The Master Electrician Winter 2013 by Master Electricians Australia

Registered by Australia Post Publications No. PP424022/2346

inside World Solar Challenge 2013 Tips for women in trade Asbestos: Know your enemy ‘Slip-slop-slap’ PV solutions THE INTERVIEW: Co-author of the electrician’s bible, Ian Neeson

WINTER 13

themaster

table of contents Average Net Distribution 30,185 CAB Audited as of March 2013

world solar challenge 2013 04 energy spotlight

a passage to India

safety switches back in the spotlight 10 the buzz

girl ‘power’ to the electrical industry

meet a master electrician

benefit spotlight

news from the distributors

regulator wrap up

letter of the law

the interview

gadget guide

techno biz

technical talk

pre-contractor program

workplace relations

all about ME

test drive

events calendar

shocking photograph

the last word

read the magazine online here General Enquiries Master Electricians Australia PO Box 2438, Fortitude Valley BC Queensland 4006 PHONE 1300 889 198 FAX 1800 622 914 EMAIL magazine@masterelectricians.com.au WEB www.masterelectricians.com.au

04 Welcome to the winter 2013 edition of The Master Electrician.

Editorial Contacts & Contributors EDITOR Malcolm Richards ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kirsty Bond ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Janelle MacDonald PHONE 07 3252 4860 EMAIL magazine@masterelectricians.com.au DESIGN AND PRINT POMO 07 3844 3873

new national entity and the highly publicised inquest into the Government’s flawed Home Insulation Program, the last three months at Head Office have been jam-packed with activity. Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has always pushed for greater awareness and regulatory action surrounding electrical safety and in a significant step forward, our recommendations to the State Coroner to examine the issue of safety switches on all circuits, has finally been taken seriously. This is a colossal win for the electrical industry.

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This edition we feature the story of an Accredited Master Electrician who discovered electrical safety leaves a lot to be desired in India. Closer to home, check out the story on the World Solar Challenge race that is pushing the limits of solar right here in Australia.

Cover Photo: Jorrit Lousberg

Until next time.

www.masterelectricians.com.au or call 1300 889 198 The Master Electrician is printed on environmentally responsible paper sourced from FSC® certified forestry plantations. The paper is made with Elemental Chlorine Free pulps (ECF).

WITH the launch of a

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are offered solely in pursuance of the objects of the Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia to provide an informative service to contractors in the electrical industry on legal, commercial and other issues and problems related to the industry. The Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia are not aware that any person intends to act or rely upon such statements and opinions contained in this publication or the manner in which it might be possible to do so. The Electrical Contractors Association and Master Electricians Australia issues no invitation to any member or other persons to act or rely upon such statements or opinions or any of them and it accepts no responsibility for any of them. It intends by this provision to exclude, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for any such statements and opinions. The Master Electrician Magazine can be viewed online at www.masterelectricians.com.au

Kirsty Bond Associate Editor

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

World Solar Challenge 2013 Solar car Nuna 6 travelling through the Australian outback in the 2011 World Solar Challenge

It’s the race that’s pushing the limits of solar. Stephanie Lim takes a closer look into the anticipated World Solar Challenge, and speaks to one of this year’s top competitors.

WHILE we’re all familiar with fast cars on the track at popular sporting events like NASCAR, the sport of car racing has often been condemned by critics as a “waste of resources”. NASCAR has been widely criticised for its fuel consumption, emissions and pollution, and the use of lead additives in the cars’ gasoline.

World Solar Challenge event director Chris Selwood says since the event’s inauguration in 1987, the race has continued to showcase the development of advanced automotive technology and promote alternatives to conventional vehicle engines.

But green-conscious racing fans can take heart – there’s an environmentallyfriendly alternative to the sport that not only requires no fuel, but promotes clean energy through solar power.

“It all began in 1982, when solar pioneer Hans Tholstrup drove a home-built solar car across Australia and urged others to explore the boundaries of sun-powered transport, thus birthing the World Solar Challenge,” Mr Selwood says.

Solar car racing is the competitive racing of electric vehicles powered by energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car. While solar cars test the boundaries of energy efficiency, solar car racing acts as a platform to research the capabilities of everyday vehicle technology, in a clean and environmentally-friendly way.

“Today, the innovations that stem from these races are at the heart of all electric cars, whether that power comes from hydrogen fuel cells, hybrid engines or even fully-electric commuter cars that draw power from solar cells on the garage roof – they all use the technology that is continually honed to perfection in the WSC.”

This year’s World Solar Challenge (WSC) aims to do exactly that and more, featuring a field of competitors from around the globe who will take on the 3,000 kilometre race from Darwin to Adelaide this October.

In the competition, teams from around the world depart Darwin aiming to be the first to arrive in Adelaide. Teams cover as much distance as possible between 8am to 5pm, where they must make camp in the desert

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regardless of where they are, and continue the race the following day. Seven mandatory checkpoints along the way allow teams to perform basic maintenance checks. Now, for the first time in the history of the WSC, the competition will see the introduction of three distinct classes, each with their own parameters, stages and goals. Mr Selwood says this year’s competitors will have to prove they have what it takes to deliver the world’s most efficient solar car. “We threw down the gauntlet this year by creating three new formalised classes for the race and incorporating new regulations,” he says. “Teams will really have to push the limits of new technology and innovation as this means competitors in both the Challenger and Cruiser classes will be competing in brand new cars.” Despite the tougher circumstances of the race, Mr Selwood says a record-breaking 48 teams from 26 countries are now preparing to take on the Aussie outback come 6 October.

photo: Hans Peter van Velthoven

feature

“We now have the makings of our most competitive field ever – in terms of time, speed, energy efficiency and innovation; and the response from teams around the world has been a resounding ‘bring it on!’” he says. “All eyes this year are on new countries such as China and return entrants Saudi Arabia, but Australia will give teams around the world a run for their money.” Indeed, teams have already been hard at work since entries to the race closed at the end of May. Entrants TAFE South Australia have competed in all but one WSC event since 2001, and hope learning from past experiences will guide them to success this year. TAFE SA team manager Gerry Paay says successfully completing the event is the team’s main goal, but they are also eager to demonstrate the marketability of their solar car. “We try to integrate the design and building of our solar car into as many mainstream TAFE courses as possible,” he says. “This not only allows us to offset some of the costs in building the car, but also provides the students with a very real and tangible project in which to focus their skills. “Our car is purposely designed and styled to more closely resemble a normal road car and as such, one of our goals is to demonstrate that solar-powered electric passenger vehicles for the mass market is certainly very possible and indeed, probable, in the not-too-distant future.” TAFE SA’s solar car entrant, the Solar Spirit III, utilises components from their original solar car, Kelly. “We decided that rather than try and compete with overseas teams, many of whom have multi-million dollar budgets, we would focus on a different, more practical design,” Mr Paay says. “We used the basic chassis and running gear from Kelly and designed a complete new three-seater body shell to go with it. While the chassis is carbon fibre, the new body is constructed from Kevlar and has been largely built by students as a part of their prevocational courses at TAFE.

“For this year’s event, the body has been modified and shortened to comply with the new Cruiser Class regulations and has been fitted with an additional electric wheel motor to ensure we have sufficient torque to more easily conquer the hilly terrain en route.” With two passenger seats, the three-seater Solar Spirit is a never before seen concept in the WSC, and Mr Paay is confident its design will help garner top results. “We are very confident that Solar Spirit will complete the course in a respectable time and placing. That being said the Cruiser Class is a new category, so we don’t really know who or what we are up against,” he says.

“... green-conscious racing fans can take heart – there’s an environmentally-friendly alternative to the sport that not only requires no fuel, but promotes clean energy through solar power.”

“While there is certainly friendly rivalry amongst all of the teams, as the only South Australian competitor, we look forward to matching our skills with those of other Australian states.” Preparation for the race begins almost immediately, with a large majority of the team’s time being devoted to readying the Solar Spirit and familiarising themselves with every aspect of the car’s construction and control. “It takes us four long days to travel from Adelaide to Darwin for the commencement of the race, with all of the team practicing their camping skills along the way, in caravan parks on the way up,” Mr Paay says. “During the actual event, the days are long. We’re up at the crack of dawn to try and collect some of the sun’s available energy prior to hitting the road at 8am. At 5pm, we set the car up to collect some more sunshine till dark, then eat and try to get

some rest before starting all over again the next morning. “We hope to complete the race in five days, but we are very much at the mercy of Mother Nature. Clear, sunny skies are not always the case. Last year saw rain, almost continual cloud cover and to top it all off, very dense smoke from nearby bush fires for about two days running. “Hopefully this year will bring perfect weather.” Mr Paay says a lot of the outcome of a race also depends upon the team members carrying out their respective roles to the best of their abilities. “Many tasks will be shared between team members during the race, but we will have a full range of technical expertise on board to ensure that any and all potential problems with our vehicle can be quickly and properly attended to,” he explains. “As the team leader, I have to make sure that all the event regulations, race requirements and directions are adhered to. “The motivation by all of our hand-picked team is already very high and there is a real determination amongst the members to make sure we finish the race successfully and that we finish well.” Mr Paay says events such as the WSC contribute greatly to broadening the general awareness of solar and its capabilities amongst the public. “The WSC is a huge international event that is widely broadcast and reported in the press and on television, particularly in many countries outside Australia,” he says. “Because of the international competitiveness and the fact that some of the world’s leading universities are involved, the level of technology in the competition is stretched even further during each event. “This plays a huge part in broadening the awareness people have of solar and how it can benefit them and the environment.” The World Solar Challenge kicks off on 6 October in Darwin. The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

Challenger Class The Challenger Class sees visually stunning solar car designs, with slick, single seat aerodynamic models built for sustained endurance and total energy efficiency to complete the race in the shortest possible time. Challenger Class Specs Maximum Length: 4.5m Maximum Width: 1.8m Maximum Solar Array: 6^m Wheels: 4 Driver: 1 Stages: S ingle stage from Darwin to Adelaide

Michelin Cruiser Class

GoPro Adventure Class

The goal of the Michelin Cruiser Class is not speed, but practicality, with the ultimate goal of an entrant being able to meet the requirements for road registration in the country of origin.

The Adventure Class is primarily designed to allow teams with solar cars built for previous events to return, usually with new team members, for the adventure of crossing the continent.

Michelin Cruiser Class Specs

Challenger Class Specs

Wheels: 4

Maximum Length: 5m

Driver/Passenger: 1/1 (both facing forwards)

Maximum Width: 1.8m

Stages: S ingle stage from Darwin to Adelaide

Maximum Solar Array: 6^m Wheels: 3 Driver: 1 Stages: T wo stages

RMIT Electrical Apprentices – Ready For Your Business RMIT’s Electrical Apprenticeship is nationally accredited and developed in close consultation with industry to meet employer needs. Classes are delivered by teachers with up-to-date industry experience, using first class facilities and equipment.

Electrical programs include: • Cert II in Electrotechnology (pre-apprenticeship) • Cert III in Electrotechnology Electrician • Cert IV in Electrotechnology - Systems Electrician • Cert IV in Electrotechnology - Instrumentation

RMIT can help develop a program to suit the specific needs of your business. All classes are centrally located in the Melbourne CBD.

> Enrolments are accepted throughout the year. For more information phone 9925 4468 or email soet@rmit.edu.au

www.rmit.edu.au/engineeringtafe/apprenticeships TAFE programs are delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth funding for eligible students.

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feature energy spotlight

The impressive 19.5 kW solar facade on a commercial building in Dulwich, Adelaide.

Smart ‘slip-slop-slap’ solutions putting solar PV systems in a new light The installation of Australia’s largest solar façade is paving the way for a future of green building innovations.

When it comes to protecting commercial buildings from the harsh Australian sun, Accredited Master Electrician Newman Mundy Electrical (NME) has an efficient solution. Partnering with LAROS Technologies, NME recently completed Australia’s largest solar façade installation on a commercial building, bringing Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) to the South Australian market. Boasting 19.5 kW of toughened laminated thin-film photovoltaic (PV) glazing, the new glass façade turns the radiating western sun into solar power while at the same time, protecting the building from overheating. Principal of NME, Newman Mundy said that the project received a Building Innovation Fund grant from the South

Australian Government and the partnership with the experts from LAROS was absolutely crucial to deliver this fascinating solar project. “We used RAICO, a thermally-broken façade solution from Germany, in combination with all-glass thin-film PV technology invented and manufactured in Switzerland.” The RAICO façade elements were prefabricated and then lifted into place, just like an industrial-sized curtain. The glazing of the façade includes a combination of high-tech PV and tinted window glazing. “This project will show the rest of Australia the endless possibilities associated with using solar PV and the architectural playground Europe have been using for years,” Mr Mundy says. The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

feature

A Passage to India Bare wires, a live chicken fence and burnt out motors are just some of the things Victorian sparky Duncan Hart had to deal with during his volunteer quest in India. Katlynn Bradder-Denning spoke to the man on a mission to help transform lives.

