NECA NEWS September 2021 by NECA_AUSTRALIA

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION

COVID-19 VACCINATION IN THE WORKPLACE PAGE 8

September 2021

NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH PAGE 84

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IN THIS ISSUE September 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF 08 COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace 09 Can I Direct My Employees to Get Vaccinated? POLICY AND ADVOCACY 10 States Send Electric Vehicles Down Different Policy Roads 11 Setting the Standards 11 NECA Seeks to Close the Loop on Ring-Fencing 12 NECA Has a Strong Voice on Fire Safety Systems Reform NECA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2020/21 16 Western Australia Winners 20 Australian Capital Territory Winners 24 Tasmania Winners 28 Queensland Winners 32 Apprentice Awards Winners SA/NT BRANCH 36 Branch Update 36 Welcome to Our New Workplace Relations Advisor 38 Understanding What Warranties Apply to Your Work in SA 40 Roadshow Seminar Wrap Up TAS BRANCH 42 Branch Update 42 Meet Your Business Development Manager 43 NECA Legal Webinar Series 44 2021/22 Tasmanian State Budget Update VIC BRANCH 46 Branch Update 46 NECA Victoria’s New Industry Mentoring Program 48 Overhaul of Victoria’s Security of Payment Regime 50 The Importance of Lodging Certificates of Electrical Safety

50 HSEQ Plus Passes the Test 51 Quicker Mental Health Support for Injured Victorian Workers

NECA News is the official publication of the National Electrical and Communications Association

NECA NATIONAL OFFICE

NECA WA BRANCH

NECA TAS BRANCH

122 Hume Highway, Chullora NSW 2190  1300 361 099  memberservices@neca.asn.au  www.neca.asn.au

18/199 Balcatta Road, Balcatta WA 6021  (08) 6241 6100  necawa@necawa.asn.au

 1300 361 099  memberservices@neca.asn.au

NECA SA/NT BRANCH NECA VIC BRANCH Level 12, 222 Kings Way, South Melbourne VIC 3205  1300 300 031  necavic@neca.asn.au

213 Greenhill Road, Eastwood SA 5063 PO Box 47, Fullarton SA 5063  (08) 8272 2966  neca@necasa.asn.au

WA BRANCH 52 Branch Update 54 Western Power Reminder About Electric Vehicle Chargers 55 Multiple Earthed Neutrals Explained 56 Release of the Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements 2021 58 Being and Electrician – It’s Not Just a Job; It’s a Career 60 How NECA Legal WA Can Help You Avoid Costly Contract Disputes

NSW/ACT BRANCH 62 Branch Update 62 ASP Scheme Review Update 63 Compliance Statement for Main Switchboards Greater Than 125 Amps 64 Group Training Addressing Industry’s Skill Shortages

TECH TALK

BUSINESS

66 Safety Observers and LVR/CPR – What You Need to Know

74 Amendment 2 of the Wiring Rules – Critical Updates To Be Aware Of

90 What is Cyber Insurance and Why You Should Have It

76 The Hows and Wheres of Installing Battery Systems

OPINION

QLD BRANCH 68 Branch Update 68 SafeWork QLD Develops Manual Task Training Material

78 Electrical Connector Crimping Technology – The Right Lug, The Right Tool, The Right Connection

92 Is Time ‘Tik-Toking’ Away on Apprenticeships? HEALTH & WELLBEING

69 NECA Member Electrical Industry Safety Network Update

LEGAL 80 New Sexual Harassment Laws

69 And That’s a Wrap for the 2020/21 NECA Queensland Industry Nights

94 Being Your Personal Best – 8 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health at Work

81 What You Must Do When Entering Into an Unsolicited Consumer Agreement

94 Movember 2021 – Men’s Health Awareness Month

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

95 Time to Turn Your Clocks One Hour Forward

82 Casual Employment – High Court Overturns Decision in Workpac v Rossato

SAFETY

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

96 Inspection Methods to Determine Potential Arc Flash

70 Queensland Race Day 71 First Industrial Manslaughter Charge Pursued for an Electrical Fatality ACRS UPDATE 72 Director’s Report 73 NBN Strategic Direction Becomes Clear

84 National Safe Work Month 84 Creating a Strong Safety Culture

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

73 Audit Finds Electromagnetic Energy Levels Near 5G Mobile Base Stations Are Very Low

85 Safety Has a Cost Benefit

98 The Next Step in the Evolution of the Modern Arc Flash PPE

73 Are Your Skills Up-To-Date?

NEW TECHNOLOGY

73 ACMA Report: What We Watch and Listen To

88 IEC 61850 – The Communications Protocol for the Electrical Industry

NECA QLD BRANCH

NECA ACT BRANCH

AUSTRALIAN CABLER REGISTRATION SERVICE

Suite 1.5 Ian Barclay Building, 460-492 Beaudesert Road, Salisbury QLD 4107  1300 361 099  memberservices@neca.asn.au

49 Tennant Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609 PO Box 298, Fyshwick ACT 2609  1300 361 099  memberservices@neca.asn.au

 1300 667 771

NECA NSW BRANCH

NECA News is published four times per year for NECA members, industry providers, wholesalers and manufacturers. Your input is important. To contribute article suggestions or to advertise, contact necanews@neca.asn.au

122 Hume Highway, Chullora NSW 2190  1300 361 099  memberservices@neca.asn.au

86 Best Practice Guide to Using Volt Sticks

 enquiries@acrs.com.au  www.acrs.com.au

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed by contributors in articles, in reproduced articles and advertisements are the individual opinions of such contributors or the authors of such reproduced articles or advertisements and not necessarily those of NECA, which does not hold itself responsible for correctness of any statement contained herein.

CELEBRATING INDUSTRY’S BEST PERFORMERS NECA has a strong commitment to helping contractors build strong and successful businesses. After a two-year break from large events, it has been fantastic to bring industry together in person to celebrate those successes. Our feature articles recognise the winners of the combined 2020/21 NECA Excellence and Apprentice Award nights held so far this year, and take a quick look at what made their projects and apprentices outstanding. We look forward to continuing to celebrate our industry’s achievements across the country, as we head towards our national awards night in early 2022. We would like to thank all of our members and sponsors for their support of the many events NECA hosts throughout the year. Events provide an invaluable opportunity

for members to connect, exchange ideas and build their businesses. In every state and territory, our NECA branches are working hard to ensure members have up-to-date information to support their operations. Members consistently rate NECA’s technical services as being one of our most important offerings, and there is continued strong demand for our technical teams’ support. In this edition of NECA News, our technical section provides further updates on Amendment 2 of the Wiring Rules and reviews how crimping can make a difference to the performance of an installation. We also take a look at methods for testing for arc flash potential and a best practice guide to maintaining and using volt sticks to prevent electrical shocks.

As October is National Safe Work Month, we look at the true cost of injuries and how effective safety systems can add value to your business. We also outline practical ways you can help your workforce to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and discuss the legalities involved. With the ongoing vaccine rollout, we look forward to the country re-opening and being able to plan for the future with more certainty. Thank you for your continued feedback on NECA News. If you have something to share about what is happening in your corner of the country, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Take care and enjoy! The NECA News team

GET IN TOUCH TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Share your feedback via email necanews@neca.asn.au

GOT A STORY IDEA? Share your ideas for content via email necanews@neca.asn.au

ARE YOU A NECA MEMBER? We’re looking to showcase NECA member stories in each issue. Reach out to your NECA Branch or email necanews@neca.asn.au

SIGN UP TO NECA NEWS ONLINE If you’d like to join more than 30,000 of your industry peers and receive a digital version of NECA News, sign up at www.neca.asn.au/necanews

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September 2021

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NEWS IN BRIEF COVID-19 VACCINATION IN THE WORKPLACE AFTER A PERIOD THAT’S BEEN CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR MANY, THE COVID-19 DELTA STRAIN HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND RESTRICTIONS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING BUSINESSES ACROSS A NUMBER OF STATES. 2. Assist employees to get vaccinated, where practicable, by being as flexible as you can for those getting the vaccine. This could include actions such as allowing employees time off or adjusting rosters to enable employees to attend vaccination appointments.

3. Keep accurate and up-to-date records. Employers can legally ask employees about their vaccination status, though employees can choose whether they share this information or not. If an employee chooses to disclose their vaccination status, make sure you know and understand your privacy obligations in relation to the collection, use and disclosure of sensitive health information.

4. Continue to take preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace. Employers have a legal obligation under WHS law to ensure the health and safety of workers in the workplace as far as is reasonably practicable. You should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. States heavily impacted by the Delta strain have seen strong collaboration between government, industry and employee representatives to encourage mass vaccination. It’s becoming clear that the pathway towards unrestricted participation across the building, construction, service and maintenance industries, in most states, is going to be directly linked to high rates of workforce and community vaccination. Businesses play a vital role in supporting employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We appreciate vaccination can be controversial and presents a number of personal, workplace and industrial relations questions that need to be considered.

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NECA is a member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), which has prepared an Employer Guide for COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace. In summary, there are four things employers can do right now:

1. Communicate, encourage and support your workforce to get vaccinated by providing employees with access to reliable and accurate information about the vaccine and where they can get it.

It is important to understand the legalities regarding mandatory vaccinations. There will be circumstances, such as client requirements for example, that make it impossible to utilise an unvaccinated worker within your business. If you’re confronted with a workplace or IR COVID-19 related challenge, and you’re unsure of your options, please contact legal services in your local state.

September 2021

IS YOUR BUSINESS

BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

CAN I DIRECT MY EMPLOYEES GET VACCINATED? COMPLIANT FORTOCABLING?

