Returning to the Pool – How you can Help Keep Children Safer Around Water

22/07/2020
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Between 2018/19, 276 drownings occurred in Australia, a large portion were young children between 0-4 years, with 84% of all deaths involving accidental falls. The Australian lifestyle often includes activities around water, so swimming will no doubt become part of a child’s life. Therefore, it’s essential that information on water safety is easily accessible for parents to understand safety guidelines to help prevent drowning. Also, that swimming lesson opportunities are provided, allowing children to learn to swim well.

The team at Pro-Visual Publishing caught up with Swimming Water Safety Advocate, Dave DuBois, from Carlile Swimming to chat about all things water safety.

Carlile Swimming, located in Sydney, is a Premier Swim School with award winning programs. They are dedicated to nurturing a child’s lifelong love of the water by providing comprehensive training and being part of a family’s journey to water safety and safer swimming.

Dave emphasises that weekly year-round lessons are critical to capability success and he urges parents to start as soon as possible. Dave says “Do it, do it now, don’t wait! Without a doubt, swimming is the most important activity you can have your child involved in. It can literally save your child’s life and provides lifelong benefits.”

In addition to regular swimming lessons, resources are available to provide further assistance or advice to stay safer around water including Kids Alive do the Five and the National Drowning Report by the Royal Life Saving Australia. Dave expresses that the Australian Swim School Association’s ‘SAFERlayers of Protection’ is also crucial in reducing the risk of drowning, but still there is no 100% guarantee when it comes to ensuring a child’s safety in the water.

“There is always an inherent risk around water that can’t be eliminated. However, there are many things that can be done to reduce the risk and help make children SAFER around water,” Dave says.

The recently published National Guide to Public Pools & Aquatic Centres by Pro-Visual Publishing provides detailed information on vital water safety topics and is currently displayed across swim schools Nationally.

“It’s all about community education and awareness, the resource Pro-Visual Publishing have produced is fantastic. It’s great when industries are producing similar messaging.” Dave says.

Both swimming lessons and swim safety resources ensure assistance and support is readily available to aid in the prevention of drowning and build safety awareness. If you’re considering lessons, don’t wait, act now and give your child the best opportunity you can to help them stay safer around water.

Interview with Dave DuBois, Swimming Safety Water Advocate, Carlile Swimming.
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Pro-Visual Attends the Master Builders Association NSW Excellence in Construction Awards Night

13/11/2019
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We were honoured to attend the annual Master Builders Association (MBA) NSW Excellence in Construction Awards night, which was held at the Star, Sydney. Every year we sponsor and attend these awards and, like every year, it is always a pleasure to be apart of a fantastic night, recognising the finalists and winners who have shown excellence within the Construction Industry.

As a company that embodies health, safety and wellbeing it is no surprise that four of the six awards we sponsored were the site safety awards. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to sponsor the awards in this category as safety is something we passionately believe in and it is great to see the finalists that also embody it.

The following is a list of the awards we sponsored including the winners and merits:

Site Safety – Commercial Projects up to $10,000,000
WINNER: Multiplex

Site Safety – Commercial Projects $10,000,001 – $50,000,000
WINNER: FDC Construction & Fitout

Site Safety – Commercial Projects $50,000,000 & Over
WINNER: Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd

Site Safety – Commercial Projects $50,000,000 & Over
MERIT: Lendlease Building Pty Ltd

Safety Innovation
WINNER: Built

Safety Innovation
MERIT: Buildcorp

Pictured far left: Ian Grady Senior National Project Manager, Pro-Visual Publishing accepting the award acknowledging Pro-Visual Publishing’s Support to the industry.

Thank you to MBA NSW for yet again holding a wonderful night and congratulations to all the finalists and winners.

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Seven Office Hazards in Your Workplace

11/10/2019
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When the topic of workplace, health and safety is brought up, is an office environment the first thing that comes to mind? Or instead more labour-intensive industries like the construction industry, agriculture or working as an electrician? You might be surprised to know, according to Safe Work Australia, 40% of claims made were by employees in administration, professional services, sales and community work and management.

Injuries are more likely to occur in white-collared environments due to senior management not implementing their company’s WHS policies, and SAI Global have listed the seven most commonly overlooked workplace hazards by employers:

1. Heavy Workloads and High-stress Levels

Work-related stress is the second-most compensated illness or injury in Australia which can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, sleep loss and depression, or behavioural symptoms, such as mood swings. These can contribute to long-term health complications such as sleep loss and diabetes. To ensure organisations are meeting their WHS obligations, top management must include all workers in their WHS decision making and comply with ISO 4500 standard.

