are on display for urinal art fanatics who travel across the globe to see them.

Unique artwork urinal. Image: Pinterest

1890 Victorian Polychromatic Urinal. Image: Pinterest

Borrowing these ornamental urinal concepts is not new. They can now feature in washrooms from offices to museums.] Urinal Veneta, Austria 1895. Image: Designboom

This urinal is on exhibit in Austria, in collaboration with the Harvard School of Design.

3. Urinals for Plant Lovers

Offices don’t always need to be dull with a white and grey colour scheme. Your workers will begin to dread the office.

Flowers and plants are the solutions to your decor problems. They are a beautiful accessory to include in your workplace.

Did you know that plants have many benefits for your employees? Have a look at the following advantages:

• Decreases the number of sick days taken
• Reduces stress levels
• Office appearance becomes tasteful and pleasing
• Reduces the effects of background office chatter
• Decreases the risk of respiratory illnesses

Include a potted plant or two, and while you’re at it, why not transform your urinals into plants, too?

Flower urinals design. Image: Pinterest

This category of urinals are designs inspired by a love for the environment. They imitate different kinds of flowers and trees and are a real sight for sore eyes.

The shapes of plant-like urinals make it easier to carry out hygiene maintenance. Don’t let your ceramic urinals collect dust and grime.

Alsco’s Deep Clean Services eliminates all mould, mildew and fungi.

Opt for deep-cleaning services to maintain the high-grade condition of your urinals.

This is why a routine deep clean is important:

• Retains the high-quality of your urinal ceramic
• Destroys mould and mildew spores
• Disinfects all washroom surfaces

Indulge in five-star maintenance services to keep your urinals exquisite both inside and out.

4. Tech-Savvy Urinals

Today, technology is growing at the speed of light. The current number of tech start-ups is around 1.35 million. Yet, it is shocking to see technology in washrooms.

Recently, there has been an incorporation of tech-savvy urinals. They either solve a problem or celebrate the developments of science.

For instance, this urinal with a microscope creates a fun washroom experience.

Urinal with microscope design. Image: Reddit

Other urinals aim to enhance the washroom experience. Here’s a design named ’’The Vertebrae.’’

Vertebrae washroom design. Image: Cool Things

This Swiss Army design is the ultimate solution to washroom space. This all-in-one design has all washroom amenities in this single rotating module.

It saves on the time-consuming process of standing in line to use urinals or washbasins.

Another fantastic idea is a urinal fit with a television. Bathroom breaks become a source of joy for your employees and relieves some tension.

Besides being able to watch their favourite show, they can also play video games. This prototype has a sensor that detects movement, which assists in playing the games.

[ Video gaming urinals. Image: BBC

As you can imagine, this category of urinals will involve constant maintenance.

What you need to do is invest in high-end cleaning products that will sustain your urinals’ shine. The presence of eco-friendly products will attract like-minded individuals to your business.

Your trendy washroom needs to stay in the best shape. So, wipe down metal surfaces using an antibacterial disinfectant. Then, rinse it off with a damp cloth, leaving behind a fragrant smell.

5. Awe-Inspiring Urinals

Do your workers fancy ghosts and ghouls? This category involves thrilling designs which inspire Halloween office decor.

Gothic urinal design. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Because of their unique shapes, these urinals’ drains need special care. The best way is to disinfect drains quarterly through biological treatment. This process keeps away bad odours that may repel your workers.

It also prevents insects from hovering around your urinals.

Focus on This

Install our amazing wall-mounted Air Fresheners in your washroom.

Today’s business environment is competitive, and thus, your workplace should aim to stay ahead.

Holding high workplace hygiene standards is mandatory. It’s a sign of valuing your employees and your business.

Take the first major step in hygiene maintenance and contact the experts to take over.

Your local branch of professionals will:

• Clean your washrooms at your convenience.
• Charge affordable prices.
• Replace diminished products.

Get in touch with Alsco New Zealand for a fast and free quote. Begin your workplace urinal transformation journey today.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

What Should Be in an Earthquake Kit?

Your earthquake survival kit in New Zealand workplace should contain food and water that can sustain you for at least 72 hours. That is more than enough time for you to reach the destination you intend to reach or to be rescued if you are trapped inside a building.

Make sure that your food is non-perishable, regularly checked for the expiry date and that it doesn’t contain anything that causes your allergies.

Home emergency kit also includes food for infants if you have babies in your household and similar adjustments to match your family needs.

Your earthquake kit list should contain the following types of food:

• Canned food
• Dry, non-perishable energy bars
• Granolas
• Nuts and seeds

• Dried fruit
• Peanut butter
• 9 litres of water

In New Zealand workplaces, your personal earthquake preparedness kit can contain food that should sustain you alone. Everybody in your workplace should have their own emergency kit for an earthquake that is enough to sustain them.

Besides those personal kits, there are also those workplace earthquake kits that are the responsibility of the employer. Workplace earthquake survival kit in NZ has to contain first aid supplies, as well as some basic protective gear.

While you should encourage your employees to create their own earthquake grab bags, you should go on and rent Alsco’s earthquake kit for NZ conditions that will help you prepare your workplace for such an event.

What Should Be in a Survival Kit for NZ?

The earthquake survival kit for NZ workplaces should definitely contain items that will provide you with protection, first aid, sanitation supplies, and even communication and rescue tools.

It should also contain some food and water, although that is something people should have in their own earthquake preparedness kit.

Let’s look a bit closer into these items:

1. First Aid Supplies – There are a lot of injuries that can happen during an earthquake. People who don’t immediately drop down can fall and hurt themselves. Debris and falling objects can hurt those that don’t seek shelter. Your workplace needs well-stocked first aid kits in case of an earthquake.
2. Sanitation Necessities – You can count on your first aid kit for the sanitising supplies when it comes to dressing the wounds. However, if you need to spend 72 hours without the access to your workplace washroom, you will need wet wipes or towels, garbage bags, paper towels, additional water supplies, as well as some soap.
3. Items for providing warmth and protection – It is common knowledge that fleece clothing and blankets can be folded so they take up very little space. At the same time, they are very warm. This makes them one of the good choices for your earthquake kit. You will also need gloves and maybe even helmets in case you need to dig your way out of debris or even just walk through a corridor with the unstable ceiling.
4. Tools and torches – It is quite expected that an earthquake will cut off electricity in your building. That is why you will need a battery powered torch as well as some spare batteries. Other handy items are pliers or wrenches because you may have to turn off utilities or valves.
5. Communication devices – You need to get in touch with your family if the earthquake occurs while you are at work. Mobile devices may or may not work, but you should have them either way. You need a battery powered radio to keep up with the most important news. A power bank for your mobile phone is also useful in case the operators are working.

What to Do If You are Driving During an Earthquake?

When an earthquake starts, you should:

1. Slow down
2. Stop
3. Wait in your car

First, you need to figure out that there is an earthquake happening. This may sound odd, but not everybody understands that it is an earthquake and they believe it’s their car acting out.

To ensure your car is not the problem, look at the trees and your surroundings to see if they also shake or sway in an unusual manner.

You Have Established the Earthquake is Happening

Remember to take those three easy steps:

What to do if an #earthquake hits while you’re driving: https://t.co/IS4Vy92etU #RoadSafety @DriveBC @TranBC pic.twitter.com/OS5pACqI5p

— PreparedBC (@PreparedBC) January 3, 2017

You should not move until the grounds stops shaking. That usually doesn’t take much longer than a couple of minutes.