Duncan Hart, the Director and Owner of KTR Group

and Accredited Master Electrician, combined his love of travel, volunteering and electrical work to help a struggling orphanage in Northern India kick-start its schooling program. Duncan and his family volunteered for an aid organisation called Jacobs Well, hoping to help improve the quality of lives of those at an orphanage named the Rejoice Centre in Mustiput, Odisha, Northern India. Just getting to the orphanage was an adventure in itself, with the Hart family arriving in Visakhapatnam by plane, then travelling six hours by car on winding slippery roads up the mountain to a village called Koraput, before finally making their way out to the Rejoice Centre in Mustiput. Arriving with no expectations and only the intention to help where their skills were needed, it didn’t take long before Duncan put himself to work to improve the clean water supply to the orphanage.

“Basic electrical things like connectors, tape cable and general hardware that were needed for the job were just not available, I ended up using items I’d taken with me – good old Clipsal Pneumatic Time Delay Switch 319 and contactors, it’s basic, but it worked,” Duncan recalls. “The power supply in India rapidly fluctuates from 260V down to 100V at times, and as for hertz, let’s not even go there. “We were experiencing at least four hours loss of power supply each day, so as you can imagine these things caused an array of problems for the electrical equipment at the orphanage.” Duncan explains the very minimal electrical features the completed orphanage will have consist of only two socket outlets, light battens, a small consolidation point per room and the completely overloaded transformer powering the whole orphanage.

Duncan says establishing and maintaining a vital source of clean water at the orphanage is a struggle because once the deep bores are drilled, the clean water supply is often compromised by the unreliable power and burnt out pump motors.

“When you really think about it, it makes you realise how many electrical luxuries we have in Australia. What can be found in an entire orphanage in India can also be found in just one room in Australia,” he says.

“The bores operate on submersible pumps with 30 minute duty cycles, but people would turn the pump on and leave it on, regularly resulting in a burnt out motor and an inoperable bore,” Duncan says.

It’s those luxuries here at home, compared to developing countries, which pushed the Hart family to travel abroad and utilise their skills to help improve the lives of those less fortunate in India.

To combat this, a quick-thinking Duncan decided to install valuable timers to the bore pumps, but it wasn’t a simple task like it would be at home in Australia.

Along with helping at the orphanage, Duncan and his family also made day trips to extremely remote villages without any electricity, to service their hand pumps and bores.

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Duncan’s wife Nicole is an Intensive Care Nurse so she used her skills to help in the local villages by conducting lifesaving health checks and medical procedures. The inadequate power supply wasn’t the only thing the Hart’s had to contend with. They also had to deal with a number of other dangerous and startling electrical challenges. Duncan recalls the alarming night he discovered the chicken farm fence was alive after a local staff member told him his young son had just received a shock from the fence. “I took my trusty Fluke meter and conducted some tests, the steel mesh was reading a strong 220V to ground so I isolated the supply at the sub board and no surprise, the mesh was still live,” he says. “I then isolated the supply at the main board but yet again the mesh was still live, so I eventually had to isolate the supply completely to the whole complex.” After more tests Hart found the fault to be at an extremely questionable connection of external lights on the roof of the main dormitory. “An active supply was connected to an exposed piece of rebar in the concrete which meant the catenary line from the main dormitory to the chicken farm was then acting as the final conductor across to the chicken farm,” he says. “I couldn’t find any earthing points or safety switches and of course every fuse was overrated.” If you thought that was mind blowing, Duncan says he has plenty more stories. “I witnessed people throwing bare cables over power lines to connect supply to their private homes. Exposed connections and joins seems to be the accepted standard,” Duncan says. These are just some of the eye-opening things Duncan saw during his four weeks in India. “There is no comparison to Australian electrical standards, actually as far as I could make out, India has no standards at all,” he says. “One day I asked an electrical supplier for single screw connectors only to be told that ‘you twist and tape, that’s it’. You

should have seen the look on the man’s face when I explained how we conduct a join adhering to the AS3000 standard.” Despite having to manoeuvre his way through a number of challenging situations, Duncan never expected anything in return. He was simply happy in the knowledge that he had enriched the lives of the locals, but says he was surprised by how much he truly gained from the experience. “When we were leaving, a young boy at the orphanage about the age of my son gave me a note which read ‘I have got nothing to give to you but my love and I thank you for all you have done for us’, in a simple gesture, that was the highlight of my entire trip,” Duncan says. Even though Hart’s time volunteering in India made a huge difference, Duncan says a lot more work still needs to be done to bring the site up to a safe and suitable standard. “The transformer at the orphanage is running well in excess of its rating and I noticed oil boiling over at times and dripping down the sides. They desperately need a new transformer but of course it comes down to money,” he says. Duncan has made it his next mission to raise enough money to replace the transformer and deliver a more reliable electrical supply to the struggling orphanage. Now that the Hart family has gained an understanding of the basic culture and surroundings in Northern India, Duncan says he is committed to returning to the orphanage to be involved with future construction and improvements. In the meantime though, he has left the electrical maintenance to the local sparkies who, in English, are known as ‘Electric Men’. “The ‘electric men’ had not seen anything like a Pneumatic Time Delay and contactors before so I passed on my knowledge and they then seemed quite capable of maintaining the infrastructure,” he says. Duncan encourages any Australian electricians looking for a challenge and an adventure to take part in something similar. “There is so much you will gain from this, and so much you have to offer mentally

and physically in that kind of support situation,” he explains. “You will be surprised how basics things we take completely for granted here in Australia go such a long way in third world countries. “With a little bit of generosity we really can transform a village.” If you would like more information on volunteering with Jacobs Well, go to www.jacobswell.org.au or call 03 9803 6115. The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

feature

Safety Switches back in the spotlight The tragic deaths of three Queensland tradesmen under the Federal Government’s flawed insulation program has triggered a highly publicised and closely followed inquest by the State Coroner. But could these deaths have been avoided?

the gravest fears of the electrical

industry were brought to reality when Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office (ESO) advised on October 15, 2010 that it was investigating the death of an insulation installer under the Federal Government’s multi-billion dollar Home Insulation Program (HIP). It solidified industry concerns around the safety of the program that had surfaced since its very conception. The program had been designed to create new business and employment opportunities, but while doing so it sent a range of inexperienced and undertrained young workers into roof spaces to work near live electrical fittings. Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has always pushed for greater awareness and regulatory action surrounding electrical safety, to ensure members and electrical contractors can operate in a safe environment. Which was why, when the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Home Package was introduced in 2009, MEA immediately expressed concerns about the inherent dangers associated with the two types of insulation covered by the HIP rebate scheme. A direct lobbying campaign to the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett unfolded, supported by a very high-profile media campaign in which MEA assumed the role of public guardian in relation to the insulation safety.

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Our key message to the government was that it must change the insulation rebate scheme in order to improve safety standards and avoid electrical safety injuries or fatalities. We appealed to the public to have a Master Electrician or a licensed electrical contractor test their insulation if they had any concerns.

The program had been designed to create new business and employment opportunities, but while doing so it sent a range of inexperienced and undertrained young workers into roof spaces to work near live electrical fittings. MEA chief executive Malcolm Richards says on a number of occasions, he had voiced concerns the scheme was rushed and contained inadequate safeguards. “I raised safety concerns with federal government ministers at the time and I also met personally with then Environment Minister Peter Garrett to discuss with him the importance of improving safety in the scheme,” Mr Richards says. “Unfortunately, too little was done too late, and three young men lost their lives as a result.” Between 2009 and 2010, three young Queensland tradesmen were electrocuted while installing insulation in homes under

the $2.45 billion HIP – and a fourth man was killed in Sydney. An inquest into the deaths of Rueben Kelly Barnes, 16, Matthew James Fuller, 25, and Mitchell Scott Sweeney, 22, prompted State Coroner Michael Barnes to recently recommend the Queensland Government look again at the issue of mandating the installation of safety switches on every circuit in every home. Mr Richards, a witness to the inquiry, says he was pleased his organisation’s recommendation to the Coroner to examine the issue of safety switches had finally been taken seriously. The tragic deaths under the HIP highlighted the urgent need to undertake a nationwide public safety campaign about the importance of safety switches. Following the release in national media of the Switch Thinking – Preventing Electrical Deaths in Australian Homes state of the nation report in Spring 2010, MEA launched a national campaign calling for mandatory safety switches to be installed on every circuit, in every home, by 2016. A safety switch can detect an electric shock and cut the flow of power in a few hundredths of a second, faster than the critical phase of a heartbeat. “Sadly, more than 20 years after safety switches became compulsory on power circuits in new homes, many houses still do not have them fitted, and very few have them on every circuit,” Mr Richards says.

DESIGNED FOR AUSTRALIAN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS AUSTRALIA’S SAFEST & STRONGEST

“Injury or death can come from something as simple as a child removing toast from a toaster with a knife, a home handyman drilling a hole in a wall to hang a picture or even storm water penetrating into a light fitting or power point.”

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Mr Richards says the haste with which the HIP was rolled out encouraged people to cut corners and to lower safety standards in an attempt to gain quick money.

AUSTRALIAN MADE

“Time and time again, MEA has lobbied and fought for safety switches to be made a compulsory fitting on every circuit, in every home in the country,” he says. “There is no doubt in my mind that had safety switches been installed in the homes where these three men had been working, they would not have lost their lives.

SAFETY GATE AVAILABLE

“It is always a tragedy when young lives are lost, but especially so when it could have easily been avoided.”

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Mr Richards says the next step is for every State Government to examine the findings of this inquiry, and then quickly take action to make safety switches compulsory in every home, on every circuit, across the country. “We need this to happen urgently before more lives are unnecessarily lost,” Mr Richards says. “The electrical industry has experienced two more deaths since December last year due to work in ceiling spaces that would also have been prevented had safety switches been installed in those homes.

McKays Solicitors & the Electrical Industry

“MEA’s research shows around 15 people are killed and 300 hospitalised every year as a result of injuries from electric shocks at home – accidents which could be easily prevented by having a safety switch installed.

A unique connection Focus & intelligence Straight talking Legal solutions

“We need our state governments to urgently act on this recommendation to minimise the risk of similar tragedies occurring in the future.” Representing its members and the electrical industry as a whole, MEA has worked tirelessly to improve electrical safety standards and in a significant step forward, State Coroner Michael Barnes has recommended the Queensland Government make the installation of safety switches compulsory in all Queensland homes “as a matter of urgency” and has ordered Workplace Health and Safety Queensland conduct an urgent review. Mr Barnes also ordered an immediate large scale public relations campaign to warn householders of the electrical dangers inside roof cavities.

Advice on contracts Contractual & payment disputes Debt Collection services Employment Law Business Structures

For more information on electrical safety measures, visit www.masterelectricians.com.au or call 1300 889 198.

Work Health & Safety Buying & selling businesses Asset Protection Wills & Estates Tax & Super

Call Ian Heathwood on (07) 3223 5942, Michael Cope on (07) 3223 5939 or Louise Nicol on (07) 3223 5924

“MEA will continue to push for greater awareness surrounding electrical safety,” Mr Richards says. “Seeing safety switches installed on every circuit in every home is a top priority.”

