WMK implemented Working Wise’s Health, Safety & Wellbeing Solution, GOSH. This immediately allowed teachers throughout the region to quickly and accurately record every incident. Each kindergarten received an iPad loaded and tailored with pre-prepared options to make it faster for staff.

“Because we have such an enormous responsibility for our childrens’ AND teachers’ wellbeing – both under law and our own regulations – it’s important to have a system that is going to work for them.” -Lorraine Coulston, Executive Assistant

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Working Wise conducted a comprehensive Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) review and implemented their cloud-based platform GOSH to help Te Aratai strengthen its safety culture and compliance.

“Because of the ease of the GOSH system, I’m confident in knowing that staff will report, upload and update anything that happens around the school” -Principal, Maria Lemalie-Herbert

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To move away from outdated paper-based systems, the College adopted GOSH, Working Wise’s digital health and safety platform.

Since implementation, staff engagement has surged, real-time hazard reporting is the norm, and board reporting is faster and clearer. With daily use across all departments and ongoing support from the Working Wise team, GOSH has become essential to the school’s health and safety culture.

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“A zoo is unlike any other worksite, and managing risk here requires constant evaluation, innovation, and structure.” – Director of Safety, Assets and Sustainability Chris Jerram

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The result is a safer, more confident organisation equipped to meet its responsibilities and protect its people.

“With GOSH, staff can instantly report incidents, hazards, near misses, and ‘good catches’ from their phone or device. They can upload images and submit reports anonymously if needed, especially important when reporting bullying or inappropriate workplace behaviour.” – General Manager, Andrew Thompson

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“Working Wise set up GOSH as a great tool for our people to report health and safety events and hazards, and that’s enabled us to achieve our goals.” Stephen Turnock, Director

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“Asbestos is dangerous, so our staff now have more confidence knowing they’re working safely and correctly. We have firm processes and policies for everything we do.”

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Why did you choose to work with Working Wise?

We were looking around for a company to support and advise us on health, safety, and wellbeing, and Working Wise fit the bill exactly! We needed to have some good, credible accreditation so we could work with some of our bigger customers who work with government departments and larger construction and demolition companies.

Our parent company in London had provided us with the health and safety information they work with compliant with their HSE, but it didn’t quite match what we do here. We needed a health and safety regime that matched what we do within New Zealand regulations.

They were very down-to-earth, talked in language we could all understand and didn’t give us a whole lot of jargon. They just gave us a good response and good results

What was the process like?

I first contacted Jeena from Working Wise, and alongside our team in Christchurch, we established what we needed, set up the processes, and refined everything to the New Zealand standards. Working with them was such a breeze because you’re dealing with a company that knows health and safety but doesn’t complicate it.

How has Working Wise improved your workplace?

One of the biggest outcomes Working Wise helped us achieve was earning IMPAC Prequal. IMPAC Prequal is a health and safety accreditation that is widely trusted by a number of organisations including government departments, and ensures our customers that we meet their standards.

Asbestos is also a dangerous product, so it’s great that our staff have got a lot more confidence knowing they are always working safely and correctly. We now have firm processes and policies to follow for everything we do – you name it we have a policy for it! We have more robust instructions for when our staff do any decontamination with the process clearly laid out for them, and a new induction training which Jeena developed for us.

Having Working Wise set up the GOSH system for us has been an absolute weight off my shoulders. All our processes are in the system, and if anything has gone wrong or is done incorrectly I get an alert about it so I can remedy it. I now only need to have a brief check once a day to see that everything is running correctly. Each of the shop managers also sees any issues quickly through GOSH and can follow the instructions in the system to resolve it themselves – very rarely needing to bring me in.

Asbestos removal companies are heavily audited for their systems, and for them to pass their audits, their suppliers must be at the same standards they are. So working with Working Wise has really brought us up in the marketplace. I often get emails from companies who want to see our systems, so they can prove to their auditors that they deal with an accredited supplier. From that we have picked up more work through hospitals and government departments, and they have confidence in our company.