This is a general rule of thumb, but there are some variations to these steps. They mostly depend on the fact where you and your car are at the moment of an earthquake. The best place to be is in an open space, far away from the seaside and the landslides. Obviously, the daytime is much better than the nighttime.

Of course, before slowing down and stopping, you need to make sure you are not in immediate danger.

Being close to lampposts or on a road that cuts through a mountain means there can be falling objects around you. It is best if you can get away from any slopes and possible landslides.

While beaches may sound like a great idea given that they are usually open space, you should not stay near them due to the possibility of a tsunami.

You will recognise the danger of a tsunami because the tide will go out much further than it usually does right before it. You will have just a couple of minutes to escape the coast if there is an active tsunami warning.

When the Earthquake Is Over

The first thing you should do is check the Geonet website for the epicentre and the magnitude of the earthquake. Of course, this will be possible only if the Internet is accessible to you. You may also want to check the social media and turn on your local radio.

If you don’t have the Internet and the mobile phones are off the grid, it means that the earthquake was stronger than 5 degrees of magnitude.

It is important not to call emergency services if you are not in danger. There will be a lot of people who are and the emergency services need to direct their resources toward those that are in immediate danger. Instead, call your family members and friends to check up on them and to let them know you are safe.

All of this should also matter to you if you are a business owner and you have a business vehicle. Each of those vehicles should have their own vehicle emergency earthquake kit. They can come in handy if a person is trapped in a car or they cannot leave the vehicle for any reason.

Rent your earthquake preparedness kit from Alsco New Zealand. In that way, you don’t have to make big upfront investments and you also don’t have to worry whether your every earthquake emergency kit has all the necessary items and whether they are up to date.

Call Alsco New Zealand and our representatives will explain in great detail what we can do for you. You will also get a chance to receive the best possible quote for your business.

Photo courtesy of Flickr by USDA

What is Basic First Aid?

The basic first aid involves helping patients in the case of emergencies. This should be conducted in a way that is safe for the person providing the first aid, the patient and the bystanders.

The basic first aid includes:

• Dealing with cuts, bruises, scrapes, eye and head injuries, fractures
• Dealing with potentially life-threatening conditions
• Managing patients that are unconscious until the ambulance arrives

In the New Zealand workplaces, this means that there is usually at least one trained and certified first aider and one or more first aid kits. Some workplaces also opt for additional first aid equipment, such as AEDs, eyewash stations, trolleys, beds and similar items.

Alsco NZ should be your go-to place for all your first aid kit requirements. Our first aid kits are rental which means you don’t have to purchase them. They will be stocked and restocked regularly by our professionals. Meaning – no maintenance for you. It is all included in the price. Get your first aid kits today.

What Is First Aid and Why Is It Important?

First aid is every quick assistance that is provided for a person who has suffered an injury or some sort of illness. It is important for the following reasons:

• It can prevent minor injuries and illnesses from escalating
• It can help save lives
• It can buy the time for the patient until they get proper medical care
• It can reduce the inconvenient injuries that prevent people from performing their work duties

That is why it is important that workplaces have somebody who is trained in first aid. This person is the one who should manage the consequences of an emergency situation and provide enough time for the ambulance to arrive.

What Is the Procedure for First Aid?

Generally, all certified first aiders know about the course of action they should take to administer the first aid. However, for those that don’t have the refresher courses every two years, the abbreviation DRSABCD is usually useful.

Here is the meaning behind this abbreviation:

• Danger – it should be eliminated prior to administering first aid. This doesn’t just include the patient. You should make sure that you are free from danger, as well as the other people present.

• Response – Establish if the person is conscious and responsive. This is extremely important as it can determine your next actions. Check responsiveness by talking to them, touching them or lightly shaking them. Never shake a child or an infant but rather pinch them lightly.

• Send for help – call 111. Give the operator all the answers in a precise and concise manner.

• Airway – it is important to check the person’s airways. If they are responsive and their airways are clear, learn how you can help them with their sustained injuries.If they are not responsive, you will need to open their mouth and look inside. Do that by tilting their head back and lifting their chin. You will need to unblock the airways if you can see the blockage in there. Turn the patient on their side before clearing the contents.

• Breathing – There are several ways in which you can check for the patient’s breathing:
  • Looking at their chest for movement
  • Placing ear next to their nose and mouth
  • Placing hand on their lower chest to check for movement.

Unconscious patients who have detectable breathing should be turned on their side in a way that ensures that their neck and back are aligned.

• CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) – CPR is started if the person is not conscious and they are not breathing. You need to start giving CPR as soon as possible and keep doing it until the person either restores their own breathing or the ambulance arrives. CPR works best in combination with AED in case the patient has suffered the cardiac arrest.

For proper CPR, the patient needs to be flat on their back, once you have them in this position, take the following steps:

1. Place the base of your hand to the centre of their chest and grab your wrist with the other or place it over the hand pressing the chest.
2. Press down so that you reach the 1/3 of their chest depth. Do it 30 times.
3. Give them a breath of air by tilting their head back, closing their nostrils and slowly blowing into their mouth.
4. Administer 30 compressions and 2 breaths interchangeably at a rate of 5 times within 2 minutes.

• Defibrillator – Automatic External Defibrillator or AED is an electronic device that, when placed on the patient’s chest analyses its heartbeat. If the heartbeat is irregular, it administers an electric shock and resets the heart. Anybody can use an AED since it comes with simple audio and written instructions. It is usually automatic which means you just need to attach it and leave it to do its job.
•  

What Is the Legal Requirement for First Aid at Work?

The law offers the following guidelines when it comes to workplace requirements. The entirety of the responsibilities for the workplace first aid is on the PCBU – the employer:

Duty to provide first aid

(1) A PCBU must ensure that—

(a) adequate first aid equipment is provided for the workplace; and
(b) each worker at the workplace has access to the equipment; and
(c) workers have access to facilities for the administration of first aid.

(2) A PCBU must ensure that—

(a) an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace; or
(b) workers have access to an adequate number of other persons who have been trained to administer first aid.

(3) In complying with subclauses (1) and (2), the PCBU must have regard to all relevant matters, including—

(a) the nature of the work being carried out at the workplace:
(b) the nature of the hazards at the workplace:
(c) the size and location of the workplace:
(d) the number and composition of the workforce at the workplace.

(4) A PCBU who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

(a) for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000:
(b) for any other person, to a fine not exceeding $50,000.

New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office

 

First Aid for Workplaces – A Good Practice Guide from the Department of Labour translates this into a first aid kit on every 50 employees and/or a first aid kit on each floor or separate facility of the workplace. Company vehicles should also be equipped with first aid kits.

Is your workplace one of the most responsible ones – a school?

If yes, besides the basic first aid, you should also be familiar with the legal requirements for school washrooms. Read this School Washroom Guide and find out whether your workplace meets the necessary New Zealand school washroom standards.

Contact Alsco New Zealand to help you with ensuring your workplace has the appropriate and well-positioned first aid kits. We will rent as many kits as you need, stock them, restock them and check them for you. It is all included in a rental price. Get first aid kits for your workplace today.

