Branch update

VIC BRANCH

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BRANCH UPDATE

Pawel Podolski NECA VIC Executive Director Dean Spicer NECA VIC President

Welcome – join us on a small journey around the many exciting happenings and undertakings across neCA Victoria, since the last edition of neCA news.

First and foremost, I am exceptionally proud of neCA Victoria achieving a very significant member engagement milestone – our member numbers are at a record high, and we continue to see heightened interest in membership from across all pockets of the state. As a community, as an industry, we are only as strong as the collective voice we jointly represent.

Welcome to all the new members of our neCA Vic community, and a big shout out to the long-standing members who have been on a voyage of change with us over many years. Many of you would have seen the transformation in service quality enhancements, a stronger on-the-ground presence in our technical and safety spaces and broadening of the scope of services provided at neCA Vic. These have included services delivered through our neCA owned legal practice (Constructive Legal Solutions) and new business support arm (Business Solutions Hub). If you’ve been sitting on the fence and thinking about joining or perhaps re-joining the neCA Vic family – there is no better time than now. In the next few sections of this magazine, you will get a sense of some of the excitement and initiatives the team at neCA Vic has been beavering away at.

Update on NECA Vic’s digital transformation

To better support our members and provide an improved user experience, you will have noticed several upgrades to our systems in Victoria. Our HSeQ Plus, health and safety management system has been revamped recently, and now has a mobile app that can be used by staff directly, making it easier to prioritise safety at your workplace. It also features a copy of the much-loved Redbook. We have also launched a new member portal, which is more streamlined and will allow for more functionality. There are several other digital transformation improvements in the short-to-medium term horizon, which will make your lives and engagement with neCA Victoria even easier, so stay tuned.

Commemorative keepsake from the 2020/21 Excellence Awards

If you didn’t get to tune into the virtual broadcast of the 2020/21 excellence Awards, it is now available on the neCA Victoria website to watch on demand. If you’ve never been or nominated a project, this is a great opportunity to get a feel for what happens at the prestigious events. This year, we also created a commemorative keepsake book that can be downloaded and shared with clients or to browse through as a memento.

Major updates to HSEQ Plus

Due to legislative changes , neCA Victoria has made several very major changes to the content of our HSeQ Plus system. Be sure to check the change log and download latest copies of the documentation and SWMS, to ensure you remain compliant. Also don’t forget to provide all your staff with access to the safety Redbook, which is now also available via the digital application as part of HSeQ Plus.

NECA’s 2022/23 Victorian Government Pre-Budget Submission

As part of ongoing advocacy efforts, neCA has compiled a list of issues for consideration by the Victorian Government in our pre-budget submissions. It’s been wonderful to see the engagement from many members in coming forward with issues that are most hurting them now. This feedback and input strengthens our collective industry voice, and ensures we are working with government on solving the most impactful priorities. A copy of the submission can be viewed on our website under the advocacy menu.

The impacts stemming from events like the Probuild collapse

neCA Victoria has called on the Victorian Government to urgently reform its Security of Payment legislation. The local construction industry is bracing itself for more insolvencies as it emerges from two years of pandemic lockdowns and the associated pressures, and neCA sees this as one of the key focus topics to address over the coming months. neCA Victoria’s legal arm, Constructive Legal Solutions has put together some very insightful short videos and blogs around the Probuild collapse, including the implications for you as directors, how this might translate into impacts on your business directly, as well as what your options might be in potential future similar situations. We encourage you to check out how you can access this information below. enjoy the read folks, and as always do tap into and maximise your access to all the services offered by neCA to assist your businesses as part of your membership.

ESV WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE POWERLINE-RELATED INCIDENTS

Worrying statistics highlighting close to daily powerline-related incidents across the state, have prompted energy Safe Victoria (eSV) to again call for machinery operators to be more aware of their surroundings. For more than a decade, eSV’s Look up and Live campaign has aimed to educate the community on the dangers of vehicles, such as tipper trucks, augers, cranes and tractors, operating too close to powerlines with the threat of electrical shock or a fatal electrocution, a very real risk.

