FATMAG APR-JUN 2023

Leading edge

Reasons for optimism

Hi all, and welcome to the latest edition of the F.A.T.MAG. In this edition we have a number of relevant articles for you to read through—on safety in the workplace, waterproofing and some interesting profiles that we hope you find as informative as we have.

The economy continues to provide substantial challenges and instability, with rising interest rates and the rate of inflation, meaning more families and businesses struggle to stay on top of their budgets with less ‘free’ cash available. However, with the Federal Government announcement back in October 2022, to commit billions of dollars of spending in long-term infrastructure projects, it is not all doom and gloom for the Australian economy.

With hardship comes the greatest opportunities for those willing to commit, invest and evolve. We have also seen a somewhat settling in the rate of price increases across the industry which is providing us with greater confidence in

future quoting requirements. This settling of price increases has been driven by a number of factors, with the global container freight index reducing down to almost pre-COVID numbers being one of the major contributing factors, along with the settling of the AUD versus USD.

We have also seen an improvement to supply chains that were having a major negative effect on the economy and the building/hardware industry. Although this has remained—and will remain—an issue for several industries, improvements are forecast in the coming months and year ahead. So again, although the

commentary in media circles is for a lot of doom and gloom for Australia, there are a number of green shoots that are reasons to be more optimistic in regard to the Australian economy and our industry.

It has never been more important to shop with your local independent store owners.

By supporting your local, you are ensuring that your local area’s micro economies are being supported, by keeping your money in your local area and not sending it interstate or even overseas!

Our independent store network of 100+ stores across Australia has never been in a better place to fulfil your stock, knowledge, service and pricing requirements to ensure you have a competitive advantage over your competitors.

Please enjoy this edition of the magazine; we look forward to seeing you in store soon! 

Ryan Wiggins

“With hardship comes the greatest opportunites for those willing to commit, invest and evolve.”

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NEWS Intermodal terminal for north Melbourne

The Federal and Victorian state governments have welcomed significant private sector investment to build and operate a $400 million intermodal freight terminal in Melbourne’s north. Intermodal Terminal Company (ITC) announced it would soon start construction of the Somerton Intermodal Terminal, which will be a key node in the Australian and Victorian governments’ $58 million Port Rail Shuttle Network.

“The Port Rail Shuttle Network will not only enhance the strategic importance of local freight and logistics operators—it will also deliver efficiencies and cost-savings for businesses,” said Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Catherine King. “The shuttle network will also deliver a huge safety boost for motorists by moving freight off the roads and onto rail. I’m thrilled to see this private sector backing for the landmark, project.”

When at capacity, ITC expect the Somerton Intermodal Terminal to take 500,000 truck trips off Melbourne’s roads—equivalent to 454 million truck kilometres. Each year, it will also save 451 million litres of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 189,000 tonnes.

By 2050, the Port Rail Shuttle Network is expected to move 30 per cent of Melbourne’s containers by rail from

Somerton, Altona and Dandenong South to the Port of Melbourne, avoiding thousands of truck trips on roads each year. The Somerton Intermodal Terminal will be built at the Austrak Business Park and is forecast to create 190 jobs during construction and a further 50 permanent jobs for Victorians once the terminal is

Queensland concrete placing boom audits

The Office of Industrial Relations has advised that WorkSafe Queensland (WHSQ) are currently conducting a concrete placing boom (CPB) audit. WHSQ will be auditing all persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) planned inspections and preventative maintenance programs. The audit will focus on major inspection requirements and documentation.

There have been several recent incidents involving CPBs, including an incident in early 2022 involving the catastrophic failure of the kingpost of a

concrete placing boom being operated in Cairns. Inspections of the kingpost identified pre-existing cracking and a deficient major inspection report. The circumstances of this incident are like the circumstances of a fatal incident that occurred in Victoria in 2021.

In March 2022, a 32-metre mobile CPB collapsed on a building site in North Queensland. The king post (slew turret) catastrophically failed because of a crack through the top of the post. The falling boom caused extensive damage to the cabin of the truck on which it was

operational in 2025.

“The Somerton Intermodal Terminal is a city-shaping project,” said Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne. “This private investment will supercharge job creation and support our commitment to move more freight by rail to port.” 

mounted and to the formwork deck being poured. Fortunately, the boom did not strike the boom line hand or other workers on the slab being poured. The unit was manufactured in 1989.

WHSQ will focus on major inspections which are to be a comprehensive inspection that includes dismantling all high stress areas and components subject to wear, unless considered unnecessary by the certifying engineer, including those areas that normally cannot be readily accessed during periodical inspections. 

More than 120 employers fined for safety breaches last year

WorkSafe Victoria recently warned that employers who continue to ignore wellknown safety measures risk joining the 123 companies and directors fined for flouting workplace safety laws in 2022. Fourteen of those companies were hit with six-figure penalties for breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with the total of all fines imposed by the courts exceeding $5.5 million.

Offences involving working at heights saw 35 duty holders prosecuted and fined. This was followed by matters involving inadequate or absent guarding (23) and unsafe, or unsafe use of, machinery (18) and forklifts (11).

Construction (47) and manufacturing

(36) matters accounted for two-thirds of WorkSafe’s workplace safety prosecutions. These two industries also accounted for more than a quarter of all accepted worker compensation claims in 2022.

Some employers still ignore their basic legal obligations when it comes to using established solutions for common workplace safety risks, said WorkSafe Victoria executive director of health and safety Narelle Beer.