How to Buy the Best Tea Towels for Your Restaurant or Cafe

The humble tea towel is no stranger to the kitchen. It is often found near a mess of sorts, dutifully helping to clean up spillages.

But, common as it may seem, when it comes to the tea towel, there is more than meets the eye.

In order to find the best tea towels for your restaurant or cafe, you need to understand these handy kitchen cloths better.

For instance, why are tea towels made of different materials, which of these are the best and why is it better to rent tea towels rather than buy them?

Where Did Tea Towels Come From?

Tea towels have been around for over three hundred years.

When they emerged in 18th century England, tea towels were mostly made of soft, lint-free linen.

Their original purpose was simple: to dry fine china and any other valuable crockery. Despite the simplicity of this task, it was one so special that only the lady of the house could undertake it.

When they weren’t wiping delicate tea sets in the kitchen, tea towels were used at the dining room in the manner from which their name is derived.

A kettle would be wrapped in a tea towel to soak up any drips as tea was being served. In this way, there were no unsightly marks around the kettle, helping to maintain an air of elegance.

And, should tea have been served outdoors, the towels kept cakes and sandwiches free from the touch of meddlesome flies.

Tea towels were also highly regarded in that era as a show of creativity, prowess and skill through one’s embroidery. They were a mark of heritage, with the embroidery techniques often passed down from one generation to the next.

What Are the Best Tea Towels Made Of?

Cotton Blue Striped Tea Towel 100% cotton, highly-absorbent and anti-bacterial.

Today, you’ll find tea towels primarily made of three materials with varying degrees of effectiveness and durability:

• Cotton
• Linen
• Microfibre

Some tea towels are also made from a combination of these materials.

Ultimately, cotton tea towels are the best, especially those made purely with organic cotton. To understand why let’s examine the properties of each.

Cotton

Cotton is one of the most widely used materials in making tea towels, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Why? Cotton possesses two important qualities:

Absorbency

Cotton can absorb as much liquid as 25 times its weight. Why? We can attribute this to the nature of both cotton and water.

Cotton is largely made up of cellulose which is a carbohydrate.

Water has only three atoms. The two hydrogen atoms in water are slightly positively charged while the oxygen atom is negatively charged. This makes water a dipole.

As a result, cotton molecules easily attract water molecules when they come into contact with each other.

Biodegradability

As far as sustainability goes, cotton is the material of choice for tea towels. Because it occurs naturally, it breaks down easily (e.g., when put in composting bins).

Due to its biodegradability, cotton can be recycled. For instance, in the US, Cotton Incorporated turns used denim into household insulation.

Linen

While there are many tea towels made of linen, these may not work best for your establishment.

Why is this? Linen has a tendency to tear and rip rather easily, and it will disappoint with its low capacity to absorb.

Because of their fragility, linen tea towels are best used as decorative pieces in domestic settings. They may survive the occasional buffing of worktops but can’t withstand the demanding nature of a restaurant or cafe kitchen.

Microfibre

As the name suggests, microfibre is a fabric comprised of extremely thin strands. For perspective, microfibre strands are thinner than silk whose diameter is a fifth that of human hair.

For the most part, this attribute is advantageous in that microfibre lends itself to a wide range of uses, such as making mops, thanks to its versatility and adaptability.

However, this is also its undoing.

Microfibre tea towels would prove more fragile than cotton ones and thus, less durable in the long term. You would need to frequently replace them which could increase your operational costs.

Keep in mind that microfibre is synthetic and thus non-biodegradable.

If you’re wondering what other options are available, polycotton is also worth trying.

Polycotton is a fabric obtained from a blend of cotton and polyester.

It combines the absorbency of cotton with the strength of polyester for tea towels that are up to the challenge.

How to Make the Most of Your Tea Towels

Tea towels have several functional uses:

• When preparing multiple dishes in one go, tea towels come in handy when you need to dry your hands every time you wash them.
• Need to move hot cookware fast? While it’s best to use a potholder, using a well-folded tea towel can be a good way to improvise.
• Ditch the salad spinner and get your leafy vegetables and herbs dry with a tea towel. You can either dab vegetables dry or use the tea towel to squeeze out excess moisture after rinsing.

There are also a couple of creative uses for your restaurant/cafe tea towels:

• When hosting a group for gatherings such as birthday or holiday celebrations, tea towels folded in half make a great placement for the plates.
• If your establishment has a more relaxed setting, why not gift your loyal patrons something from your pastry section (e.g., a baguette cut in half) accompanied by a jam jar wrapped together with a tea towel?
• When decorating, you can use boldly coloured tea towels as candle holders. Simply fold your towels till they completely wrap around the candles and match their height, then secure them with satin ribbons.

Achieve long term durability for all your linen needs, with reliable linen laundry service. Proper care reduces replacements costs and ensures your linen lives a long life from day one.

The Hassle-Free Way to Get the Best Tea Towels for Your Establishment

Looking for high-quality tea towels? Choose Alsco’s robust linen solutions.

One thing many restaurants and cafes don’t realise is that not all tea towels are created equal.

It’s easy to think that buying many cheap tea towels is the way to go. However, sooner rather than later, doing this will leave you disappointed and in need of new tea towels.

Why not rent tea towels from Alsco New Zealand?

Alsco’s Tea Towels stand out because they are:

• Eco-friendly compared to paper towels or tea towels made of synthetic fibres
• More affordable and cost-effective because they are rented instead of purchased
• Made of 100% pure cotton making them high quality, durable and sustainable
• Available in a wide variety to meet all of your restaurant/cafe needs
• Industrially laundered to keep them clean and hygienic always. Alsco picks up dirty tea towels and drops off clean ones on a regular basis, thanks to extensive coverage of numerous routes.

Above all, choosing Alsco means choosing a guaranteed and trusted service.

Over 34,000 businesses across New Zealand use Alsco’s reliable products and services for their reliability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

For the best tea towels around, simply get a quick quote tailored to suit your needs.

Photo: Freepik

4 Interesting Tips for Workplace Urinal Hygiene

Urinal hygiene is an important aspect of washroom hygiene. Bad odours may diffuse into workspaces and make workers unable to focus.

However, clean urinals also contribute to overall washroom hygiene. In turn, this leaves a great impression on both clients and employees.

Besides, sanitary washrooms have positive effects on workers’ health.

How can you give your workplace washroom a facelift? Ensure excellent washroom hygiene through the use of professional products and maintenance.

There are different ways to care for urinals to upgrade your washroom’s appearance. Here below is all you need to know about urinal hygiene essentials.

1. Use the Best Urinal Hygiene Products

Workplace cleanliness has a direct impact on workers’ perception of your professionalism. In the long run, the amount of effort put in translates to an increase in employee loyalty. This also applies to external parties, such as clients, investors and suppliers.

Besides, customers associate dirty washrooms with lack of care. The appearance of your washrooms may put them off and keep them from doing business with you.

So, keeping washrooms clean may appear to be a difficult task, but using the best products makes it easier. It also leaves a lasting impression.

To begin, place urinal tabs at the bottom of every urinal. These are a must-have hygiene product that disinfects and eliminates bad odour. Besides this, they keep away insects like flies, moths and silverfish.

By reducing the buildup of uric acid, clogged urinals become a thing of the past. How do they do this? By consisting of the main ingredient para-dichlorobenzene, they keep all the bad stuff at bay.