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

the buzz Federal Government crackdown on 457 Visas On 1 July this year the Federal Government announced significant changes to the 457 Temporary Work Visa program. The bulk of these changes represent yet another red tape burden for businesses attempting to fill the chronic labour shortages crippling our industry. Here are some of the key developments that employers looking to sponsor an overseas worker will need to be aware of. Ongoing requirement to meet training benchmarks The obligation on an employer to train Australians is now ongoing and enforceable, rather than simply a commitment, and applies for the duration of the sponsorship. The ongoing obligation also applies to newly established businesses that initially only need to provide an auditable training plan. Employment must consist of a direct employeeemployer relationship Employees must be engaged by their sponsor in a direct ‘employee-employer’ relationship. To this end, employers will be required to retain employment contracts to demonstrate that they are not engaging in defacto labour hire arrangements. Indicating how many workers an employer will sponsor Employers are restricted to sponsoring the number of subclass 457 workers that were approved in their sponsorship application over the term of their sponsorship. Requiring mandatory registration, licensing or membership Subclass 457 visa holders will need to have sought to obtain within 28 days any mandatory registration, licence or membership for their occupation in the state or territory they are employed. Market salary rate assessment expanded to regional locality The adjustments to market salary rate assessments are one change that may make it easier for employers intending to sponsor under the 457 program. In determining the ‘market rate’ salary for a position, a sponsor can now make reference to employees working in similar businesses in the regional locality, rather than being restricted to just the sponsor’s workplace. This will provide a greater flexibility for employers in demonstrating the ‘market rate’ for a position. English language requirement Occupation based exemptions to the English language requirement have been removed. www.masterelectricians.com.au

Salary level increases The minimum salary level for nomination has increased from $51,400 to $53,900. The minimum salary level for waiver of English requirements increased from $92,000 to $96,400. Restricted terms of sponsorship for start-up businesses The term of sponsorship approval for start-up businesses has been decreased from the standard three years to 12 months. All subclass 457 visa holders sponsored by start-up businesses are limited to an initial 12 month visa. Application fee increases The 457 nomination fee has increased from $80 to $330 and the 457 visa lodgement fee has risen from $455 to $900. Other changes There are now greater powers for Fair Work Australia to inspect workplaces for compliance with immigration laws. All subclass 457 sponsorship, nomination and visa applications must be lodged using the online facility. Labour Market Testing A major area of concern for industry surrounds the changes to already stringent labour market testing standards. While not yet implemented, a Bill has been passed that will require labour market assessments to be performed that may be beyond the capability of some employers. The Bill requires sponsors to demonstrate that they have made efforts to find a suitably qualified Australian for the nominated position within six months before the submission of the nomination application and submit evidence of their local recruitment efforts. If a sponsor has terminated the employment of any Australian in the nominated occupation in the four months leading up to the nomination, the sponsor must show that its recruitment attempts post-date the termination and provide information about all workforce reductions in the nominated occupation in the previous four months. While the Department of Immigration (DIAC) have not yet enacted or detailed the exact process to be put in place, the new labour market testing requirements are expected to take effect in the next six months. These changes come on top of the new requirements for all employers to be responsible for ensuring that all employees have the right to work in Australia. To facilitate these responsibilities the Federal Government has launched Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). The VEVO website is www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/vevo.htm We encourage employers to be mindful of these important changes when looking to sponsor an overseas worker. The financial penalties for employers who do not meet their obligations, even those who do so unintentionally, can be substantial. For more information on these changes to the 457 visa program visit the DIAC website at: www.immi.gov.au

Hager looks to Australia for growth Announcing a number of major changes, Hager who specialise in electrical installation systems in the commercial and residential buildings sector, has recently confirmed its strong commitment to the Australian market. The most immediate and obvious change is the company’s new name, Hager Electro, which changed on 1 July and it is now a fully owned subsidiary of the Hager Group. CEO of Hager Electro, Chris de Veyrac, said that despite the many challenges the construction industry has weathered in recent years, sales for Hager products have remained steady, bucking the downward trend. “Australia is a very important market for Hager. We see a great opportunity for growth here, as we know many contractors are not willing to compromise on quality, reliability or safety,” said Mr de Veyrac. Hager provides an extensive offer, ranging from power distribution and cable management to smart building automation and wiring accessories – for an equally extensive field of applications suitable for single dwellings, multi-units residential development and commercial properties. “Most of the product ranges that are currently offered were specifically developed for the Australian market. This includes our onekonekt range of modular devices for the residential sector, launched in 2012, and our range of wiring accessories. “With our new structure, we can anticipate more Australian-specific releases in the future and in a matter of months we’ll be able to broaden our product offering in Australia,” said Mr de Veyrac. Mr de Veyrac said that besides the new name, there are a number of other positive changes.

“More resources will be dedicated to Hager’s Project team, which provides tailored solutions to the needs of electrical contractors and developers for large commercial and multi-residential developments. It will accelerate our expansion in mid to largescale projects, with solutions ranging from main switch boards, to smart energy-efficient solutions, wiring accessories and building automation systems,” said Mr de Veyrac. A number of other company initiatives are aimed at streamlining the business, enabling a greater emphasis on sales and services rather than back of house functions. These include purpose-built IT systems and tools, and more effective logistics arrangements. “As a result, wholesalers can expect better access to and assistance from our sales team. They’ll also see improvements to deliveries including live order tracking and better stock monitoring that will ensure we have plenty of product ready and waiting for the next order, hence fewer incomplete orders. “These are genuinely major changes for us. We’re elated that we’ve maintained staff numbers and the change has been enthusiastically embraced by the team,” said Mr de Veyrac. Unique service and support to professional electricians has instilled confidence in the Hager brand. So much so, that it is now synonymous with easy-to install, easy-to-use solutions driven by the power of innovation. Hager has cleared the way for system improvements and a broader product offering in a market that remains buoyant and brimming with opportunity.

Enquire about franchising today. Visit platinumelectrical.com.au, click the ‘franchise’ tab and lodge an Expression of Interest form.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

the buzz Minister announces trial of project bank accounts to better protect WA subcontractors The WA State Government has moved to provide greater protection for subcontractors on projects managed by the Department of Finance’s Building Management and Works (BMW) after accepting the recommendations of the Small Business Commissioner’s Construction Subcontractor Investigation. The Commissioner’s report, released in June, found that 110 subcontractors had more than 300 non-payment claims relating to BMW-administered contracts as a result of the insolvency of seven head contractors engaged by the department. The report covered four years from October 2008. It found a significant number of the contracts related to the Building the Education Revolution projects under the Federal Government’s stimulus package. It also found that BMW’s workload doubled with the influx of projects under the initiative. Finance Minister Mike Nahan said the Government would establish a $5 million ex gratia hardship fund to provide partial relief for subcontractors who were affected by the insolvencies. Dr Nahan said the State Government did not bear any legal liability to subcontractors but was sympathetic to the hardships faced by some subcontractors as a result of insolvencies in the building and construction industry. “I have instructed BMW to introduce – as a priority – a trial of Project Bank Accounts (PBA) on a range of its contracts, designed to protect subcontractors,” he said. The Minister said PBAs were an effective protective measure because they worked like trust accounts and quarantined project funds. They have been used successfully in the United Kingdom and are being trialled in NSW. “It is my intention to consult with the building industry with a view to applying these types of trust accounts to all BMW construction contracts in the near future,” Dr Nahan said. “The State Government recognises that the changes we are making will not prevent head contractor insolvencies from occurring in the future, but they will provide better protection to subcontractors, who play a vital role in our State’s construction industry. “The Government will consider hardship payments to subcontractors who reported losses during the investigation and has set aside $5million in recognition of the need to support them.” Risk Cover will administer the fund and hardship payments of 50 per cent of each verified claim will be paid, less any reimbursements sub-contractors may already have received. To help subcontractors better manage contract risk, BMW, in conjunction with the Building Commission and the Small Business Development Corporation, will also increase educational resources to ensure that all industry participants are better aware of their rights and responsibilities. www.masterelectricians.com.au

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feature

Girl ‘Power’ to the electrical industry Trade jobs have been dominated by men since the dawn of time. Stephanie Lim uncovers what it takes for women to tough it out and stand on equal footing with their male tradie counterparts.

Tradies are commonly thought of as men. It is undeniable few of us would picture a woman undertaking the nail-breaking, unglamorous job of a tradie. Yet, in today’s modern age, job stereotypes are commonly thrown out the window. More women are becoming interested in the challenge of undertaking a job position in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Despite this, difficulties in entering the industry have caused the number of women in trade jobs in our country to decline. Statistics show that in the early 1980s, there were 4.5 per cent of women in trade positions. Today, that number has halved to a national figure of only 1.7 per cent, which has remained largely unchanged for the past decade. Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) is an organisation which hopes to break down the barriers that hinder women from advancing into a trade position. SALT CEO Fi Shrewing says she believes the decline occurred largely due to funding cuts. “Back in the 1980s there were some fantastic tradeswomen initiatives that assisted and supported women getting into trade roles,” Ms Shrewing explains. “Due to the recession this funding ended and women found without Government support they were sadly lacking in avenues and simply weren’t given sufficient opportunities. “Until recently, people still believed women didn’t need support in the workforce anymore, but all recent research shows this isn’t true.” Ms Shrewing says there are an increasing number of women interested in and vying for work in the trade and construction industries, who desperately need to be given a chance. www.masterelectricians.com.au

“We get contacted all the time by women who would like to get an apprenticeship,” she says. “I think there have always been women who are suited to and would thrive in a trade role, there just haven’t been avenues for them to enter these occupations. “The women who make good tradies are the same kind of people as the men who do well in this area – very hands-on, practical, intelligent people.” Ms Shrewing says one of the biggest hurdles women face is simply getting their start in the industry. “For women, their greatest challenge has been getting an apprenticeship, which is an important aspect of trade work,” she says. “This is simply because the attitude or outlook toward trades has been that only men do this work, but that’s not actually the case; women have been involved in trade work for centuries. “There are records dating back 600 hundred years that show women working in the trades in Europe. Currently, the country with the most women in construction is India, where they do heavy labouring. “Ironically, heavy labour work in trades is one of the reasons it has been said women can’t succeed in the trades in Australia.” Ms Shrewing says the fact women are now able to carry out heavy labour work is a testament to how work conditions have improved over the years. “Increased safety in the workplace facilitates work opportunities for women and means the physical barriers are removed,” she says. The National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) is an organisation which aims to raise the profile of women working in the construction industry.

According to estimates from the Master Builders Association, construction over the next decade will be to the value of $2.4 trillion.

“Employers are beginning to recognise flexibility in the workplace is essential to attracting, engaging and retaining women across not just the trades, but all work environments.

The construction workforce – which currently represents over 9 per cent of the total Australian workforce – will increase by 300,000 to around 1.3 million employees by 2021.

“Savvy employers are certainly implementing those arrangements on a range of work sites and I am optimistic the building and construction sector is working to ensure gender barriers are eliminated.”

NAWIC CEO Sheryle Moon says there will be increasing opportunities for women to enter the building and construction sector due to the robust economy. “The sector is a major contributor to the Australian economy and generates wealth for participants,” she says.

Many tradeswomen today have had to overcome obstacles to achieve their current positions, but SALT’s Ms Shrewing says this has made them even more successful in their jobs.

“This is a great opportunity for women to capitalise on and begin their career in the sector.”

“Because it has been so difficult for tradeswomen over the last thirty years, the women who succeed tend to be really good at what they do – they have to be!” she explains.

The technicians and trade workforce employs close to 1.43 million people, with the largest single trade occupation in the country being an electrician.

“One woman who had done some labouring for an electrician in the past had a rough time convincing her sparky husband she wanted to be an electrician too.

SALT’s Ms Shrewing says there are 110,711 electricians today, of which 1,432 (1.3 per cent) are women. While these figures are low, the electrical trades are changing, with major power providers beginning to take on more female apprentices.

“Once she had him convinced he backed her all the way, even refusing to subcontract to a company who told him he couldn’t bring a woman on site.”

“A lot is changing now. Employers are beginning to provide more flexibility for women in the workplace but more needs to happen,” Ms Shrewing says. “The trades have very traditional ways and innovative companies are showing change does work and can increase their employees’ job satisfaction and production.” NAWIC’s Ms Moon agrees, saying discussions with industry participants over the past year demonstrate cultural change is occurring in the sector. “There is an affirmation that greater levels of diversity – especially gender diversity – improves the work environment for all participants,” Ms Moon says.

SALT CEO Fi Shrewing’s Tips for women entering the trades

Support from family and friends is a key contributing factor to becoming successful in a trade. Ms Shrewing says utilising contacts from your family can help find you entry into a trade job. “Also look at policies in a company and target good employers,” she says. “Organisations like Master Electricians Australia can help you find apprenticeships and get you started in the industry. “Have a good think about what the company you are interested in joining will be looking for and design your resume to suit the job. “Joining relevant groups on Facebook allows women to talk directly to other tradeswomen; or attend meeting groups and talk face to face with women who have succeeded in a trade.” Women looking to enter into an electrical apprenticeship can contact Master Electricians Australia on 1300 889 198.

• Be respectful and earn respect in return: As with any other job, you are never too old to learn. Earn respect through your work ethic and give respect to those that are highly skilled in their trades

NAWIC CEO Sheryle Moon’s

• Work hard, listen and learn: A good tradie will notice if you work hard, learn and do what needs to be done

• Be yourself and know the value you bring to any workplace

• Aggression breeds aggression: People who are bullies or hold bigoted views are like this across all walks of life, not just in the trades. It’s a big mistake to try and be more macho than others or to imitate the behaviour of arrogant people just in a bid to look strong • Your gender should not be part of the way you work: Avoid using flirting to get your way or playing the weaker sex card • Wear the PPE correctly: It’s there for a reason – to keep you safe.