“Training workers in the safe operation of equipment, using a passive fall prevention device when working at heights, ensuring machines are appropriately guarded and maintained,

New home forecasts paint bumpy road ahead

Master Builders Australia has released its latest building and construction industry forecasts to 2026-27 which shows the nation is falling behind in meeting its housing targets. Overall housing stats sit below the 200,000 per annum needed between 2022 and 2025, dipping to its lowest over 2022-23 before rebounding in 2026-27 said Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.

“The current environment is a difficult one for the industry marked by rising interest rates, robust cost pressures and

labour shortages. Despite this, the total volume of construction activity grew modestly (+1.5 per cent) to $215.1 billion during 2021–22,” Wawn said.

“Whilst detached housing and renovations are stable or steadily growing off the back of the COVID stimulus boom, medium to high density remains hardest hit. This segment is more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and is still recovering from the absence of inward migration over the past three years. Even before the

and erecting physical barriers to separate pedestrians from the mobile plant are all proven ways to reduce workplace injuries and deaths,” Beer said. “But having the knowledge is not enough. Employers must actively implement measures to make their workplaces safe.” 

pandemic, higher density dwellings were in decline.

“The challenge will be to make sure that we put downward pressure on building and construction costs to increase output.

“At present these challenges relate to supply of housing, workforce shortages—particularly key trades, bottlenecks in the market for key building materials and products, and increased costs from regulatory changes. 

New compliance declaration requirements in NSW

From 13 February 2023, building practitioners must lodge a copy of the fire safety certificate on the NSW Planning Portal when submitting a building compliance declaration under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. To support this new requirement, building owners must now

also provide the fire safety certificate to their building practitioner as soon as possible after the fire safety certificate is issued.

These new requirements are part of a package of reforms introduced by the NSW Government in December 2022 that aim to reduce life safety risks,

damage to property and the incidence and cost of fire safety defects.

The reforms will begin in stages to make it easier for industry and property owners to comply. More information about each stage and when it will come into effect is available on the NSW Fair Trading website. 

NEWS

Canteen cares

Canteen is the only organisation in Australia that supports young people aged 12-25 who are impacted by cancer—be it their own cancer diagnosis, that of a family member or the death of a loved one.

Canteen supports young people while they cope with the physical, psychological and social challenges that cancer brings. Our 24/7 free and tailored support services include:

l Counselling services (online, phone and face-to-face)

l Programs and services

l Education and leadership programs

l Hospital-based treatment

l Information and resources

Every year in Australia, more than 23,000 young people are impacted by cancer.

Canteen exists to provide practical and emotional support to help young people:

l explore their feelings about cancer

l connect with other young people and

l if they’ve been diagnosed themselves, we provide youth-specific treatment teams

Because of your kindness and generosity, Canteen can continue

supporting young people and their families impacted by cancer. Every cent that we raise helps! We felt the need to share Nate’s story to help our network understand the impact of our partners additional funding.

Nate’s story

Nate was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 10 with a Grade II astrocytoma, in simpler terms, a brain tumour.

It was a shock for him and his family. Nate desperately wanted life to feel normal, but he was in treatment for years, and he felt too sick and exhausted to keep up with school or sport. He had seven surgeries in a month, followed by two years of chemotherapy. Ten years after his diagnosis, he is still undergoing treatment and living with the impact of his cancer.

I was in and out of hospital. I felt my mental health deteriorate and I was a very closed off person.

Canteen support services helped Nate find joy and positivity when he was at his lowest point.

Thankfully he found Canteen and the

Canteen support services have helped Nate find joy and positivity in the darkest of times.

peer support programs we offer. He first attended a cancer survivor support group.

“We spent an hour or two talking and sharing our cancer experiences, which brought me hope for the future ahead,” he says.

“Canteen helped reignite my

F.A.T. MAG

confidence and I finally feel like myself again.”

Power of peers

Our programs are created with and for young people living with cancer, so they can talk to others with a similar

experience and develop strategies to cope. Recreation days give them an escape from cancer. Canteen programs offer vital opportunities for young people to share their experiences. Social events help young people make friends and support each other.

“Canteen gave me the courage to live

my life just like anyone else my age. “

Our life-changing services support the mental health of young people like Nate, so they have the strength to get through their diagnosis and treatment.

If you think that Canteen’s services would help you or someone you know, visit canteen.org.au for information.

Making a difference

Quality, not quantity, is the mantra of commercial builder Simbuilt, who specialise in prestige fit-outs and refurbishments in and around Melbourne.

By Lynne Testoni

“You’ve got to work in among students, teaching staff, or the public, which can be quite tricky to incorporate into the build program. Communication is vital. Understanding what their expectations are and trying to meet them can be difficult.”

Simon Buultjens, founder, Simbuilt

Creating a beautiful architecturally designed building in the challenging post-COVID era might cause many builders sleepless nights, but for the team at Simbuilt that’s what they love about their work.

Simbuilt founder and director Simon Buultjens says that he is often blown away by some of the projects the company works on.

“One of the focuses of Simbuilt is that we try and get projects that are unique,” he says. “They’re not your typical volume type projects; they’re a little more progressive in their design or a little bit more abstract. We get a lot of excitement out of doing projects that are that little bit different.”

Simbuilt has been around for about 10 years now and specialises in fit-outs, refurbishment and new builds, often working with heritage buildings. The company has a small, but tight, team of just 25 people. A commercial builder

based in Melbourne, many of their projects are for universities, schools and healthcare providers.

“We specialise in a lot of university work, but we also do a lot of school projects for the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), the state government and similar clients,” says Buultjens.

THE POST-COVID ERA

The last few years have been a difficult time for builders, especially those based in Victoria, and while the state might be leaving COVID behind now, the effects of the pandemic are still being felt.