Urinal tabs come in different colours, shapes and sizes, but they all perform the same functions.

Consider investing in urine screens to cut down on splashback accidents. Place them at each urinal to make hygiene maintenance easier for your cleaning staff.

They contain a strong fragrance which freshens up the urinal for up to 30 days. After this period, replace the old screen with a new one for long-lasting freshness.

These products often yield better results when combined with the tips that follow.

2. Use High-Quality Washroom Cleaning Chemicals

Clean urinals contribute to workplace image. The correct products prevent the spread of bacteria, creating a healthy working environment.

For starters, encourage the use of toilet cleaner. It removes scale deposits that make your urinals look off-white.

Pour a small amount of the product into the urinal and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Then, scrub the urinal with a brush and rinse it off.

Its thick formulation minimises waste and over-use, saving costs in the long-run.

Ensure you also purchase scouring cream to clean washroom surfaces. This eliminates dirt and grime, enhancing the urinal’s appeal.

Apply the product on a damp cloth and wipe the urinal exterior before rinsing it off. It leaves a fragrant and spotless surface.

These products have a long-lasting impact on your washroom, giving it the kind of care it deserves.

These products are essential in disinfecting urinals to protect your workers from illnesses. Cases of absenteeism will decrease, saving your business a significant amount of money.

This report finds that absenteeism costs the New Zealand economy $1.79 billion in 2018. So, investing in the well-being of your employees has many benefits to your company. The bottom line is, workplace cleanliness affects workers’ satisfaction and productivity.

“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel, and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” — Anthony Robbins.

Handle these products using gloves and safety glasses to prevent any harm.

To kill general malodour, place automatic air fresheners behind urinals. Overlooking this area allows awkward smells to thrive. It’s better to deal with the problem from the source.

Ensure to select scents that boost your employees’ energy levels, like:

• Lemon
• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Peppermint

These scents trigger positive moods in workers and increase their morale.

Don’t forget common touch-points, such as urinal flush handles, are covered in disease-causing germs. Protect your employees by making automatic hand soaps and sanitisers available. Creating a sterile environment speaks volumes and assures them they are in safe hands.

Fresh and Clean takes the burden off your shoulders. Rental hand care products are available for servicing and refills at your convenience.

3. Hire Professional Cleaning Services

This is the secret to creating a 5-star washroom experience. Contrary to workplace myths, this is not an unnecessary expense. Instead, it’s an investment in your company. This is how your business stays leading in a competitive market.

Expert services provide consistency by putting in the extra effort your washroom needs. Partner with Fresh and Clean to stay ahead of the game! Through both deep cleaning and biological treatment services, you upkeep your hygienic standards. This offers a complete washroom solution for exceptional cleanliness standards.

These are both eco-friendly cleaning alternatives to using toxic chemical products. Your workplace gains the favour of like-minded clients that admire sustainable business practices. It adds to your workplace’s core values and increases marketability.

Have a look at this chart below to understand which service works best for your workplace needs:

Below are the benefits of partnering with professional services:

• Specially-trained staff that have the skills your washroom requires.
• Formulation of a cleaning plan according to your workplace washroom needs.
• Deliver exceptional results, keeping your urinals in top-notch quality.
• Use specialised equipment and products to fulfil your needs.

4. Take Extra Precautions

This is another angle towards maintaining urinal hygiene. Do so by creating awareness and implementing hygiene policies in the workplace. Together, these will yield extraordinary results. Both your workplace sanitary standards and workers’ washroom etiquette improves.

Sending subtle messages has extraordinary effects on washroom hygiene. As a result, the repeat of avoidable washroom incidents reduces.

Your workers then become aware of their hygiene practices and the effects it has on others.

Use washroom posters to assure employees that you care about their well-being. By creating a sense of safety and security, your workers can’t help but be loyal. It encourages them to report any washroom accident that requires immediate attention.

Bear in mind to install washroom mats near urinals and sink areas. This prevents accidents. They are also firm and comfortable to stand on, improving relaxation while relieving yourself.

So, there you have it, the four major tips you need to improve your urinal hygiene. Give them a try and share the results with your colleagues.

Overturn Your Workplace Washroom Today

As committed hygiene service providers, Alsco makes it a priority to keep your washroom in high-grade condition.

“You service our branch with an awesome attitude.” — Shaan Antunovich, Manager, Education Action.

Contact Alsco’s Fresh and Clean friendly customer services for a convenient and affordable experience. Our expertise is all your urinals need!

Photo: Creative Common

Why Do Hospitals Use White Sheets?

Have you been to a hospital recently? Were you admitted? Maybe you were just visiting a friend or family member who fell ill or needed medical attention.

If you’re observant enough, you’ll realise that most hospitals predominantly use white bed sheets in their patient wards.

Ever wondered why?

Well, this article aims to shed some light on the reasons behind the practical application of white linen solutions in hospitals.

Using White Sheets Is a Standard Hygiene Practice

Over the years, white has become the colour of choice for bedding and other garments in most hospitals in the world. The main reason behind this is hygiene.

“The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.” — Florence Nightingale

The mission of any hospital is to provide the best possible patient care. Despite being one of the most essential parts of healthcare, hospital bed linen is greatly overlooked.

The body in charge of international standards on quality and patient safety, Joint Commission International, ensures uniformity and standardisation of hospitals across the world.

It has laid down six important patient safety goals. One of the most important patient safety goals is ensuring the prevention of Hospital-Associated Infections (HAI).

HAIs are defined as any new infection in a patient who’s been in the hospital for at least 48 hours and did not come to the hospital with this particular infection.

Hospital Associated Infections are extremely violent and aggressive. They are often fatal.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation, 10% of patients (1 in 10) get an infection while receiving care in a health facility.

HAIs may cause:

• Additional emotional stress to the patient.
• An increase in costs, causing a financial burden to both the patient and hospital.
• The hospital to receive a bad reputation.

Infected patients are often the sources of major hospital epidemics. These infected patients contaminate various surfaces with different pathogenic microorganisms.

Contaminated bedding is one of the sources of invisible germs and pathogens. They can cause susceptible people to become sick when exposed to them.

These infectious risks include:

• Conventional Pathogens: These are sources of disease that infect healthy individuals missing specific immunities. They include Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella, Hepatitis Viruses, etc.
• Conditional Pathogens: These cause diseases in newborns and individuals with a low resistance to infections. Examples include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida spp.
• Opportunistic Pathogens: These cause generalised diseases only to individuals with a low resistance to infections. Examples are atypical mycobacteria, Nocardia asteroides, and Pneumocystis carinii.

Therefore, sterile white sheets are primarily used as an infection prevention and control measure to manage and reduce the infections that may occur in the hospital. This, in turn, helps to prevent patients, staff, and visitors from acquiring infections from the hospital.

Extreme measures must be taken to ensure infectious germs are not transferred to patients, residences, or healthcare workers.

White Sheets Are Faster and Easier to Clean

White sheets are used because they are the only form that can survive the vigorous cleaning and bleaching process. For sterilisation purposes, they are also chemically treated at extreme temperatures.

This is because hospital bed sheets are often contaminated with blood, skin, secretions, excretions, vomitus and other bodily fluids from patients that contain infectious pathogens.

This laundering process ensures they are sterile and stain-free without having to worry about fading or any colour bleeding.