Tips for women entering the trades • Understand your strengths and weaknesses, and look for areas you can improve upon • Look for a mentor to help you should you encounter new or difficult situations • Don’t be a boy – value the diversity that all genders, cultures and backgrounds bring to a workplace • Attend events that can help you grow your network in the sector.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

meet a master electrician

Name: Brendan Balcombe Company: Aurora Electrical Services State: Western Australia Status: Accredited Master Electrician

Where did you grow up? I was born in Traralgon in Country Victoria where my family had a logging business. Nobody I know worked as hard as my old man, which is a wonderful trait, but I’ve since learnt that working harder is not nearly as effective as working smarter. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always swayed between wanting to be a helicopter pilot, opening the batting for Australia and playing full forward for Essendon. Though I’m happy to say I haven’t given up on any of these goals! What’s your favourite weekend/ holiday activity? A great mate of mine got me into cycling and I’ve found it to be a great stress reliever. I’m currently up around the 500km per week mark. I have a really awesome LOOK 695 with electronic shifting, but haven’t brought myself to shave the legs just yet. Hairy-legged 40 year olds should not be allowed to buy a bike this good. www.masterelectricians.com.au

Are you involved in any community organisations? We support our local schools and sporting clubs a lot. Each year we select a different organisation to support. This year it is the David Wirrpanda Foundation, which works towards improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people by promoting strong role models and healthy life choices. What is most rewarding about your job, what makes it all worthwhile? The most rewarding part for me is forming relationships with my team, clients and suppliers. Each of these relationships is as important as the other and it’s a really enjoyable experience to build these. How do you keep a healthy work/ life balance? Listen to your wife!! It’s a work in progress for me with this one. I do also believe in the ‘big rock theory’, which is putting those really important things into the diary as immovable objects, and then they must be done!

What are you most proud of? Watching my three daughters grow into ‘A-grade’ people is high on the pride of life list. Whilst being very different to each other, they show genuine care for each sister and those closest to them. I’m also really proud of the quality of people in my inner circle. They teach me something new each day. What do you think the most important thing is to remember in order to do well in your profession? Being honest and sincere, always treating others as you’d like to be treated. What motto do you do business by? I preach to my team that if we are not 10 minutes early then it must mean we are late! What tip would you give to others starting out in the industry? Have a proper plan, including an exit strategy. Find your niche and do it to the highest standard. Another thing would be if every contractor charged the proper industry rates, there would be enough work for us all, so always keep that in mind.

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benefit spotlight

SafetyConnect – the safety management solution electrical contractors can rely on ARE you confident that your safety

management would pass an audit by the regulator? Are you confident that the processes you have in place are strong enough to protect your staff from injury and would be able to defend that you are doing all that is reasonable to fulfil your duties and obligations under legislation? If not, it’s time that you signed up to a system that will provide ongoing support as well as the tools to systematically manage safety throughout your business. Master Electricians SafetyConnect is the award winning safety management system that has been developed by electrical contractors specifically for electrical contractors to ensure you meet your business’ obligations under all relevant state and federal electrical safety and workplace health and safety legislation. The expectation of the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulators is that persons in charge of a business or undertaking ensure the safety of their workers and anyone likely to be affected by work they are doing.

• Expert support and advice to guide you in implementing the system and ensure it is effective in the business • Ongoing access to a highly trained team of technical and safety staff • Exclusive access to a network of safety facilitators for safety meetings run at your place of business and on-site assistance in relation to system issues • An insurance policy that covers defence costs indemnity, statutory indemnity and employment practices liability, which covers your company and employees from fines and legal expenses associated with defending the imposition of fines (conditions apply) • Audit and investigation assistance so you can identify areas for improvement to satisfy legislative duties • A dedicated team working behind the scenes to keep you informed of legislative changes and reviews stemming from incidents and near misses and changes to Standards.

SafetyConnect is a comprehensive safety management system that is designed to be able to provide business owners with the confidence to defend that they are doing all that is reasonable to meet their duties under the legislation.

SafetyConnect has earned an excellent reputation for being a trusted safety management system, assisting members to comply with their Workplace Health and Safety obligations when working for construction groups such as Lend Lease and Johns Lyng.

The system provides electrical contractors with complete peace of mind as this hassle-free system includes:

SafetyConnect provides contractors with the tools to lead the cultural change needed to dramatically reduce accident

www.masterelectricians.com.au

rates and the significant risk of prosecution to your business. Since it’s inception in 2008, SafetyConnect has been adopted in businesses across Australia and has been instrumental in the prevention of work-related accidents and injuries. In 2010, a member in Victoria discovered first-hand just how vital a comprehensive safety management system is. When an accident at the worksite resulted in a worker fatality, they were taken to Court. In Court they were able to defend they were doing all that’s reasonable in terms of implementing a safe system of work to ensure the safety of their workers and anyone likely to be affected by the work. This is just one example of the strength of this program. With a dedicated team of industry specialists across Australia, you will have direct access to a team of experts who are in the know. How much will it cost? The SafetyConnect program is a fee for service program offered exclusively to members. Being a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing member benefits, Master Electricians Australia is able to provide you with a competitively priced package that covers the costs of development and ongoing improvements to the system, providing comprehensive facilitation as well as ongoing support and advice. Don’t risk the safety of your staff, project or your livelihood. Call MEA on 1300 889 198 to discuss how the SafetyConnect program will benefit your business.

Master Electricians SafetyConnect proudly supported by Lawrence & Hanson

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

news from the distributors In response to rising electricity costs, Mr McArdle said the Newman Government established an Interdepartmental Committee on Electricity Sector Reform (IDC) on 30 May 2012 to examine cost pressures on electricity prices. The IDC was asked to make recommendations to ensure: • Electricity in Queensland is delivered in a cost-effective manner for consumers • Queensland has a viable, sustainable and competitive electricity industry

Energex

State Government announces major reforms of Queensland’s electricity sector

• Electricity is delivered in a financially sustainable manner from the Queensland Government’s perspective.

QLD

Major changes to Queensland’s electricity sector that could save billions in network costs and revenues are the centrepiece of reforms recently announced by the Queensland Government. Queensland Energy Minister Mark McArdle said the proposal, subject to consultation with employees, to bring Ergon and Energex under a single company would reduce duplication and improve the efficiency of network businesses. This proposal if accepted could lead to savings of over $580 million over seven years.

“The IDC recommendations ... provide a blueprint for reform that addresses the unsustainable nature of network costs, maximises the potential benefits of a competitive market, and protects vulnerable consumers as the reforms are delivered,” Mr McArdle said. “However, customers are at the centre of the government’s response, with reforms aimed at tackling costs, improving competition and providing the building blocks for a more sustainable electricity sector for customers, industry and government.” Mr McArdle said the IDC found two main cost drivers: 1. Network costs and revenue. These grew by more than 100 per cent between 2007–08 and 2012–13 2. Climate change policies. The costs of these policies are expected to add around 11 per cent to standard residential bills in 2013–14, or around 15 per cent if solar costs are included.

“Doing this will help the government tackle soaring electricity costs by delivering significant savings that can be passed on to customers,” Mr McArdle said.

Further information on the reforms is available at the Queensland Government website www.dews.qld.gov.au/policies/electricitysector-reform

CitiPower and Powercor

It is recommended that Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and solar installers do not provide a commitment to the customer to install a PV system until confirmation of approval has been received from CitiPower and Powercor for the proposed PV system. Small capacity transformers in rural locations, or a high number of existing PV systems already connected to an existing transformer, may mean that we are unable to connect any more PV systems to that part of the distribution network. The Pre-approval of Small Inverter Connection form is the means whereby a request can be made to determine if a PV system can be connected to the distribution network. The form is available on the CitiPower and Powercor website and completed forms should be submitted to the address as shown on the form.

Solar pre-approvals

VIC

The number of photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased rapidly over the last two years, with the trend for larger capacity PV systems to be installed. Some parts of the distribution system may not support the connection of PV systems as we are not able to ensure adequate network protection and operation in order to provide a reliable connection. Power quality issues related to the connection of PV systems to the low voltage network have been identified, and include overvoltage and voltage imbalance. To ensure that quality and reliability of supply is maintained, studies have shown the connection of embedded generation should be limited to no more than 30 per cent of the transformer nameplate capacity. To minimise power quality issues, a pre-approval process has been introduced to assess the impact of the proposed inverter capacity on the part of the grid to which it will be connected. The assessment considers the proposed inverter in conjunction with any existing PV systems already connected to the same transformer. www.masterelectricians.com.au

To assist with voltage balance, inverter loads should be balanced between phases. If the transformer has capacity, the maximum single phase inverter that can be connected is 5kW, and for three phase there is to be no more than 5Kw in inverter capacity out of balance between phases. Find out more by visiting the CitiPower and Powercor website at www.powercor.com.au or by calling 1300 301 101.

Ausgrid

NSW

Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy look to exit national metering business

State-owned network businesses Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy have announced plans to investigate the sale of their national metering businesses to focus on core operations associated with the running of the NSW electricity network. The announcement follows Essential Energy’s gradual withdrawal from the contestable metering market since 2011 after deciding not to renew contracts following the sale of its retail business. Networks NSW Chief Executive Officer Vince Graham said that the proposal will not affect regulated metering and meter-reading services for homes and businesses across NSW.

“These national contestable metering businesses are not part of the core, regulated electricity network in NSW,” Mr Graham said.

needed even if the sale proceeds. Any affected award employees could choose to remain with the network businesses or request voluntary redundancy.

Since the 1990s, Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy have competed with the private sector for large business customers and have a total of 33,000 metering sites in the contestable metering market in states including Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and New South Wales.

The businesses will assess market interest in the national metering businesses but the transaction will not proceed unless the assessment confirms that the proposed sale represents value for money.

“In line with the NSW Government’s ongoing reform of the electricity distribution businesses, which has already identified $2.5 billion in unnecessary expenditure, the sale of the contestable metering businesses is another opportunity to remove further costs from the businesses and ensure a more efficient structure,” Mr Graham said. Mr Graham also said that the majority of employees working in contestable metering also performed roles in its regulated business and would still be

Mr Graham confirmed that in the meantime there will be no change for Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy’s contestable metering customers, with the network businesses continuing to meet all customer contract requirements and delivering their usual high level of service to contestable metering customers. Essential Energy will not be affected by this proposal. For more information, visit www.ausgrid.com.au or call Ausgrid on 13 15 35.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

Western Power

Simplified application process for rooftop solar panels

Western Power has announced changes to the application process for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels aimed at making it easier for households to connect. Anyone seeking to connect a PV system will follow a simplified twostep application process. “Up until now the process for connecting solar PVs has caused some confusion. This new two-step process will create clarity about the requirements for connecting solar PV systems” said Mr Paul Italiano, CEO of Western Power. The first step will be to contact the retailer, which in most cases will be Synergy. The retailer will then issue the customer with a unique Retailer Reference Number, which will be used on the application to connect to the Western Power network. The new process ensures that the retailer is informed for billing purposes and that the network operator is informed to ensure compliance with technical and safety requirements. “The new solar PV connection process is simply a change to the way approvals are processed.” “Western Power approves almost 2,500 solar PV applications per month. Technical approval of new PV systems will continue to be processed in a timely manner at Western Power, with the eligibility criteria remaining the same” said Mr Italiano.

People seeking to connect a solar PV system need to have their electricity meter changed to a bi-directional meter. Bi-directional meters facilitate the recording of electricity being generated by solar panels as well as electricity being consumed from the grid. Once the meter change or reprogram is completed, the new PV system can be connected to the network by a qualified installer. Western Power has connected approximately 134,000 PV systems to the network, with a total installed capacity of approximately 275 megawatts. Visit www.westernpower.com.au or call 13 10 87 for more information and to obtain an application form.

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ElectraNet

New substation energised to boost Whyalla

ElectraNet’s new Whyalla Central substation was energised on 25 June 2013, ensuring the continued supply of reliable and secure electricity transmission services to Whyalla. The new substation replaces the existing Whyalla Terminal substation, which was built in the early 1960s and was nearing the end of its operational life. Construction on the substation began in May 2012 and the project was completed this month, on schedule to meet the requirements of the South Australian Electricity Transmission Code. ‘The Whyalla Central substation plays a critical role in the supply of electricity to the area, including significant mining and industry loads,’ said Mr Simon Emms, ElectraNet Executive Manager Network Services.