EVERY EMPLOYER IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SAFE WORKPLACE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

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Here are few critical COMPANIES SUCH ASare SPC QANTAS TOSecurity MANDATE VACCINATIONS, THE QUESTION ONofEVERY contracting business? Here a critical licence, Security licence or enAbleTM licence, licence or contracting business? Here are a few fewAND critical contracting business? Here are aa few critical licence, Security licence or enAbleTM enAbleTM licence, Security licence or enAbleTM The ACMA ACMA has has a a range range of options available available to to The The ACMA has a range of options options available to questions to ask before you get started. The ACMA has a range of options available to questions to ask before you get started. NBN Card will suffice. NBN Card will suffice. questions to ask before you get started. questions to ask before started. NBN Card Card will suffice. suffice. NBN will EMPLOYER’S MINDyouIS:getCAN I LAWFULLY DIRECT AN EMPLOYEE TO GET VACCINATED? enforce compliance. These include: formal enforce enforce compliance. compliance. These These include: include: formal formal enforce compliance. These include: formal warnings; non-compliance non-compliance notices notices to to the the warnings; Am registered to do the work? Am warnings; non-compliance notices to the Once I’ve I’ve completed completed the the training, training, who who do do warnings; non-compliance notices to the Am IIII registered registered to to do do the the work? work? Once Am registered to do the work? Once I’ve completed the training, who do Once I’ve completed the training, who do telecommunications carrier, which may telecommunications carrier, which may telecommunications carrier, which may telecommunications carrier, which may I register with? register with? OnAustralia, this, thereall no simple register with? For example, an electrical contractor In Australia, all cabling work, including III register with? In cabling work, including result in in disconnection disconnection from from the the network; network; result In Australia, allare cabling work, including including In Australia, all cabling work, result in disconnection from the network; result in disconnection from the network; ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answers. telephone, data, fire and security alarm required to perform electrical work at a telephone, data, fire and security alarm telecommunications infringement notices telecommunications infringement notices telephone, data, data, fire fire and and security security alarm alarm There are a number of Cabling telephone, telecommunications infringement notices There are a number of Cabling telecommunications infringement notices There are are aa number number of of Cabling Cabling There system cabling, that connects with the system cabling, that connects with the (on-the-spot fine of $2,040); and the quarantine or aged care facility where (on-the-spot fine of $2,040); and if system cabling, cabling, that that connects connects with with the the system (on-the-spot fine of $2,040); and if the the Registrars authorised by the Australian (on-the-spot fine of $2,040); and ifif the Registrars authorised by the Australian Registrars authorised by the Australian As a general principle, employers Registrars authorised by thein Australian telecommunications network must be matter is serious enough, taking court telecommunications matter is serious enough, taking court there is a Public Health Order place telecommunications network network must must be be matter is serious enough, taking court telecommunications network must be matter is serious enough, taking court Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) can only mandate a vaccine Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) performed by by a a registered registered cabler, cabler, or or under under action, which may result in conviction performed action, performed by registered cabler, or under action, which which may may result result in in a a conviction conviction requiring every person entering such performed by aa registered cabler, or under action, which may result in aa conviction in Australia, including ACRS, that can in in Australia, Australia, including including ACRS, ACRS, that that can can for direct employees, providing: in Australia, including ACRS, that can the direct supervision of registered cabler. and/or a fine of up to $20,400. the supervision of aa registered cabler. and/or a fine of up to $20,400. the direct supervision supervision of a a registered registered cabler. cabler. and/or a fine of up to $20,400. the direct of and/or a fine of up to $20,400. premises to be vaccinated, may well be verify a cabler’s eligibility for registration. verify a cabler’s eligibility for registration. verify aa cabler’s cabler’s eligibility eligibility for for registration. registration. verify 1. It isisa required reasonable and lawful entitled to issue a lawful and reasonable What to become become a registered registered The biggest biggest consequence consequence is is that, that, should should What is to a The What is required required to become registered The biggest consequence is that, should What is required to become aa registered The biggest consequence is that, should direction in all the circumstances, Do all my staff need to be registered? Do all my staff need to be registered? Do all all my myto staff need to to required be registered? registered? anything go wrong or your work is found direction employees to cabler? 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This could lead to ACMA guidelines, cablers must be either ACMA guidelines, cablers must be either complete the appropriate training course complete the appropriate training course ACMA guidelines, cablers must must be either either The Fair Work Ombudsman have be ACMA guidelines, cablers litigation and substantial financial loss public and employees; or course complete theother appropriate training course litigation complete the appropriate training litigation and and substantial substantial financial financial loss loss litigation and substantial financial loss registered or, directly directly supervised at at all all registered or, supervised for the work to be undertaken through for the be undertaken through registered or, directly supervised at all for your business. registered or, directly supervised at all for the work work to to is bean undertaken through a a for your business. issued guidelines on COVID-19 for the work to be undertaken through aa for your your business. business. 2. Vaccination inherent for times by a cabler who is registered for Registered Training Organisations (RTO). times by aa cabler cabler who is registered for Registered Training Organisations (RTO). times by by a cabler who isbe registered for Registered Training Organisations (RTO). times who is registered for Registered Training Organisations (RTO). vaccinations, which can accessed requirement of the position. Not being being registered registered is is not not worth worth the the risk. risk. Not the type of work being done. the type of work being done. Not being registered is not worth the risk. Not being registered is not worth the risk. the type of work being done. the type of work being done. at www.bit.ly/fairworkvaccine. An Open Registration is required for An An Open Open Registration Registration is is required required for for An Open Registration is required for It must be assessed and determined commercial and domestic premises commercial and domestic premises commercial and and domestic domestic premises premises commercial Electrical contractors are advised on a case-by-case basis. An inquiry you work. For work in domestic premises work. For work in domestic work. For For work work in in domestic domestic premises premises you you work. premises you to seek legal advice in relation would be necessary to understand only require require a a Restricted Restricted Registration. Registration. only only require Restricted Registration. only require aa Restricted Registration. to mandatory vaccination having whether it was a reasonable and lawful Peter Lamont Peter Lamont Peter Lamont Lamont Peter You must also have minimum of 80 You must a of regard to their circumstances. Director, ACRS ACRS You must also also have have a minimum minimum of 80 80 Director, direction (also considering whether You must also have aa minimum of 80 Director, ACRS Director, ACRS hours cabling cabling experience experience for for Restricted Restricted hours www.acrs.com.au www.acrs.com.au hours cabling experience for Restricted hours cabling experience for Restricted www.acrs.com.au an employee has a valid objection) www.acrs.com.au or an inherent requirement of the position. This will very much depend on the circumstances, which will Disclaimer: This summary is a guide only and is not legal advice. For more information on mandating vary from business to business. vaccinations in the workplace, call the legal service offered by your local NECA Branch.

Cabling Registration Registration run Cabling run Registration by the theCabling industry, for industry by for the therun industry industry, by the industry, for the industry

TheAustralian AustralianCabler Cabler Registration Registration Service The Service (ACRS) (ACRS)provides providesaafast, fast,reliable reliableand and low-cost registration registration service for the electrical and communications industry. low-cost service for the electrical and communications industry. The Cabler Service (ACRS) provides and The Australian Australian Cabler Registration Service (ACRS) provides a a fast, fast, reliable reliable and low-cost registration service forRegistration the electrical and communications industry. low-cost registration service for the electrical and communications industry. Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and the low-cost registration service for electrical and communications industry. Peace ofmind mindcosts costsless lessthan than60c 60caaaaaaaweek! week! Register with ACRS and reap reap thetheof Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and the Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the benefits of Peace Register with ACRS and reap the benefits Peaceofof ofmind mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the benefits of Peace of mind costs less 60c aaweek! Register with ACRS and reap the benefits of Peace costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap reap the fine. benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while Peace of mind costs less than 60c a week! Register with ACRS and reap the benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while avoiding a hefty being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while avoiding aaACRS hefty fine. Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the Peace of less 60c aaaa week! Register with reap being with with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while avoiding heftyand fine. being the only Australian specialist while avoiding a hefty fine. Peaceelectrical of mind mind costs costs less than thanregistry 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the the Peace of mind costs less than 60c week! Register with ACRS and reap the avoiding hefty fine. benefits of with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while avoiding hefty fine. avoiding hefty fine. benefits ofaaaabeing being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while avoiding hefty fine. benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while It is illegal for anyone other than a registered cabler to install or maintain cabling that benefits of being with the only Australian electrical specialist registry while It is illegal for anyone other than a registered cabler to install or maintain cabling that avoiding a hefty fine. is illegal illegal for anyone anyone other than aaaaregistered registered cabler to to install install or or maintain maintain cabling cabling that that ItIt is for other than cabler avoiding hefty fine. avoiding hefty fine. avoiding a hefty fine. avoiding a hefty fine. avoiding fine. to the telecommunications network. So if you are installing any equipment It is illegal for anyone other than registered cabler to install or maintain the telecommunications network. if installing any Itconnects is illegal for anyone other than registered cabler to install or maintain connects tofor the telecommunications network. So So you are installing any equipment equipment Itconnects is illegal illegalto for anyone other thanaaaaahefty registered cabler toare install or maintain maintain connects to the telecommunications network. So ifif you you are installing any equipment It is anyone other than registered cabler to install or that will connect to the network from smart home systems to extra phone lines It is illegal for anyone other than aa registered registered cabler to install or maintain that will connect to the network –– from smart home systems to extra phone lines –– cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are It is illegal for anyone other than a registered cabler to install or maintain that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are ItIt cabling is illegal for anyone other than a registered cabler to install or maintain that will connect to the network – from smart home systems to extra phone lines – It is illegal for anyone other than registered cabler to install or maintain maintain that will connect to the network – from smart home systems to extra phone lines – cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are It is illegal for anyone other than a cabler to install or cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are is illegal for anyone other than a registered cabler to install or maintain cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are you need need aany current cabling registration. cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you you a current cabling registration. installing any equipment that will connect to the network – from smart home cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are cabling that connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are you need a current cabling registration. installing equipment that will connect to the network – from smart home cabling thatconnect connects to to the telecommunications network. So if you are are you need current cabling registration. installing any equipment that will connect to the network – from smart home installing equipment that will the network – from smart home cabling thataany connects to the telecommunications network. So if you are installing any any equipment equipment that that will will connect connect to to the the network network – – from from smart smart home home installing installing any equipment that will connect to the network from smart home installing any equipment that will connect to the network –– from smart home systems to extra phone lines – you need a current cabling registration. systems to extra phone lines – you need a current cabling registration. Carrying a current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the installing any equipment that will connect to the network – from smart home Carrying a current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the systems to extra phone lines – you need a current cabling registration. systems toconnect extra phone linesnetwork you need current cablingthe registration. systems extra phone lines – you need ato current systems to extra phone lines –––– cabling you need aaaafrom current cabling registration. Carryingany a current current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the installing equipment that will the –registration. smart home Carrying ato cabling registration card confirms you have completed systems to extra phone lines you need current cabling registration. systems to extra phone lines you need current cabling registration. relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the work to the systems to extra phone lines – you need a current cabling registration. relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the work to the relevant training and gained gained the professional experience to complete complete the the work work to to the the relevant and the professional experience to systems totraining phone lines – you needcard acabling current cabling registration. Carrying current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the Carrying current registration card confirms you have completed the Carrying aaaaextra current cabling registration confirms you have completed the aaaa current cabling registration you customer’s expectations. Carrying current cablingCarrying registration card confirms you card haveconfirms completed thecompleted customer’s expectations. Carrying current cabling registration card confirms you have have completed the the Carrying current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the Carrying current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the customer’s expectations. customer’s expectations. relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the relevant training and gained gained the professional professional experience tothe complete the the relevant training and the experience to complete the Carrying a current cabling registration card confirms you have completed relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the relevant training and gained the professional experience to complete the Carrying a current cabling registration card confirms you have completed the For more information visit www.acrs.com.au or call 1300 667 771. work to the customer’s expectations. For more information visit www.acrs.com.au or call 1300 667 771. work to the customer’s expectations. For more more information visit www.acrs.com.au or call call 1300 667 667 771. 771. work to the the customer’s expectations. work to the customer’s expectations. For information www.acrs.com.au or 1300 work to customer’s expectations. work to the customer’s expectations. relevant training and visit gained the professional experience to complete complete the the work totraining the customer’s expectations. work to the customer’s expectations. relevant and gained the professional experience to work to the customer’s expectations. work to the customer’s expectations.