“In this market with material shortages and labour shortages, it can be really challenging at the moment,” says Buultjens. “However, trying to work as a team, bringing your suppliers and your subcontractors together, and delivering a great product is probably the greatest kick that we get out of a project and also having a happy client at the end of it. I’m blown away by

some of the projects that we deliver.”

The labour shortages have particularly hit the heritage element of their work, he says. “Those trades have got their own issues. If you need people to install slate on slate roofs, for example, they used to come out from Europe quite regularly, but Europe’s got its own shortages. So, they’re staying home now.”

Naturally, working on high-profile public-facing projects brings pressure, he says, but that’s part of the fun.

“It is quite tricky—you’ve got to really consider the reputation of the client that you’re working for,” he says. “You’ve got to work in among students, teaching staff, or the public, which can be quite tricky to incorporate into the build program. Communication is vital. Understanding what their expectations are and trying to meet them can be difficult.

“There’s so many complexities and layers in the construction industry. It’s interesting, and that’s probably why we love it.”

One of the benefits of working on large public buildings such as universities is Simbuilt gets to collaborate with architects whose designs are leading edge. Pictured here: the Darebin Arts Centre.

COLLABORATING WITH ARCHITECTS

Working on large public buildings means that the Simbuilt team usually works with architects as part of the project.

“We’re fortunate enough to get exposed to quite a raft of different architects,” says Buultjens. “And I think, again, that’s probably one of the benefits of doing the university work. The design is so exciting and leading edge. We’ve worked with some fantastic architects across a lot of projects.”

Working with architects is all about developing professional relationships that last well beyond each project.

“We look beyond that one project that we do with an architect, and hope that the job and the service that we provide leads into other work,” he says. “It’s not just about that particular project, it’s about trying to create a long-term relationship. It’s not all about the clients for us; it’s the whole stakeholder group.”

Simon Buultjens of Simbuilt. Left, a selection of projects (top to bottom): Peter Scullin Reserve Public Toilets; Marvel Stadium - 4 Pines; Collingwood Music Market.

HOW AWARDS HELP

Simbuilt has won awards through the Master Builders Association in recent years, which has helped to raise their profile.

“We’ve been Master Builders members for quite a while—they

offer absolutely amazing service in the construction industry,” explains Buultjens. Simbuilt has won a national Business Excellence Award for smallscale builders three years in a row.

“I think we were really pleased because we felt we had a great offering, particularly given the size of our company. Off the back of that we got some really great exposure, not just through Master Builders, but the industry generally.

“Our clients love it, and our subcontractors get a sense of confidence that they’re working with a builder that’s reputable and has really good systems and processes. In this market, that’s really important.”

However, when it all comes down to it, success for Buultjens and his team is more about sharing the same values, something he believes gives the company longevity in the industry.

“As a business it’s important to have partners that align with our values, whether it’s our clients or our supplier base. I think that’s really key for what we are about,” he says. 

“One of the focuses of Simbuilt is that we try and get projects that are unique. They’re not your typical volume type projects; they’re a little more progressive in their design or a little bit more abstract. We get a lot of excitement out of doing projects that are that little bit different.”

Simon Buultjens, founder, Simbuilt

By Tracey Porter

Staying power

There are few Australian businesses whose company history can be traced back nearly 150 years.There are fewer still who have structured their operations to all but guarantee they will still be around for another century and a half.

Cement Australia is one such anomaly.

Formed from a merger of Queensland Cement and Australian Cement Holdings—as well as an assortment of other acquisitions which have taken place along the way—the business boasts a rich history dating back to 1890.

From its humble beginnings using vertical kilns and horse-drawn carts, the company today has several milling and storage terminals as well as two fully integrated cement manufacturing facilities.

Employing hundreds of people in regional communities across Australia, it manufactures at plants everywhere from Gladstone in central Queensland to Railton in northern Tasmania.

It is from these sites that Cement Australia produces the majority of its product, the line-up of which includes general-purpose cement and general blended cement including customised blends for special applications.

In addition, it also supplies concretegrade fly-ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag.

Cement Australia’s packaged products & marketing manager Marc Furlong has been in his current role for six months but has worked for Cement

Australia for nearly two decades.

Furlong says while cement is an ingredient in concrete, most people mistakenly believe they are the same thing.

As well as producing cement products for the building, construction, civil infrastructure and mining sectors, the company—a fifty-fifty joint venture owned by Holcim and Heidelberg Materials—also produces quicklime for the manufacturing, mining and agricultural sectors.

Furlong believes the business has been so well supported among its core clientele of market-leading building and engineering contractors, retail building suppliers and large Australian mines, because while Cement Australia’s production processes have changed over the years, the fundamentals of the business haven’t.

“At our core, we are a cement manufacturer. However, the cement manufacturing process has changed over the years and become much more efficient; the types of kilns and mills used today are almost unrecognisable from those used in the 1800s. The widespread use of pozzolanic materials such as fly-ash in the 1990s was another significant change in the industry and over the years these types of supplementary materials have become increasingly more important.”

Taking very seriously today’s corporate imperative to operate sustainably, Cement Australia has made a concerted effort in recent years to focus on eco-efficient production and on

controlling the impacts of its activities on the environment.

Furlong says as the world’s most widely used construction material, concrete has a significant carbon footprint.

As the necessary binding ingredient for concrete, cement manufacturing is associated with inevitable CO2 emissions, due to the physical and chemical processes.

To get around this, while also doing its bit to contribute towards the cement and concrete industry’s ambition for net zero carbon concrete by 2050, Cement Australia has implemented an environmental management system that is externally certified.

Furlong says through its alternative fuels and raw materials management strategies, it has committed to replacing first-use materials, wherever practical.