Via traditional media, social media and various forms of advertising, we as Victoria’s energy safety regulator have tried to highlight to industry employers and employees about the devastating impact these incidents can have on people, their families and their co-workers.

But unfortunately, it appears Victorians are still not heeding this message with 58 powerline-related incidents reported across Victoria during the first two months of 2022. This includes one serious injury and one fatality involving a man attempting to trim a tree in the front yard of a Malvern east property in February.

In 2021, the energy safety regulator reported 214 incidents, 34 of which involved high voltage lines and four causing serious injury. Of that 214, a total of 141 involved overhead powerlines and 73 underground.

Between late April and early May last year, five people were hospitalised after four incidents occurred within three weeks of each other across regional Victoria. And in late 2020, a farmworker was killed when his telehandler came into contact with overhead powerlines in Gerang Gerung, in the state’s north-west.

unfortunately, for many, distractions, the need to get things done quickly and just simple unpreparedness has cost Victorians their lives.

Look up and Live reminds Victorians that if a piece of machinery does hit powerlines and you are inside the vehicle, to stay inside. If you’re not inside the vehicle, keep at least eight metres away, as you can still be shocked when approaching the vehicle. Other tips include:

½ understanding no Go Zones, rules and distances for safety clearances near overhead powerlines; ½ ensure an eSV-registered spotter is on hand when working near overhead powerlines; ½ display Look up and Live stickers on any machinery or equipment, which is raised overhead; ½ remember that powerlines are more difficult to see at dawn and dusk and that electricity can jump gaps; ½ be extra aware in rural areas as overhead powerlines are predominantly single conductor lines that are difficult to see and easy to forget. In order to enhance and improve consistency in this essential safety message, we are also working closely with state and federal government departments, special interest groups, major electricity companies and other regulators. By sharing messaging through these outlets, these important safety messages are being heard and seen by more people, more often. eSV representatives also attend field days while also working directly with farmers as they can be more at risk when working near powerlines without support. These partnerships are helping more Victorians understand the risks and ramifications of avoiding a few simple safety tips. It’s so easy to forget that the simple act of looking up before you start work, could save your life or the life of a co-worker. For more information go to www.bit.ly/esvlookup

Marnie Williams

Director of Energy Safety & CEO Energy Safe Victoria www.esv.vic.gov.au

WORKPLACE SAFETY LEGISLATION

The Workplace Safety Legislation and Other Matters Amendment Act 2022 (the Act) came into effect as of the 16 March 2022 and presents some significant changes.

The substantive changes will commence on 1 July 2022, while the minor and technical amendments will commence on 16 March 2022 or 1 December 2022.

The Amendments

The Act makes amendments to the: ½ Accident Compensation Act 1985; ½ Dangerous Goods Act 1985; ½ equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994; ½ Occupational Health and

Safety Act 2004; and ½ Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and

Compensation Act 2013 (the WIRC Act). The amendments contained within the Act aim to: ½ provide a better response to workplace safety; ½ improve injury outcomes for the affected individuals and their families; and ½ strengthen WorkSafe’s ability to prevent and respond to workplace safety concerns.

Specifically, the amendments to the WIRC Act aim to improve compensation arrangements for workers with silicosis and other occupational diseases. This is part of the Victorian Government’s Silica Action Plan, which also includes an extension to eligibility for family counselling services. Other changes include, but are not limited to: ½ prohibition notice changes; ½ incident notification changes; ½ family support changes following a work-related death; ½ funding allocation changes; ½ changes to contractor provisions.

The Impact

employers should be aware of these changes as they could affect your dayto-day operations. For example, it is likely that some activities for which an inspector may have issued an improvement notice in the past, may now become subject to a prohibition notice. WorkSafe Inspectors can now issue a prohibition notice or give direction relating to, non-immediate yet serious health and safety risks, prohibiting the activity until they are satisfied the risks have been remedied.

To discuss this matter further, contact neCA Victoria’s safety team on 1300 300 031 or via email at safety@neca.asn.au

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