POLICY & ADVOCACY STATES SEND ELECTRIC VEHICLES DOWN DIFFERENT POLICY ROADS State governments, and in some cases individual local councils, are being left to build their own roadmaps to facilitate the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. Australia’s uptake of EVs is lagging behind many countries, accounting for only 0.7% of new car sales in 2020. In comparison more than 1.3 million new cars were sold in China, and 70% of all new cars sold in Norway were electric. Rather than taking a consistent and uniform approach to growing this sustainable transport option nationally, state governments are being left to craft their own incentives to support the uptake of EVs. The Victorian Government drew wide criticism from pockets of industry for introducing an EV tax of two cents per kilometre. While the government claims the move is designed to offset revenue lost through EV users not paying fuel excise tax, there are concerns installing an upfront tax on an emerging market will be a strong disincentive for many. In contrast, a key highlight of the New South Wales Budget 2021-22 was a $490 million package to lead the charge on an “electric vehicle rev-olution.” The package includes a range of stamp duty exemptions and rebates as well as a significant investment in charging infrastructure.

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The South Australian Government is investing $18.3 million to deliver an Electric Vehicle Action Plan. Meanwhile Western Australia has committed to creating Australia’s longest electric vehicle fast charging network with facilities at fortyfive locations across the state to be fully operational by 2024. A number of other bodies, such as local councils and electricity distributors, are pushing ahead with their own projects to provide improved community facilities. Recently, NECA CEO Oliver Judd met with the Electric Vehicle Council CEO, Behyad Jafari, to discuss the opportunities electrical contractors will have off the back of EV uptake. Delivering in-home and community charging infrastructure as well as the potential cost savings for electrical contracting businesses were among the many topics covered.

Although states are each crafting their own plan of attack for the EV revolution, the transformation of the automotive industry as we know it is upon us. With the right mix of vehicle availability and accessible charging infrastructure, EV technology is likely to bring a range of opportunities to the electrical sector in the very near future.

Peter McCabe NECA Director Policy and Government Relations www.neca.asn.au

September 2021

POLICY & ADVOCACY

SETTING THE STANDARDS

NECA SEEKS TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON RING-FENCING

NECA has more than thirty representatives across dozens of Standards Australia committees, which set the benchmark for the various work processes captured within the electrotechnology industry.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) recently published draft amendments for comment on the Distribution Ring-Fencing Guidelines. The draft focused on three key areas:

Many of NECA’s representatives are volunteers from member businesses, combining their passion for furthering the safety and workmanship of the industry, with business and installation experience. The contribution they make through Standards Australia is important. From reviewing and updating well-known standards, such as the Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000), or tackling the safe introduction of new technologies and renewables, the interests of contracting businesses are well-represented.

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Stand-alone power systems, Contestable services from batteries, and

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Improving the guidelinesminor amendments.

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NECA put together a comprehensive submission on behalf of members. We are recommending the AER focus the guidelines on: 

Providers’ (DNSP) direct control services, from all contestable functions of their Related Electricity Service Provider (RESP); Allowing private enterprise the opportunity to compete equally and confidently in these markets; Ensuring DNSPs are held accountable for all facets of the guidelines; and Providing customers and industry transparency and confidence that all breaches and complaints are fully and independently investigated by the AER.

Full and transparent separation of Distribution Network Service

Recently, NECA welcomed policy and technical specialist Paul Brownlee into the national policy team. Part of Paul’s role will be to enhance NECA’s coordination and representation on key Standards Australia committees. NECA presently has the opportunity to fill a number of vacancies on Standards Australia committees. If you’re interested in getting involved email paul.brownlee@neca.asn.au to discuss current and upcoming opportunities.

NECA MEMBERS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

We want you to share your views and tell us what improvements NECA can make to support you more effectively as we continue to transform our member experience.

Please share your feedback with your local NECA branch. NECA QLD 1300 361 099 NECA WA

(08) 6241 6100

NECA NSW 1300 361 099

NECA SA/NT (08) 8272 2966

NECA ACT 1300 361 099

NECA TAS

NECA VIC 1300 632 247

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1300 361 099

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NECA HAS A STRONG VOICE ON

POLICY & ADVOCACY

FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS REFORM THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES BOARD (ABCB) RECENTLY RELEASED A DISCUSSION PAPER RESPONDING TO RECOMMENDATION 19 OF THE BUILDING CONFIDENCE REPORT, WHICH WAS AUTHORED BY PROFESSOR PETER SHERGOLD AC IN 2018. Recommendation 19 relates to the Inspection and certification of fire safety system installation. Professor Shergold’s report recommended that each state and territory jurisdiction require registered fire safety practitioners to design, install and certify the fire safety systems necessary in commercial buildings. The discussion paper released by the ABCB supports the original recommendation of the Building Confidence Report, and proposes the following principles to guide national reform: 1. Installation and testing, certification and maintenance of nominated fire safety systems is regulated. 2. Installation and testing of fire safety systems is undertaken by registered practitioners. 3. Certification of fire safety systems is mandatory and undertaken by independent and registered practitioners. 4. A statutory building surveyor is responsible for inspecting fire safety systems prior to issuing an occupancy approval or final certificate. 5. Routine maintenance of essential fire safety systems is regulated, undertaken by registered practitioners and reported to the building regulator annually. Some states have already implemented similar reforms to those being recommended nationally. In states like NSW and Queensland, the changes already in place are causing headaches for electrical contractors. Members have reported that competing fire and safety system installers are seeking to exclude electrically qualified people from carrying out electrical work, such as exit and emergency lighting, in turn creating confusion and uncertainty for clients. NECA will be providing a robust submission to the ABCB on behalf of our

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industry. Our fundamental argument is that electrical work must remain the responsibility of fully qualified electricians. Safe and compliant construction, and the safety of workers, is paramount in the development of all technical and compliance standards. Having clear independent requirements for trades is paramount to achieving this, and overlapping requirements has a high potential to destabilise any building construction. Installing electrical wiring is specialised work, and non-compliance or incorrect installation can result in significant consequences for both the electrician and the end user. Any suggestions that other non-electrically qualified workers could do this work under the

guise of a “fire system installer”, is both unsafe and against the provisions of relevant state and territory licensing legislation. NECA also believes any further regulation of routine maintenance must be beneficial to the electrotechnology industry, and not open the door for that work to be undertaken by unqualified people. For members in NSW and Queensland, NECA has sought clarification from the respective departments, clarifying that electricians are qualified to perform installation work on fire safety systems without further training. That advice has been sent to members, but if you need another copy please contact member services.

Peter McCabe NECA Director Policy and Government Relations www.neca.asn.au

September 2021

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND

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September 2021

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

This year, we were very pleased to host our combined 2020/21 NECA Excellence and Apprentice Award nights in Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the ACT. The Excellence and Apprentice Awards are one of the highlight events for each state, showcasing our industry’s most exceptional projects and best performing apprentices. The quality of all the submissions was outstanding, making it a challenging job for our judging panels to decide on this year’s winners. We would like to thank everyone for the time and effort they put into preparing their submissions, and for attending

the events. It was wonderful to celebrate in person and acknowledge the achievements, commitment and hard work of all our members and apprentices. A big thank you also to our industry sponsors who made these events possible. We look forward to sharing the Excellence and Apprentice Awards winners for South Australia/ Northern Territory, Victoria and New South Wales in future editions of NECA News. All state winners will go into the National Excellence and Apprentice Awards, which are planned for early 2022.

TASMANIA

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS WESTERN AUSTRALIA COMMERCIAL LARGE CATEGORY Everett-Smith & Co New Museum Project, Base Building The completion of the internationally designed new WA State Museum building at the Perth Cultural Precinct that integrates into the restored and upgraded heritage buildings was a once in a lifetime project for Everett-Smith. The WA State Museum features 6,000 square metres of new galleries, learning studios, retail and cafe space that have been integrated into the existing heritage buildings. Everett-Smith completed a detailed design and installed HV and LV electrical infrastructure to the new and existing heritage buildings.