‘As the Whyalla Terminal substation was approaching 50 years of constant service, building a new substation was the most economically sound option, as the costs to maintain an aged transmission asset will only continue to rise. ‘The new substation will ensure reliable and secure electricity transmission services to the City of Whyalla, and also contribute towards meeting the electricity transmission demands of the area into the future,’ Mr Emms said. Located across the road from the Whyalla Industrial Estate on Arthur Glennie Drive, the new Whyalla Central substation is approximately three kilometres north of the town centre and one kilometer west of the existing Whyalla Terminal substation. The existing Whyalla Terminal substation will remain operational, supplying load to the OneSteel plant. More information on the Whyalla Central Substation is available at www.electranet.com.au

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

Here at Lawrence and Hanson we have taken a long hard look at our business and your business and decided to make a promise. A promise to ensure that we provide you with the great service that will help you grow your business.

Our Promise? Great Service Help us help you - jump onto our website full of branch and product information and tell us how we can meet our promise. Alternatively, find your local L&H branch on our website, and come in and experience our customer service for yourself.

www.lh.com.au

Featuring: • Exclusive offers • Member only events • Your business listed on useasparky.com.au • Plus loads more! Can you afford not to be a member? Check out our website for further details

regulator wrap up the latest state news from regulators

Electrical Safety Office

QLD

Important maintenance information for HID lights High intensity discharge (HID) lighting equipment, commonly used in commercial or industrial settings where high levels of light over large areas are required, can be a fire risk if manufacturers’ maintenance instructions are not followed.

Energy Safe Victoria

VIC

Revised fee structure – Certificates of Electrical Safety It is that time of year again, where the Department of Treasury and Finance set the base fee unit for the next financial year, being 1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014. The cost of certificates of electrical safety changed on 1 July 2013. The fees for Certificates of Electrical Safety are prescribed in the Electrical Safety (Installations) Regulations 2009. The Department of Treasury and Finance has

Type of certificate Electronic Prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety Electronic Non Prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety Paper Prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety Paper Non Prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety Paper Periodic Certificates of Electrical Safety

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determined that the value of a fee unit for the 2013/2014 financial year is $12.84 per unit. Therefore, the cost of an electronic prescribed certificate is now 2.2 fee units, which is $28.30. The printed prescribed certificate is now charged at 2.4 fee units, which is $30.80. Periodic certificates are now charged at 55.6 fee units which is $714. The cost of non-prescribed certificates is now $6.60 for an electronic copy and $7.25 for a printed copy. Additionally, the cost of an application for exemption which is set by the regulations at 5.99 fee units is now $77.00. Go to www.esv.vic.gov.au for more information.

Current

From 1 July 2013

$27.60

$28.30

$6.60

$30.00

$30.80

$7.25

$696.70

$714.00

Many types of HID lamps, such as metal halide and high pressure sodium found in high bay lights, exhibit a phenomenon known as ‘cycling’ at the end of their usable life. When this happens, the colour of the lamp changes dramatically and there is a significant loss of brightness. Other warning signs include the lamp taking some time to light, not working at all or periodically switching on and off as the ignition process cycles. As HID lighting equipment ages, the lamps and other components, such as ignitors and capacitors, can overheat. In one case reported to the Electrical Safety Office, hot particles from a failed HID light escaped the light’s enclosure and fell to the ground creating a fire hazard. Manufacturers state that the components of the lighting equipment have a limited life and may need to be replaced at the same time as any failed lamps. It is important to check and comply with the manufacturer’s instructions for HID lighting equipment to ensure its continued safety. For more information about electrical safety visit www.electricalsafety.qld.gov. au or call the Electrical Safety Infoline on 1300 650 662.

Fair Trading

NSW Warranty documentation feedback

Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), most goods and services bought in Australia come with automatic guarantees that the good or service will work or do what you asked for. Warranties are separate from automatic consumer guarantees. A warranty is a voluntary promise offered by the person or business who sold the product or service to you. When a purchase comes with a written warranty, the wording of that warranty information must comply with the ACL.

The ACL has been in place across Australia since January 2011. Manufacturers and suppliers were given 12 months to comply.

• What brand it is (the name of the manufacturer)

Illegal warranties If you have purchased something since January 2013 that came with a written warranty, Fair Trading would like to hear from you if the warranty information is illegal.

• How much you paid for it

Warranties not being honoured Since January 2013, have you had trouble getting something repaired, replaced or refunded? If so, Fair Trading would like to hear about your experience. Information Fair Trading requires: • What the item is (e.g. an oven)

• Name of the supplier (where you bought the item)

• When you bought it (month and year) • What the problem is with the item (briefly state the issue, e.g. it stopped working) • What remedy you are seeking (what you would like to happen, e.g. replacement, repair or refund) • Whether or not any written warranty provided with the item was legal • You name, email address, phone number, and postcode. For more information, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or call 13 32 20.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

regulator wrap up

Office of the Technical Regulator

Safety risks of changing or modifying T8 and T5 lighting There are a number of electrical safety risks associated with T8 fluorescent tube replacements using LED tubes or T8 to T5 fluorescent lamp adaptor technologies. If you are an installer, manufacturer or supplier of these products, it is essential that you understand the safety risks and comply with all relevant guidelines and standards outlined on this page. Recent enforcement actions by Australian safety regulators have shown instances where these products do not comply with essential safety requirements, such as protection against electric shock. These safety principles are specified in AS/NZS 3820 (Essential Safety Requirements for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment). Risk of electric shock to installers There have been reports of insulation failures causing the metal enclosure (body) of T8 and T5 LED lamps to become live and present an electric shock risk. In some designs live parts are accessible. For example, while being installed, if one end of the tube is inserted in the luminaire, the other end may become live and present an electric shock hazard.

This is not a best practice for electrical safety design and requires work practices and procedures to reduce the risk of electric shock. Better designs remove the risk by ensuring supply to the product is via one end only. T8 or T5 size LED tubes and T8 to T5 fluorescent lamp adaptor assembly retrofit systems Suppliers placing LED tubes or T8 to T5 fluorescent lamp adaptor assembly systems on the market intended as either direct replacement in the original luminaire (retrofit luminaire) or for use in a new luminaire are responsible for ensuring that these products are safe and comply with electrical safety requirements. For some products, may be other requirements for manufacturers, importers, distributors, installers, or retailers to consider. These include legislative requirements relating to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), energy efficiency,

performance, emergency lighting, fair trading and trade practices. Requirements for retrofit luminaires 1. Any changes to a luminaire, such as introducing an LED lamp requiring wiring alterations, means it is no longer the original luminaire but is a retrofit luminaire. It is assumed the original luminaire will have been fully compliant with safety standard AS/NZS 60598.1 and any applicable part 2 of that series of safety standards 2. The replacement of a glow starter with other devices does not constitute a modification of the luminaire itself. However, the use of such devices should not compromise safety when used in luminaires. For more information on luminaire or LED requirements for installing or modifying, visit www.sa.gov.au/otr

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EnergySafety

WA How to proceed when your electricians find unenclosed joints

EnergySafety is concerned about the number of reports received about unenclosed joints in insulated cables located in ceiling spaces and similar areas of existing installations. These present a serious potential hazard and must be rectified when discovered. In the 1970s and early 1980s, joints for electrical cables in ceiling spaces of dwellings and buildings were often only wrapped in insulation tape. The insulation tape deteriorates and falls away, exposing live wires. Electrical contractors are urged to remind their employees that whenever they come across unenclosed joints, the owner or occupier of the property should be advised that remedial work will have to be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor. The onus is on the owner of the premise to have the remedial work carried out.

At that point, the employee should issue an advisory leaflet from EnergySafety to the owner or occupier. This leaflet was produced in August 2011 and will inform them of the situation, associated hazards and rectification requirements. The advisory leaflet (information sheet) can be downloaded from the EnergySafety website at www.energysafety.wa.gov.au If the occupier is not the owner of the premise, then the occupier is expected to hand the leaflet to the owner. As per the regulation requirements, the electrical contractor must then notify the network operator of the situation, as unenclosed joints are considered seriousÂ defects. Visit the EnergySafety website at www.energysafety.wa.gov.au or call 08Â 9422 5200 for more information.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

letter of the law

New case limits operation of Payment Claims on mining leases and could affect gas fields too Payment Claim: The written claim from a person who has carried out work or supplied related goods and services to the person that contracted them.

A Queensland Supreme Court Judge

recently decided that subcontractors and contractors undertaking work on mining leases in Queensland, where the lease is granted under the Mining Resources Act 1989 (QLD), cannot use the Payment Claim system under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (QLD) (BCIPA). For subcontractors and contractors working in Queensland’s mining industry, this is a most unwelcome decision. In the Summer issue of this publication, the position with respect to the use of Payment Claims for recovering debts for work at a mine or any gas field at the time was set out and how the situation differs in the different States was explained. That advice needs now to be revised subject to this latest case. A question of ‘land’ To be entitled to deliver a Payment Claim and otherwise pursue your rights under BCIPA, for building and construction work, that work must form part of ‘land’. Justice Wilson, in the recent Agri-power Australia Ltd – v – J and D Rigging Pty Ltd decision, found that mining leases granted under the Mineral Resources Act in Queensland do not create ‘an interest in land’ and that mining leases are not ‘land’ for the purpose of BCIPA.

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It follows that construction work on a mining lease for purposes of or associated with the mining lease, is not ‘construction work’ under BCIPA, hence you cannot deliver Payment Claims, use the adjudication process or stop work for non-payment using that Act as the lawful basis to do so. It seems to the author however, that Her Honour’s interpretation is strained and that land is land and does not cease to be land simply because the Crown grants a leasehold interest over it, whether that be for mining or other purposes. That said, the case is currently binding, at least in Queensland. Likely to affect gasfields too Given Her Honour’s reasoning, it is quite likely that this case will be held up as the basis upon which to find that BCIPA does not apply to construction work on land under a petroleum lease either. So those contractors and subcontractors with work on gas fields are also likely to be hit. Not just Queensland The Act in New South Wales is almost identical to BCIPA so contractors and subcontractors doing work in NSW are likely to find this case will also apply there. As advised in the Summer issue of this publication, the position in Western

Australia and the Northern Territory was already more restricted than in the eastern states. This Queensland decision however is likely to have ramifications in those jurisdictions too. What to do If you are working on a mining lease or petroleum lease and you are having payment problems, before issuing a Payment Claim, you should obtain advice to see whether this decision would effectively prevent you from doing so. There may be circumstances where the decision can be distinguished so as not to apply to your particular circumstances. The other thing you should consider, at least until the position is clarified, and this applies no matter what State you are in, if you receive a Payment Claim, include in your Payment Schedule an objection to the validity of the Payment Claim on the basis that the BCIPA does not apply, given the decision in Agri-power Australia Limited. This article was contributed by McKays Solicitors. For further information on how this decision might affect you please contact McKays. Brisbane office Ian Heathwood – (07) 3223 5942 iheathwood@mckayslaw.com Michael Cope – (07) 3223 5939 mcope@mckayslaw.com

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the interview

Ian Neeson With over six decades in the electrical industry, co-author of the Electrical Wiring Practice textbooks Ian Neeson shares his experiences of a fulfilling career.

You’ve been a long-serving member of the electrical industry since the 1950s. Tell us a little about how your career began. I started my apprenticeship in the heavy engineering industry in Sydney in 1957 at the age of 15. My father couldn’t afford to keep me in school at the time so I had to go to work. The electrical trade was something I had always been attracted to so I jumped at that right away. In those days, apprentices were indentured for five years which included one day a fortnight and one night a week at college, mine being for the electrical fitter electrical mechanic trades in the one apprenticeship. It was a great learning curve; the fantastic training I had across the board I credit to my mentor, an electrical foreman named Alex Sloane. You are the co-author of the Electrical Wiring Practice textbooks, somewhat the equivalent of the Holy Bible for the electrical industry! How did you come to be involved in the writing of the book? Electrical Wiring Practice was initially started by Keith Pethebridge back in the 1970s. During the mid 1980s, Keith began working on the fourth edition of the book and sought input from teachers to see if there was anything they would like to include that wasn’t currently in there. I think I may have been the only teacher at the time to have replied to him! But that’s how it all began. At the time, I was running a program at the Imperial Chemical Industry plant in Sydney, crosstraining electrical and instrument tradies employed on the site. I made a few suggestions to Keith and he invited me to co-author the fourth edition with him. We were onto our seventh edition when Keith sadly passed away. This was a few years ago. Keith began to fall ill while we were working on the seventh edition and I very much wanted to have it finished for him before he passed away. Fortunately he was able to view the completed first volume and was very pleased with it, for which I was very glad. I subsequently finished the second volume.

“Well, with textbook writing you certainly don’t do it for the hourly rate! It’s very much a labour of love. It can be difficult at times, and requires the dedication of a great amount of time. But I had a real passion for it and there’s always the satisfaction in knowing you’ve got something right no matter how long it takes.”

