BRANCH UPDATE Carl Copeland NECA WA Branch Secretary
ALTHOUGH MARKET CONDITIONS REMAIN DIFFICULT, IT IS PLEASING The Western Australian Service and TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR THAT THE Installation Requirements (WASIR), WA’s new Work Health and Safety VARIOUS GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PACKAGES AT INCREASING released on 1 AIMED August 2021, details (WHS) laws took effect on 31 March. this requirement (refer to Clause THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES IS HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT. This is the first major revision in 30 WA’s new WHS laws
years, bringing together all safety regulations for general industry, Members in this sector expect a considerable mining and petroleum under the increase work in theharmonises near future. one act. Itinalso broadly the WA regulations with national The strong prices for gold and iron ore in requirements (excluding particular have ensuredVictoria). that members working in the resource sector are also We encourage members to familiarise enjoying strong demand for electrical work. themselves with the new legislation and It is essential that NECArequirements. Technical is taking as many, if not more, calls than it was before COVID, you have safe processes in place that which indicates are still lotsisof demonstrate you there are doing all that members performing reasonably practicablework. to fulfil your duty in regard toathe new WHS Thereofiscare obviously still long way to go in laws. Transitional periods apply. terms of a full recovery but it does seem that Western Australia is better placed than other states at present.
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Circuit breaker as the main switch - requirement Industrial Manslaughter from 1 February 2022 Legislation
One of the most common queries Sometimes there are critical pieces of currently being to by legislation thatresponded industry has to NECA fight Technical the requirement for tooth andrelates nail to to prevent; the Western aAustralian circuit breaker as the main switch for Government’s proposed all new or altered connections supplied industrial manslaughter legislation is such law. by theaWestern Power network. It is vital that all contractors familiarise themselves with this legislation because it will criminalise workplace accidents. The Government’s proposed industrial manslaughter law exposes business owners to up to 10 years in jail and a $2.5million fine if an accident occurs on your worksite – even if you haven’t been reckless or negligent. It is vital that members understand the risks they could face under the worst parts (e.g. Section 30B) of the Western Australian Government’s proposed Workplace Health & Safety Bill. Section 30B is unique to WA. It is not found in any other state or territory.
11.6.4.3) which became mandatory as of 1 February 2022.
NECArequirement has met witheffectively the Minister for Industrial This sets the Relations,demand Bill Johnston, and personally maximum by limitation and the expressed our should concerns to him. circuit breaker be rated toWe thewere particularly adamant thatforthe network service capacity thelegislation property. must contain defences that protect Most residential properties have the contractors whose safety practices standard supply as the network service meet the legislative requirements. capacity, which is 63 amps for singleIt is ridiculous to have a situation where phase and 32 amps for three-phase in a business ownerarea hasand implemented the metropolitan major regional safety practices that ensure compliance centres. In all other areas, 32 amps with allfor of their and yet applies both WHS singleobligations and three-phase. canrequirement still be subjected to prosecution. The only applies to the main switch at the site main switchboard. NECA has lobbied the McGowan government, as well as the Liberal An altered connection would Opposition and cross-bench members of include installation Parliament, as partof ofsolar, a coalition of more battery energy storage systems than twenty other industry associations and electric vehicle chargers. who also oppose this legislation. I encourage every Western Australian
Changes to the Electricity business owner and director to read the joint submission to government that (Licensing) Regulations allow NECA WA has made alongsupervised with the other apprentices to start industry associations. The submission, electrical work immediately
which is on NECA WA’s website, is more Recent to the than 20changes pages long butElectricity it is critical that you understand the potential (Licensing) Regulations 1991 (“the implications for you, your business, your Regulations”) mean that new co-workers can and now yourperform family. supervised apprentices electrical while waiting forNECA theirWA Members work can be assured that electrician’s licence to arrive. will continuetraining to fiercely oppose this legislation in its current form. In essence, an apprentice will be deemed to have an electrical training licence Security of Payments Legislation for a period of 60 days from when they The State Government has also recently sign their training contract. This will released its long-awaited draft allow employees two months fromSecurity the of Payments legislation. Thistoishave vital date of the training contract legislation for for NECA members and for an application a training licence to subcontractors in general. be approved. More information about this change is available on page 40.
SEPTEMBER 2020 June 2022