COMMERCIAL LARGE COMMENDATION Everett-Smith & Co Perth Cultural Centre, New State Museum – Electrical Fit-Out Everett-Smith were awarded the fit-out contract for the new State Museum via a separate package on a “Supply and Construct” basis. They worked to an independent design provided by the builder’s specialist lighting engineers. Everett-Smith performed detailed verification of the design via its own engineering and technical staff before installing the systems. Restrictive locations on and around the building fabric made the installation of many of the fixtures particularly challenging.

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Insight Electrical Technology Parmelia Hilton The refurbishment of the Parmelia Hilton saw Insight Electrical Technology (IET) complete 15,000 hours in a partially live building with non-compliant infrastructure. Originally constructed in 1960, IET worked for a year on this major refurbishment of the hotel. Nicknamed ‘Spaghetti Junction’ for its aging electrical infrastructure, the project saw the entry foyer completely transformed, along with 341 guestrooms, common areas and guest facilities. Building technology was upgraded through a digital key system allowing contactless check-in and room access.

COMMERCIAL SMALL CATEGORY Techworks Electrical Commonwealth Law Courts, Energy Efficiency Upgrade In the largest project undertaken by Techworks to date, none of the works were allowed to disrupt the operation of the courtrooms and offices. A night shift with approximately six team members worked from 5:30pm to 3am Monday to Thursday. A single contractor also worked from 6am until midday each day to address any issues, while a separate weekend crew carried out works in the courtrooms themselves. Upgrading the electrical infrastructure in an operating court complex was a planning and logistical challenge.

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September 2021

Proudly supported by

DOMESTIC RESIDENCE LARGE CATEGORY Active Electrical WA The Esplanade, Peppermint Grove This 2,100sqm home was an epic five-year journey for Active Electrical WA. Incorporating heritage listed elements, this technically-demanding home was finished with the highest quality fittings and commercial-grade services – including a 315 amp, three-phase power supply; a lift; kitchen fridges with their own condenser units in the basement; commercial-grade laundry; two vehicle turntables; and a C-Bus system requiring three networks to cater for the quantity of devices.

DOMESTIC RESIDENCE SMALL CATEGORY Ampa Electrical Spinnaker Heights, Yangebup This project transformed a basic single storey house into a two storey home with high end features. Inside the house, a huge chandelier mounted on a motorised winch is a feature, while in the garden exterior lighting highlights the pool and water feature. The project featured numerous variations as the owner developed his ideas – including the addition of strip lighting on numerous surfaces throughout the home.

EMERGING NEW SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY GEM Generation Electrical Maintenance Emerging Business in the Provision of LV Generators GEM specialises in the provision of low voltage generators, often at short notice for emergencies or for planned power outages. These can range from telecommunication towers or schools in remote locations during emergency outages due to storms and cyclones; to businesses, childcare centres, markets and festivals; customers on life support or customers wanting permanent stand-by generator installations including ATS arrangements.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY Techworks Electrical Commonwealth Law Courts, Energy Efficiency Upgrade Upgrading the electrical and lighting infrastructure in the twelve storey Federal Court building created an enormous scheduling challenge for Techworks, as they navigated the 27 courtrooms that were booked months in advance. Over eleven months, 6,500 LED fittings were installed, along with 400 sensors and 750 exit and emergency lights. The new lighting, along with switchboard upgrades and a lighting control system, aims to achieve 45% savings in power usage.

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS WESTERN AUSTRALIA INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Agnew 18.5 MW Wind Farm and Balance of Plant The 18.5 megawatt Agnew Gold Mine Wind Farm was a green fields addition to the Agnew Solar and Diesel Generation power station, located approximately 375 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. SCEE installed the battery energy storage system, the HV reticulation and assisted with commissioning. Works included five kilometres of trenching; twenty-six kilometres of cable installation; high voltage terminations; low voltage and communications cabling; lithium batteries; and three inverter transformers.

INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM COMMENDATION AVID Group Tronox 3.3kV Substation Upgrade Tronox’s 3.3kV substation MCC switchgear and switchroom replacement project was highly technical and complex, with a number of environmental and safety pressures, including the corrosive environment. The new HV switchroom was installed directly above the existing HV switchroom, which was being made redundant after the cutover of all HV cables. The scope included 3.3kV switchgear, DC system, communications infrastructure and light and power distribution.

INDUSTRIAL SMALL CATEGORY Haddow Electrical Subiaco WWTP Emergency Switchboard Upgrade Following the catastrophic failure of a 1600 amp switchboard, the Water Corporation had rented costly generators. Haddow Electrical designed, constructed, tested and commissioned a new 1600 amp bespoke switchboard - in the middle of a COVID-19 lockdown. Although a one electrician company, the design, build, installation in a sea container, delivery to site, installation of final sub circuits, testing and commissioning was completed within two weeks.

INNOVATION CATEGORY Datatel Electrical & Communications Data-Track Datatel recognised that it was difficult for clients with multiple sites to know if their electrical assets were compliant with maintenance or testing. Datatel developed a fully customisable cloud-based system called ‘Data-Track’, which monitors the status and performance of clients’ electrical infrastructure in real-time, allowing them to identify works that need to be done, set budgets, manage projects and have improved visibility of their infrastructure.

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September 2021

LIGHTING DESIGN & INSTALLATION CATEGORY Insight Electrical Technology Council House Façade Lighting The aim of IET’s lighting design was to enhance the structural and architectural elements of Council House, while providing a control system that allowed the City to ‘colour’ the building in various themes, as required. A complex design and testing process was carried out using a range of white light options, while providing the systems to create vivid colour shows and animations when required.

VOICE/DATA COMMUNICATIONS & AUDIO VISUAL CATEGORY Everett-Smith & Co New Museum Project, Base Building The complete structured cabling for communication, voice and data services, along with the sixteen rack data centre for Western Australia’s new State Museum were delivered by Everett-Smith’s specialist “Technical Services” division. The system backbone consists of a primary and secondary single mode blown fibre throughout the facility - with in excess of 100% spare capacity to meet future requirements. Everett-Smith installed over 70 communications racks site-wide.

WORK HEALTH & SAFETY BEST PRACTICE CATEGORY Janissen Electrics Brightwater Aged Care Madeley, Common Facility Upgrade Installing a new lighting system with KNX control into an operating aged care facility was a demanding project requiring complex safety management. But when COVID-19 hit in early 2020, detailed, flexible planning became critical. Janissen had to manage a raft of new protocols – including staff working short days to enable specialised cleaning contractors to perform deep cleans at the end of the day. Janissen Electrics reviewed all of its WHS policies and procedures to cater for the risks associated with COVID-19.

SPONSOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to formally acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their support of this year’s event. Thank you to our event sponsor Clipsal & Schneider Electric and for their continued support of both NECA WA and the electrical industry. Platinum Sponsors:  Clipsal & Schneider Electric  ECA WA  Energy Super  Lawrence & Hanson

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MEGT  MM Electrical Merchandising  NECA Guard 

Gold Sponsor: NHP

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY EMERGING NEW SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY Davis Hart Electrical Solutions Davis Hart Electrical Solutions Davis Hart Electrical Solutions undertakes electrical work for a broad range of clients including health, defence, education and retail. As a newly established company with eight employees, it was identified that continuous improvement across all areas of the business would be critical to both continued growth and profitability. To ensure the business could be considered for government work, a quality management system was established and second-party accredited.

WORK HEALTH & SAFETY BEST PRACTICE CATEGORY Fredon (ACT) Fredon (ACT) Fredon’s management system is credited to third-party certification approval for WHS, quality, and environmental management systems. For each of these, the delivery is the responsibility of the project team, in conjunction with Fredon’s HSEQ Manager. Working with the site teams and making improvements through internal auditing and training are crucial. A specific emphasis has been placed on building a rapport with apprentices, giving them the confidence to raise issues and ask questions.

DOMESTIC RESIDENCE SMALL CATEGORY EPL Electrical Barton Heritage Build – New Home EPL completed the design and construct of the electrical and automation fit-out for this heritage development project. EPL prepared the electrical and lighting designs using CAD software, which proved invaluable as the complex project included a high level of automation and features such as a large in-ground pool, custom light fittings, and a solar installation to reduce electricity costs and minimise the home’s carbon footprint.

INDUSTRIAL SMALL CATEGORY Shepherd Electrical The Canberra Hospital Building 1 Chiller Replacement As a part of the replacement of two high voltage chillers with two new low voltage chillers at Canberra Hospital, Shepherd Electrical installed a new high voltage switchboard and two 750kVA transformers, which convert the two 3.3kV power supplies to 415 volts to supply the HV switchboards. Shepherd Electrical also completed the DC power to the HV switchboard and all controls. Primary and secondary injection testing, and relay programming, was then conducted in-house by Shepherd’s engineering team.

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September 2021

INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Shepherd Electrical CDSCC Deep Space Station 43 Power Distribution Upgrade Shepherd Electrical carried out the high and low voltage electrical power upgrade of the Deep Space Station 43 (DSS43) Antennae at Tidbinbilla, a critical part of NASA’s global deep space network. The power upgrade to the highly specialised systems at DSS 43 was technically challenging and made particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the only dish in the southern hemisphere capable of sending commands to the Voyager 2 spacecraft, minimising the time the system was offline was critical.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY SolarHub Corin Dam As part of an ongoing project to reduce bushfire risks in national parks, Evoenergy contracted SolarHub to design and install an off-grid solar and battery solution. Using a remote area power supply system for the Corin Dam’s power needs, will enable the feeder from the power grid, which runs through 20 kilometres of rugged and remote terrain, to be decommissioned. This important project shows that electricity distributors can rely on solar hybrid systems to run key remote sites.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT COMMENDATION Power Protect 3MW UPS Rightsizing This project represents the largest UPS replacement project completed by Power Protect to date. Seven ageing UPS units were replaced with six 500-kilowatt high efficiency modular UPS frames, with an initial 800-kilowatt capacity and scalable to three megawatts, helping reduce the client’s energy costs by nearly $200,000 a year. Power Protect also carried out temporary power works to ensure critical equipment remained online and was supported by UPS at all times.