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What was it like working on the books? Well, with textbook writing you certainly don’t do it for the hourly rate! It’s very much a labour of love. It can be difficult at times, and requires the dedication of a great amount of time. But I had a real passion for it and there’s always the satisfaction in knowing you’ve got something right no matter how long it takes. I could spend a couple of days just on the one graphic to make sure it was right. With the advantage of the internet the current edition of the book is dynamic in the sense that we can add chapters and information online. This includes resources for both students and teachers but it’s very much student-focused. What are some key changes you’ve seen within the industry over the years? Probably one change that’s quite apparent would be the materials used. Back when I started we used mostly steel conduits for commercial and industrial installations. Then plastic conduit began to appear and it took some time before it was accepted particularly for Government contracts. Another change over my working life is

developments in cable technology such as improved sheathing and armouring, introduction of large size flexible cables and a variety of fire retardant cables. I have noticed the way Government policies and Standards influence the trades have also changed. Up until 2000, the Wiring Rules was a very prescriptive Standard. But the 2000 edition moved to a performance-based standard following the international trends in Standards. This had a big impact on industry and on training as a lot of people didn’t quite understand the changes and it required some re-education. The current 2007 edition of the Wiring Rules is more a marriage of both prescriptive and performance standards, which I believe has helped the industry in understanding their compliance requirements more clearly. You are heavily involved in up-skilling and training development within the industry, having joined the NSW TAFE Commission as an electrical trades teacher. With 23 years of experience at TAFE under your belt, what are your thoughts on the way electrical apprenticeships are conducted today? On joining TAFE as a teacher initially we were required to attend teachers college part time for two years. Part of our curriculum involved going back and re-studying what we had learned as apprentices. This was so we would have sound current knowledge of the trade curriculum and understood what apprentices were studying. Teachers today only require the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment which does not include any of the ‘curriculum’ they are to teach; being tradespersons it is assumed, incorrectly, that they would already have all of this knowledge. What we’re finding is that apprentices aren’t learning the things they should be and it’s fairly clear the knowledge aspect of competence really isn’t being addressed. It’s quite disappointing but we don’t blame the teachers or trainers as they’re put in a position where the current training is all that is required.

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Where has your career taken you today? I currently work with Skills Council E-Oz Energy Skills Australia (ESA) assisting with research and development and continuous improvement of Training Packages. I have also provided training standards development services to industry organisations and skills bodies. I have spent over 20 years specialising in competencies for working with electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres. Explosive atmospheres are present in coal mining, petroleum and chemical plants, grain handling facilities and pharmaceutical plants, to name the more obvious ones. Electrical systems need to be treated in a certain way so they don’t become an ignition source. I chair a Standards Australia committee that developed and reviews the Standard for ‘Competencies for working with electrical equipment in hazardous areas’; which then informs equivalent units of competency in the Electrotechnology Training Package developed by E-Oz ESA. What is one piece of advice you would give to electrical apprentices and our readers hoping to advance within the electrical industry? I’d say always look for opportunities that came along no matter how small. On every job you always find something that no one wants to do, but in every one of those things set yourself a challenge to not only do it but do it effectively and you’ll go far. I think it’s important not to be frightened at the prospect of learning new things. I can certainly say learning is going to happen for the rest of your life so just embrace it and train yourself to learn as much as you can and it’ll definitely benefit you. I’m still learning new things today.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

gadget guide

AH-W150 Exercise Freak Denon’s AH-W150 Exercise Freak headphones are the ultimate, superlightweight, sweat-proof, wireless fitness headphones. Featuring stereo Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity, an integrated amplifier, a seven hour rechargeable battery, and integrated controls and microphones for on-the-go use, these headphones keep the tunes going without getting in your way when you work out. This means good riddance to pesky cords just waiting for a swinging arm to rip the headphones out of your ears, interrupting both your music and exercise rhythm. Now you can hit the pavement with a renewed sense of enthusiasm with these Exercise Freaks. Starting at RRP $179 Visit www.denonasia.com for more information.

Teleye 3-in-1 Super Telephoto, Fisheye and Macro photo lens Get up close and personal with your subjects while ensuring quality is not sacrificed with the Teleye 3-in-1 Super Telephoto Lens System for iPhone 5. Featuring 5x super telephoto lens, 180 degree fisheye lens and 10x macro lens, the Teleye gives you some great creative effects with excellent optical quality. The iPhone 5 digital zoom lens only magnifies the original image, making the Teleye the best way to take a great fisheye, macro or super telephoto photo. Get as close to the action as you want with the Teleye. RRP $74.95 Visit www.hardtofind.com.au for more information.

GO Travel Micro Luggage Scale G2007 Going on holiday or to a certain Electrical Industry Conference soon? Don’t get stung at the airport with costly excess baggage fees! The GO Travel Micro Luggage Scale offers digital weighing accuracy in the palm of your hand. Powered by a single lithium cell battery, it can weigh anything you attach it to it in either kilograms or pounds, with a maximum readout of up to 35kg, making it ideal for both the largest of suitcases and smallest of cabin bags. With the scale itself only weighing in at only 70 grams, combined with a sturdy yet compact design, you can throw it in your case without worrying about it adding weight. RRP $49.95 Visit www.bagworld.com.au for more information.

New ProTag Optima System Australia’s Most Compact Appliance Testing and Tag Printing System. The new ProTag Optima System tests portable appliances and RCDs, and prints test tags in a compact system weighing only around 2kg. No interface cables between the tester, printer and scanner provide maximum mobility on construction sites, factories and workshops. Light weight, wireless, battery powered and with logging of visual inspections and risk assessments, the Optima System guarantees greater efficiency, huge time savings and a lower cost per tag. Call EMONA Instruments on tel: 1 800 632 953 email: testinst@emona.com.au or www.protag.com.au www.masterelectricians.com.au

techno biz

STETZERiZER® Microsurge Meter The STETZERiZER Microsurge Meter is the world’s first power line electromagnetic microsurge meter, designed as a cost effective way to detect low level high frequency voltages (‘dirty electricity’) caused by transients and harmonics on wiring. When the meter is plugged in to an electrical socket, the LCD display reads the volts per second present, which is an approximation for the high frequency energy. The level of these voltages is measured in Graham-Stetzer (GS) units and will vary with electrical equipment and loads. The frequency band covered by the STETZERiZER Microsurge Meter is about 10 kHZ to 100 kHz. Visit www.iconicpowerworx.com.au for more information.

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Developed in-house by Pertronic Industries, FireMap has been designed with ease of installation and ease of use as its prime requirements, simplifying the entire process. The fire alarm contractor can develop and maintain the entire FireMap graphics system for their client. FireMap can also communicate between multiple PC’s and fire panels over the client’s Ethernet LAN, removing the need for additional cabling. This feature provides management and staff with fast, accurate information to ensure the correct response to any fire alarm event.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

technical talk

Asbestos: Know Your Enemy There were hints of panic at the end of May after asbestos safety breaches caused federal workplace safety regulators to stop work on parts of the National Broadband Network (NBN). Only days prior to this safety breach, the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) called for a fund to be established to compensate any workers and residents exposed to asbestos fibres. Within days of the incident, further reports of safety breaches during NBN work were being reported around the country.

or warning. Since the breaches were made public, medical organisations have stressed there is no ‘safe level’ of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos poses very real and very significant dangers. While undisturbed

asbestos-containing materials pose no danger if they are in good condition, once deteriorated, disturbed or damaged, they release small, slender fibres into the air. When inhaled, these fibres remain deep inside the lungs and can remain lodged there for many years, causing

Products made from asbestos include: • Roofing • Shingles and sidings

The dangers of improperly handling asbestos have been known for years, but some contractors and companies have not demonstrated due care. For example, a gardener mowing lawns in Perth reported Telstra contractors for unsafe work practices after he saw them hammering on asbestos concrete and then leaving chunks of the material on surrounding lawns. In Ballarat, employees of a sheet metal business found bags of asbestoscontaining material dumped in their uncovered skip bins. More bags were later discovered at a nearby primary school. Meanwhile in Darwin, a tradesman blew the whistle on a company he had worked for, telling the ABC the company told workers they would be removing asbestos, but did not provide proper safety equipment.

• Exterior and interior wall cladding

These examples demonstrate a lack of care for the safety of not only workers and contractors, but for unassuming bystanders who might be exposed to asbestos fibres without any knowledge

• Brick and plaster sealants, fillers and some adhesive products

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• Eaves • Fencing • Thermal boards around fireplaces • Water or flue pipes • Asbestos rope door gaskets in wood stoves • Loose-fill roofing insulation • Spray on insulation • Low-density asbestos fibreboard • Insulation on hot water pipes • Backing material on floor and vinyl flooring • Carpet underlay • Textured paints, decorative ceiling coatings

• Hail or fire-damaged, or badly weathered asbestos-cement materials. Source: Peter Dunphy, Asbestos Education Committee

inflammation or scarring, and in some cases, serious asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. As with all safety matters, the key to handling asbestos is to avoid deliberate, unsafe exposure to it. Mark Dearlove, General Manager Services Development at Master Electricians Australia (MEA), says incidents such as the NBN experience usually happen when people either aren’t

aware they are working with asbestos, or aren’t aware of the serious risk associated with it. “Education about the situations where electricians could be exposed to asbestos material and cost-effective ways to mitigate risks are the keys to ensuring safety in this area of work,” Mr Dearlove said. “Due to the serious nature of exposure to asbestos, there are legislative requirements

and codes of practice to set the standards to ensure safety. “MEA believes asbestos awareness training is essential for all electrical workers because of their potential exposure as part of the working environment.” Asbestos can exist in a majority of situations electricians find themselves in each day. From the 1950s to the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in the

Trade names of asbestos-cement products and the year of their manufacture: • Hardiflex (1981)

• Compressed (1984)

• Coverline (1985)

• Hardiplank (1981)

• Drain Pipe (1984)

• Roofing Accessories (1985)

• Villaboard (1981)

• Super Six (1985)

• Pressure Pipe (1987)

• Versilux (1982)

• Highline (1985)

• Harditherm (1984)

• Shadowline (1985)

Source: Asbestos Wise – www.asbestoswise.com.au

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www.lampreplacements.com.au The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

technical talk

construction industry for both industrial and domestic buildings. It can be found in everything from industrial shipyards, power stations, boiler rooms, and plumbing, to paint, ceiling tiles, fire blankets, and insulation. It’s now estimated one in three houses in Australia have materials containing asbestos in them. Of the houses built before 1978, it is estimated 98 per cent have asbestos-containing materials in them. Mr Dearlove says if electricians aren’t sure what they’re dealing with, or whether appropriate control measures are being followed, they must find out before going ahead with any work. Asbestos awareness training, he says, equips workers to identify situations where they might be exposed. However, in cases where there is any doubt, experts should be consulted. Work should not proceed.

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The reality is that Australia currently has the second-highest rate of asbestos-related cancer deaths in the world with the United Kingdom taking the top spot. The majority of those who die of asbestos-related disease are men and women employed in the electrical, plumbing and carpentry trades who are potentially exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. In recent years, there’s also been an increase in asbestosrelated disease in home renovators, dubbed as ‘death by DIY’. Often it’s not just the tradesperson who can be affected, but friends or family who have secondary exposure. Fibres can be carried home on clothes and can affect the health of people not in direct contact with the material. Studies have demonstrated about 50 per cent of women diagnosed with mesothelioma developed the disease because of household exposure to asbestos, not because they had handled the material directly themselves.

Ultimately, asbestos kills. It can kill workers, their friends and family, or strangers on the street. The best way to ensure the safety of yourself and others is to educate yourself to understand the risks and act appropriately. “Asbestos is a hazard that electricians face in everyday work from accessing ceiling tiles, digging up cement conduits to opening and working on zelemite panels,” Mr Dearlove said. “At MEA our approach is that every electrical worker needs to understand the hazards and risk controls associated with asbestos material so that they can protect themselves and their customers.” The NBN experience is a timely reminder to all electrical contractors to make sure they do.

asbestos TYPES The diversity of asbestos was one of its strongest selling points – it was considered a post-war ‘wonder material’. Asbestos can either be bonded (non-friable) or unbonded (friable). Of the two types, unbonded/friable asbestos is the more dangerous, as it can be easily pulverised by hand or force to become airborne. Asbestos use was phased out gradually. Blue asbestos (crocidolite), the most dangerous, was banned in 1967, brown asbestos (amosite) in 1984, and white asbestos (chrysotile), the least dangerous, in 1989. Because of its diverse number of uses and its variable appearance, asbestos cannot be identified by sight. Samples must be tested in a lab.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

feature business

Pre-contractor program A new industry program is looking to help electricians boost their chances of business success. Find out how you can raise the bar for your career and your business. company, at the same time ensuring you meet business and employment regulations,” Mr Richards says. “All too often industry sees ambitious new contractors entering the marketplace without the skills or experience needed to run a successful business. “They have the right skills as a sparky but not the business knowhow needed to actually manage a prosperous company. “This leads to long term electrical contractors paying the price by picking up the pieces when a new and inexperienced business is forced to close down. “The Pre-contractor Program provides electricians with the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from an industry mentor, boosting the success rate of small businesses in the sector.” With seven years of mentoring experience under her belt, MEA National Apprenticeship Programs Manager Stacey Ozolins says the program is designed so a Mentor provides advice, counsel and support to a Pre-contractor over a 12-month period. “Each Mentor will meet with his or her allocated Pre-contractor six times face-to-face for mentoring sessions,” Ms Ozolins says. “Each session is individual to the Pre-contractor and Mentor – it can be in-line with the subject currently being studied, or it could be around a specific topic either party feels is important to the Precontractor’s development.

