- UEE TRAINING PACKAGE PRACTITIONER WORKSHOP – NEWCASTLE 4 JUNE 2021
- TRUSTING ADVICE FROM TECHNOLOGY – NEW RESEARCH UNDER WAY
- SEEKING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HVACR NATURAL GAS
- TRAGIC INCIDENT AT A PAPER MILL SPARKS DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANIMATED CASE STUDY
- SPOTLIGHT ON ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT TIER-1 QUARRIES
- 30TH ANNUAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SAFETY SEMINAR SEEKING PRESENTERS
- COOLING CHAMPIONS UNITE
- QUEENSLAND BLACKOUT: SHOULD WE LET THE MARKET RUN?
- HYDROGEN INDUSTRY MISSION LAUNCHED BY CSIRO AND PARTNERS
1. UEE TRAINING PACKAGE PRACTITIONER WORKSHOP – NEWCASTLE 4 JUNE 2021
Workshop reminder – Electrotechnology Training Package practitioner workshop.
The Workshop will be held in Newcastle as follows:
| DAY: | Friday |
| DATE: | 4th June 2021 |
| TIME: | 10.00AM TO 2PM (30-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK) |
| VENUE: | TAFE NSW Newcastle (Tighes Hill) Building M, room M1.06 Building M is via Chin Chen Street, Islington and using the car park on the left, adjacent to Building M. Campus map is attached highlighting the building and parking area. |
| WHO CAN ATTEND: | All stakeholders are welcome – TAFE NSW staff, Private RTO staff, Training Services NSW staff, employers, unions, etc. |
| MEDIA: | Flyer attached – includes TEAMS URL for those wishing to link in. |
| RSVP: | COB Wednesday, 2 June 2021 |
The workshop will explore and hold discussions with regional practitioners about issues associated with the roll-out and implementation of Electrotechnology Training Package UEE20, particularly the new workplace evidence requirements and likely impact on resourcing. As well, other related Utilities Training Packages and associated issues including apprenticeship mode, apprenticeship funding, workplace evidence gathering mechanisms preferred by the industry, mutual recognition of licenses and licensing/training matters in general.
If you are able to attend, please confirm your interest and potential for attending by emailing Tony at: tony@uensw.com.au
2. TRUSTING ADVICE FROM TECHNOLOGY – NEW RESEARCH UNDER WAY
The Centre for WHS is conducting a survey and has circulated an invitation for feedback on what do you think about using technology to help make decisions at work, and is it safe to trust advice from a machine?
Centre for WHS states, it has “partnered with Charles Sturt University to undertake research into identifying the barriers that may be experienced when working with intelligent decision support systems (IDSS) in the workplace.
More simply, IDSS refers to technology that makes sense of data in order to provide actionable advice to its user.
If you’re interested in contributing to the study, please follow this link – https://csufobjbs.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MQMeSOqZUYnZMG
It consists of a quick 20 min questionnaire, with the opportunity to have a follow up interview. Selected interviewees will be reimbursed with a $100.00 (AUD) Coles or Woolworths gift voucher.
IDSS can come in many different forms in the workplace. Some examples of this technology might include:
- In health, generating advice to assist a health practitioner diagnose a patient or select treatment.
- In aviation, generating advice for pilots or air-traffic controllers regarding safety analyses, or air traffic management.
- In manufacturing, generating advice for workers regarding production planning or strategic decision.
It’s highly likely you work with this technology in your workplace, but if you don’t think you’re suitable, please share this with your contacts. We are interested in all industries where this technology is being applied.
If you have any questions, reach out to us at contact@centreforwhs.nsw.gov.au
3. SEEKING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HVACR NATURAL GAS
Curio international is seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in HVACR Natural gas to cover off the new Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration UEE32211 qualification.
They are seeking an SME to develop the content and assessment items for units of competency that will be delivered using blended learning. They indicate that the project is an opportunity for an SME to lead in the design of content, assessment and curriculum for the new qualification.
If you are interested or know another SME interested, contact Dr Chinh directly, as per following:
Chinh Nguyen Ph.D.(Melb)
Online Programs Manager
Curio
m: +61 401 316 708
p: +61 3 9068 5937
Please feel free to contact Dr Chinh at your convenience if you would like more information or are an SME and have an interest in assisting them in their project scope.
4. TRAGIC INCIDENT AT A PAPER MILL SPARKS DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANIMATED CASE STUDY
SafeWork Wrap May edition reports on an undertaking by a paper mill to develop an animated case study. The news article states, “Following an order handed down by the District Court of NSW, the offender has created an animated case study video in collaboration with SafeWork NSW to raise awareness of the dangers of hazardous gas in confined spaces after a tragic incident occurred at a paper mill.
Working in confined spaces can be dangerous. Workers and first responders are seriously injured or killed every year after being exposed to hazardous gas in confined spaces.