In addition, it manages specific waste streams from the power generation and steel industries, taking these materials and turning them into supplementary cementitious materials for use in a broad range of applications such as producing

Cement Australia may be in the business of binding, but when comes to progress, it is determined to prove it is a construction services supplier that is anything but stuck.

high-performance and/or low-carbon concrete.

“We understand the need to ensure and maintain a safe, healthy and productive workplace for our people and a social license to operate—this is at the core of our sustainability strategy,” he says.

Another string to Cement Australia’s bow when it comes to its green credentials is the introduction of its Geocycle arm, which launched in 1999.

This offshoot of the business provides waste management services to the generators and consolidators of waste and transforms that material into alternative fuels and raw materials that are used in the cement kilns.

In 2001 alone, the

company blended and converted more than 21,000kL of industrial waste that would have otherwise gone to landfill. In the same year, it produced 26,400kL of alternative fuel replacement, replacing at least 28,800 tonnes of coal and saving around 14,400 tonnes of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.

More recently Cement Australia has introduced a new line it calls GreenCem, which Furlong says is a suite of products that have been in development for several years.

Essentially a range of non-toxic additives that can be used in cement-based products to reduce Portland cement content, the range has been engineered by Cement Australia to enable very high levels (up to 80 per cent) of cement replacement

with fly-ash and/or slag “without significantly compromising concrete performance”, he says.

Furlong believes both GreenCem and Geocycle will play a significant role in ensuring Cement Australia continues to produce sustainable, high-quality products now and in the future.

“We are looking at ways we can improve the sustainability of packaging. Some in our industry have in recent years moved to plastic packaging. We made a very conscious decision to retain paper sacks and in the coming years, we will continue to reduce non-degradable and non-recyclable packaging.

“We have recently announced a couple of initiatives that have the potential to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our Gladstone plant. We recently added our first fully electric truck to our fleet, the first of its type in Australia. In coming years that capability is likely to expand. Continuing to improve our sustainability is a key focus in both the short and long term.” 

COVER STORY

Learning by design

There is a consistent theme that has guided licenced master builder Rachael Turner, winner of HIA’s 2022 Professional Business Woman of the Year, from the day she flipped her first property almost a decade ago until now.

Turner, the mastermind behind Front Porch Properties, admits, “When I started out, I really had no idea what I was doing, and I was learning on the go. To this day, as a business owner, I often still feel like I am figuring it out, but I just push through, use my intuition and that seems to have steered me pretty well.”

It’s a candid confession from the woman who left behind a successful career as a classical musician to pursue her dream of working in home design and construction. But as Turner also admits, this lack of know-how is what has mainly motivated her to achieve all she has done.

At last count, Turner, 39, had completed over 60 projects across Brisbane; some have been flips, others have been houses she has built from

scratch, with a number more on this year’s schedule.

She has also won over a dozen awards for doing so.

“I remember early on making this clear decision that no matter what it took, I was going to take one small actionable step every day, until I had my builder’s licence which I finally achieved in 2017,” she says. “I had to work hard to get my licence and to get my TAFE qualification, but it was all those small steps that got me there.”

It also took a team that she purposely surrounded herself with, knowing that the stronger the talent she had working with her, the more she would learn.

“When I recently won the businesswomen award, the first thing that went through my mind was I won because of my staff as they’re the ones that have really propelled and stabilised the business. It would be a mess if I was doing all this by myself.”

A talented musician and accomplished classical pianist from an early age, Turner entered the Queensland Conservatorium

Rachael Turner left behind a music career to chase her dream in the building game. Even now, she says, she doesn’t always know what she’s doing.

By John Burfitt

“When I started out, I really had no idea what I was doing, and I was learning on the go. To this day, as a business owner, I often still feel like I am figuring it out, but I just push through, use my intuition and that seems to have steered me pretty well.”

Rachael Turner, founder, Front Porch Properties

at age 17 and studied for her Bachelor of Music in piano. After graduating, she opened her own music school which she operated for 10 years.

While her music career was a success, she had another dream. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always wondered how houses come up out of the ground,” she recalls. “I had no background in construction, but I decided I would do whatever it takes to become a builder. I

just knew this was for me.”

It was her environment in her hometown Brisbane, particularly the wealth of traditional Queenslander homes, that offered the initial inspiration for the work Turner wanted to explore. With a love of American-inspired styles, particularly Hamptons, Cape Cod and Craftsman designs, Turner found those styles adapted gracefully to Queenslander homes. It proved to be a

winning combination on the first house she completed as a renovation flip.

“That first one ended up in a magazine and after that, people started contacting me,” she says. “In Brisbane, we’ve also got the luxury of old Queenslanders to work with, and that is a beautiful starting point with their charming rooflines and wraparound verandahs. But it is having skilled and talented people to bring it to life that makes all the difference.

“What thrills me about renovating is the challenge, turning something ugly or worn out into something lovely.”

The success Turner found with those early projects also showed her the value of carving out a niche in the crowded renovation and construction market.

“I decided it was better to find a niche and become a specialist in this design aesthetic, and that is why people hire us because they know we’re good at it,” she says.

“The mistake I see with some other builders is they try to offer too much of everything without being specific. I think there’s real value in being known for doing one thing really well.”

With the upheavals in the building game in recent years, as Turner has watched some fellow builders go out of business, she says her vision for 2023 is to remain clearly in her niche but to diversify. As a result, Front Porch Properties recently started a door

“I remember early on making this clear decision that no matter what it took, I was going to take one small actionable step every day, until I had my builder’s licence which I finally achieved in 2017. I had to work hard to get my licence and to get my TAFE qualification, but it was all those small steps that got me there.”