LIGHTING DESIGN & INSTALLATION CATEGORY Shepherd Electrical Old Parliament House Lighting Upgrade Old Parliament House, which opened in May 1927, is now the Museum of Australian Democracy. Internal and external LED fittings and associated cabling were installed to incorporate Dali lighting controls. Lighting control equipment in existing heritage fittings throughout the building was also replaced. A central point was created to enable control of all Dali connected lights and relays. This also allows for time automated dimming and switching, and client programmable lighting displays.

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY LIGHTING DESIGN & INSTALLATION COMMENDATION Fredon (ACT) Tuggeranong Aged Care The state-of-the-art Tuggeranong Aged Care facility was created by re-purposing three existing commercial office buildings, and features the largest Casambi Bluetooth Lighting Control system in the southern hemisphere. Bluetooth Dimming Control is used for daylight harvesting, scene control, external lighting control, and standard apartment lighting, while a specialised dementia care ward uses Circadian Rhythm lighting. Combined with a wireless Legrand Monitoring System, controlling the lights via wired switches has almost been eliminated on the site.

VOICE/DATA COMMUNICATIONS & AUDIO VISUAL CATEGORY Intravision Constitution Place Working across all twelve stories of this new building with multiple major tenants, and a 130-room hotel on the lower four floors, presented Intravision with numerous challenges. Different tenants required their own specific communications fit-outs. Each fit-out had its own architect, as well as multiple workstation designs with each tenancy. Working more than 8,500 hours onsite, Intravision installed more than 3,000 copper outlets, using three different vendors depending on each client’s preference - including Siemon, Panduit and Systimax.

COMMERCIAL SMALL CATEGORY Next Electrical Technologies Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service The construction of this new health facility was complicated by the site containing a mix of old and new buildings. Next Electrical Technologies needed to connect power from the street to multiple buildings, integrate external lighting between buildings, meet differing electrical standards for administrative and medical areas and collaborate with multiple stakeholders. The new facility comprises two floors of medical and administrative areas, two courtyards, basement parking and an exposed plant area on the roof.

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Brooks Marchant Industries (ACT) Australian Parliament House, Mechanical Services Switchboard Replacement Project The project scope encompassed the replacement of the essential and non-essential power sections of thirty-two mechanical services switchboards spread throughout Parliament House. Brooks Marchant Industries worked on several switchboards during the original construction of New Parliament House and they maintain a constant site presence to this day. Several employees have been involved over the building’s life cycle, with the Site Supervisor for this project having first worked on the site as an apprentice during the building’s construction thirty years ago.

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COMMERCIAL MEDIUM COMMENDATION Shepherd Electrical The Canberra Hospital Ward 14A & 14B Refurbishment The scope of works performed by Shepherd Electrical at Canberra Hospital for this refurbishment project included new switchboards with ComAP control and ATS changeover for essential and non-essential power, communications room switchboards, circuit breakers and sub-mains from the main switchboards, electrical and communications cable trays, medical panels with body protect certification for patient areas, and LED lighting with Dali controls. Shepherd Electrical introduced an online system to manage over 200 ITPs required to deliver this complex project.

COMMERCIAL LARGE CATEGORY Shepherd Electrical The Canberra Hospital Main Electrical Switchboards Replacement The Electrical Main Switchboard Replacement Project for the 50-year-old Canberra Hospital required the replacement of the main switchboards in a live hospital, with minimal disruption to hospital operations. Begun as a straight replacement of the switchboards, early in Shepherd Electrical’s investigation phase, it became apparent that many of the existing sub-mains were obsolete and needed attention. Prior to each shutdown, months of planning was required to ensure there was no impact on the hospital.

COMMERCIAL LARGE COMMENDATION Martin Donnelly R5/R6 Infrastructure Upgrade This major project upgraded the infrastructure engineering services of the R5 and R6 buildings in Russell to ensure reliable and functional support for the next twenty years. The electrical works included the successful shutdown and retrofit of thirteen Main switchboards and three UPS main distribution boards. A major challenge for Martin Donnelly was to carry out a program of work that maintained critical business continuity for the client, while upgrading main switchboards without any outages.

SPONSOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to formally acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their support of this year’s event and their continued support and commitment to both NECA and the electrical industry. Sponsors:  Clipsal & Schneider Electric  Lawrence & Hanson  NHP

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TLE  Electra Cables  Legend  IPD 

ABB  NECA Training and Apprenticeships 

Event Supporters:  ACT Government Training Fund Authority  ACT Government Access Canberra  Sarina Russo Apprenticeships

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS TASMANIA

INDUSTRIAL SMALL CATEGORY Contact Group Hydro Cethana Power Station The conversion of the fire safety systems in an operating, underground power station to a state-of-the-art Vortex system, required extensive electrical design skills. Contact Group were also faced with working across multiple Australian Standards and numerous Hydro Tasmania installation specifications.

INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Frontline Electrical Goldwind Cattle Hill Wind Farm On the basis of their work on this challenging project, Frontline Electrical was selected as the Goldwind National Emergency Response Team – with the Frontline team called to fly to any other Goldwind site nationally to undertake critical breakdown works on wind turbines.

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September 2021

COMMERCIAL SMALL CATEGORY Banks Electrical and Solar Aura Bar While the external lighting helps create an aura that can be seen around the city, Banks Electrical and Solar exceeded their customer’s vision by creating a complete lighting installation that is the centrepiece of the venue.

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Stowe Australia Movenpick Hotel Hobart Along with completing the full range of electrical and communications services during the construction of this new hotel, Stowe Australia delivered a range of specialised feature lighting in the lobby, restaurant and bars, and hotel suites.

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS TASMANIA WORK HEALTH & SAFETY BEST PRACTICE CATEGORY Contact Group Contact Group The revamp of Contact Group’s QHSE systems focused on incident management, compliance management and training. The new training portal contains a large number of courses that have been developed in-house and which complement training undertaken in the field.

LIGHTING DESIGN & INSTALLATION CATEGORY Frontline Electrical Glenorchy City Council The upgraded lighting in Glenorchy’s CBD has created a safer and more pleasant environment for pedestrians. Along with helping lower the carbon footprint of the area, Frontline Electrical has delivered Australia’s first International Dark-Sky Association compliant public space lighting project.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY Contact Group Cape Barren Island Power Generation Project Working on a remote island in the Bass Straight created numerous logistical challenges for the team from Contact Group. With a barge for heavy equipment only servicing the island once a month depending on the tides, forward planning, multi-skilling and a degree of ingenuity was required.

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September 2021

INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM COMMENDATION RBD Electrical Blackmans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant Blackmans Bay Sewage Treatment Plant involved replacing and upgrading the capacity of the existing plant, which is now at its end of life. RBD Electrical’s scope included a ground mount 1250kVA substation, a 450kVA standby generator, an underground conduit system, the main switchboard and subboards, general light and power, and a station control system with 200 instrument transducers and 50 motor controllers. Working on the greenfield site alongside civil and mechanical installation teams with tight timelines, required high level planning and resourcing.

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM COMMENDATION BSH Electrical Vibe Hotel BSH Electrical completed the full range of electrical services during the construction of the new Vibe Hotel in Hobart, which has transformed Hobart’s skyline with its architecturally-designed facade. Completing almost 19,000 hours on site, the scope included the main switchboard and distribution boards, general power and lighting, feature lighting, communications and MATV services including NBN pathways, exit and emergency lighting, fire detection and occupant warning systems, access control and CCTV, the room management system with lighting integration and AV and hearing augmentation.

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MMEM AWM  D&W  Electra Cables

Legend IPD  ABB

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS QUEENSLAND

WORK HEALTH & SAFETY BEST PRACTICE CATEGORY Nilsen (QLD) Energised Testing Safety Barrier Working in one of the world’s largest alumina refineries with aging assets and no heat mapping electrical infrastructure, Nilsen developed its Energised Testing Safety Barrier to allow its workers to safely carry out infrared and ultrasonic testing while the plant remained operational.

WORK HEALTH & SAFETY BEST PRACTICE COMMENDATION Fredon (QLD) Fredon WH&S Systems In response to the emerging risk of exposure to silica dust, Fredon developed new workplace procedures on the 182-bed, Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service – or STARS - project within the Herston Health Precinct. By investigating alternative methods of installation to reduce the need to drill or cut concrete, Fredon was able to dramatically improve the safety outcomes for its own employees, and most importantly, everyone on site.

LIGHTING DESING & INSTALLATION CATEGORY Fredon (QLD) CBUS & Suncorp Stadiums Lighting Upgrade During the electrical and communications works to upgrade the lighting at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast, and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Fredon had to maintain a live, fully operational environment to avoid disruption to the stadiums’ commercial activities. Following the removal of the old metal arc sports lighting system, 572 Philips Arenavison Gen3 LED sports lights were installed, along with the associated control systems.

EMERGING NEW SMALL BUSINESS COMMENDATION Give Industries Give Industries Give Industries is a young company working across hospitality, retail, commercial, and not-for-profits in the aged care and food relief sector. Give Industries is an ACNC registered charity and 100% of the profit from its work is donated to charity. In the two years since the company was formed, Give Industries’ social enterprise model has seen the company donate $124,004 to its charity partners.

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September 2021

LIGHTING DESING & INSTALLATION COMMEDATION Blue Star Pacific The Jewel Jewel in Surfers Paradise is a 5-star, green star, absolute beachfront development on the Gold Coast. Consisting of three crystalline towers, each building has a feature façade lighting installation to emulate a glistening jewel. The lights on Jewel’s peak were specified by Blue Star to enable seamless integration into the DMX system, allowing a single-point of control for the entire façade lighting display.

