Flawa AG (now flawa iQ AG) has revolutionised first aid in the workplace with its digital emergency kit, flawa iQ. The system has been successfully used on the Swiss market for more than two years. We had the opportunity to speak with Hansjörg Zähner, Quality Manager and Safety Officer at Valida, a proven expert in the field of occupational safety, about the use of flawa iQ.
Mr Zähner, let's start by taking a look back. Please explain to us where the problem lay when using standard first aid kits in your company.
We are a large company with a total of five locations. The biggest challenge for me was always to ensure that all first aid kits were fully operational. Practically impossible. As soon as the kits had been checked, they might already have been used again (plasters and wound sprays in particular were often missing) without me noticing. The expiry dates of the first aid supplies were also a tiresome issue that we had to check regularly. If you want to comply with legal requirements, you are effectively busy with time-consuming inspections at least once a month.
What made you consider the flawa iQ digital solution for your business?
In my opinion, flawa iQ is the most reliable of all solutions. The developers at Flawa have managed to optimise numerous aspects that are unsatisfactory and costly in standard emergency kits. Both users and first responders in accidents, as well as those responsible, benefit from a self-contained solution system. Another aspect was the integrated alarm function at the touch of a button. This gives us the option of defining responsible alarm contacts for each kit location, which in my opinion makes perfect sense.
Which feature of flawa iQ offers you the greatest added value personally?
For me personally, the ongoing issue of completeness has been optimally resolved! I would not want to do without the certainty that our cases will be fully restocked within 24 to 48 hours.
flawa iQ advertises that its new technology saves valuable time and money. Can you estimate how much time and money you actually save thanks to flawa iQ?
I can't give you a concrete figure for the cost savings off the top of my head. But with the very low-cost replacement module prices, nota bene without any ‘small quantity surcharge’ and the order processing that no longer causes us any expense, we quickly save costs and about an hour and a half per month. In fact, it used to take me around two hours to check all the emergency kits at all five locations. Thanks to flawa iQ, this time expenditure has been reduced by around 95 per cent to just a few minutes per month. Extrapolated over a year, this amounts to a total of 42 hours that I save thanks to this clever solution.
Products are often described as revolutionary, but fail to deliver on their promises in practice. Did flawa iQ meet your expectations?
One hundred percent. Replacement orders are delivered punctually on the next working day, which guarantees that I have everything I need, and the iQ portal provides me with a digital overview of all kits and any incidents that occur during operation.
What challenges did you face when implementing flawa iQ?
Employees were used to finding a case containing a wide variety of dressing materials. The use of injury modules, as found in the flawa iQ case, is new and therefore requires explanation. However, once the handling and purpose of the modules have been demonstrated, the concept is very well received. The fact that, with a single reach for an injury module, you have exactly the materials you need to treat the injury in question is particularly well received.
How do you assess the use of injury modules in general?
In my opinion, this is the main advantage of this system from the user's point of view. Employees who have to provide spontaneous assistance in an emergency are often overwhelmed at first, and the use of injury modules and the integrated step-by-step instructions provide them with great support. This enables even laypeople to provide optimal care to accident victims in an emergency.
What was the feedback from your employees on the new first aid system?
We consistently receive positive feedback and praise for the employee training sessions. New employees who are encountering the system for the first time are particularly enthusiastic.
Finally, we would like to know which companies you would recommend implementing flawa iQ?
Basically, I would recommend flawa iQ to anyone who wants to sleep soundly in the future. Because that's exactly what flawa iQ allows you to do. Of course, the system with its alarm function only makes sense for companies of a certain size. I think companies with around 50 employees or more should consider a solution with flawa iQ.
Mr Zähner, thank you very much for the informative exchange and we wish you continued success with flawa iQ.
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