Following on from our post last week, we look further into OHS in the Floristry industry.

Last week we listed some examples of possible risks and threats when working with flowers.  This time, we’ll give a real life scenario for each of these, outlining the issue itself and the action that needs to be taken to rectify it.

SCENARIOS:

Electricity
Issue: Heaters and extension cords are haphazardly spread over the workroom floor. This is not only a tripping hazard, but with water from buckets and watering cans in the vicinity, it could also cause electrocution or shorts.

Action: Wet areas and electronics must be separated. Extension leads need to be taken off floors, and power points should be in areas where items such as glue guns, heaters etc. can be safely plugged in, away from wet areas, and close to the source. This way cables are not laying on the ground causing possible injury or death.

Lifting, bending, twisting
Issue: Where the tap is to fill the buckets is 10 metres from where the cool room and botanicals storage area is. Lifting, carrying, and bending is required to place buckets into the storage areas – and that it’s a long distance from where the water source is. This can cause unnecessary strain on muscles, cause back complaints as well as possible water spills.

Action: Purchase a wheeled trolley that the buckets can be placed on, filled with water, then put the botanicals on, and wheeled to the storage area.

Ergonomics
Issue: Workbenches are not set for a standing working height. This causes the back, neck and other muscles unnecessary strain.

Action: Benches need to be replaced with standing height benches. There also needs to be training sessions on personal working ergonomics. This may include training on how to hold yourself when making posies and bouquets to reduce strain, (including repetitive strain injuries).

Slips, trips & falls
Issue: Flowers being removed from display vases in the shop space and taken to the workroom. Water being spilt on the floor from the stems, causing a slipping hazard.

Action: Florists need to bring out a container to place the botanicals in from the display vases, to minimize water spilling/dripping onto the floor. Also, everyone needs to recognize this as an issue, and have a mop handy to wipe the floor dry immediately.

Tools
Issue: Incorrect use of tools, resulting in an increased risk of cuts and injuries. To avoid this, staff need to have training on how to correctly use tools.

Action: Staff training is conducted, showing how to correctly use tools, and should cut away from themselves to ensure cuts are avoided. All staff need to stay vigilant with themselves, and others, around this cutting technique.

Skin Conditions
Issue: Red itching skin on hands and arms. The florist gets a rash on their hands and/or arms from having a reaction to botanicals, or other items used.

Action: Florist to seek medical advice to ease rash. Use a process of elimination to determine which botanical material causes the reaction. Depending on the severity, the florist may choose not to handle that variety again or may choose to wear gloves.

This list above is by no means comprehensive, but it gives you an insight into how crucial OHS is in the floristry industry, or even if you are working with flowers as a hobby. There will usually be an OHS representative in every workplace, as well as procedures on what needs to be done in the case of an event occurring, so please check for specific details in your workplace.

Once you know and consider the risks, then you can ensure you always keep yourself and others safe. You can also ensure that all measures are taken to prevent any incidents happening to yourself or others.  Vigilance to safety should always be monitored and reassessed to maintain a safe workplace.

Do you want to learn floristry? The Bloom College Flower School Flower Basics Course is the perfect introduction to floristry for those without prior experience caring for and arranging flowers. It is also well suited to those wanting to refresh the skills they gained from some prior experience.  We have new Courses STARTING SOON. To find out more head to: http://bit.ly/1Nes64L

In this first of our 2 part series on OHS (Occupational Health and Safety), we look at the specific risks involved in the Floristry industry.

Below is a list of examples of possible risks and threats. Once you become aware of these, you can ensure that all measures are taken to prevent any incidents happening to yourself or others.  They are by no means a comprehensive list of all OHS concerns, and vigilance to safety should always be monitored and reassessed to maintain a safe workplace.

·         Electricity

·         Lifting, bending, twisting

·         Ergonomics

·         Slips, trips & falls

·         Tools

·         Skin conditions

As much as water is a life-saver or extender to the core product in floristry, water can also be the contributor to many of the dangers and OHS concerns in a florist’s workplace. An obvious one is water and electricity – which can cause electrocution or shortages.  Water also attributes to lifting injuries by carrying heavy buckets and vases, therefore ergonomics training and some common sense is needed to reduce risk. Another very dangerous (and far too common issue) are slips, trips and falls – which can also be caused with water spillages on floors, or leaves/stems on the workroom floor that become as slippery as a banana peel!

Some florists also discover that they have allergies to particular flowers and plant material. In these cases, a range of skin conditions can present themselves, so its important for those affected to identify what material/s are causing the reaction, so that they can take appropriate actions to make it safe when using the product in the future. One common action is to wear gloves, ensuring that their skin is not in contact with the botanical material.  Some materials also affect people in the form of hay fever – this can be caused from inhaling the pollens, or other reactions that cause hay fever symptoms.

Skin can also be affected from the chemicals used on the flowers either during or post harvest. Often flowers grown outside of Australia pose the greatest risk, as they are grown in areas where the amount of pesticides used are non-regulated. Also, with Australia’s strict quarantine rules, many of the flowers brought in from overseas are fumigated upon arrival to the country, or have to be fumigated prior to leaving the farm in the country of origin.

