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Work Place Health and Safety
Work Place Health and Safety  
On-Site Health Checks   Work-site Assessments  
Pre-employment Checks   Rehabilitation Programmes    
  Mandatory Health Checks   Health and Safety Planning    
  Drug/alcohol screening   Injury Prevention Training    
  Vaccinations   Ongoing Wellness Sessions    
  Mental Health   Medical Services    
  First Aid courses   Driving Assessments    

Businesses use Ramazzini Work Place Health and Safety services…
  • To ensure their company has the highest standards of safety possible
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  • Because they understand that their workforce is their greatest asset and they want to
    protect it
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  • To increase productivity with reduced accidents, absenteeism and increased wellbeing
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  • To ensure they meet legislative requirements and avoid heavy penalties
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  • When they want to be ACC accredited, therefore reduce their levy payments
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  • Because evidence shows a link between overall health of a workplace and company
    success
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  • Because healthy employees have found to be 3 times as productive than their unhealthy
    colleagues (References available)
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    On-Site Health Checks
    On-site health checks provide organisations with a snapshot of the health status of their employees. The benefits of these checks include improving employee knowledge about their own health & wellness. This is essential for these individuals to make better choices for maintaining or improving their health. The tangible benefits of better health are seen in improved employee morale, reduced absenteeism through illness and injury and increased productivity.

    Annual health checks can include health indicators such as blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol, and screening for mental health, diabetes and fitness. They can be tailored to suit your workforce. Practical advice is given and necessary referrals made when results indicate a need.

    Audiometry and spirometry testing is a legislative requirement for some workplaces and should be undertaken by all industry groups with on-going exposures.




    Pre-employment Checks
    These checks ensure that an employer doesn’t put their employees into an unsafe situation.
    They also identify any risk factors a person might have that would preclude them from working in a particular area or would need to be managed and supported. The tests include:
  • Hearing tests
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  • Lung function tests
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  • Drug/alcohol screening
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  • Vision Tests
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  • Physical fitness assessments
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  • Mental health screening
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  • Musculoskeletal assessment
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    The potential problems we have averted through pre-employment testing are significant. Organisations can save thousands of dollars by doing pre-employment assessments before people start a job. By identifying pre-existing conditions before a person is employed, they (or other staff) are not put in jeopardy, training needs are identified and employers avoid liabilities for pre-existing injuries.



    Mandatory Health Checks
    In many industries it is mandatory under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 to do regular annual testing to ensure that workers are not coming to harm. For example:
  • Hearing tests for those exposed to noisy environments.
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  • Lung function tests for those working in environments with exposure to potential
     respiratory damage – for example, timber workers, mussel shuckers, welders, painters,
     people working with fibreglass or chemical and solvent exposures.
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  • Testing for people who are exposed to hepatitis A and B, heavy metals and other industry specific chemicals.
    		•     

    There are many reasons for your company to carry out health checks. It may be to meet your obligations under the HSE Act, and to avoid prosecution by the Dept of Labour. However, it also could be because there is now overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that a healthy workforce improves productivity and profit margins.



    Drug/alcohol screening
    It is vital that you have a policy in place for drug and alcohol testing as this is a major potential hazard to your organisation. Tests may be required at pre-employment, annually, post incident/accident or you may require random drug screening. We can support your company to set up a drug and alcohol screening policy.



    Vaccinations
    Flu Vaccination
    Immunisation helps improve your body’s defence against influenza. Influenza (“flu”) can kill and even being fit and healthy does not protect you from contracting it. Implementing an Influenza Vaccination Program at the workplace can significantly reduce absenteeism caused by influenza.

    Hepatitis A and B programme
    Hepatitis A & B are serious infections which can cause major, long-term health problems. Fortunately, both types are preventable with vaccination. Any workers who have any contact with bodily fluids, including sewage, should be protected against Hep A & B with the complete vaccination course.