According to an article from the US National Library of Medicine, “Oxidising compounds, such as chlorine or activated oxygen bleach and temperatures of or above 60°C play a crucial role in ensuring an efficient antimicrobial action of the laundering process.”

Coloured bed sheets would not survive this extreme laundering process. This makes white sheets faster and easier to clean because they do not require sorting.

White Sheets Have an Aesthetically Pleasing and Professional Look

According to the psychology of colour, certain colours have a significant impact on people’s emotions. White represents peace, comfort, purity, and joy. It is for this reason that most hospitals are painted white.

Image from: creativecommons

This is meant to create a tranquil aesthetic and reassure patients that it is a safe space.

Patients go to the hospital when they are in need of advanced medical treatment and care. However, they soon find out that it’s not the best environment for them to recover and heal.

The hospital environment is generally chaotic, with a lot of activity going on at the same time.

Hospital wards tend to have white or neutrally coloured linen so as not to increase the chaos and frustration. These neutral colours help patients to feel calm and relaxed.

Having a good night’s sleep is a patient’s number one expectation when admitted to any hospital.

According to a study by the International Journal for Quality in Health Care, deep sleep is what helps a patient heal faster.

Using white sheets assures the patients that the bed is clean and fresh. White signifies comfort, and people tend to identify it with a good night’s sleep. White sheets also evoke a fresh hotel bed look and feel, which most people love.

There is no proven research that specifically links quality of sleep to white sheets. However, white bed sheets create a placebo effect that arouses the memory and feeling of sleeping in a bed that had crisp, clean sheets.

This can help a patient sleep better, as stated by dentist and sleep expert Dr Sabrina Magid.

Getting enough sleep boosts the immune system and fastens the patient’s recovery process. This, in turn, shortens their hospital stay and gets them back to the lives they had been missing at home.

White Sheets Signal the Bedding Needs to Be Replaced

Hospitals in the past used coloured sheets which transferred and promoted the spread of bacteria and other pathogens because it was difficult to tell if they were dirty.

Many hospitals have adopted the use of white sheets as an additional hygiene practice to ensure they are replaced with clean ones every day.

Stains are easily detectable on a white sheet, which quickly signals to the hospital staff that they need changing.

In this way, white sheets act as an early warning detection system to give the doctors more insight as to what might be affecting the patient.

For example, if there is any form of bleeding or bodily discharge from a patient, it is easily noticeable on white sheets. This will enable the doctors to take immediate action as compared to brown sheets where the stains would not be visible.

In such a scenario, white sheets are useful because they can help save a patient’s life.

Looking to Enhance Your Patients’ Hospital Stay?

Patients expect the very best during their stay in the hospital. It is, therefore, the hospital’s duty to ensure that every patient’s visit is as pleasant as possible.

Image from: flickr

Linen is one of the products that hospitals use to ensure their patients’ experience is top quality. Alsco NZ offers a wide range of luxurious, high-quality white bed sheets suitable for every type of patient.

Our sheets are made from 100% breathable cotton that is soft, comfortable, and gentle on the skin, providing a crisp cooling effect which can help patients to sleep better.

Hospitals generate a great amount of soiled linen every week. When dealing with tons of dirty sheets, towels, and patient garments each month, it makes more sense to use a specialist linen supplier.

At Alsco NZ, we have a lean system delivering what’s needed to meet the daily bedlinen requirements for your hospital.

Visit Alsco NZ today for all your bed linen needs to ensure that your patients’ healthcare experience is the best it can be.

Photo: Pexel

Demystifying the Hand Hygiene Battle: Paper Towels And Hand Dryers

The road of technology is paved with good intentions.

In the hand drying arena, there might be a popular notion that newer and shinier technologies reign supreme over the old school way of doing things.

The truth is, throwing away the traditional paper towels in favour of the jet air dryers is not always the best course of action.

Hand drying may well be considered an art that may equally benefit from both traditional and cutting edge methods.

There are numerous factors that can tip the scales to the favour of modern hand dryers or traditional paper towels. Depending on your organisation’s priorities, here is the lowdown on some of these crucial factors that will aid you in your decision-making process.

Counting the Cost of paper towels vs hand dryers

When it comes to calculating the cheaper option, it’s the jet air hand dryers and warm air hand dryers that win the hand hygiene battle. Continuously using paper hand towels entails excessive paper consumption. This is something that jet air or warm air hand dryers eliminate completely.

Indirect costs like manpower requirements are also factors to consider. If you use traditional paper hand towels for your organisation’s hand drying needs, you will also expect more trash bins to be emptied that will require more janitorial services. Some bathroom users also foster the unhealthy habit of clogging toilet bowls with tissue paper even with religiously posted reminders to use the trash can.

Photo courtesy: Flickr Image by Simon Fraser University – University Communications

The Drying Motion

Another chief consideration is the mechanism by which drying is introduced. Traditional hand paper towels make use of the friction of vigorously rubbing the surface of the skin with an absorbent material. On the other hand, modern dryers use the element of air to simulate the drying action.

The artificial air movement introduced by jet air and warm air hand dryers can present a problem. This air circulation that can go as fast as 400 mph can promote contamination. It can easily take bacteria from one user up to a 2-meter radius or the entire bathroom facility.

Photo courtesy: Flickr Image by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

The Bacteria Risks

Much research has already established that there are greater risks from automated air dryers to spread bacteria compared to traditional paper hand towels. It spreads germs in the bathroom by as much as 1,300 times compared to paper towels.

Warm air dryers, in particular, can be a prime breeding ground for bacteria because of its temperature. Paper towel users were recorded to have a bacterial count within the range of 85.2% to 91.5%, quite a stark contrast to the 41.4% to 47.8% range observed from users of warm air hand dryers.

Because of this controversy on bacterial spreading tendencies, experts have weighed in their opinion that modern hand dryers may not exactly be the best solution for bathrooms that run a higher risk of spreading diseases.

Some examples include laboratories, diagnostic clinics, and hospital settings where there is a greater percentage of extremely sick people who will be using the jet air or warm air hand dryers.

Photo courtesy: Flickr Image by Congreso de la República del Perú

Environmental Footprint Considerations

Going green is becoming a mainstream consideration for organisational facility solutions like hand drying options. If you are keen on saving the environment, that’s a point taken in favour of warm air and jet air hand dryers.

A consultancy firm on environmental resources management claims that paper towels require 64% more electric power when compared to power requirements of warm air hand dryers.

This may seem counter-intuitive considering that paper towels do not really require electric power when it is being used for hand drying. However the manufacturing of the paper towel products to supply bathrooms globally has an accumulated power cost requirement.

In addition to this, public schools in Kansas were selected as a venue for a global dryer study. Of the 102 hand dryers observed in the schools, the study found some astounding savings in a span of one year: approximately 700,000 water gallons, close to 600 trees, and 34 tons of solid waste.

Photo courtesy: Flickr Image by ABDUL HAFIZ ABDUL MUHIMIM

Besides selecting the best hand-drying option for schools, this School Washroom Guide deals with other major health and safety concerns, so you may want to read through it carefully if education is your industry.

Actual Cleaning and Drying Power

A University of Westminster study has proven that paper hand towels are more hygienic and effective in drying the hands. Given the propensity of automated hand dryers to proliferate bacteria, the paper towels’ individualised and disposable quality makes them immune from transmitting germs from one user to another.