2. Concealed Bullying and Harassment

According to SAI Global auditors have identified junior-to-mid-level employees, contractors and external suppliers to be the main culprits of bullying and harassment rather than managers who are usually perceived as the main perpetrators. Being on the receiving end of bullying can result in emotional trauma and psychological injury, resulting in higher absenteeism and emotional stress.

3. Basic Clutter

General day-to-day items including boxes, plants, bags on floors or courier deliveries placed in access areas can present trip and collision risks and even more so if workers are distracted. SAI Global recommends that employers organise regular housekeeping activities, risk assessments and inspections to identify workplace hazards. When items are not in use, its suggested items have predetermined storage locations to prevent trip hazards.

4. Blocked Access to Fire Safety Equipment

Are there items in your workplace that are blocking the entrance to fire exits, sprinkler heads, fire hoses or fire hydrants? In the event of an emergency, this can obstruct the efficiency or use of fire safety equipment. Fire safety equipment should have one-metre-clear zones marked by signage and workplaces should have regular safety inspections and see that there is preventative maintenance in place for essential services.

5. Non-adjustable Desks, Chairs and Monitors

Is your back aching more than usual? Are you finding that you have more significant back pain at work? According to research led by the University of Sydney, lower back pain accounts for one-third of all work-related disability. Height-adjustable desks, chairs and monitors can help aid and prevent back pain and the associated costs of compensation.

6. Extreme Workplace Temperatures

Is it a habit of yourself or others in your office to bring a jumper in on 30-degree days because your office resembles arctic temperatures? Then it’s probably not surprising to hear that complaints about temperature are widespread within an office environment.
Heat and cold stress can impact worker’s health, leading to days off work and even workers’ compensation claims. To maintain employee comfort interior workplaces should be at even temperatures of 22 degrees in summer and 24 degrees in winter.

7. An Employer’s Lack of Commitment to Safety

It is all well and good to have WHS procedures in place but has everyone in your organisation been trained and are familiar with them? If there seems to be a minority of workers knowledgeable of your WHS procedures, the overall commitment to workplace safety culture significantly diminishes. When workers aren’t educated about potential workplace hazards, risks and good safety practices, illnesses and injuries are more likely to occur.

Reference: https://bit.ly/35r9ACO

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WORKING IN HEAT – FIVE PROTECTION ITEMS TRADIES NEED THIS SUMMER

02/10/2019
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As the cold mornings start to become few and far to make way for the warmer months it is more important than ever to remember sun safety on-site. It’s no surprise that Australian summers are hot to say the least, which can have some Tradies and outdoor workers dreading the as some might say, the unbearable hot season.

These very hot and extreme conditions can lead to heat-related health problems. UV Radiation is a major workplace hazard to employees who spend some or majority of their working day outdoors. Taking precautions by wearing these five personal protection items will help to prevent the affects of heat stress and allow you to stay sun safe during the summer months.

1. CLOTHING

Wear light, loose fitting clothing that covers an adequate amount of the body. Clothes should be made from fabrics that assist in the evaporation of perspiration e.g. cotton and be light in colour, avoid wearing black. Although it might be tempting to wear shorts and short sleeved shirts, to stay protected it’s best to ensure shirts and trousers are long.

2. HATS

Hats with brims of at least 8 centimetres or Foreign Legion’ style caps with loose flap to protect the neck and ears should be worn to ensure the best protection from the sun.

3. SUNSCREEN

Sunscreen should be non-allergenic and have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30+ but preferably 50+. Remember that no type of sunscreen provides complete protection; you must remember to wear it in combination with hats, clothing and other protective measures. Make sure to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, more often if profuse sweating is occurring.

4. LIP PROTECTION

Don’t forget the lips! The skin on your lips doesn’t contain melanin, which provides natural protection, therefore your lips need to be protected with 15+ and above zinc.

5. EYE PROTECTION

Eye protection should be used for both safety and health reasons, i.e. protecting eyes from the sun and shielding from debris or chemicals.

These five key items will help to ensure you are protecting yourself from the harsh summer rays whilst on the worksite. Remember to stay cool whenever possible, keep covered and stay hydrated by drinking at least 2-3L per day.