Rachael Turner, founder, Front Porch Properties

business, designing and manufacturing American country-style doors. She has also launched an online course about managing bathroom renovations.

“This is about broadening my options and looking for gaps in the market so that we’re not solely relying on construction work, because we all know it is a lot harder for builders to make money right now,” she says. “It’s about being smart with your business.”

And as for the greatest misconception about flipping property? “That you are guaranteed to make money every time. It was a lot easier five years ago, so these days, you have to know how to manage the project well.”

Even so, Turner admits she has never once regretted making the move into the building game. “If you’re working eight hours a day, then it should be spent doing something you really love. And that way, you never need to worry about being motivated because you’re naturally driven.” 

Dried and tested

When it comes to waterproofing, it’s essential to use the correct solution with the right product and a compliant design.

By Frank Leggett

There’s no one solution for waterproofing as each job has its own preparation, application and specific product. Whether it’s a job that’s below ground, above ground, internal or external with negative or positive pressure, it’s important to use the correct technique and technology for the appropriate situation.

“The old adage, fail to prepare, prepare to fail is absolutely spot on,” says Colin Picton, product segment specialist for Waterproofing & Sealants at Fosroc. Delivering construction solutions for building and infrastructure projects across the globe, Fosroc offers a huge range of waterproofing solutions from sheet systems to liquidapplied membranes. “Preparation and application are crucial. Our liquid systems are seamless, conformable, flexible, fast and relatively simple to apply. But they still need the correct prep and application.”

DRAINAGE

Drainage is an important element of any waterproofing design. While a successful outcome depends on the structural design, the substrate and how many layers of waterproofing is being applied, drainage is vital to the success of a system.

“If you can move the water away, you’re taking the pressure off the system and allowing the waterproofing to do its job,” says Picton.

It is essential that waterproofing is done right the first time. If the system fails, coming back and correcting the

issue is costly and difficult.

“It’s well known that 80 per cent of maintenance costs on major projects is spent on water ingress,” says Picton. “It’s an inherent risk and compliance in terms of Australian standards is taken very seriously.”

EXTERNAL ABOVE GROUND

Balcony and external living spaces are classified as external above ground areas and require a particular type of waterproofing. This can be membranestyle material and it’s important to ensure it has the correct properties such as elongation and moisture vapour transmission rates.

“Waterproofing these types of structures is covered by AS4654,” says Picton. “Part one covers materials and part two covers the design of the structure and the application. It

lists the correct preparation, where waterproofing should start and stop, how far up an up-stand or parapet it should go, and how many coats are required, along with other key factors.”

Successful waterproofing largely depends on the quality of the materials. Fosroc materials are certified by the CSIRO and BRANZ.

“In the past, other suppliers have claimed their material complied with code AS4654 but that’s based on their own internal testing,” says Picton. “If they don’t have official certification, compliance will be an issue. Waterproofing is such a critical element, it’s imperative that compliance certificates are made available.”

PROJECTS

Waterproofing on large projects involves dealing with a wide range of complex and unique challenges. Tunnels, and particularly tunnels that traverse underneath Sydney harbour, need waterproofing of an extremely high quality.

“The variances can be large depending on the performance requirements of the specification,” says Matt Sipek, market manager of Waterproofing & Roofing at Sika Australia. Sika is a chemicals company specialising in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protecting. They are involved with many large construction and development projects. “Many tunnel projects are government-funded and a warranty is typically for 25 years, but we

“Many tunnel projects are government-funded and a warranty is typically for 25 years, but we have to prove durability of 125 years. When you’re waterproofing a tunnel, you have to get it right the first time.”

Matt Sipek, market manager for Waterproofing & Roofing, Sika Australia

have to prove durability of 125 years. When you’re waterproofing a tunnel, you have to get it right the first time.”

When building the harbour tunnels, the engineering challenge of going through the hard rock is considerable. The tunnel then has the whole weight of the water contained in Sydney Harbour pushing down. Water always takes the path of least resistance so if it can find a way in, it will.

HARBOUR TUNNELS

Sika was used to waterproof the first Sydney Harbour tunnel which opened to traffic more than 30 years ago. It’s also involved with the new Sydney Metro train services through the CBD, as well as the Metro West. “We’ve recently completed the main station box at Sydney Central Metro at Platform 16,” says Sipek. “This was probably the toughest waterproofing project in the country.”

The project was a top-down build. Normally, a large hole is dug, the station box is built in the hole and then the area

is back filled. For this build, the roof was created first then excavation went down about 30 metres through Sydney sandstone. Sandstone is very porous, allowing water to run everywhere. Waterproofing in this situation is extremely challenging.

When creating a waterproofing system in a tunnel, it’s always a sheet

membrane, generally polyvinyl fluoride or thermoplastic polyurethane. These sheets are hot welded together with specialised equipment. “The fantastic thing about these membranes is that when they’re hot welded, the weld becomes stronger than the parent material,” says Sipek.

In a tunnel or station box, there is often a metre of concrete in front of the waterproofing membrane. Additionally, there’s always a primary, secondary and tertiary back-up.

“We would typically recommend a combination of swellable water stops and an injection hose,” says Sipek. “The injection hoses are placed at crucial joints and gives us the ability to inject an acrylic resin after the concrete structure has been poured. We’ve found this system works very well.”

No matter what the size of the project, the secret to successful waterproofing is preparation, application with the correct product, and ensuring the appropriate codes are met. 

“Preparation and application are crucial. Our liquid systems are seamless, conformable, flexible, fast and relatively simple to apply. But they still need the correct prep and application.”

Colin Picton, product segment specialist for Waterproofing & Sealants, Fosroc

By Kerryn Ramsey

While there’s a risk that workplace hazards may become dangerous, costly and even life-threatening, there are various ways to mitigate the risks.