Starting a new business can be an exciting and heady challenge. But many tradies unconsciously step into a minefield of paperwork, administration duties and financial needs that come handin-hand with setting up a new business. Even after a business has taken off, it can be difficult juggling actual trade work and staff on top of the day-to-day office tasks behind the running of a business. A new mentoring program run by Master Electricians Australia (MEA) will allow electricians to access mentoring and training in business management free of charge, empowering them with superior knowledge and an added advantage in their business. The program is proudly supported by CNW who sponsor the program and recognise the value of sound business principles for a successful and sustainable electrical contracting business. MEA chief executive Malcolm Richards says the Government-funded Pre-contractor Program will arm electricians with the necessary skills to take over an already established business or start their own. “Developing small business management skills is essential so you have the know-how to juggle the entire ‘behind the scenes’ administration, marketing and financial needs of a growing www.masterelectricians.com.au

“Pre-contractors will also be able to attend webinars and events specific to the program which aim to provide in-depth expert advice on a variety of business related topics. “They’ll be able to garner useful information from experts on a specific field such as financial planning, the legalities of running a business, branding, and much more.” Ms Ozolins says the program aims to equip electricians with training and expert mentoring to empower them to make informed career choices and gain a head start in the electrical contracting industry. The Pre-contractor program will commence late August and runs for a period of 12 months, with additional intakes later in the year. Participants must be located in Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria. For more information or to apply, visit www.masterelectricians. com.au or call 1300 889 198. The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of Master Electricians Australia Limited and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or State and Territory Governments.

Master Electricians Pre-contractor Program proudly supported by CNW

Pre-contractors should be qualified, licenced electricians who: • Have commenced operating an electrical contracting business within the last 24 months (to August 2013)

Mentors will ideally have a combination of the following skills and experience: • Minimum 5 years in industry

• Are part of or wish to be part of their current employers succession plan

• Hold an Electrical Trade qualification and licence

• Are seeking a professional development opportunity for career progression, or

• Understand new and emerging technologies

• Intend on becoming an electrical contractor in the future.

• Have experience in operating a safety management system

• Have run a successful electrical contracting business.

Stacey Ozolins’ top ten tips for mentors and mentees: 1. Understand what mentoring is – Mentoring is guidance from the mentor to the mentee for a specific topic or period. Don’t exploit this relationship; the mentor should not influence the mentee for their own benefit nor should the mentee expect certain benefits from the mentor such as leads or contacts

6. Set ground rules – Both parties should make the other aware of topics that are off limits and what is and is not acceptable behaviour. For example, a mentor may not be prepared to share financial information about their business with their mentee

2. Identify your goals – The mentee should consider what it is he needs to be mentored for; is it a personal issue or for career planning? Once you have identified the area you require mentoring in, you can approach individuals who are experts in that area

7. Be prepared to part ways – Sometimes it doesn’t work out. Be willing to accept the mentor and mentee may not be suited for a mentoring relationship. Don’t persist if either party feels things aren’t going to plan. Be professional and part ways

3. Be prepared to accept rejection – Just because you have asked someone to be your mentor does not mean they will accept. Be understanding of the commitments your preferred mentor may have and have more than one mentor in mind should your first preference be unavailable

8. Review your progress – Set milestones early on to enable you to review your progress. Realign your plan if you are getting too far away from the original goal or if the goal has changed during the mentoring period

4. Be realistic – both the mentee and the mentor need to be realistic about what both parties want to achieve. If the goal is career guidance – the Mentee needs to understand the advice given won’t land them their dream job, but will assist them to take all the appropriate steps to achieve their ultimate goal

9. Have an exit strategy – When both parties feel they have achieved the set goal, be prepared to part ways 10. Celebrate success – Maintaining relationships is important in both business and personal life. A simple lunch to thank your mentor or a thank you card can go a long way. Celebrate the achievement of a goal and when the mentoring period has come to an end.

5. Have a plan – When and where to meet, the length of a session, topics of discussion, all of these arrangements should be negotiated early on in the mentoring relationship

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

workplace relations

The face of Super into the future A significant amount has been written on the changes to superannuation that businesses will face over the coming years with employer contributions lifting from 9% to 12% over the next 6 years. However there have been other changes that will affect employees, employers and superannuation funds. Employers The Federal Government has made changes to improve the efficiency of data transferring across superannuation funds and these affects will be felt by employers at different stages. They have introduced changes to the electronic processing of contributions. A data and e-commerce standard is being introduced. The new standard will:

will also conform to the new e-commerce standard as it changes over time.

• Reduce the time it takes to process super payments

• Your employees’ preferences are already pre-populated, so you only need to enter the contribution amounts

• Lower transactions costs • Provide employers with a consistent, reliable, electronic method of making payments. The new standard means employers will be able to send super contributions to funds in one standard electronic format. Medium and large employers If your business has 20 or more employees you will have to start using the new data and e-commerce standard from 1 July 2014. Whilst still 12 months away it is important to work with your default super fund, payroll manager or accountant to ensure your superannuation fund and your current payroll system will meet the required changes by 1 July 2014. Small employers If you have 19 or fewer employees you will have to start using the standard from 1 July 2015. Information will be added to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website as updates become available. To assist in meeting their obligations, the Federal Government is also introducing a free online superannuation payment service for those employers with 19 or less employees. The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House allows a small business to pay superannuation contributions in one transaction to a single location. It is designed to make this process easier, reducing red tape and compliance costs. The clearing house www.masterelectricians.com.au

The key features of the clearing house for small business are: • Make one secure electronic transaction and all employee contributions are distributed to the nominated superannuation funds

• It minimises the time and paperwork involved in paying contributions to numerous superannuation funds • You can choose to nominate a regular contribution amount for an employee • It helps you meet your superannuation guarantee obligations, reducing red tape and associated compliance costs • You can obtain a record of your contribution history whenever you need it • Once set up, it only takes a few minutes to process payments • It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For further information regarding the clearing house visit: www.humanservices.gov.au/business/services/medicare/smallbusiness-superannuation-clearing-house Payslips In a recent development there was a requirement for employers from 1 July 2013 to place certain information on to employees’ payslips however more recently the ATO announced it would postpone these changes by stating “The government has proposed changes to how employers report super contribution information on an employee’s payslip. The requirements for payslips are still being finalised and no change is necessary for 1 July 2013. The government is expected to make a further announcement to confirm the payslip reporting requirements and advise a new commencement date.”

This postponement has come from the realisation that the required information was difficult to achieve given that small employers make quarterly payments to superannuation but payslips can be as often as weekly, making the whole process very confusing for all involved. Employees From 1 July 2013 the benefit of the increased contribution has commenced to 9.25 per cent. The increases will continue over the next six years, assuming there is no change in federal government, as detailed in the following table.

Year

Rate

1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014

9.25%

1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015

9.50%

1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016

10.00%

1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

10.50%

1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018

11.00%

1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019

11.50%

1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020 onwards

12.00%

However there are other changes that employers will also have to be aware of including the upper age limit of 70 years old, which has now been removed. So older employees in the workforce now qualify for employer contributions. The contribution cap has also been increased by five per cent. employer’s will now have to make super contributions for all employees who earn up to $192,160.00 a year (or $48,040 per quarter) in ordinary time earnings. If during ordinary time earnings an employee receives more than this amount the 9.25 per cent contribution is not required to be paid on earnings above this limit. Other age and earning contributions limits have been retained on: • Employees earning less than $450.00 per month • Employees aged less than 18 years old and working less than 30 hours a week. Therefore they do not qualify to receive employer based superannuation contributions. Master Electricians Australia will keep members updated on any further changes to superannuation.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

all about ME

New era for Master Electricians Australia

Join the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most highly regarded professionals as an Accredited Master Electrician.

Members can undertake the Master Electricians Safety, Quality and Energy Certifications in any order, and upon completion of all three can apply for the highest industry accolade, Accredited Master Electrician.

All ME Members can display the member logo on their vehicles and marketing collateral.

MEA continuously works to improve the industry through education, training, advocacy and other industry development initiatives.

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

ELECTRICIANS APPRENTICES

MONDAY 1 July 2013 marked a

significant step forward in the history of the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and Master Electricians Australia (MEA), with the organisations becoming a unified national entity. We have transformed the existing Master Electricians Australia organisation into a national membership association called

www.masterelectricians.com.au

Master Electricians Association Limited, trading under the Master Electricians Australia logo and brand. While ECA has a long history as a progressive Queensland member organisation, the ECA Council recently made the decision to align Queensland with the other states and operate under one national entity and the Master

Electricians banner, based upon strong support and feedback from members. We will continue to lead our industry and connect our Master Electricians to professional opportunity and success locally, regionally and nationally. The new era for Master Electricians Australia is here and we are excited you are along for the journey.

MEA attends Trader’s 500 IN the last four months, the Master

Electricians Australia (MEA) Safety and Technical Officers, ApprenticeConnect staff and Training team have been on the road, travelling from state to state to attend the largest electrical industry Trade Show in Australia, Trader’s 500. Designed and run by one of the leaders in the electrical wholesale industry and supporter of MEA, Lawrence & Hanson, the trade show provides a platform for more than 50 suppliers to present their most current products. Taking place in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, the trade show provided an excellent opportunity

for electrical industry professionals across Australia to get up-to-date with the latest technologies, purchase products as well as speaking to leading suppliers and networking with others in the industry. MEA held short presentations on the changes to the wiring rules at each trade show. Presented by Andrew Bailey, these sessions covered the important changes from Amendment 2 and offered contractors the opportunity to win a copy of the Wiring Rules including Amendment 2. The competition generated a lot of interest in MEA and it was refreshing to see such a busy and active stand as staff were kept busy providing answers to enquiries.

MEA’s Safety & Technical Officer Alan McCallum with Training Operations Manager Karen Murphy and WA State Manager Tony Mancini.

GENERATING WEALTH FOR ENERGY EMPLOYEES It’s just how we’re wired. Energy Super is the leading industry superannuation fund for people who

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puts you first – generating wealth for your future and financial freedom. We are a platinum-rated* $4.2 billion industry superannuation fund with over 48,000 members and offer you flexible retirement savings solutions and professional advice so you can build practical strategies to help secure the future lifestyle you want including: • a choice of up to 9 different investment options • tax effective income stream solutions

• financial advice for members • educational materials including seminars, webinars, superannuation calculators & more • Energy Rewards which offers members discounts and savings for your finances today, and • ‘Life Event’ support for members who may be experiencing hard times.

For more information on the services that Energy Super offers visit energysuper.com.au or call us on 1300 4 ENERGY (1300 436 374). *2012 Platinum rating for Best Value for Money provided by SuperRatings (ABN 95 100 192 283 AFSL 311880). Ratings are only one factor to be considered when making investment decisions. Electricity Supply Industry Superannuation (Qld) Ltd (ABN 30 069 634 439) (AFSL 336567) is the Trustee and issuer of Energy Super (ABN 33 761 363 685). A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is available from energysuper.com.au or by calling 1300 4 ENERGY (1300 436 374). Before making an investment decision you should consider the PDS and whether Energy Super is right for you. If you need assistance, talk to one of our financial advisers.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

all about ME MEA celebrates staff member reaching 25 year milestone

Sue McGraw, Sharyn Casey, Sharyn Biddle, Nikki Bond and Karen Watkin at ECA in 1989.

IN 1987, Sue McGraw walked into the

Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) headquarters on Berwick Street in Brisbane for the very first time to start her new role as Office Administrator. Back then, the office was based in an old Queenslander building with a few golf ball typewriters and a stenograph machine. Nobody could have anticipated that 25 years on, the organisation would have grown to over 2,500 members and 70 staff or that Sue McGraw would still be such an integral part of the team.