Aside from this, drying the hands took 30 seconds faster when using paper hand towels. Drying with paper hand towels takes 10 seconds and using a jet air dryer requires 40 seconds.

Photo courtesy: Flickr Image by Ambernectar 13

Regardless of your ultimate decision on who wins the hand hygiene battle, it is important to find the optimum solution to your organisation’s unique handwashing and drying needs.

While you can opt for DIY, professional services or opinions may also help give you a more informed decision. Take advantage of Alsco’s commitment-free workplace audit and contact us today to get some expert opinions on your predicament.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr Image by Newtown grafitti

Waterless Urinals: How They Save You Money and Water

Did you know that the average person in New Zealand uses 227 litres of water a day?

Specifically, 86 litres per day is used for flushing, 68 litres for bathing and hygiene purposes and another 73 litres for laundry and kitchen purposes.

More than 70% of this water is used in the bathroom. More than 20% is used in the kitchen and for laundry.

So, how many litres of water does it take to flush a toilet?

Toilets manufactured in the 1980s use 13 litres per flush, and models manufactured prior to that use between 19 and 26 litres per flush.

The average person flushes five times a day!

This accounts for a considerable amount of water usage.

Now, do the math for a business that has over 15 employees. That is a lot of water and money wasted.

What Can You Do to Make It Better?

Urinals are highly common in men’s bathrooms of the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors of society. Today, there are models for women being developed and installed all over the world.

Personal homes are not left behind either!

Builders, plumbers, and federal agencies need to ensure that urinal fixtures are water-efficient and that the most appropriate fixture is chosen for specific applications.

Toilets and urinals can account for nearly one-third of a building’s water consumption. Inefficient or poorly-maintained toilets and urinal fixtures can be a nuisance.

Flush urinals, over time, can use more water than what they were designed for, especially if the flush handle has frequently needed repair or the urinal was subjected to some form of vandalism.

Luckily, innovative advancements have made it possible for a new wave of urinals to see the light of day.

Waterless Urinals

Urinals come in two types:

• Flushometer urinals: These send pressurised water straight from the supply line via a flush valve directly to the urinal fixture to create the flush.
• Nonwater/waterless urinals: No water is required to flush, but a cartridge in the bottom contains a sealant that allows waste to flow through into the drain line.

There are some contemporary waterless urinals that have a kind of self-cleaning property due to small pressure differences that ‘flush’ the valve clean with each use.

Urinals that have liquid sealed valves allow urine to seep through the oil blocking outlet, utilising the different densities of the two fluids.

Waterless urinals are designed to be compatible with already existing urinal infrastructure. The only difference is the lack of flush handles and no need to attach a water inlet pipe.

Waterless urinals take away the physical interaction with handles, creating a ‘touch-free’ environment.

That’s pretty cool.

Just as with other toilet fixtures, a full range of designs (and prices) are available for installation in both private residences and public buildings.

What Makes Waterless Urinals so Great?

There are a number of reasons waterless urinals are an obvious choice for your business or home.

1. Cost

This is always what it boils down to at the end of the day.

A switch to waterless urinals can pay for itself in as little as one year in municipalities that offer rebates for their installation.

They also end up being a cheaper option for new bathroom installations. Regular flushing urinals often incur substantially higher installation costs than waterless urinals due to their pipework and flushing devices.

Keep in mind that urinals now being used in your facility will cost you for water, sewer and maintenance.

Why not convert these costs to purchase waterless urinals? Your retrofit can pay its own way.

2. Maintenance

Maintenance on waterless urinals is different than that of a flushometer urinal and takes up less time!

All that is required is daily spray-and-wipe cleaning of each fixture and occasionally replacing the cartridge, which you will know to do when the blue sealant seeps through the top of the cartridge.

Typically, a cartridge will last about 7,000 uses, depending on the frequency of use.

As part of Alsco’s managed rental service, we will install, maintain and replace dispensers on a schedule customised to your business’ needs.

3. Hygiene

The hypothesis that waterless urinals decrease bacteria compared to water-based urinals is proven to be true.

How?

Water in toilet bowls is the perfect environment for bacteria growth, and the flushing of these urinals often sprays the bacteria into the air and onto nearby surfaces.

If this happens, it breeds cross-contamination, which can be very serious in a busy manufacturing facility.

In fact, in a study published in August 2003, Dr Gerba states, “Waterless urinals would result in a significant improvement in public restroom hygiene.”

Gerba studies “filth, pestilence, and disease,” with an emphasis on the bathroom, and says he has done more field studies on the toilet than anyone else in academia.

4. Environmentally Friendly

The most renowned benefit of using waterless urinals is the amount of freshwater saved, energy conserved, sewage eliminated and carbon emissions avoided.

Because no water goes down the drain, additional wastewater requiring treatment is not generated.

The special drain cartridges and inserts used in some models are recyclable. The sealant liquid composed of natural oil is also biodegradable.

How awesome is that? You get to contribute to saving the planet, too!

5. Odour Control

Air Freshening and Odour Elimination Services

Controlling odour was actually one of the main problems in the development process of waterless urinals.

But not anymore…

Some restroom fixtures develop odour problems that can be corrected by cleaning professionals such as Alsco New Zealand.

We offer odour control services created with your washrooms in mind.

While the Alsco sanitisers work as your first line of defence and kill off odour-causing bacteria before they get the chance to spread, your air fresheners will add to your air quality by scenting it.

You can choose sanitisers or air fresheners, but they work best in combination.

Both of Alsco’s sanitising and air freshening units have dispensers that release their products on a regular basis, so you don’t have to worry about activating or replenishing them.

That’s Alsco’s job.

Why It Matters

Many innovators have diverted their attention towards developing low-flow urinals and shower heads to meet the demand for freshwater.

Such endeavours in environmental and economic conservation have seized the curiosity of some government agencies.

The U.S. Army’s Facilities Policy Division and Installation Management Agency specified that waterless urinals be installed in all new construction and major retrofits effective October 2006. Since 2010, all-new U.S. military facilities have only used waterless urinals.

According to Annette L. Stumpf, an Army architect at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Lab in Champaign, Illinois, the decision to install only waterless urinals is based on the following reasons:

• They can save up to 170,000 litres of water per year.
• Waterless systems require no freeze protection.
• Electrical requirements for pumps are eliminated.
• There is no need to provide an infrastructure for fresh (potable) water.
• Septic loads and water treatment time are reduced.
• The waterless systems require no installation or maintenance costs for flush handles, valves, sensors, or water supply piping.
• No batteries, transformers, or other electronics are necessary.
• The units are environmentally friendly.

The plethora of advantages of waterless urinals is worth the switch and an essential component to future building projects.

Don’t Let Your Waterless Urinals Be Your Achilles Heel

Get in touch with the experts and they will handle the upkeep for you!

Quality providers like Alsco will continually replenish all the consumables from your urinals and, if you wish, even deep clean all your toilets and showers.

Contact Alsco for a best-price quote today, and you are sure to leave a lasting impression on your clients, employees and the environment!

Photo: Nelo Hotsuma

A Quick Guide to Urinals: What You Need to Know

Before today’s workplace urinals, Andrew Rankin was the pioneer of older designs in 1866.

Now, they are common all over the world and are a washroom necessity for relieving ourselves.