“Just stop and think about what you’re about to do,” says Naomi Kemp, chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS). “You need to ask yourself, ‘How do I prevent it from going wrong?’ and act accordingly.”

The AIHS is dedicated to enabling safe, healthy people in productive workplaces and communities. It advocates for contemporary government policy as well as internal company policy.

Here are the seven most common workplace hazards and what you can do to reduce the risk of serious accident.

Dangerous business

1. HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

Hazardous chemicals can have an immediate effect, such as burns or poisoning, or a long-term impact on health such as cancer and damage to lungs. They can also be corrosive, flammable and cause great environmental damage if spilled.

“The best way to mitigate risk is to fully understand the PPE and emergency requirements of the specific chemical,” says Kemp. “You must know how to protect yourself whether it’s a liquid, gas or dust. Each chemical has a different set of protocols.” All the relevant information is contained in the safety

There are various ways to reduce the risks of common workplace accidents. Here are seven ways to mitigate these potential hazards.

data sheet (SDS), included when the chemical is purchased.

2. FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY PROCEDURES

Safety procedures are reasonable instructions put in place to protect workers and others. Of course, for these procedures to work efficiently, they need to be implemented. Whether it’s

wearing PPE, using guarding or obeying exclusion zones, the responsibility is on the worker to follow the instructions.

Signage is also a procedural control for specific hazards and jobs. It can be information about operating a forklift in an area or wearing specific PPE.

“The responsibility is on the worker to comply with instructions given, and failure to do so is a legal risk,” says Kemp. “Simply put, most safety procedures enable legal compliance.”

3. FORKLIFT RELATED HAZARDS

Operating a forklift or any type of moving vehicle such as a crane or excavator, is referred to as mobile plant operation. You need to be licensed to operate the equipment and a high-risk licence is often required. This is heavy equipment

that can do major damage if operated incorrectly.

“In construction, manufacturing, agriculture and warehousing, the highest number of fatalities and serious injuries relate to people and pedestrians interacting with a mobile plant,” says Kemp. “While licensing to operate these machines is essential, competency also needs to be taken into account.”

Competency comes from experience and includes a knowledge of the plant’s capability and limitations.

4. ELECTRICAL CORDS

Despite the increased use of batterypowered tools, electrical cords and extension leads are an integral part of worksites. The danger here is that anything related to electricity can be potentially fatal.

“Each cord should have a visual inspection before use to ensure it’s not frayed or damaged,” says Kemp. “It

“The best way to mitigate risk is to fully understand the PPE and emergency requirements of the specific chemical. You must know how to protect yourself whether it’s a liquid, gas or dust.”

Naomi Kemp, chair, Australian Institute of Health and Safety

should also be plugged into a residual current device (RCD). If something does happen, the RCD isolates the power and limits the impact of the shock.”

Placement of the cords needs to be considered so they are not a tripping hazard and are well away from any water.

5. CLUTTER

Unnecessary clutter can block exits—a tragedy waiting to happen in an emergency—as well as obstruct sight lines and create tripping hazards. It can have a negative impact on efficiency, production and safety.

“Clutter needs to be dealt with proactively,” says Kemp. “It’s a matter of cleaning up as you go. A lot of this material is combustible which adds a whole other level of danger. Segregating waste and moving it from the site in a timely manner is the best and most efficient way to reduce risk.”

6. WORKING AT HEIGHTS

Working at heights is an inherently dangerous activity and all safety procedures must be followed.

“Harnesses only work if you fall,” says Kemp. “When working at heights, you want a solution that will prevent you from falling.”

The solution might be a scissor lift in which you stay inside. If you’re working on a roof, anchor points and lanyards should limit you from getting closer than two metres to the building edge.

“If a job requires work at the edge of

the building, a higher order of control is required with edge protection and a harness capable of effective fall arrest,” says Kemp.

7. HAZARDOUS MANUAL TASKS

Hazardous manual tasks are jobs that require lifting or moving heavy items or putting your body in uncomfortable positions. The way you lift, the repetition, and the size and weight of the object should be carefully considered. While this type of work can have an immediate impact, there’s also a long-term effect. You probably won’t notice the stress on your body if under the age of 25 but aches, pains and complications can arise by the time you’re 40.

“To save yourself from future injury, reduce the forces on your body and try to avoid awkward or sustained postures,” says Kemp. “The rate of musculoskeletal disorders in the building and construction industry is very high.”

Use the tools at your disposal— forklifts, cranes, trolleys—to move heavier items around. Ultimately, this will be more efficient and save you from long-term injury. 

“To save yourself from future injury, reduce the forces on your body and try to avoid awkward or sustained postures. The rate of musculoskeletal disorders in the building and construction industry is very high.”

Naomi Kemp, chair, Australian Institute of Health and Safety

IMPACT

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AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WEEK 9-12TH MAY 2023

Saint-Gobain Abrasives offers effective, accurate, and userfriendly solutions for cutting, grinding, reshaping, and refinishing a wide range of materials like metal, stainless steel, wood, glass, concrete, ceramics, composite and much more. The company provides products that are not only effective and efficient, but also environmentally responsible and sustainable by investing in material sciences and technologies, co-developing products with innovation in mind.

The company supplies a comprehensive portfolio of abrasive solutions to meet the demands of various industries MRO, Automotive, Floor Sanding, Aerospace, Foundries... To ensure that customers make the right choice, Saint-Gobain is committed to maintaining high standards for safety, comfort, and efficiency.