What would you say to others?

If you’re looking for someone to help improve your health, safety and wellbeing, don’t hesitate to get hold of Working Wise. It’s got our standards to where they should be.

The Surge in Respiratory Illnesses

In the article, General Practice New Zealand Chair, Dr. Bryan Betty, highlights that we’re already witnessing increased cases, with children and adults alike feeling the impact. Schools are grappling with high absenteeism, struggling to find relief teachers due to widespread sickness. “We’re just starting the winter illness season now,” he noted, anticipating a further rise in June and July.

In addition to common colds and flu, cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and adenovirus are also being reported. Dr. Betty advises that while accessing your GP might be tough, the national telehealth service remains a valuable resource.

Covid-19’s Persistent Presence

Covid-19 hasn’t taken a backseat either. According to epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker from Otago University, Covid-19 cases have been around all summer and are expected to spike as the colder months set in. Wastewater testing and hospital data indicate a sharp increase in cases, although it’s too early to determine if this trend will persist.

The Importance of Vaccination

With flu season kicking off earlier than usual, doctors are urging everyone, particularly vulnerable groups, to get vaccinated. A media release from NZ doctor warns with Microbiologist Dr. Juliet Elvy emphasing, “More often than not, people don’t think about flu until they’re already sick. By then, it’s too late for the vaccine to help.”

Vaccination remains the most effective defence against influenza. Dr. Elvy advises that the flu vaccine not only reduces the risk of severe illness but also protects against complications like bacterial superinfections, which can follow influenza.

Current Trends and Data

Recent data from FluTracking, an online respiratory illness surveillance system, shows low levels of activity as of mid-May 2024. However, fever and cough symptoms are on the rise, particularly among children under five. The FluTracking report indicates that while only a small percentage of participants tested positive for influenza, a significant portion tested positive for COVID-19.

Preparing for the Winter

As we navigate through this challenging season, it’s crucial to stay informed and take proactive steps. Getting yourself and your workplace vaccinated, recognising symptoms early, and practising good hygiene can help mitigate the spread of these illnesses. Remember, staying home when sick protects not only yourself but also those around you.

Working Wise offers in-person flu vaccination clinics in Wellington along with flu vouchers which are redeemable nationwide. This flu season has been a great success and we are on track to vaccinate over 1,000 across the motu.

We are closing our in-person vaccinations in June with the last day for bookings being 24 June. Get in touch with Julia today to book your team in for vaccinations!

Stay healthy, stay safe, and let’s get through this winter together.

Did you know that flu-related deaths claim the lives of around 500 New Zealanders every year? That’s approximately two percent of all deaths—a staggering figure that surpasses even the road toll. The flu ranks among our most lethal infectious diseases based on sheer fatality numbers.

Despite its deadly consequences, many Kiwis fail to grasp the severity of the flu. Influenza doesn’t discriminate—it affects approximately 10-20% of New Zealanders annually. What’s more concerning is that carriers can be asymptomatic, unknowingly spreading the virus to others.

The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to get an influenza vaccination. Which can reduce your risk of contracting the virus by up to 60 percent. However, timing is crucial. Flu season usually begins in May and lasts right through to September; however, flu activity is heightened during the winter months.

Despite vaccines being available as early as March, the downside of receiving it too early means you will have lower protection levels during peak virus months. This is because protection against influenza is at its strongest one to two months following your vaccination, and then begins to decline – depending on age or influenza strain. It is recommended that the best time to get vaccinated is between April-June, during NZ’s winter season. This will ensure your protective antibody levels are fully maximised and thus, you’ll have a much lower chance of getting infected.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today at 04 499 0710 or email bookings@workingwise.nz to schedule your site visit or clinic appointment.

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Let’s take proactive steps to curb the spread of the flu and protect our communities together.