    Worksite Assessments
    There are a number of reasons why you may request a Ramazinni team member to visit your worksite.
  • work-station assessment
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  • office set up planning
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  • rehabilitation programme
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  • task analysis
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  • health and safety planning
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  • injury prevention advice
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  • training and education
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    Work-station assessments are beneficial if;
    • An employee is experiencing any discomfort (even if the cause may not be work related –it could still be effecting their ability to work effectively)
    • You are considering the purchase of new office furniture, computer equipment, are moving premises or considering a different work set up
    • You want to create the best possible workspace to ensure that your employees are healthy and productive.

    There are two types of worksite assessments.
    1. An audit is a basic assessment, which takes 30 minutes and is an overview of an employee's equipment and how the employee uses the equipment to work. This is undertaken to ensure health and safety requirements are being met.

    2. A detailed worksite assessment takes up to an hour. Attention is focused on an individual and how they work in their environment including their equipment, tools and method of work. Practical and realistic solutions are suggested for the identified problem areas



    Rehabilitation Programmes
  • Has your employee sustained an injury or illness and only able to carryout some of their
     work tasks?
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  • Does your employee need to gradually return to work after an injury or illness?
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  • Does a job task involve complex steps, repetitive or awkward movements?
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    Workplace Assessments:
    The Ramazzini team has significant expertise in developing rehabilitation programmes to assist employees in returning to work for example after:

    • heart attack
    • surgery
    • traumatic brain injury
    • major life stressor
    • injury e.g. strain or sprain

    An occupational therapist, occupational health nurse or physiotherapist will visit your workplace. They will assess the work tasks and how a person’s injury or illness affects their ability to carry out those tasks (both functionally and cognitively). The assessor will report on whether there is any support or specialised equipment that could assist. They will deliver education and provide information on preventing further discomfort/pain/injury and teach appropriate work techniques and practices.

    Common workplaces we assess include: industrial / construction sites, self-employed tradesmen, production line based companies, public services and private businesses.

    Graduated Return to Work Plan
    A return to work plan can be developed between the employee, medical practitioner, supervisor/manager and any others involved, to gradually return the employee back to their pre-injury or pre-illness hours and work tasks. The programme is negotiable dependent on the employee circumstances, capabilities, tasks, hours, worker role, responsibilities and skill sets.

    Task Analysis:
    Our assessor can analyse a range of activities or a specific job task and identify the individual steps, functional movements and risks involved in carrying this out. This assessment is useful for orientating a new employee to their job and identifying the appropriate steps, risks and best work practices. It can also be used to identify the cause of repetitive injuries.

     

     

     

     

     

    Mental Health
    In a world with increasing pressures people often get overloaded with situations that distract them from their work or develop into more significant mental health concerns. Marital breakdown, financial pressures, death of a loved one, work place bullying, health concerns or just life in general if not addressed can lead to the following:
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Mood swings
    • Alcohol or substance abuse
    • Panic attacks
    • Sleep problems

    Our team of experienced counsellors and clinical psychologists can help support you or your staff to work through these issues and manage these symptoms. We work with the following professionals:

    Dr Anthony Morrison, Clinical Neuropsychologist
    Bruce Donaldson, Clinical Psychologist
    Dr Elena Moran, PhD, DipClinPsych, MNZCCP, Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychology and Chronic Pain Specialist
    Raewyn Laurenson, M.Ed (Hons/Couns) BA (Hons) MNZAC, CDANZ



    Health and Safety Planning
    It is essential for businesses to implement Health and Safety programmes, to ensure they meet the current requirements of legislation. Ramazzini can assist businesses to initiate, plan and organise a Health and Safety programme, which is tailored to their specific needs.

    We can support you in your application for ACC workplace Safety Management Practices Certification which will offer you a reduction in your ACC levies as well as keep your staff safe.

     

    Injury Prevention Training
    Risks are minimised through our training packages on: injury prevention, stress management, moving and manual handling, shift work, sleep, general fitness and nutrition. We can work with individuals and groups.