When working with flowers, each risk and threat should be raised, recorded and rectified. If you are setting up a business, procedures and processes for this should be done prior to opening, and then monitored on a daily basis to maintain a safe working environment.

Using the list above, in the Blog post next week we’ll give a real life scenario for each of these broad topics to help you define, raise, record and rectify OHS concerns in the floristry workplace.

Do you want to learn floristry? Our Flower basics course is the perfect introduction to floristry for those without prior experience caring for and arranging flowers. It is also well suited to those wanting to refresh the skills they gained from some prior experience.  We have new Courses STARTING SOON. To find out more head to: http://bit.ly/1Nes64L

The 3 Floristry product lines are:

1.   Botanical materials

2.   Sundry items

3.   Ancillary items

Now let’s look at each of these in more detail…

Botanical materials

These include fresh flowers, foliage, plants, dried flower and plant material.

Examples of these are:

Flowers – Roses, Carnations, Freesia and Gardenia.

Native Flowers – Banksia Orange, Australian Daisy, Flowering Gum and Grevillia Flower.

Native Foliage – Emu Grass, Tiki Fern, Geebung Foliage and Tea Tree.

Botanical Items – Jack Fruit, Cherry Blossom, Fig Branch and Star Anise.

Sundry items

These are products required to create an item, such as floral foam, wire, parafilm, and plastic containers.

Examples of these are:

Floral Foam Brick, Green powder coated or paper covered wires and fishbowls.

Ancillary items

These are the items which are not required in the production of the arrangement, but rather used as an enhancement or embellishment.

Examples of these are:

Ribbons, boxes of chocolates and raffia.

These are just a few examples of each of these items – we really could go on forever!  When you are first learning about floristry, it may feel overwhelming, but as you learn more you will get to know each of these items in more detail (and discover your favourites!), and your confidence and creativity will grow in leaps and bounds.

Do you want to be a florist?  Our Flower Basics Courses are held across 3 locations and are starting soon!  We also have other Flower Arranging Courses and Workshops in Geelong and Melbourne. For more information head to our Courses page.

Following on from our post on Taking Client Orders, let’s now look a bit further into Customer Service and Retail skills.

Developing Customer Service and Retail skills is a key component of our Floristry Courses in Melbourne and Geelong, and we go into more detail here.

It’s important to note that floristry has specific requirements, only relevant to this industry, such as:

• Weddings
• Corporate clients
• Funerals
• Birthdays
• Anniversaries
• New born baby celebrations
• People taking leave

With each of these client types, a specific emotion or message is being relayed through the flowers you create and send. The art of portraying emotion within a floral installation and arrangement is a skill that comes with time and practice.

Let’s have a look in more detail at the three most common of these.

Weddings

Wedding clients have specific needs and should be dealt with in a structured, appointment style environment.

Some specific points to note:

• Offer an initial consultation with your client.  Typically this will take half an hour.
• Have your wedding clients bring ideas and images that they like to the consultation, and also have magazines and other images to show as examples when you meet with them.
• After the consultation provide a detailed quote of what you will provide.
• To secure the date, the client will need to pay a deposit (anywhere from 10% – 50%).
• Set up a payment schedule, with the final payment being due no later than 2 weeks prior to the wedding.
• One-two months before the wedding, book another meeting to finalise attendance numbers, and to check their requirements.

Corporate clients

These customers are a very important part of any floristry business, and one florist should be nominated within each business to be the point of contact to streamline the ordering process.

Some specific points to note:

• Have detailed order forms for each of your clients, which include photos of the space.  The forms should also include details of:
  • Colour
  • Height
  • Quantities
  • Budget
  • Contact person
  • Placement requirements
  • Days & times of delivery
  • Position of rubbish removal and water facilities
  • Any other requirements specific to client

Funerals

It is a very emotional time when someone dies. Funeral and bereavement flowers are a final tribute to the individual, and help console their loved ones at this very difficult time. Dealing with family members and friends is a very different customer service experience, and can be confronting at times, especially if you have little experience dealing with this situation. It’s imperative that you are sympathetic, professional, and discreet at all times.

Some specific points to note:

• Approach this situation with a feeling of honour, having been personally chosen to create flowers for their deceased loved one.
• Also, know that your contributions will help them to get through this time a little easier, as you are there helping to make sure they get the flowers they require.
• For flowers going to the funeral, it is appropriate to send a cut sheaf of flowers or a wreath.
• For flowers going to the home of family or friends of the deceased, never send a wreath or sheaf. An arrangement, or a posy in a vase are appropriate options. Or another option is a plant that can be placed in their garden.

As you can see from the above, floristry is primarily a service-based industry, and you will be dealing with other businesses and members of the public on a daily basis.  By developing your ability to create strong relationships early on, it will help you generate new business opportunities, and to ensure return clientele for the business you work for, manage, or own.  Our students at Bloom College all gain a solid foundation in Customer Service and Retail as part of their floristry training.

Are you interested in becoming a florist, or refreshing your skills? Our Floristry Courses and Workshops are held across three locations.  Full details can be found on our Courses page.