INDUSTRIAL SMALL CATEGORY Fredon (QLD) Sleeman Ski Jump Fredon designed and constructed all electrical and control interfacing components for the Sleeman Ski Jump, the first of its kind in Australia. After researching ski jumps around the world, Fredon designed and built two bespoke control panels to interface with the aeration control for the twenty-six air lines which run into the pool, disturbing the water surface and helping ensure a safe landing for athletes.

INDUSTRIAL SMALL COMMENDATION Blue Star Atlantic Tissue, PM 1 Project Following the toilet paper shortages early in the COVID-19 pandemic, QLD Tissue installed a new production line at the plant, increasing output by 30% to 150 tonnes of toilet paper per day. Blue Star Atlantic were contracted for the electrical and control installation for the line. The mix of new and imported motor control centers (MCCs) and motors, required constant communication with foreign engineers and contractors during the installation.

INDUSTRIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Nilsen (QLD) Kilcoy Global Foods HV Infrastructure Upgrade This major High Voltage Infrastructure Upgrade by Nilsen for Kilcoy Global Foods involved the construction and commissioning of a new Biogas Power Plant. The methane gas produced at the 24/7 meat processing facility is twenty-five times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The methane will now be recovered to fuel the Biogas Plant, which in turn will generate the electricity needed for the processing facility.

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EXCELLENCE AWARDS QUEENSLAND ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT CATEGORY Stowe Australia Reef HQ Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade Reef HQ in Townsville houses the world’s largest living coral reef exhibit. The scope of works involved a full electrical infrastructure upgrade, whilst keeping the site operational and open to the public. New backup generators, increased solar power PV, sodium nickle chloride battery system with inverters, and a site-wide power monitoring and control system have all increased the building’s energy efficiency and reliability.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & ENVIRONMENT COMMENDATION Blue Star Pacific The Coterie The Coterie is a new residential development of 249 apartments across two towers. Blue Star Pacific were engaged for the electrical design and construct package – including lighting design and installation, data, MATV, access control, and resident intercom system. The building was designed for the highest energy efficiency rating possible, with LED fittings, smart metering, motion sensors and ceiling fans that create good ventilation in the units.

VOICE/DATA COMMUNICATIONS & AUDIO VISUAL CATEGORY Programmed Electrical Technologies Shell Project 275 The Shell Project was carried out within an existing building and a complete demolition of seven floors from levels twenty-four to thirty was carried out during the project. Programmed Electrical Technologies’ scope was to supply and install the communications, electrical services, audio visual technology, acoustic sound-masking, distributed antenna service, and network supply, configuration and installation for the project.

COMMERCIAL SMALL CATEGORY Stowe Australia Upper Mt Gravatt Fire Damage Rectification Project 200 students were left without classrooms after a devastating fire gutted eight rooms at Upper Mt Gravatt school. Stowe Australia joined with many other solution providers to work around the clock from the Friday night, clearing the site and installing a modular building. Fully commissioned with landscape works, the school was open for the children three days later on the Tuesday morning.

COMMERCIAL SMALL COMMENDATION Perigon Fortitude Music Hall The Fortitude Music Hall is the largest combined ballroom and theatre venue in Australia, with a 3,000 person standing capacity and 1,200 seated. Perigon completed the full design and construct, with all design work done in-house, on this iconic project, which draws on Brisbane’s legendary old Festival Hall. The electrical scope included power and light, security and access control, solar, UPS, converged communications network, MATV, CCTV and intercom.

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September 2021

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM CATEGORY Fredon (QLD) Redcliffe Hospital ERRP Fredon completed a major electrical upgrade at Redcliffe Hospital after it was identified that the existing low voltage distribution infrastructure was beyond capacity and at its end of life. Fredon completed the supply and installation of three site main switchboards, three consumer mains, three generator main and generator control panels, 205 new sub-circuit sub-mains, and the migration of all existing hospital loads to the new main switchboards.

COMMERCIAL MEDIUM COMMENDATION Programmed Electrical Technologies Shell Project 275 Programmed Electrical Technologies’ strong past relationship with Shell in providing high-end audio-visual designs and solutions, led to Programmed Electrical Technologies being engaged to carry out the design and engineering component of the audio-visual package for the sevenlevel renovation and fit-out of Shell’s offices in Brisbane. Programmed Electrical Technologies were also successful in gaining the communications and electrical packages for the project.

COMMERCIAL LARGE CATEGORY Fredon (QLD) STARS STARS is a new, 8-level, 168-bed hospital built as a partnership between the Queensland Government and Australia Unity. Fredon used the newly introduced Tricab flexible aluminium cables, with a twenty-year end-to-end warranty provided to the client for sub-main cables and the lug terminations. With their partners, Fredon also delivered innovative pre-terminated distribution boards, dramatically reducing fit-off and commissioning time.

COMMERCIAL LARGE COMMENDATION Blue Star Pacific Jewel Surfers Paradise The electrical design and construct of the Jewel development at Surfers Paradise was completed in two separate stages. Over 200,000 hours were worked by Blue Star Pacific delivering a number of systems including consumer mains, low voltage reticulation, three main switchboards, distribution boards, security and access control, communications infrastructure, lighting control and room automation, energy and water management systems, audio visual, UPS and essential generator backup systems.

NHP Clipsal & Schneider Electric

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Electra Cables Legend  Lawrence & Hanson

Haymans IPD  ABB

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MGA Insurance Group NECA Training and Apprenticeships

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APPRENTICE AWARDS WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1st YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD Kingsley Mitchley Electrical Group Training (hosted by Shamrock Electrics)

2nd YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD Elliot Holborn Rilec Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd

3rd YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD Emerson Johnston Electrical Group Training (hosted by SMEC Power and Technology)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Euan Brown Electrical Group Training (hosted by Insight Electrical Technology)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD INDUSTRIAL Corree Corbett CSI Mining Services

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September 2021

APPRENTICE AWARDS AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Eltaf Ramozi SolarHub

4th YEAR APPRENTICE STATE RUNNER-UP COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Samuel Mihalyka NECA Training & Apprenticeships

4th YEAR APPRENTICE THIRD PLACE COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Michael Deutsch NECA Training & Apprenticeships

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APPRENTICE AWARDS TASMANIA

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC

4th YEAR APPRENTICE FINALISTS

Gilbert Riseley NECA Education & Careers (hosted by Banks Electrical & Solar}

Reed Vanderzwan Contact Group Commercial/ Domestic Nathan Oakley NECA Education & Careers (hosted by A.S Farr) Commercial/Domestic Darcey Brazendale NECA Education & Careers (hosted by McWilkys Electrical} Commercial/ Domestic Lleyton Duggan NECA Education & Careers (hosted by Tasmanian Health Organisation NWRH) Commercial/Domestic Dylan Zantuck NECA Education & Careers (hosted by RBD Electrical) Industrial

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD INDUSTRIAL Daniel Debnam NECA Education & Careers (hosted by Frontline Electrical)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE RUNNER-UP COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Connor Hammond NECA Education & Careers (hosted by BSH Electrical)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE RUNNER-UP INDUSTRIAL Hayden Reid NECA Education & Careers (hosted by RBD Electrical)

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September 2021

APPRENTICE AWARDS QUEENSLAND

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC

4th YEAR APPRENTICE FINALISTS

Nadine Forbes NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by Fredon)

Marcus Boge NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by Programmed Electrical Technologies) Commercial/Domestic Brady Groom NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by Green Switch Electrical) Commercial/Domestic

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD INDUSTRIAL Jacob Johnson NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by 4D Electrical QLD)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE AWARD INDUSTRIAL Michael Buggie NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by Programmed Electrical Technologies)

4th YEAR APPRENTICE COMMENDATION COMMERCIAL/DOMESTIC Jack Druery NECA Electrical Apprenticeships (hosted by Stowe Australia)

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BRANCH UPDATE Larry Moore NECA SA/NT Executive Director

Our Industry Gala Dinner, held on Friday 10 September 2021, was an outstanding success, with over 430 attendees enjoying an evening filled with entertainment, great food and wine, and industry achievements on display by both members and their apprentices. We wish to congratulate all the winners and finalists of the Excellence Awards and Apprentice Awards and thank all of those who nominated a project or apprentice. It is pleasing once again to see the great work our members are undertaking and the fantastic apprentices they are employing.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended the event and showed support for our industry and our association. We have once again received excellent feedback in regard to the event, which seems to be growing in numbers and popularity every year. Particularly as we were unable to run the event last year, this year was highly anticipated by all. The evening kicked off with a welcome from our President, Andrew Thorpe, and some information about what NECA has been up to over the past two years. This was followed by an informative

SA/NT BRANCH

WELCOME TO OUR NEW WORKPLACE RELATIONS ADVISOR KATHLYN QUILANDRINO As previously advised in the SA/NT eNews, Sabina Pola resigned her position as Workplace Relations Advisor at NECA SA/NT to take up a legal position in Melbourne. We wish to acknowledge the great work Sabina has done for the NECA SA/NT Branch and wish her well in her new career, which we have no doubt she will excel in. We are very pleased to welcome Kathlyn Quilandrino to the NECA SA/NT team, who took up the Workplace Relations role as of Monday 30 August. Kat, who has completed a Bachelor of Law and has been working in family law for a number of years, will be a valuable asset to the team at NECA SA/NT. Please do not hesitate to phone the office on (08) 8272 2966 to speak with Kat about any of your HR/IR/Legal/Contract queries. Kat’s contact details are:  (08) 8272 2966



kathlyn.quilandrino@necasa.asn.au

September 2021

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speech from Executive Director of Energy Technical and Regulation, Vince Duffy, who spoke about the work the Department for Energy and Mining are doing to stabilise the electricity grid and boost our renewable sector. Later in the evening we had a performance from comedian Amos Gill, who had the crowd in stitches. To cap off the evening, the seven piece band, The Cast, provided a fantastic line up of new and old songs.

thinking about your submissions now. Members can get plenty of assistance in regard to their submission from our Business Relationship Manager, Leah Boyce. If you would like further information on entering a project or apprentice into the awards, please do not hesitate to contact the NECA SA/NT office and speak to Leah.

