The notion of health and safety in the workplace has evolved in recent years. It has been widened to not only consider working conditions and the safety of equipment but also the wellbeing – both physical and mental – of the building’s occupants, from employees and visitors to students and patients.
Zip Water
Health and safety in the workplace is important not only to minimise sick leave but also to attract and retain employees in the longer term. In fact, work-related illness and injuries cost UK Industry an estimated £14bn in 2016. But it seems that the public sector isn’t quite meeting the mark in the same way that the private sector is.
Research carried out on behalf of testing and certification company SGS revealed that there is a marked difference in how the public and private sector prioritise health and safety. More than one in two (54%) private sector organisations claim to conduct health and safety inspections on a monthly basis, compared to only 27% of public sector organisations.
The research also highlighted a big difference between the private and public sectors when it comes to the adoption of systems that help enforce health and safety. 61% of private sector organisations comply with ISO 9001, while only 18% of public sector organisations do.
The ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) gives specifications for products, services and systems that ensure quality, safety and efficiency. The benefits of complying to ISO standards are fruitful. It ensures that products and services are safe and reliable. For business, they are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimising waste and increasing productivity.
Zip Water’s innovative range of mains-fed filtered drinking water solutions are ISO 9001-compliant. Manufactured to the highest standards, the products are robust and reliable. The range also boasts a number of key features that ensure the health and safety needs of all users are met, waste is reduced and productivity improved.
Selected models in Zip’s HydroChill range – environmentally-friendly bottle filling solutions – are available with additional UV Out filtration functionality. Working to prevent the growth of bacteria at the dispensing point where bottles come into contact with the tap, UV Out filtration acts as a strong steriliser, minimising the risk of retro-contamination.
The Zip HydroTap also has a host of features that keep the user’s health and safety at the forefront. Zip’s market-leading MicroPurity filtration technology not only removes dirt, bacteria, microplastics and other contaminants larger than 0.2 microns from tap water, but also up to 97% of chlorine and 99.9% of microbiological cysts, if present. Additional accessibility features are available for selected models, including braille levers and the newly introduced DDA remote for wheelchair and visually impaired users.
On top of these unique safety features, Zip’s mains-fed filtered drinking water systems keep users hydrated without the need for unsustainable plastic water bottles. Easy access to pure-tasting drinking water not only encourages users to drink more – improving health and efficiency – but also helps to reduce plastic waste.
With annual budgets coming to a close, now is the perfect time for the public sector to consider how any remaining budget can be spent on making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people in these organisations.
Transform your drinking water provisions. Get in touch with Zip Water before the 31st March for your competitive and bespoke quote.