At the recent surprise 25 year anniversary luncheon attended by past and present staff and Board members, former CEO Richard Cox who worked with Sue for 20 years commended her on her hard work and dedication to the organisation. “When I started at ECA in 1970, there were just two members of staff and 200 members. By the time Sue was employed, we had six members of staff and 1,200 members. It was before the days of computers but anything that you wanted done, Sue always got done with the minimal amount of fuss and effort. “Staff continuity is rare in an organisation these days but Sue is an exception. She was (and no doubt, still is) the glue that held the business together quietly behind the scenes,” he said. These days Sue is Executive Assistant to CEO Malcolm Richards, but she is fondly referred to as the ‘go-to’ person in the office. No matter the question, Sue will have the answer.

Former CEO Richard Cox and CEO Malcolm Richards congratulating Sue McGraw.

www.masterelectricians.com.au

The surprise luncheon provided the perfect opportunity to thank and give recognition to Sue for her many years of hard work and service, surrounded by her peers, former colleagues and family. We wish Sue all the very best for perhaps not another 25 years, but at least another few at Master Electricians Australia (MEA), formerly known as the ECA.

MEA growing from strength to strength THE new ‘Master Electricians

Member’ category has generated plenty of interest since the official launch in May as more contractors nationwide now have the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and active industry association. The May membership campaign proved a huge success and increased our national reach as we signed up a significant number of new members who took advantage of a number of specials and incentives on offer. Importantly, these members will be able to gain assistance in reaching their business goals and access to an expert support network plus the option to work towards gaining Accredited Master Electrician status. As other industry associations are suffering from a decline in membership numbers, it is encouraging to see our organisation growing from strength to strength, both in terms of membership numbers and national reach. To access the highest standard of member services offered in the industry, join MEA today. Turn to page 33 to find out more.

CEO Malcolm Richards with Vice President of Clipsal and Schneider Electric Partner Business David Gardner.

New energy efficiency partnership with industry heavyweight IN July, Master Electricians Australia (MEA) announced a new alliance with electrical manufacturing heavyweight Clipsal & Schneider Electric. MEA chief executive Malcolm Richards said the new agreement signed between MEA and Clipsal & Schneider Electric would provide a number of benefits for the electrical industry. “Both MEA and Clipsal & Schneider Electric are committed to promoting energy efficiency to the industry and community, making this alliance a strong fit,” Mr Richards says. “Through the alliance, MEA together with Clipsal & Schneider Electric partners, including Club Clipsal and EcoXpert, will receive the benefit of stronger industry support and exclusive memberonly deals. “Clipsal & Schneider Electric partners are also able to attend MEA’s exclusive round of Energy Efficiency industry forums which

are being held at major centres across the country.

membership organisation would be further bolstered.

“The forums are focused around preparing energy efficiency in the home and will greatly boost members’ knowledge of and opportunities within the sector – furthering our commitment to educating contractors on how to identify and implement opportunities to reduce our key impacts to the environment.”

“The Clipsal & Schneider Electric names continue to grow and with their support, MEA as a national entity can ensure even more industry voices are heard, and greater outcomes are achieved for the sector as a whole.”

Vice President of Clipsal and Schneider Electric Partner Business David Gardner says together with MEA, the business would continue to focus on making energy safer, and more reliable and efficient. “As a global specialist in energy management with operations in over 100 countries, we have an active commitment to help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy,” Mr Gardner says. Mr Richards said the partnership also meant that MEA’s strengths as a national

Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in utilities & infrastructure, industries & machines manufacturers, non-residential building, data centres & networks and in residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group’s 140,000 plus employees achieved sales of 24 billion Euros in 2012, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy. The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

test drive

Mercedes VITO Crew Cab CDI 122 Test drivers Carl Rankin and Andrew Deagan find quality and prestige in a tradie’s van

The main pilot for this

review was our resident Safety and Technical Officer Andrew Deagan who, having previously owned and run a successful electrical contracting business for many years, would be looking to assess the things that contractors care about. The ‘apprentice‘ reviewer was Carl Rankin, the VIC State Manager for MEA whose reputation for breaking things would assist in exploring the hardworking nature of this rig. The Mercedes brand is generally synonymous with quality and as far as looks go, this van is first class. There

www.masterelectricians.com.au

would be few trade vehicles on the market that could match the purposeful stance, strong features, and “hey look at me” demeanour of the VITO. Being a lofty type at 192cm long, Andrew was pleasantly surprised to find the standard seating to be roomy and comfortable, although as it was lacking a centre seat or console it did feel a bit like the driver was sitting up on a pedestal with nowhere to store their wallet or bits and pieces. However a centre console or middle seat is available as an optional extra.

Visibility, which is such an important aspect of vehicle safety, was pretty good with all mirrors providing good coverage and the heated external door wing mirrors reinforcing the van’s European heritage. The presence of a short bonnet and thick ‘A’ pillars hindered forward vision slightly and along with a small rear window, didn’t inspire the same level of confidence as some of its more traditional van rivals like the Toyota Hiace or Mitsubishi L300. In all other safety areas though the Mercedes VITO hits the mark with a 4-star

Australasian New Car Assessment Program rating (ANCAP) and when fitted with optional side airbags, meets the 5-star rating. It also comes with an Electronic Safety Program (ESP) for on road safety. Controls in the cab are practical, well positioned, and keep to the essentials so avoids an overkill of gadgets. Although hard to see its usefulness here in Australia, a favourite feature was the headlight washers; more specifically their operation, as it’s something to behold! A glove box and dash top secret compartment provide

adequate storage space with the generous proportions easily swallowing price books, miscellaneous tools, the odd connector strip and even an iPad to boot. For those unfamiliar with Mercedes, the often comprehensive audio set ups can be daunting, however after just one use, the intuitive system proved clever. Bluetooth pairing to the phone was simple and the clarity and reliability of the connection was fantastic, with steering wheel controls to ensure hands don’t need to unduly wander. Preset numbers can be programmed into the audio system for speed dialing. In the handling department, our test vehicle came fitted with optional 19 inch alloys and accompanying 245/60 low profile continental tyres which meant a sporty firm ride that ensured it stayed nice and flat through the corners with little body roll. This was no doubt also due to the four coil independent swing arm suspension with stiff torsion control bars and rear wheel drive, but all aids considered, it was amazing how well this big van handles the bends. The van is available in two body lengths; the standard SWB van which has a tight turning circle of 11.8 metres and the LWB which has a tidy 12.5 metre turning circle. There are two turbo diesel engine options, starting with the entry level two ltr four

cylinder 100 KW or the massive three ltr V6 165 KW beast. Our VITO crew cab had enormous power and torque from its grunty V6 turbo diesel engine and when coupled with the smooth shifting five speed auto, it made for sports car like performance. Economy was good, and during an urban test drive the V6 returned approx 10 litres per 100kms. Another great feature that comes as standard is the dual sliding side doors, handy for loading and unloading tools, equipment, and drums of cable. On first impressions this van would seem more at home running airport transfer duties for One Direction rather than bouncing around suburban streets or parked up on a city construction site. However after spending a few days getting to know what makes it tick, we can happily report the VITO is a viable alternative to the more typical offerings on the market. When all is considered (including the three year or 200,000km warranty), this classy tradie’s van lives up to the quality you would expect with Mercedes and will give the driver a well deserved feeling of prestige when they jump in the driver’s seat after a long day on the tools. Full specs are available on the Mercedes Australia website www.mercedes-benz.com.au/vito Priced from $60,190 excluding on road charges.

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The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

events calendar

SEPTEMBER 6 – 8 September 2013 The Courier-Mail and Sunday Mail Home Show Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre www.brisbanehomeshow.com.au 8 September 2013 Sustainable House Day 2013 Open houses located across Australia www.sustainablehouseday.com 28 September 2013 AFL Grand Final MCG, Melbourne www.afl.com.au

6 – 13 October 2013 World Solar Challenge Darwin NT to Adelaide SA www.worldsolarchallenge.org 9 – 10 October 2013 All-Energy Australia 2013 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre www.all-energy.com.au 10 – 13 October 2013 Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama NSW www.v8supercars.com.au

NOVEMBER 1 – 30 November 2013 MOvember www.au.movember.com

OCTOBER 6 October 2013 NRL Grand Final ANZ Stadium, Sydney www.nrl.com

IMPORTANT DATES THIS QUARTER 1 September 2013 Father’s Day 23 – 26 September 2013 Electrical Industry Conference Las Vegas www.masterelectricians.com.au/ Conference 5 November 2013 Melbourne Cup Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne www.melbournecup.com

The PD4 Warehouse Sensor LIGHTING CONTROL FOR WAREHOUSES, HIGH BAY STORAGE OR WHEREVER GREAT HEIGHT MOUNTING IS REQUIRED Datasheet downloadable from iautomation.com.au or call 1800 225 063 www.masterelectricians.com.au

shocking photograph

LIKE TO WIN $50? Send us your favourite picture (in high resolution of at least 1MB please) and if we publish it, we’ll send you $50!

DIY job nailed When an electrician was asked to install a floodlight in a customer’s garden shed, he noticed someone had fixed a cable to a timber joist using a nail that in several spots went through the cable. There was a safety switch installed but it did not trip. Luckily the nails were only in contact with the earth so no imbalance was detected. The electrician removed the cable entirely but was surprised when the customer told him that just one month before, another electrician had installed a device in the same shed and not mentioned the problem. Thanks to Keith from K-Pow Electrics P/L in Victoria, $50 is on its way. Send your entries to magazine@masterelectricians.com.au for your chance to win.

TI CK O ETS N SA NO LE W

Footnote on Shocking Photo in previous issue The connection of a red wire to the earth point of the light fitting in the shocking photo featured in the Autumn Master Electrician magazine certainly gained some attention. Many of us were horrified to see this connection, however it has become apparent that this may not be all that uncommon. Mr John Roberts, a contractor from Dandenong in Victoria advised that this connection method could have been made by a person of German decent as this was the practice in Germany. Many machines imported from Germany also used ‘red’ wire as earth. So whilst the machine is actually equipment wiring and not part of the Wiring Rules, the connection to the light fitting is installation wiring and certainly needs to be changed.

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Please be aware that these connections may still exist in some older installations. Remember it is imperative to follow your safety guidelines of testing and visual inspections at all times to ascertain compliance to AS/ NZS3000:2007 and state legislation.

The Master Electrician

Winter 2013

the last word

National Licensing A national occupational licensing system has been on the radar for several years now. After pushing back implementation on several occasions, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) along with the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) recently announced that the new system will commence in 2014. MEA has been a prominent voice in the industry consultations designed to inform the content and structure of these new licensing arrangements for electrical occupations. From the outset we have consistently advocated for electrical licensing standards to remain at a level that will sustain the electrical industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation for safety and quality. With industry input, I was optimistic that a move to a national licensing system would eliminate much of the unnecessary red tape burdening businesses who operate across state borders without compromising any of the electrical safety standards currently in place. However, following the release by NOLA of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on 12 July we were very disappointed to see that the opportunity to adopt best practice standards

nation-wide has been abandoned with government instead opting for a lowest common denominator approach. It seems clear that the concerns of the electrical industry were not taken into account in formulating this new system. Of particular concern to me is the decision not to require electrical contractors to have additional competencies above those required of an electrical worker. As our members would be well aware, there is a distinct skill set required in order to run a business that an electrical worker would not necessarily have acquired through their technical training. Additional skilling in business management and Occupational Health and Safety is essential to give business owners the best chance of surviving through their first difficult year of operation and to ensure the health and safety of employees and the general public. Following the release of the Decision RIS, we immediately contacted the responsible Ministers in every state and territory, as well as the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, to obtain their support for a national occupational licensing system that makes no

compromise on health and safety. I have also been in discussions with fellow industry stakeholders to present a united front to Government and make clear our opposition to a weakening of electrical licensing standards. I make no apologies for our firm stance on electrical safety and will continue to push for a national licensing regime that makes the safety of contractors, workers and the general public the number oneÂ priority.

MALCOLM RICHARDS CEO

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Multiple Input/ Output Modules

Alarm Acknowledge Facility Module

Contact - Pertronic Industries Pty Ltd Brisbane

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PH 07 3255 2222 PH 02 9638 7655 Fax 07 3255 1122 Fax 02 9638 7688 sales.qld@pertronic.com.au sales.nsw@pertronic.com.au

PH 03 9562 7577 Fax 03 9562 8044 sales.vic@pertronic.com.au

www.pertronic.com.au

PH 08 8340 9533 Fax 08 8340 9544 sales.sa@pertronic.com.au

PH 08 6555 3008 Fax 08 9248 3783 sales.wa@pertronic.com.au