Australian Manufacturing Week is an event that brings together Australian manufacturers and industry leaders to discuss current trends, technologies, and challenges in the manufacturing

sector. The event provides a platform for manufacturers to display their products and services, network with other professionals, and learn about the latest advancements in manufacturing technology. In 2014, Flexovit made a commitment to the Australian Made campaign and has been working to promote and support local manufacturing and the export of Australian-made products. At the event, Saint-Gobain will showcase Flexovit & Norton both world-leading abrasive solutions, designed to meet the needs of its end users. Also see Saint-Gobain’s new brands Tek Bond (Adhesives & Sealants) along with Farecla’ s (Automotive) re-surfacing range.

At this year’s Australian Manufacturing Week, Saint-Gobain will focus on the importance of supporting the Australian Made cutting and grinding wheels. Made in Victoria since 1976, these wheels are essential for cutting, shaping, and grinding materials and are made to the highest quality standards, ensuring durability and reliability. Additionally, the Flexovit Centre of Excellence located in

Campbellfield, Victoria, ensures that all products are tested and meet local and international safety standards.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with the Saint-Gobain team of experts who can provide technical support and solutions. Whether you have a specific application in mind or are seeking to improve your overall manufacturing process, the team will be there to assist you.

If you are looking for powerful, precise, and user-friendly abrasive solutions for your manufacturing needs, be sure to visit Saint-Gobain at the Australian Manufacturing Week from May 9th to 12th at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Stand MP640, in the Australian Manufacturers Pavilion. 

GLOBAL SPILL & SAFETY –THE AUSTRALIAN MADE DIFFERENCE

Global Spill are an Australian manufacturer of spill and site safety equipment and have been manufacturing in Australia for 30 years. They’re an Australian owned business with a flexible and agile approach to service delivery.

Local manufacturing means Global Spill have a secure and reliable product supply and are immune to currency fluctuations and shipping/port delays. 90% of Global Spill’s products are made in Australia. They design, engineer and manufacture locally to deliver a great quality product. Products are designed and manufactured in Australia to comply with relevant Australian Standards.

The size of operations delivers economies of scale so they’re able to deliver quality products at competitive market prices.

The product range is designed for safety and reliability whether it’s spill control, signage, dangerous goods storage or safety gear, products are

designed to keep people safe and help protect the environment.

ABSORBENTS AND SPILL KITS

Global Spill & Safety are Australia’s only manufacturer of polypropylene absorbents and wipes. Continual supply means absorbents and spill kits are in stock and available.

DANGEROUS GOODS STORAGE

Global Spill & Safety have a dedicated metal fabrication unit producing indoor and outdoor dangerous goods stores, gas and aerosol storage cages designed to comply with relevant Australian Standards.

ENGINEERED PRODUCTS

Global’s Australian factory employs local engineers and specialist trades. Custom fabrication of aluminium, steel and

stainless steel, and plastic products is available. Global’s high frequency welding division means that all PVC products are welded (not stitched or glued) for added strength, durability and reliability. The Melbourne factory includes a chemical facility with R&D laboratory.

Operating for over 30 years, Global Spill & Safety is well-established in the Australian Spill and Safety sector, delivering quality Australian made products at competitive market prices with sales divisions and warehouses across Australia. 

ICCONS – SERIOUS CONNECTIONS

With established operations in Australia (seven branches) , New Zealand, and Thailand, together with a development base in Europe, ICCONS is thriving in a post COVID world that is perpetually changing. ICCONS has recently completed development of a new head office facility which will house its new R&D, quality control and testing division. Within this new building a tool repair centre has been established to service and repair ICCONS equipment, focusing on quick and efficient turn around times for all its customers.

The key driver of ICCONS business today is understanding what the construction industry needs and complying with the latest Australian standards. It all starts with product development where ICCONS enjoys strong relationships with its global manufacturing partners throughout the world, developing products that offer solutions and addresses the latest design and construction challenges facing the industry. Education is key and that’s what ICCONS prides itself on, the fact that they have a highly technical sales and engineering team to drive these key messages back to the end user, a SERVICE which ICCONS people pride themselves on, especially in this day and age, where the market is evolving consistently.

Areas of focus but not limited to are.

l Seismic anchoring solutions

l 100-year design life fastening systems

l Fire rated fastening design.

l Cracked concrete performance.

l AS5216:2021 design software

Product solutions is only part of the ICCONS philosophy. The ICCONS SERVICE model also includes training support from a dedicated head office training facility, on site load testing, with the newly landed PT60 digital load tester which connects directly to the ICCONS app via Bluetooth, to deliver a fast and accurate test which can be instantly emailed to engineers once the test is complete, a world first, again by ICCONS.

The ICCONS engineering team is experienced and highly skilled in solving fastening design problems. Sharing this fastening knowledge with designers, contractors and end users is what they do. Conducting presentations and supporting the sales team on site, engineering support is key to the ICCONS experience, ensuring you get the best solution.

As a proud supporting member of AEFAC (Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchors Council) ICCONS has been part of the driving force helping create standards and improving safety in the construction industry.

ICCONS is continuing its journey to be

the best sales, technical and marketing company in the Australasian connections and anchoring space. To do this in the current market, ICCONS is constantly adapting to the demands of users, dealers, and specifiers. For that very reason ICCONS have recently launched their Anchor Armour program which has been designed to further assist users and dealers, ensuring they choose the right product for the right application. The first range of products launched under the Anchor Armour platform is screw bolts, again a world first with the broadest range in the world promoted via the Ultimate, Premium and Standard performance categories, or UPS. Users now have the ability to choose the exact part for their application and at the same time be rewarded by an industry first end user redemption program for simply purchasing ICCONS gear!