Our sincere thanks to all our sponsors, because quite simply these events could not be run without their generous support. Our sponsors this year included:

On a more sober subject, we note the recent introduction of the new South Australian Skills Act and the associated Skills Standards and in particular the new apprentice supervision guidelines, that are a major concern to the licensed trade sectors. Whilst we do understand the good intent of these changes, significant problems have been identified. We would hope that the Skills Commission is receptive to our concerns and changes can be made to ensure these unintended consequences do not increase the already unacceptable skill shortages that are affecting our industry. We will keep members informed of any developments in this area.

Perpetual Sponsor Lai Group National Business Partner NHP Apprentice Sponsor Bianco Construction & Industrial Supplies Gold Sponsor Cbus Super Product Sponsor Milwaukee Tools Silver Sponsors NECA Careers & Apprenticeships (NCA) Award Sponsor Portable Long Service Leave, Energetic Lighting, simPRO and PEER Bronze Sponsors MEGT and St Patrick’s Technical College The Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for small, medium and large electrical and communications contractors to showcase the high quality work they perform every day and the Apprentice Awards recognise the top apprentices in our industry based on their technical abilities, general knowledge, attitude, passion and desire to succeed in their career. The full write up on this year’s NECA SA/NT Excellence and Apprentice Awards will be featured in the December edition of the NECA NEWS. If you have a project or apprentice that you are proud of, we encourage you to seriously consider entering the 2022 Excellence and Apprentice Awards where the rewards are significant. If you have a project or apprentice in mind, it would be very beneficial to begin

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Apprentice Supervision Guidelines

New Workplace Relations Advisor We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Workplace Relations Advisor, Kathlyn Quilandrino, who commenced with NECA SA/ NT on Monday 30 August 2021. Kathlyn studied Law at UniSA and also holds a Master’s Degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Kathlyn worked in family dispute resolution for many years and is looking forward to a new challenge at NECA SA/NT.

Upcoming Events We are running a range of events and workshops in October and November before the Christmas/end of year period begins. Please check our eNews and eAlerts to keep up-to-date on what we have coming up. Our team has organised a fantastic line up of seminars and events on a range of subjects including legal, contracts, business management, Crucial Women in Construction and more. Members can also keep up-to-date on our events through our Facebook www.fb.com/neca.sa.1 and Instagram @neca_sant. I highly encourage all members to visit the page or read our latest eNews to see what is on offer. All seminars are provided either free of charge or a very nominal cost for members of the association. If you would like to know more, or have not received our eNews, contact the NECA SA/NT office on (08) 8272 2966.

Save The Date for our Crucial Women in Construction End of Year Celebration Our Crucial Women in Construction (CWIC) initiative is growing rapidly and as such we have added another event to the calendar to network and celebrate the great work that women do within our industry. This end of year celebration will be held on Friday 26 November 2021 at The Gallery in Adelaide. Invitations will be sent out in early October but save the date in your diaries now. For further information or assistance with any of the above please contact the NECA SA/NT team on (08) 8272 2966.

We warmly welcome Kathlyn to the team.

NECA SA/NT CALENDAR OF EVENTS Master Builders NT Excellence in Building & Construction Awards  Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin  Saturday, 25 September 2021  6.30pm Labour Day Public Holiday (SA)  Monday, 4 October 2021 Crucial Women in Construction (CWIC) End of Year Celebration  The Gallery, Adelaide  Friday, 26 November 2021  4.00pm-7.00pm

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UNDERSTANDING WHAT WARRANTIES APPLY TO YOUR WORK IN SA

AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR HAS A GENERAL OBLIGATION TO DO THEIR WORK WITH DUE CARE AND DILIGENCE AND IN LINE WITH THE AGREED SCOPE. HOWEVER, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT WARRANTIES MAY APPLY TO THEIR WORK. 

if the homeowner has expressly made known to the contractor the particular purpose for which the work is required, or the result that the homeowner wants the work to achieve, there is a warranty that the work and any materials used in performing the work will be reasonably fit for that purpose or of such a nature and quality that they might reasonably be expected to achieve that result.

Australian Consumer Law In addition to the general obligation and these statutory warranties, under the Australian Consumer Law an electrical contractor provides certain guarantees for any work they do for a “consumer” or any products/ appliances they supply to a “consumer”. Those guarantees include: 



Building Work Contractors Act If an electrical contractor is contracted directly by a homeowner, the warranties under the Building Work Contractors Act will apply. Those warranties are: 

the work will be done in a proper manner to accepted trade standards and in line with the plans and specifications agreed to by the parties;

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all materials supplied will be good and proper;  the work will be done in accordance with all statutory requirements (which includes the National Construction Code and of course the wiring standards);  if the contract does not state a period within which the work must be completed, the work will be performed with reasonable diligence; 



the work will be done with due care and skill; the work will be fit for any particular purpose made known to the electrical contractor; the work will be of such a nature, quality, state or condition, that they might reasonably be expected to achieve any result the consumer makes known that it wishes to achieve; if no time period is stipulated in the contract, the work will be done within a reasonable time; any products/appliances supplied will be of acceptable quality, including that the products/ appliances are safe, durable and fit for all the purposes for which products/appliances of that kind are commonly supplied;

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

any products/appliances supplied are fit for any disclosed purpose and for any purpose of which the electrical contractor represents that they are reasonably fit; any products/appliances supplied correspond with any description given to the consumer.

A “consumer” is defined under the Australian Consumer Law as a person who acquires goods or services in circumstances where the amount paid or payable for the goods or services does not exceed $40,000 or the goods or services are of a kind ordinarily acquired for personal, domestic or household use or consumption. However, a party is not a consumer if the party: 



purchases products/ appliances for the purpose of selling (or re-supplying) them to a third party so where an electrical contractor supplies products/appliances pursuant to a contract with a builder, and those products/appliances are then re-supplied to the homeowner, the builder would not be a “consumer” with respect to the purchasing of those products/appliances; or



purchases products/appliances for the purpose of using them in the course of repairing a fixture.

Therefore, if work is performed or a product/appliance provided for a residential property, or the price of the work or products/ appliances is $40,000 or less, these guarantees will likely apply: 

With respect to defective products or appliances:

when the electrical contractor is engaged by the homeowner directly; when the electrical subcontractor is subcontracted by the builder, but only with respect to the services supplied to the builder, not products/ appliances supplied to a builder which are then re-supplied by the builder to the homeowner or used by the builder in the course of repairing a fixture.

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

If an electrical contractor supplies a product or appliance to a job and it is later found that the product or appliance is defective, the electrical contractor may well have a claim against the supplier/manufacturer. However, the consumer is entitled to require the contractor to honour the warranty claim before getting relief from the supplier/manufacturer. A homeowner may have recourse against the supplier/manufacturer under a warranty provided by the supplier/manufacturer. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a consumer is guaranteed that the manufacturer of the goods will take

reasonable action to ensure that facilities for the repair of the goods (or part of the goods) are reasonably available for a reasonable period after the goods are supplied. There is a lot of overlap between the various laws but the common themes are: 

do the work right;



use good materials and products; and



do the work according to the design, any requirements expressed to you and the wiring standards.

NECA/RACCA Members in South Australia and the Northern Territory get half an hour of free advice on any new matter from Lynch Meyer Lawyers.

Charles Moran Special Counsel, Lynch Meyer Lawyers cmoran@lynchmeyer.com.au

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ROADSHOW SEMINAR SERIES

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WRAP UP

THE 2021 NECA ROADSHOW SEMINARS HAVE COME TO A CLOSE, WITH THE NECA TEAM AND ASSOCIATED SPONSORS AND PRESENTERS OF THE EVENT RETURNING TO ADELAIDE IN MID-MAY, AFTER PRESENTING FOURTEEN SHOWS TO 1000 ELECTRICIANS THROUGHOUT METROPOLITAN AND REGIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Once again, the NECA Roadshow Seminars have been a great opportunity for contractors and their employees to receive information and assistance from NECA, the Department for Education, SA Power Networks and the Office of the Technical Regulator, on a range of topics, in addition to viewing the many products and services available through our dedicated sponsors. Electricians who are a part of the Clean Energy Council Solar PV Accreditation Scheme can receive twenty five CPD points for attending a NECA Roadshow Seminar this year. To obtain your copy of attendance for this year’s Roadshow, contact the NECA SA/NT office on (08) 8272 2966 or email neca@necasa.asn.au. Topics covered at the seminar presentation included:  

 

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NECA’s new HSEQ Digital product, The new Dual Trade Apprenticeship pilot program, Industry and School Collaboration, Updates to the Service and Installation Rules, Review of the Service and Installation Rules,

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Connection Central,

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Recent workplace accidents,

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Testing and isolation,

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Smarter homes,

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Australian Standards updates,

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eCOC Test sheets,

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FAQs and common breaches,

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Buying online products, and

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Shock reporting.

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NECA SA/NT would like to thank members for their support of this year’s event and we look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s event. If you did not get the chance to attend, copies of the handout can be acquired by contacting the NECA SA/NT office or calling in to pick one up. These events are a large commitment for those involved and we thank everyone involved for their dedication and contribution, especially our sponsors and presenters. The 2021 NECA Roadshow Seminars were another successful event for the NECA SA/NT crew, and we certainly hope that our members got as much out of them as we did. Please do not hesitate to call or email us with your feedback, questions or comments regarding the Roadshows. This helps NECA SA/NT to improve and continually grow the Roadshow Seminar Series to ensure you are getting the best out of the seminars. We appreciate your feedback and any other comments you may have.

Major Prize Draw Winner Congratulations to Steve Westlake from Westlake Contracting who won the Major Prize: a Milwaukee M18 FUEL 8 Piece Power Kit valued at $2,529! Thank you to Milwaukee for their generous donation of this amazing prize for our Annual Roadshow Seminar Series.

