neCA Industry nights

ARE PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH A GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION

neCA QueenSLAnD HAS eMBARKeD On A ROADSHOW PROGRAM OF InDuSTRY nIGHTS ACROSS THe STATe, TO BeTTeR InFORM MeMBeRS AnD THe BROADeR eLeCTRICAL COMMunITY ABOuT WHAT IS HAPPenInG WITHIn OuR InDuSTRY.

These nights are proving to be very popular, with a host of speakers and ample opportunities to ask questions or provide comments and examples. The night provides a chance to engage with neCA’s business partners, with plenty of time to visit each trade display. Attendees have also enjoyed the chance to network and talk with their peers. The program kicked off at Loganholme on 25 February 2021, and will continue over the coming months, covering a range of important issues. Inspectors from the electrical Safety Office (eSO) have been presenting to the groups on their compliance priorities and what eSO is doing to eliminate unlicensed electrical work in Queensland.

neCA’s Technical Advisor has been providing an overview of some of the changes being introduced by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), the correct way to go about the earthing of equipment and the rules around equipotential bonding. neCA’s Business Development Managers have been discussing how members can accelerate their profit, performance and sustainability with neCA’s Business essentials coaching program. They’ve also reviewed how to get the best use out of our Technical Knowledge Base, which provides a wealth of helpful information as well as access to a number of Australian Standards.

Our WHS Co-ordinator has been updating attendees on neCA’s Safety Systems, including the free system available to all members, the more advanced systems that members can purchase, how to go about completing Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), and the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace. There has also been an opportunity to hear about the government’s review of the Electrical Safety Act and Regulations, and a chance to discuss some of neCA’s priorities from the review. The Roadshow Industry nights are continuing across the state, and they provide a terrific opportunity to learn about what is happening in our industry at the moment. More details and registration information for Industry nights in your area can be found on the neCA website: www.neca.asn.au/necagroup/ 2021-neca-qld-industry-nights

In 2020, during the height of COVID-19 travel restrictions and social distancing requirements, the electrical Safety Office (eSO) introduced some exemptions for maintaining currency for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), pole top rescue (PTR) and low voltage switchboard rescue (LVR) training. These measures were introduced to assist industry where travel or a lack of class access, made it difficult for licence holders to attend formal training courses with a registered training organisation (RTO). Following recent consultation with the industry, eSO has announced that from 1 August 2021, the exemptions for CPR, PTR and LVR training will no longer apply. eSO has advised employers to check their training records, identify those who may require training, and contact their preferred RTO to discuss suitable arrangements to ensure all training is up-to-date by 1 August 2021. In the meantime, workers whose CPR, PTR, or LVR training is not current, must not act in roles that require this training, particularly safety observers for live work. The advice is that this work should be rescheduled or redesigned so a safety observer or rescuer is not required or have a safety observer whose training is up-to-date. For more information visit: www.bit.ly/worksafeqldcovid