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Guest Feature: “Augmented reality children’s books bring bedtime stories to life in 3D”

01/07/2019
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Launching in June across the UK, British start-up Mardles hopes to bring something extra special to children’s bedtime stories. With the ever increasingly popular Augmented Reality technology, Mardles has already incorporated the digital experiences with stickers and colouring books. Now they are hoping to encourage parents and children in storytelling.

“It’s all too easy to just give kids a tablet to keep them quiet, but this is something that children and parents can use together.”

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AR Experience: Correct Hand Washing

07/05/2019
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One of the simplest, most important lines of defence against the spread of many illnesses — from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu and hepatitis A — is good hand washing.

Germs can easily be spread from one person’s hands to objects or other people that they have touched, which makes it vital to wash your hands frequently, and wash them correctly.

Many of our Augmented Reality (AR) capable guides, such as the School Canteen Guide to Food Safety & Nutrition and Veterinary Industry Guide to Workplace Safety now feature an interactive animation showing correct hand washing technique, to help ensure workers protect themselves and others against preventable health issues.

To subscribe to any of our free industry health, safety & wellbeing guides, click here.

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How Augmented Reality Will Augment Your Revenue

06/05/2019
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Augmented reality has so much potential in the marketing and advertising world, as it gives brands the opportunity to integrate the digital world into real world surroundings. This exciting possibility has lead to more and more brands integrating AR into their brand marketing strategies:

“Snapchat, Facebook and brands such as Sephora, Nintendo and Jeep are going beyond exploring the interface and are now actively investing in the opportunities AR presents, and rightfully so. Not only is AR an immersive experience – ensuring that users are solely focused on what’s in front of them – the technology also allows for an emotionally memorable user experience, which can be tailored to suit your brand’s voice.”

Picture

Image: Pro-Vis AR business card in action.

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EVENT: NSCA Member Connect

03/03/2019
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Have you ever thought about safety in your workplace? It’s often something overlooked or something we’re extremely complacent about. But what if it were the invisible things of the everyday, those tasks that we do day-in and day-out, that could cause us harm one day?
 
It’s not a matter of if, but when.
 
March 22, 2017 the National Safety Council of Australia Foundation (NSCA) hosted a Member Connect event to discuss what some organisations are doing to help promote, manage and improve on safety and health in their workplaces. Pro-Visual had the pleasure of sponsoring and attending this event and meeting other members in the like-minded community.
Key Speakers:
 
Alice Klontzaris, Employee Wellbeing Manager for the CBA, presented “A holistic approach to Mental Health”. Klontzaris highlighted the importance of developing a workplace strategy to supporting those with mental health in the workplace, and outlined some of the programs the Commonwealth Bank wellbeing team focus on each day, month and year. Their aim: to help their employees ‘THRIVE’.
 
Geoff Hoad, Director WHS at Optus, took guests into the realm of WHS and workers compensation, the motivators for not having specific targets, integrating safety and health into business systems and culture, and just focusing on the main asset – people. But did you know that safety is deeply rooted in making money/profit?
 
Phil Archer, General Manager from FirstAction, highlighted the reasons why he gets out of bed each morning – to help save lives – and introduced their new Activate app (soon to be launched). Activate, an app developed to assist wardens and their workplaces in emergency situations, to better carry out emergency response plans as well as communicate and access the processes and paperwork on the fly.
The NSCA Member Connect events are exclusive opportunities for members to come together and network, to join a community of safety professionals in a collaborative environment. To find out more about what the NSCA Foundation does to inspire, educate, inform and engage in best practice WHS and risk management, visit them here.
 
Assist in achieving better safety outcomes for your workplace. Get involved today.
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Enhance Your Reality & Safety Outcomes with AR

04/12/2018
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When did you last refresh your memory on safety knowledge within your industry? With our recently released guides, you can learn about key WHS information and access additional content thanks to the AR components.
 
Pro-Visual Publishing’s AR is highly effective in educating workers in safety information as it provides active involvement, plus it’s easy to use. Simply download the free Pro-Vis AR app and scan over the enabled content with your smart phone or tablet.
 
Our recently released guides that feature interactive AR capabilities include:
​Click the images above to find out more.
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Recently Released Augmented Reality Guides

02/12/2018
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Are you hoping to hit the ground running this year when it comes to developing better safety outcomes and interaction among your colleagues, workers and customers?
 
We’re churning the next lot of health, safety and well-being information resources out like hot cakes. Our recently released guides feature Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities, providing new ways to interact with health, safety and well-being content and further information. This can all be accessed via the Pro-Vis AR app on your smart device or mobile phone.
 
Stop imagining and start engaging with AR technology.
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