Regional Trade Show and Industry Briefing

Dee Why RSL, 932 Pittwater Road Dee Why Thursday 20th June 2013.

The Next regional trade show is to be held at Dee Why.  This show will also have an industry briefing associated with it to update members on recent changes to apprenticeship training in NSW.

The industry briefing (to commence at 3.30pm) will address a new clause "Clause21A" of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act which will allow the NSW Government to sign off apprentices as soon as the training organisation says that they are competent.  This means that some apprentices will be able to be signed off from the training contract at the end of three (YES 3 YEARS) and then go the the office of fair trading and obtain registration.

If you have the best interests of the industry at heart and care about the health and wellbeing of the community you should attend this briefing.

Regional Trade Show will commence at 4.30pm until 7.30pm.

This remains a feature event of the year where you can directly discuss issues with technical support people from major suppliers and manufacturers and those who may impact on your business.  Drinks and nibbles will be supplied and all are welcome.

Who is exhibiting?

• Studor Australia
• Geberit Pty Ltd
• Stiebel Eltron
• Davey Water Products
• State Training Services
• Thornthwaite Technologies
• Sewer Equipment Company (Aust)
• Saniflo (Australasia) Pty Ltd
• Plastec
• Bromic Plumbing & Gas
• John Guest Pacific
• Ecowise Insulation Solutions
• Elgas Ltd
• Megasealed Bathrooms
• Sydney Water
• Multec Pty Ltd
• Blenkhorn Financial Planning
• Reliance Worldwide
• Flowpex Piping Systems
• WFI
• Plumbers Supplies Co-op
• All Valve Industries
• Ridge Tool Australia
• The Couta Group
• Abey Australia
• Pentair Valves & Controls (formerly Tyco Backflow Systems)
• Wasteland Plumbing Supplies
• Rheem Australia
• NSW Fair Trading

Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association NSW will be holding the AGM at 5.30pm

on the 25th June at 2 Percy Street Auburn.

Full details and accounts can be found in the members only section. For full details please login.

As a result of funding from WorkCover NSW, a video has been created to show the risk from electrical hazards and how to correctly change meters on a worksite.

The video has been distrivuted to all registered training organisations in NSW and copies provided to the national TAFE network.

You are urged to view the video and use it as a toolbox discussion with your staff.

Follow this link to the video

Given the weather bureau alert in relation to the rising temperatures over the next few days, please find following a fact sheet from WorkCover NSW. This information is issued by Master Plumbers Association NSW for the benefit of members and to assist in WHS compliance.

FACT SHEET

Is there a risk of heat illness?

1. keeping people away from hot processes
2. allowing workers to acclimatise
3. providing cool drinking water near the work site. During hot weather, workers should be encouraged to drink a cup of water (about 200 mL) every 15 to 20 minutes
4. providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as reflective aprons and face shields for reducing exposure to radiant heat. Outdoor workers should be provided with protection against ultraviolet exposure, such as wide brim hat, loose fitting, long-sleeved collared (preferably cotton) shirt and long pants, sunglasses and sunscreen
7. providing workers with information, instruction and training on recognising heat-related illness and on first aid. Adequate supervision of workers is also required
8. providing first aid facilities and access to medical help

1. increasing air movement using fans
2. installing shade cloth to reduce radiant heat from the sun
3. installing shields or barriers to reduce radiant heat from sources such as furnaces
4. removing heated air or steam from hot processes using local exhaust ventilation
5. installing air conditioners or coolers to reduce air temperature and generate air movement
6. locating hot processes away from people
7. insulating/enclosing hot processes or plant
8. isolating workers from the hot process by locating them in air conditioned control rooms.

   If symptoms occur, workers need to rest in a cool, well-ventilated area and drink cool fluids. If symptoms do not improve quickly, or skin is very hot and dry to touch, seek urgent medical help.

   Plan ahead and ensure all necessary measures for preventing heat illness can be implemented when hot weather is predicted.

More information

aioh.org.au

Dear industry member,

MPA has provided a formal response to this Inquiry.

 Following is a copy of the discussion paper to which MPA responded.

After meeting with a significant number of industry participants and receiving more than 100 submissions and survey responses since the start of the Inquiry,  the Chairman, Mr Bruce Collins QC, released the Discussion and Issues Paper for comment.

One of the principal purposes of the Paper was to obtain information relating to the legal, practical and financial effects of any proposed options that may be recommended to the government, so that this evidence may be considered by government.

Submissions and comment are sought from all interested parties by 2 November 2012.

A copy of the Paper is at this link,  while further information can be downloaded from the Inquiry webster at the address below.