Unfortunately, managers often overlook workplace urinals. This shouldn’t be the case, as they play a major role in washroom hygiene.

This ultimate guide to urinals will lead your washroom experience to the next level.

Types of Urinals

To know which urinals suit your washrooms, you need to know the types that exist.

Urinals are under 3 major categories:

1. According to Flushing Mechanisms

Flushing is vital because it eliminates microorganisms found within the urinal.

To select a suitable urinal, you need to understand the different flushing mechanisms.

• Manual Flushing

  Handy, accessible wall-mounted units Toilet Seat Sanitiser

  This is a popular method. Workers press a button or pull on a lever to flush. This pushes the water from the cistern and into the urinal to flush waste. Flush handles are a common touchpoint. So, there is a high probability of spreading illnesses.

  Make sanitiser available in washrooms so that workers can clean their hands after. But, there is an easier way out. Take the safe route for your workplace and avoid this flushing mechanism. Instead, select from the modern options below.

• Automatic Flushing

  This method prevents the need for physical contact. An infrared sensor detects movement and activates the flush.

  If your workplace washrooms have the standard flushing handle, don’t fret. You can upgrade the urinals to this functionality.

  Your workers benefit and feel more comfortable using washrooms. In turn, this boosts their morale and productivity.

• Timed Flushing

  Flushing occurs automatically within set intervals. This method ensures urinals remain clean and fresh-smelling.

  Once the cistern water has reached its tipping point, all urinals flush together.

  Link the flushing system to the washroom light switches to avoid wasting water.

• Door-Regulated Flushing

  Maintaining washroom hygiene is easier as urinals flush after the main door opens.

  This mechanism saves water as flushing doesn’t occur when the doors stay shut at night.

• 2. According to Water Use

Some urinals use water, while others don’t.

• Waterless Urinals Versus Flushing Urinals

  Place Alsco Air Fresheners on your walls and stop worrying.

• Waterless urinals have been in existence since the 19th Century. They aim to eliminate the use of water while flushing.

  The waste passes through a cartridge and into the drain without the need to flush. There’s no need to worry about pungent smells, as the cartridge absorbs them. Waterless urinals are the in-thing, and this is why:

• They are eco-friendly. They save between 57,000 and 170,000 litres of water per urinal, per year.
• Installation in high-populated areas is possible.
• Prevent the release of bad odours. Plus, provide the best brand of air fresheners to maintain a fresh-smelling workplace washroom.
• Proper installation leads to fewer problems.

Like any other device, waterless urinals have cons:

• They need constant maintenance because odour control is costly. Curb this by inquiring which odour controlling mechanism is long-lasting.
• The urinals should be compatible with your workplace building plumbing system. So, contact professionals to guide the way forward.3. According to Urinal Design

Urinal design is one of the best ways to understand your workplace washroom needs.

Not only does this give you the chance to spruce up the decor, but also, provides a sanitary option.

There are 3 main types of urinals designs:

• Trough Urinal (TU)

  This is an affordable urinal design that is shaped like an animal feeding trough. But, because of this, the little space available creates some awkwardness.

  The plumbing leads to one drain and feeds from one cistern. Hence, this design is a common sight in public areas.

• Bucket Urinal (BU)

  As the name suggests, this urinal resembles a bucket.

  It is a go-to choice for its plumbing variations. It is easier to adapt to your workplace washroom design to accommodate for it.

• ‘’Wee-Against-The-Wall’’ (WAW)

  The name may not reflect the true aesthetic beauty they have. When put up by professionals, it can make a great conversation starter.

  Unfortunately, this isn’t the best design to look to when saving costs. Installation on a tight budget makes it looks undesirable for your workers to use.

Buy the Right Urinals

After identifying the best design for your workplace washroom, you need to know where to buy it from.

With advances in technology, purchasing items is a piece of cake.

So, commercial online and physical bathroom stores are the way to go. A few local stores to choose from include:

• Macdonald Industries Limited.
• Paterson.
• Robertson Bathware.
• Archipro.

First, understand that stores sell urinals to meet different customers’ needs.

Thus, consider the following factors before purchasing your workplace urinals

Water Use

• If you want your workplace to ”go green”, then you need urinals that conserve water. So, waterless urinals are an excellent choice

• Flushing Mechanism

• Select a urinal with sensors to track flushing frequency in the workplace washroom

• Urinal Design

• Washroom layout and design contribute to the productivity of workers. Select a design that promotes privacy and hygiene of your workers.

  It should have enough space between washroom users to avoid a cramped up appearance.

• Gender

• To promote gender equality, there are both male and female urinals in the market. Conduct workplace surveys to understand the needs of your workers in this respect.

  With these factors in mind, you can select the urinals that suit your workplace best. From this, there is a question about cost.

  Instead of doing guesswork, have a look at this toilet calculator. It assists business owners in planning construction of washrooms.

  Yet, the typical price range for urinals is between 199 to 900 Nz Dollars.

How to Install Urinals

Like any other appliance, you can install urinals yourself.

Consider these DIY installation tips before beginning your project:

• Ensure there is a steady water flow.
• Avoid tampering with electrical wires.
• Weld with care to prevent accidents.

Unfortunately, this option is not the best way to go for a professional job. Instead, trust the experts to do the job for you.

The benefits of hiring experts are:

• 5-star plumbing services are a phone call away.
• Knowledge and experience in local plumbing that your washrooms will.
• Facilitates the creation of a long-lasting relationship with the business.

Maintain Clean Urinals

Clean your washrooms with Biological Treatment

After all, urinals are a major part of the washroom. Without proper care, the state of your workplace washroom deteriorates.

For starters, splashbacks are a common incident in the urinal area.

In turn, bad odour and poor cleaning methods attract flies. This creates an unhygienic environment that may damage the reputation of your business.

Investing in urinal tabs is one of the surefire ways to deal with these problems. They consist of a chemical that controls odour and bacteria formation.

Urinal tabs are heavy-duty products that also repel silverfish and moths. All you have to do is place the tab at the bottom of the urinal and replace them often.

Additionally, consider hiring cleaning professionals that offer the following services:

Deep Cleaning

• This is a 4-step process that involves the elimination of dirt from hard-to-reach areas.

  Deep cleaning is suitable for washing the outer area of urinals

• Biological Treatment

• This treatment is a permanent solution to smelly and clogged urinal drains.

  According to the experts, this is an effective option that removes the build-up of uric acid.

Consider using a combination of these 2 services for extraordinary results. As a result, the maintenance of washroom hygiene is a piece of cake.

Plus, install wet area mats nearby urinals to absorb any splashback that may occur. Clean and replace them to upkeep the washroom appearance.

In the long run, high-quality and sanitary urinals are a great workplace asset, as:

• It upholds your business’ reputation and reflects its core values.
• It enhances your workers comfort at work.
• This contributes to people’s general satisfaction with the workplace

How to Choose the Best Staff Uniforms in New Zealand

Introducing staff uniforms could be one of the best decisions you’ve made for your business.

Workwear is great for reinforcing standards and processes in your business.

With the below tips, you will be able to navigate getting the best uniform vendor in New Zealand.

What Is the Staff Uniform Policy in NZ?

It is common to agree on uniform and dress standards during the recruitment process. It is wise to record the agreement to prevent future problems. The employee is always free to bring up any issues they may experience so the employer can assist.