Phil Rose (Managing Director) states “ICCONS searches the construction space for innovation through creativity and speed to market, providing sustainable growth in the form of new techniques and ideas that can only be fuelled with a dynamic product roadmap that delivers innovation and not mimicry”.

Watch this space with ICCONS soon to be released and highly anticipated second chapter of the Anchor Armour program. 

Contact

NOW IN AUSTRALIA

From humble beginnings in the 1970’s in Crystal Lake, Illinois, USA, Weather Guard is the North American Industry Leader of truck and van equipment, including truck boxes, drawer units, shelving, cabinets, and racks for trucks, vans and utility vehicles. Weather Guard organises trucks and vans for greater productivity, and provides tools and valuables superior protection against break-ins and weather. The same quality and toughness is now here, designed and engineered in Australia for Australian conditions. Weather Guard provides high quality, durable, secure, smart products that deliver on the promise of servicing “Work Week to Weekends”.

Weather Guard’s initial range to the Australian Market will cover a Professional Range of aluminium ute box products including Chests, Upright Toolboxes and a Gullwing. Ute box products will be available in our Armor Tuf powder coat finish in both clear and gloss black. Weather Guard ute boxes are also covered by our Limited Lifetime

Warranty and will deliver to the market the following exclusive features:

l Extreme protection lock – tamperresistant retracting lock helps protect against break-ins

l Automotive-style rotary latch features smooth “one-touch” opening

l Automotive grade weather seals offer protection from the elements, water and dust ingression

l Powder coat finish – ARMOR TUF: clear or black for long lasting durability and presentation

l 12v pass-through provides easy, weatherproof power cord access

l Automotive gas struts assist in smooth opening and closing and maintain the open lid position

Weather Guard will also introduce a range of Cargo Cases. The Weather Guard adventure cases have been designed for the professional and the weekend adventurer and feature a sleek, heavy-duty design, in five different sizes across two design styles. Incorporating an integrated MOLLE panel, these cases are ideal for storing your tools and

materials, camping equipment, recovery or recreational gear in or on your vehicle. The premium case features a durable HDPE construction with concealed interlocking lid to body design and ergonomic carry handles. The steel overcentered lockable latches and the dust and waterproof seal ensures increased security and protection. The Weather Guard adventure case series makes sure your gear is always protected no matter the conditions. 

For more information, visit weatherguard.au

SPRAY & MARK THE ULTIMATE WRITING TOOL

Dy-Mark Spray & Mark is fast drying, premium marking out paint designed for a range of applications including construction, landscaping, civil works, and surveying. Available in a wide range of 16 colours (9 Standard & 7

fluorescent colours) which provide bright highly visible marks on various surfaces including concrete, bitumen, rock, steel, and timber.

It is designed for inverted use on to ground surfaces and its unique spray pattern makes the product suitable for

spot marking and is an ultimate writing tool. Another great feature of Spray & Mark is its specifically designed quick drying, toluene-free formulation which provides lower toxicity and hence a safer workplace.

Spray & Mark can be used with accessories such as the Dy-Mark Long Arm Handle and the Dy-Mark 2-Wheel Spot Marking Handle. These accessories are designed to ease fatigue/back pain with repetitive applications.

ADVANCED ANCHOR DESIGN SOFTWARE

The Macsim® SCAPRO is a state-of-the-art anchor design software offering National Construction Code (NCC) compliant solutions for the building and construction industry. The software is ideal for designers and engineers to provide quick and accurate solutions for safety-critical applications in accordance with AS 5216:2021 for mechanical and chemical fasteners.

Features and benefits

l Design with Elastic and Rigid base plate

l Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

l Prying Loading is considered

l Various shapes for the base plate

l Numerous anchor arrangements

l Australian Steel profiles and grades

l Accurate anchor analysis with all failure modes considered

l Seismic design as per AS 5216:2021

l Design of redundant non-structural systems in accordance with AS 5216:2021

l Displacements are calculated

SOFTWARE HIGHLIGHTS

Graphic user interface: Easy to understand and manage-clear base plate and anchor layout with rotation option.

Product selection: Range of mechanical anchors and chemical fastening systems to Easy data input: Simple to use and intuitive user interface with easy product selection Reporting: Single report generating results comparing all anchors performance. 

Visit Macsim.com.au for your free download or email engineering@macsim.com.au

NEW GENERATION SYKES-PICKAVANT MOTORQ TORQUE WRENCHES

The torque wrenches of the latest Sykes-Pickavant Motorq generation have recently undergone an upgrade and now include a two-piece split torque head and handle supplied in a heavy duty carry-case for easy portability and storage. The unique profiled cam and reaction plate offer a clear torque signal, and the large break angle significantly lowers the risk of

over-torquing. The built in torque scale is also protected from dust, dirt and fluids. Suitable for all heavy-duty applications, the new Motorq range offers robust construction providing accurate torque results (to ±4%). Features include the renowned SykesPickavant mechanism with a push-thru ratchet head engineered for strength and durability while operating in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.

A new comfort grip handle has also been developed to guide the user’s hand in correct position during operation and is supplied with torque adjusting spanner to easily adjust to desired value. Sykes-Pickavant torque wrenches are manufactured in England to ISO 67891:2017 standard and supplied with a UKAS accredited calibration certificate. 

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DOWN

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Qualifying race

Top Words

CSS STORE LOCATIONS

CSS member stores are recognised by their ‘Proud Member of CSS sign’ displayed on their building. Be rest assured that the business displaying the sign is a trusted distributor of quality products that are backed by exceptional knowledge, service and support. These stores might all be independent traders, but due to their alliance with the CSS group, they work as a collective and can offer a national distribution opportunity for customers who require it.

If you need a national supply arrangement for your business, contact your nearest CSS member store.