INDUSTRY NEWS
CHANGES TO STATE GOVERNMENT PRE-QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS On 1 July the Queensland State Government changed the process and some questions under their pre-qualification for contracting (PQC) process. PQC is required by contractors who want to work on State Government projects. Based on how the PQC form is filled in, a contractor may qualify to contract for the government up to a certain value. The form now includes several questions about initiatives to improve mental health and preventing suicide. These questions are designed to help the government agencies identify, and work with, suppliers who have a focus on the long-term mental health of their workforce. This article will deal specifically with the following questions. Have you delivered projects with site accreditation by a recognised mental health and suicide prevention program such as MATES in Construction in the past? If a “Yes” answer is entered, then the form provides an option to attach a MATES in Construction builder’s report or another accreditation. The form further asks: Do you commit to achieve site accreditation on all Queensland Government projects in the future? MATES in Construction is an industry-based mental health and suicide prevention program available free of charge to MPAQ members. A field officer will work specifically with your business to help implement the MATES program. MATES in Construction provides the following levels of training to you and your staff: • MATES Awareness Training (MAT) – A 15 minute toolbox delivered to small sites or companies with less than 15 workers where it is not practicable to run the General Awareness Training. • General Awareness Training (GAT) – A 45 minute session about suicide delivered to all workers and employers on sites with more than 10 workers. • MAT and GAT is focusing on basic awareness about the risk of suicide in our industry and how to notice when a workmate is having a hard time. • Connector Training – A four hour course delivered on sites (to a minimum of 10 workers) or in mixed sessions from various sites delivered off-site. • We encourage all businesses to have at least one connector per 20 employees. Connectors are trained to start conversations about suicide and to connect people to help and support. • ASIST Training – A 16-hour course in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training delivered off site. Where practicable workers should have access to an ASIST worker. MATES also operates a 24-7 support line and help individual workers through case management. To become an accredited project or company you must ensure that: • all workers are trained in either MAT or GAT as applicable; • training is topped up when required as new employees start; • a minimum of 1 in 20 workers are trained as connectors; and • there is reasonable access to an ASIST worker. A builder’s report is an overview of the business’s past engagement with MATES in Construction. Please ensure you speak with a MATES in Construction field officer about the report to ensure all your data is recorded. The form also asks: Are you a signatory to the Australian Building and Construction Industry Blueprint for Better Mental Health and Suicide Prevention? If “Yes” is answered to this question you will be asked to attach a certificate of being part of the blueprint. The blueprint provides a number of ideas for how to create a mentally healthier workplace for you and your staff. What you do will depend on your business—so different businesses will do different activities. Partners in the blueprint are required to do a self-audit of activities and will be provided with suggestions of activities based on the self-audit. MATES in Construction has a consultant available to assist business in engaging with the blueprint. If you want further information about how to run the MATES in Construction program or how to join the blueprint, call MATES in Construction on 1300 642 111 and speak to a field officer. Article written by MATES in Construction
SMART FORM SPEEDS UP PQC APPLICATION PROCESS The prequalification (PQC) contractor and consultant application form has been converted into a smart form to make prequalifying and applying for Queensland Government building work a faster, simpler, and more user-friendly experience for new and existing registrants. There is a smart form for contractors and a smart form for consultants. With the addition of drop-down boxes, auto-population, and ability to attach documents such as management system certificates and referee reports, there is no need to scan, then email or post the printed application form. The electronic format enables automatic submission. The smart form also saves time by ensuring that all mandatory information is provided by an applicant prior to submitting it. The same form can be used by existing registrants to update their details, such as recently completed projects, so that they are eligible for more, higher value Queensland Government building work. With the smart form, the PQC team is aiming to assess all new applications in four weeks or less. A reduction in application questions and improvements to the time taken on compliance checks with regulators and referral agencies is also being investigated to further reduce assessment to two weeks. The smart form includes specific mental health and suicide prevention questions that were developed with MATES in Construction and the Queensland Mental Health Commission. These questions will help Queensland Government agencies identify, and work with, suppliers who have a focus on the long-term mental health of their workforce. The Department of Housing and Public Works is continuing to sponsor MATES for a further 12 months to help reduce the level of suicide amongst Australian construction workers. For more information, email pqcregistrar@hpw.qld.gov.au or call the PQC team on 1800 072 621.
RESOURCES SAFETY & HEALTH QUEENSLAND The Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate has now become part of a new independent statutory body, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), which became operational on 1 July 2020 after the Resources Safety and Health Queensland Act 2020 (RSHQ Act) was passed by Parliament in March 2020. RSHQ’s vision of zero serious harm will be achieved through engagement, regulation, education, and assisting industry to meet its obligations to protect and promote the safety and health of people from the risks associated with petroleum and gas, as well as other industry sectors regulated by RSHQ. The Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate will continue to collaborate and support the industry to achieve this vision. For more information, visit www.rshq.qld.gov.au. MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE Spring 2020 |
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