Below are the common best practices in regards to buying and cleaning the uniforms:

• The employer provides the uniforms but the employee covers the cleaning costs.
• The employer provides the uniforms and pays the employee a laundry allowance to cover the cleaning cost.
• The employer provides and cleans the employee’s uniform.

Where the uniform is generic (e.g., white collared shirt, black pants and black shoes), the employer could ask the staff to buy it. In such a case, the employer should make sure the employee understands and has agreed to this in writing.

It is important to note that if the uniform is part of health and safety requirements, the employer must provide all appropriate protective equipment and suitable protective clothing at no cost to the employees.

What Are the Categories of Staff Uniforms?

There are two distinct types of staff workwear. The difference is in different roles you would expect your staff to carry out.

1. Dress Code/Professional Staff Uniform

To improve the general image and atmosphere of a workplace, you can introduce a dress code as a guideline to dressing up for work. What works may vary for different businesses. Apply your policy across the whole organisation to prevent discrimination.

Employees generally push the boundaries of what is acceptable. Thus, make the dress code description specific with allowance for the employer to have discretion as to what is appropriate.

Avoid making the dress code part of employment agreements because you will then need the employee’s consent to change it. Instead, put it in your workplace policy manual and ensure you bring it to all employees’ attention.

2. Safety Uniforms

Different levels of hazards exist. The degree depends on the workplace and the tasks involved. Where hazards can be eliminated or isolated, employers are required to take all practicable measures to reduce the risk of staff being harmed. Providing protective clothing might be one of the necessary steps needed to reduce the risk of harm.

Section 10(2)(b) of the HSE Act states that employers must provide, make accessible, and ensure the use of suitable clothing and equipment to protect employees from any harm that may result in being exposed to a significant hazard.

Employers can be prosecuted and fined for failing to provide adequate protective clothing and equipment, even if no one has suffered harm as a result.

What to Consider When Choosing a Dress Code

1. Form and Design of the Workwear

For public-facing employees, it is common for employers to enforce a type of dress code. Examples of dress codes include phrases like business casual, casual, formal, etc. It is important to provide concrete examples of the allowed attire and accessories to prevent confusion.

When choosing dress codes, be considerate of all body types and affiliations that may hinder adherence. Inclusive design and policy will increase compliance and reduce incidents of potential discrimination.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires employers to ensure a nametag so far as is practicable in the health and safety of its workers. Sometimes an employer won’t be able to make an employee wear a name badge with their full name printed if this might put them in the way of potential harm from members of the public.

An employer should respect their employees’ privacy rights in terms of the disclosure of their full names to members of the public.

Function and Utility

1. Hospitality Uniforms

When it comes to your catering establishment, cleanliness goes beyond looking professional. It’s vital for the health of your customers and your survival as a business. When choosing your uniforms, keep the needs of your staff in mind.

For your chef, provide uniforms that are both functional and stylish. They need to stand out and feel pride when they go out to meet clients. Alsco NZ has a diverse range of chef jackets and aprons that are both stylish and functional.

For your catering staff, comfort and hygiene are crucial. They need comfortable pants and jerkins that allow them to add a stylish apron and work comfortably. The material and maintenance of these items play a big role in how presentable your team will look.

2. Food Processing Uniforms

The food industry deals with food manufacturing, processing, or packaging. This means that the hygienic standards are high, and your staff is the first line of defence. Even a little bit of dirt can have catastrophic consequences.

The uniforms need to be tough, minimal and sterile. The food processing industry has strict regulations for a good reason. The risk of contamination is always lurking, and any laxity can have grave results.

Alsco NZ offers a wide range that includes headwear, overalls and aprons. With over 125 years in business, we know our way around uniforms. We have developed systems that make uniform management seamless.

What to Consider When Providing Safety Staff Uniforms

1. Legal Employer Obligations

For a uniform policy to work, staff must be willing to implement and follow the policy. Employers have a legal obligation to ensure employees understand how to use protective uniforms in hazardous areas.

As a manager, ensure the below are implemented to keep your company in line with New Zealand’s regulations on safety uniforms:

• The employee knows where protective clothing or equipment is kept.
• The employee has ready access to protective clothing or equipment.
• The protective clothing or equipment is suitable for the purpose.
• The employee is properly trained in the use of protective equipment and clothing.
• The use of protective clothing and equipment by the employee is regularly monitored.
• With consent, the employee’s health is regularly monitored.

Furthermore, employers are mandated by regulation 5 of the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995 (HSE Regulations) to provide suitable changing facilities.

2. Special Industry Workwear Needs

Medical & Pharmaceutical

These industries have strict hygiene rules for good reason. The people are the first line against dirt, contamination and pathogen spread. The uniforms need to be modern, hygienic and comfortable.

Due to the need for sterile conditions, medical and pharmaceutical wear has to be white and pristine. That’s why Alsco NZ doesn’t just clean dirt. We stock and sterilise your clothing as part of Alsco’s Rented Pharmaceutical Workwear Service.

Depending on the size of your company, you can choose from a wide catalogue of uniforms. They include items like dust coats, long-sleeved shirts, polycotton pants and polycotton jackets.

Manufacturing & Industrial

When your business is of a physical nature, your staff’s uniforms aren’t just uniforms. They’re what distinguishes a happy, safe workspace from a hazardous, accident-prone one. You need heavy-duty, durable and safe uniforms.

Alsco NZ offers a wide range of long-lasting, high-performance industrial workwear that’ll protect your staff. We offer the best price guarantee and reliable service that saves you the headache of sourcing, fitting, laundering and transportation. All for an affordable monthly rental fee.

We can customise the uniforms to suit your needs. This includes:

• Branding to improve your team’s morale and company image
• A range of styles and sizes, including women-friendly fits
• Made from tough, long-lasting fabrics (e.g., cotton drill, blends, flame/stain resistant)
• Sourcing from the best manufacturers in New Zealand

3. Cleaning and Maintenance

According to regulations 66 and 67 of the New Zealand HSE Regulations, designers, manufacturers and suppliers of protective clothing and equipment have certain duties. As a manager, it is important for you to be aware of them and ensure they are followed.

These include:

• Making sure protective clothing and equipment is designed in accordance with ergonomic principles.
• Design and manufacture workwear that will provide adequate protection from the harm it’s intended to protect against.
• Protective clothing and equipment must come with comprehensive information, such as how to use, clean and maintain it.
• Suppliers of protective clothing and equipment must provide comprehensive information on how to install, adjust, use, clean, maintain, repair or dismantle it.

After the supplier has taken all precautions to provide clean garments, it is important to have a storage system that prevents cross-contamination.

The Alsco locker system separates soiled and clean garments in a hygienic and convenient method. Designated areas for clean and dirty uniforms make life easier for your staff members.

What Next?

Alsco’s managed rental service understands the process of providing staff uniforms. We’ve been in business for 125 years, and we understand the necessity for uniforms.

No matter what industry you’re in, we have a solution for you. Get in touch with us today.

An account manager in your area will reach out and help you choose the best package for your needs.

For an affordable monthly rate, you get clean professional uniforms delivered to your doorstep anywhere in New Zealand, as often as you need them.

Emergency uniforms can also be availed at no extra cost!

You can never go wrong with Alsco New Zealand.

Photo: laros