    Ongoing Wellness Sessions
    These sessions provide regular support and training for employees which will provide practical tools for managing stress, increasing awareness; therefore reducing risk of burnout and injury, improving morale and increasing overall wellness.
    At these regular (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) sessions, participants are guided through simple & practical techniques which will:

    • Release physical tension
    • Reduce stress
    • Improve sleep quality and quantity

    People of all ages and fitness levels benefit from these enjoyable and informative sessions, which are tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.


     

    Medical Services
    The Ramazzini doctor is available for pre-employment medicals, and to contribute to return to work plans, to provide medical certificates or medically review any staff member who is having issues with health and injury. The doctor also oversees nurse assessments such as spirometry. Registered nurses carry out audiometry, spirometry, vision screening, musculoskeletal assessments and vaccinations.

     

    First Aid courses
    Our First Aid tutors are both trained nurses and have completed additional training to conduct First Aid Courses.
    Annie Leather Bev Brandes-Clatworthy


    Our certificated courses are designed to motivate and train attendees to be the First Aid person capable of providing immediate First Aid assistance in any situation. Attendees are trained to a high standard of patient care with both instructor and peer assessment throughout the course. More than 50% of the course is practical so that attendees gain competency with the various First Aid techniques covering unit standards:
    • NZQA Unit Standard 6402 – Provide Resuscitation Level 2
    • NZQA Unit Standard 6401 – Provide First Aid
    • NZQA Unit Standard 6400 – Manage First Aid in Emergency Situations

    Ramazzini First Aid offer public and private courses that can be tailored to the particular needs of your business. Public courses are held at the Hearing Association, 354 Trafalgar Square, Nelson. The refresher course is usually a morning session, and the full workplace course is all day .
    The Refresher course must be completed every two years to ensure that First Aid personnel maintain their skills and are updated with new protocols and procedures.
    Both courses provide the attendee with a comprehensive manual.

    Please feel free to contact us on 03 545 7267, 0800 728 3254 or email to book your place or discuss tailoring a course to meet your needs. We will travel throughout the region for private courses.

    Ramazzini’s first aid instructors are licensed to MediTrain Ltd, a registered and accredited NZQA provider.

    Click here to find the dates for 2012.



    Driving Assessments
    A change of medical condition can affect your ability to drive safely. This may follow a brain injury, stroke, spinal injury, amputation, Parkinson’s disease or be due to the ageing process.

    If your doctor has concerns about your skills to drive safely they may refer you to an Occupational Therapist at Ramazzini for a specialist driving assessment. This assessment can assist your GP in making the decision on whether to give a medical clearance to drive or not.

    The purpose of the Occupational Therapy driving assessment is to make recommendations about if or when you can resume to drive safely or whether conditions should be placed on you, or modifications made to your car. The driving assessment is broken into two parts:

    1. Off road assessments
    This is will include taking a full history regarding medical conditions, social situation and physical functions. Assessments of vision, memory and road rule knowledge is completed. This is then followed by an electronic assessment on a driving simulator, designed to assess the cognitive skills related to driving in a realistic manner. Prior knowledge of computers is not necessary and lack of knowledge will not impact on the results. If the results are clear, either positive or negative a report will be based on these results. In the case that a person is considered borderline, progression to the on road assessment is required.

     2. On Road
    This is done in conjunction with a qualified driving instructor and the occupational therapist. This assessment can be done in the driving instructors car or the person’s own car. If a licence has been suspended a temporary licence will be arranged for this assessment. The off-road assessment is a requirement before the on-road assessment can be completed. The on road assessment looks at driving habits and skills, driving safety, adherence to road rules and also any vehicle modification requirements can be identified to support the person’s driving.
    The Ramazzini Occupational Therapist can also assist in advice on selecting an appropriate car to purchase and modify if required to allow you to drive safely or to carry disabled passengers safely in your vehicle    .

    Click here to download our information leaflet

     
     
    PO Box 1569 Nelson, New Zealand
    Phone: (03) 545 7267, Fax: (03) 545 6902
     email