A confined space can exist in any industry and is not just limited to inside a tank, vessel, or pit.
There are many processes that may produce hazardous gas, including:
- agriculture and farming
- wine and food production
- sewerage treatment
- manufacturing using organic products such as wood.
If you work in or around confined spaces, we strongly encourage you to watch this video and share it with your workers and industry contacts.”
Be safe in confined spaces!”
Notably, on 25 September 2020, the defendant was convicted by the District Court, fined $1,012,500, and ordered to undertake a work health and safety project pursuant to section 238 of the Act. Hence the video undertaking.
5. SPOTLIGHT ON ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT TIER-1 QUARRIES
The NSW Resources regulator reports in its latest Mine Safety News that in March this year, it “initiated a targeted intervention at Tier-1 quarries across the State, focusing on the management of electrical hazards. The intervention followed an incident investigation for a reported electric shock at a quarry. Our investigation raised significant concerns regarding the testing, inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment at Tier-1 quarries.
The Targeted Intervention Program report has been finalised and is available on our website.”
The report released May, 2021 highlights a range of findings of concern, of which the Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the outcomes of the investigation:
“Inspectors issued 84 Work Health and Safety notices in relation to the management of electrical hazards and legislative compliance. This included 23 Section 23 Notices of Concern and 61 Section 191 Improvement Notices.
While all mines that were assessed could demonstrate a risk-based approach to managing electrical risks, issues identified by inspectors included poorly executed risk assessments which failed to include workers, failed to identify all electrical hazards on site and failed to nominate clearly defined risk control measures to eliminate or mitigate the risks.
These failures were reflected within electrical engineering control plans and subordinate documents. These plans did not properly address or communicate minimum requirements for installation, commissioning, maintenance and de-commissioning of electrical plant. Specifically, inspectors noted absent or incomplete electrical commissioning records, inspection and maintenance regimes which failed to ensure electrical risk control remained effective and no documented minimum standards for de-commissioning redundant electrical infrastructure.
Inspectors also identified issues associated with the management of arc blast, lightning protection and management of electric welding equipment.”
The report is worth a review of the issues, findings and regulator responses: ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT TIER-1 QUARRIES
6. 30TH ANNUAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SAFETY SEMINAR SEEKING PRESENTERS
The NSW Resources Regulator is seeking experienced and enthusiastic presenters for the 30th annual Electrical Engineering Safety Seminar to be held on 10 and 11 November 2021 at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley. Delegates will only be able to attend in person, there will be no online broadcast of this event.
Submissions close 2 July 2021.
Note: If you submitted an expression of interest for 2020, please complete a new application.
DOWNLOAD PRESENTER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION FORM
7. COOLING CHAMPIONS UNITE
Climate Control News (CCN) editor, Sandra Rossi report on the day that has been set aside to celebrate World Refrigeration Day (WRD) on 26 June, 2021.
The article states, “Australia’s HVACR industry will join their counterparts around the globe to celebrate World Refrigeration Day (WRD) on 26 June, 2021.
This is an international event that aims to raise awareness about the role of refrigeration and air conditioning in supporting modern life and society.
Technicians, industry groups, engineers, wholesalers, suppliers, everyone takes part in the celebrations.
This year a series of webinars focusing on the cool careers that make the world a better place are being held throughout the month of June as part of WRD celebrations.”
READ MORE ABOUT WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY (WRD)
8. QUEENSLAND BLACKOUT: SHOULD WE LET THE MARKET RUN?
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and Australian Energy Council (AEC) report in their joint EnergyInsider news service of a fire at Callide C power station on Tuesday 24th May 2021, which underpinned by a series of events resulted in multiple generators disconnecting and 2,300MW of demand being interrupted. The article states, “This was the most severe event in the NEM since the South Australian black system of September 2016. And like all serious power system incidents, there’s a complex chain of issues that will take some time to unpick. While incidents like these are rare, they happen in all power systems, no matter how robust, and in the NEM they also result in wild price swings. Here we discuss these price swings and what role they play in the market.”
For more, contact Ben Skinner, Australian Energy Council
9. HYDROGEN INDUSTRY MISSION LAUNCHED BY CSIRO AND PARTNERS
Manufacturers’ Monthly this week, reports that “CSIRO, Australian’s national science agency, has launched a new Hydrogen Industry Mission which will help support the world’s transition to clean energy, create new jobs and boost the economy.
When mixed with oxygen, hydrogen can be used as an emissions-free fuel source to generate electricity, power or heat. However, it is expensive to turn into a fuel. The research mission will help drive down the cost of hydrogen production to under $2 per kilogram, making the fuel more affordable and helping to position Australia to lead the world in exporting hydrogen by 2030.”
READ MORE ABOUT CSIRO’S WORK ON ITS HYDROGEN INDUSTRY MISSION