Kind regards,

Inquiry into Construction Industry Insolvency in NSW (IICII)

1 Prince Albert Road, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph:  (02) 8258-7770 Fx:  (02) 8236-7105

http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/construction-industry-inquiry

http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/sessionalview/sessional/sr/2012-429.pdf 

You would remember that the Association made a substantial submission on this issue about 5 weeks ago, with the majority of what the Association put forward being adopted, including the retention of AS 5601 – 2004, gas installations, being retained as the relevant Standard for Gasfitting. The specific clause dealing with the Australian Standards for Gasfitting.is Part 3 - Clause 22 - Gasfitting work to comply with certain standards (Page 15).

AS 5601 - 2004 will remain in force as the definitive Australian Standard for Gasfitting in NSW until the review of AS 5601 takes place in 2013.

Changes to internal drainage inspections

Information for the Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains region

Plumbers and builders are required to book inspections for all internal drainage in the Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains area from 1 July 2012.

To create uniformity across NSW in line with the introduction of the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 and Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2012, all internal drainage work commencing after 1 July 2012 must be booked for an inspection. (Inspections are already required for commercial and industrial internal drainage, and alterations and additions to existing internal drainage).

With the establishment of NSW Fair Trading as the regulator for plumbing and drainage improved consistency in regulation will be seen.

NSW Fair Trading is supporting greater consumer and licensed trader protection, and reduced environmental and health impacts caused by non-compliant plumbing and drainage work. Lack of access to rectify such problems as construction progresses, means a pro-active approach to internal drainage is the best option. The destructive impact associated with rectifying non-compliant internal drainage after slabs are poured or access is lost can be avoided in most situations where inspection processes are in place.

Internal drainage inspections

The internal drainage inspection process includes:

• a flexible inspection booking process to minimise impact on construction schedule (inspection within 24 hours attempted, within 48 hours guaranteed),
• fixed appointment times ensuring a maximum wait of not more than 30 minutes,
• concurrent internal and external drainage inspections, if required.

As with all attended inspections, if an inspector does not arrive at the site within 30 minutes after the booked time, or if they do not notify you of their delay, you can assume the job has not been selected for an audit inspection. You can now continue work on the job or backfill the trenches.

There is a 3 month transition period from 1 July to 30 September 2012 on the new internal drainage processes.

During this time the emphasis is on giving industry time to adjust and plan for the new approach. During the transition period non-compliances will initially be issued as a caution only. (When this change is fully implemented non-compliance can result in fines and licence suspension).

The new requirements only apply to work commenced after 1 July. You are not required to lodge retrospective notices and book inspections for internal drainage work. This means that if the work was committed to be undertaken prior to 1 July and you have already lodged paperwork and booked inspections for the other work you do not need to lodge additional paperwork and book inspections for the internals only.

You should plan to make inspections of internal drainage part of your planning and quoting for all future work.

Benefits

Internal drainage inspection benefits include:

• The opportunity to rectify works prior to additional construction.
• Clear identification of layout prior to covering.
• A higher standard of work with less ‘after the fact’ disputes.
• A fixed inspection time of 30 minutes.
• Improved consistency and quality of work for the customer and builder.
• Greater uniformity of requirements across NSW.

For more detailed information about what work to book an inspection for, go to the Work requiring inspections page on Fair Trading’s website.

Go to the Plumbing and drainage inspection fees page for a fee listing for plumbing and drainage work in the Sydney, Illawarra, Blue Mountains and Newcastle area.

Licensee's responsibilities

Licensee's responsibilities include:

• Paying inspection fees.
• Ringing 1300 889 099 and book an inspection.
• Submitting a Notice of Work prior to starting work. Go to the Notice of Work page on the Fair Trading website for more information.
• Having a suitable representative onsite at the scheduled inspection time.
• Making sure work is complete and exposed for inspection during the 30 minute inspection period.
• Having a sketch of the work, or suitable representative, to convey the configuration to the inspector.

NOTE: where the licensee is ONLY carrying out internal drainage work, a compliant Sewer Service Diagram and Certificate of Compliance must also be issued at the inspection.

For more detailed information you can contact Fair Trading's Plumbing Inspection and Assurance Service by email at piasstrategy@services.nsw.gov.au

New wage rates that apply from 1st july 2012 are posted in the members area.

Newcastle and Hunter District Golf Day

The coming Charity Golf day has been confirmed for 10th May 2013 at the Waratah Golf Club.

Waratah Golf Club Ltd

Tel:  02 49581847

waratahgolfclub.com.au

The format will be a four ball best ball system and tee off will be at 8.30am.

Bacon and egg rolls will be available at the start and a luncheon is included at the completion of the round.