Home grown is best

Home grown is best

Home grown is best

Inventor and entrepreneur Eliza Donald says her “Edible Island” planters are perfect for Docklanders wanting to grow plants on their balconies.

Ms Donald has designed and produced a planter with plenty of special features.

They come in 10 colours, have an optional lid and come with LED illumination to brighten up the Docklands skyline.

The planters are raised off the verandah tiles so balconies are kept clean.  Being mounted on castors means they are easy to move around – even between premises for those renters who like to move around.

“Plants clean the air while reducing radiation and acoustic pollution,” she said.

For further information, see http://www.edibleislands.com.au

 

A salute to good workplace health and safety

Workplace health and safety laws apply to all businesses, whether big, medium or small.

And these laws are constantly changing. This is where saluteHEALTH’s Anca Grigoras can be your best friend.

Ms Grigoras has lived in Docklands’ for three year  and has built up an extensive network of clients here and elsewhere.

“Every workplace is different, even within in the same industry,” Ms Grigoras said. “So I visit each client’s workplace, to assess their individual needs.”

Aside from customising each business’s occupational health and safety program, Ms Grigoras emphasises the importance of continuing relationships.

“I build relationships with all of the businesses, because it is not just one problem to solve,” she said. “I approach it as a coaching role, because of the ongoing nature of health and safety issues.”

“Workplace health and safety laws and regulations are always being updated or replaced, and I want all of my clients to immediately know how these changes affect them, and to encourage them to always be thinking about health and safety issues.”

“By keeping an eye on how they are doing, I can monitor their health and safety program and advise on improvements.”

Ms Grigoras aims to integrate the workplace program into the business’s overall strategy.

“For many small to medium sized businesses, there is no one person dedicated to OHS issues so this lands in the lap of the head person, such as the general manager, who already has more than enough to concentrate on,” she said. “So I come in, assess the workplace situation, customise a program and significantly relieve the manager of that burden.”  

For new businesses, Ms Grigoras will develop policies and procedures for OHS, risk assessment and management, consultation, emergency management, training, incident management, contractor management, injury management and return to work.

For existing businesses, she will review of their current system, and recommend improvements and integration with overall objectives and strategies. She will also establish systems to record, analyse and manage incidents, hazards, and near misses.

Ms Grigoras points out that every business benefits from having a safe and healthy workplace, and quotes the World Health Organisation’s definition:

“A healthy workplace is one in which workers and managers collaborate to use a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace by considering the following, based on identified needs: Health and safety concerns in the physical work environment; health, safety and wellbeing concerns in the psycho-social work environment, including organisation of work and workplace culture; personal health resources in the workplace; and ways of participating in the community to improve the health of workers, their families and other members of the community”.

That pretty much covers it!

Ms Grigoras studied at Curtin University, in Perth, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and is a Chartered Professional Member of the Safety Institute of Australia.

To contact Ms Grigoras call 0467 533 223, email [email protected] or visit http://www.salutehealth.com.au

 

Men, you are in good hands

It is 15 years since Tassie girl Kate Allen opened a men-only hair salon in McKillop St, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

In that time, her ground breaking concept has come a short distance geographically – with a second store now in Docklands – but a long way in catering for men’s hirsute needs.  

Ms Allen’s former roommate and still best friend, Jo Thomas, is the team co-ordinator at the Docklands store. Ms Thomas said the Docklands outlet continued the fundamental attributes that had made the CBD store so successful.

“Just walking into a Man, What A Fuss store you feel like you are about to be in for a treat,” Ms Thomas said.

“The décor, music and treatments available are aimed directly at the guys and delivered in a cheerful, professional and classy way.”

“We look at each client separately; at how we can improve his general image and well-being.”

Ms Thomas said some clients could benefit from a “makeover” or a revamp, which could include excess hair removal, a new hair style or camouflaging greys.

“Skin exfoliating can make a huge, instant difference to the way a guy looks and feels,” she said.  “Then we have the guys that need to maintain their current image and we fit into their lifestyle by late-night appointments and also offer showers and complimentary hair washes for after-spa treatments.”

Man, What a Fuss offers a variety of spa treatments such as four types of massage: relaxation, remedial, hot stones and lomi lomi.

“Our facial is extremely relaxing and most of our clients fall asleep whilst the therapist nurtures and corrects their skin through massage and steam,” Ms Thomas said.

“Some guys need to just relax and be pampered, knowing they don’t have to explain their needs too greatly as we have been trained to initiate and cater to each client’s needs.”

The therapists and stylists also educate clients to look after themselves at home.

“Ladies can feel comfortable sending their partners or sons into our capable hands. We will nurture, encourage, relax and pamper,” Ms Thomas said.

Ms Allen said men had dramatically changed their attitudes towards hair and skin care since the first store opened in May, 1998.

“It must be noted here that 98 there was no ‘metrosexual’; this was before it was accepted to have your hair worn ‘messy’ or ‘funky’ at work and put product in it. This was the era of conservative side parts squared edges and fluffy hair. They were using soap on their face and some were chewing their nails off,” she said.

“But they would come into the store and Jo and I worked our magic, and that is exactly how it was perceived. The client would go back to work and say “go down check out what these girls are doing – wow!”

Ms Allen said clients from 1998 still visit Man, What A Fuss weekly.

Discount offers and gift vouchers are available online or in store.

Man, What a Fuss is at 7 Merchant St, Docklands, call 9602 5661 or go to http://www.manwhatafuss.com

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