September 2021

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BRANCH UPDATE Wayne Hobson NECA TAS President

TASMANIA’S ECONOMY HAS PERFORMED WELL SO FAR IN 2021. A RECENT REPORT BY DELOITTE PREDICTS POSITIVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN TASMANIA OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND OUR COVID-19-FREE STATUS – ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES AND SUPPORT – HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO THIS STRONG ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE. In August, NECA Tasmania held its state 2020/21 Excellence and Apprentice Awards. After a year of uncertainty resulting from COVID-19 restrictions, Tasmanian electrical contractors came together to celebrate innovation and excellence within the industry.

More information on Tasmania’s winners has been provided as part of the magazine’s feature story. Following the successful gala evening, our state winners will participate in NECA’s National Excellence and

MEET BEN – YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER NECA is very pleased to introduce Ben Shaw, our new Business Development Manager in Tasmania.

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Ben has joined us after seventeen years in the electrical sales landscape. Having worked with companies such as Triangle Cables, Remtron Automation, Power & Automation and the L&H Group, he has a solid understanding of our industry. He’s looking forward to helping members’ businesses, and the electrotechnology industry, to continue to thrive. “I’m really excited to take up this new role and work with our valued members, making sure you have access to the latest policy and market information as well as technical, legal, WHS, IR and HR advice,” said Ben. We are significantly increasing NECA’s focus within Tasmania and want to understand where you think we can provide better support. In the coming weeks, Ben will be in contact with many of you through NECA’s events, meetings and member phone calls. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas. NECA Member Services is available to help with your event registrations, technical, legal, WHS, IR, HR or Technical Knowledge Base (TKB) support. We also encourage you to contact Ben directly at ben.shaw@neca.asn.au or 0499 889 965 with any comments or suggestions on how we can improve NECA membership in Tasmania.

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Apprentice Awards in early 2022. We wish our apprentices and contractors all the very best for this exciting event. NECA has continued to advise Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), and the state government more broadly, on the review of several policies and codes of conduct. We have made submissions regarding TasNetworks’ Service and Installation Rules and two CBOS documents: the Electricity Consumption Metering Safety Requirements and the Occupational Licensing (Supervision of Prescribed Work) Code of Practice. NECA actively participated in the public consultation process that will apply to all of these documents later in 2021. CBOS has also issued advisory notes for reporting unsafe electrical installations and electrical compliance – prefabricated structures, which we will consider and respond to in due course as appropriate. On the regulatory front, Standards Australia has issued Amendment No 2 for AS/NZS 3000:2018 (Wiring Rules), and

the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) has issued its summary of requirements for inverters and isolating solar systems. Tasmanian contractors have been waiting for both documents with some anticipation.

NECA held Industry Roadshows across Tasmania. All of the presentations/ events attracted CPD points. In the coming months, NECA will release more event dates and webinars that will provide attendees with CPD points.

Our most recent Electrical Contractor Industry Liaison (ECIL) meeting in June was productive, and the minutes from this meeting are available should members wish to get in contact. One CBOS document noted by the meeting details Common Electrical Work Defects. This document highlights the ten most common defects in residential, commercial, industrial and solar installations, and is a useful reference point for both practitioners and consumers alike. Further ECIL meetings in 2021 are scheduled for 22 September and 8 December. These will be held at Midlands Bowls Club in Campbell Town.

I look forward to continuing to work with Tasmanian members during 2021, and encourage all members to get involved with NECA’s events and industry forums during the remainder of the year.

NECA provides a range of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for Tasmanian contractors. In recent months, NECA ran a variety of webinars for technicians and business owners, and this September,

Vale Doug Couzins It gives me great sadness to report that Doug Couzins, a stalwart of NECA in Tasmania, has passed away. Doug was a member of NECA Tasmania for many decades, and his contribution to the electrical industry helped shaped NECA into a leading representative industry body in this state. He was an active member of the Northwest Tasmania chapter until his retirement. On behalf of NECA Tasmania, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Suzanna and the Couzins family.

NECA LEGAL WEBINAR SERIES Throughout April to August, the NECA Legal team presented a series of continuing professional development (CPD) webinars to assist members with their employment, building and construction legal obligations. The NECA Legal team discussed the most important issues amongst Tasmanian electrical contractors including: 



Termination of employment and some of the pitfalls faced when dealing with this difficult and often unpleasant task; Employers’ rights and obligations under the ten National Employment Standards, and their application to different types of employment and the Electrical Award; Key clauses in construction contracts to reduce your business’s exposure to risk during and after a project;



A deep dive into the steps to making an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) and the benefits of an EBA in comparison to standalone employment contracts; How to effectively use Tasmanian Security of Payment legislation to ensure cashflow within the construction industry, and the process of making a claim under the legislation;



The requirements a union must meet in order to enter a construction site where your team is working, and your responsibilities when a union has a right to enter; Recovering outstanding client debts and unpaid invoices; and Exploring your legal rights and responsibilities to personal property.

If you missed out on these webinars, you can view them and other resources at www.constructionlawyersydney.com NECA’s dedicated team of industry legal and IR professionals specialise within the field of construction and workplace relations law, and can assist your business with a range of matters relating to developers, builders, employees and unions. NECA members receive free twenty-minute phone consultations with our legal team. If you require legal, HR or IR assistance, contact NECA Member Services on 1300 361 099 or email memberservices@neca.asn.au

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2021/22 TASMANIAN

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STATE BUDGET UPDATE THE 2021/22 TASMANIAN STATE BUDGET WAS DELIVERED BY THE PREMIER AND TREASURER, THE HON PETER GUTWEIN MHA, ON 26 AUGUST 2021. THIS YEAR’S BUDGET WAS DELIVERED LATER THAN USUAL DUE TO THE STATE ELECTION BEING HELD ON 1 MAY. The Budget foresees growth during the current financial year of 4%, with revenue increasing 5.9% to $7.2 billion, and expenditure up 9.4% to $7.9 billion. A budget deficit of $689 million this year is expected to give way to a return to surplus by 2023/24. The State Government expects unemployment to average 5.5% during the current financial year, with population growth of 0.5%, and 28,000 new jobs created over a four-year period.

The centrepiece of the Budget is a $5.7 billion infrastructure package over four years, centred on the government’s Roads and Bridges Program, with provisions for the redevelopment of ports, power stations, and renewable energy. The Budget also allocates $98.6 million to a four-year program to rectify problems within TasTAFE, as well as significant allocations for public housing, schools and education, stimulus funding for employment growth, and health.

NECA will continue to work with the government to seek additional funds for skills and training within the electrotechnical industry in Tasmania. For more information on the 2021/22 Budget, go to www.bit.ly/2021-22tasbudget

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BRANCH UPDATE Pawel Podolski NECA VIC Executive Director Dean Spicer NECA VIC President

Welcome to another edition of the Victorian NECA News. The last few months have been exceptionally busy at NECA Victoria, and despite the ongoing snap lockdowns, there are many positives to mention. Our value proposition is clearly getting better and more tailored to our industry and your collective needs, with membership signups continuing to rise at an accelerating rate. Member loyalty is also at an all-time high, despite the many challenges organisations are navigating – this is very humbling. Our phone lines and email contact channels continue to run red-hot, which from

our perspective is fantastic to see, as it always pains us when members don’t fully utilise the many valuable services and value-adds they can derive from their NECA membership. The NECA Victoria team has also made some very significant inroads with the government, including –after a long and active advocacy campaign – influencing the introduction of a new Business Support package, which now extends to our contractors, who have been impacted by the most recent lockdowns. Many of you have reached out to NECA on this issue, so this is a very pleasing and significant win for all our small and medium sized contractors.

INSPECTORS TO BENEFIT WITH NECA VICTORIA’S NEW INDUSTRY ‘MENTORING’ PROGRAM The Technical team at NECA Victoria is delighted to announce a new program of industry mentoring to assist prospective and new electrical inspectors to enhance their knowledge, skills, and experience in electrical inspection.

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COVID-19 notwithstanding, we have completed several mentoring sessions with NECA Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI) members over the past year and a half, across all classes of electrical inspection. Our Technical and Renewables Manager, Louis Knoops (a licensed electrical inspector), has been in the field, helping installers and inspectors to ensure that industry standards are met during installation, testing, and certification periods of photo-voltaic systems. Our Technical Manager, Michael Weekes, has been mentoring

G-Class electrical inspectors looking to expand their knowledge and experience in general, high voltage and medical (body protected) electrical inspections. To date, most of this mentoring has been in metropolitan Melbourne, but we are looking to expand the program across the state. If you have clients requesting special class inspections, please contact the NECA Victoria Technical team. Keep an eye out for the announcement on mentoring for LEIs with the Solar Homes program, due for release October 2021.

“Approximately 12 months ago I contacted NECA for assistance in obtaining a High Voltage Class Electrical Inspectors Licence. Turns out this was one of the best career phone calls I would ever make.” — Lee Hogg, Power Project Services

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2021-2025 ETU Enterprise Bargaining Agreement Over the past few months, NECA Victoria’s Workplace Relations and legal arm, Constructive Legal Solutions, together with several industry bargaining representatives, have been very busy negotiating the 20212025 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with the ETU, exclusively for NECA Members. These negotiations have resulted in a positive outcome, which has been touted by some as “the best outcome in years”, including by ‘veterans’ who have been through earlier bargaining cycles. Just a few of the highlights include: 1. Wage rate revisions will only occur on an annual basis and will increase by 1% in the first year (in October 2021) and 3% in each of the following years. These rates compare much more favorably than what the other counterparts in the construction industry were able to achieve. 2. The total cost increase for the 4-year term amounted to around 11%, as compared to the opening claims, which amounted to north of 20%.

3. Redundancy payments, which used to be on a pro rata basis, have now been limited to being pro rata for the 1st year of employment only. 4. For living away from home allowances, distant project has now been redefined, such that it is a 100km radius from the employer’s workshop. In addition to the above, the industry bargaining representatives were able to work on several other claims from the ETU, to ensure practical outcomes for NECA Members. The ETU Enterprise Agreement (EA) template was recently assessed and approved by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in record timing, showcasing the robustness and quality of the process and the template itself. NECA Victoria’s legal arm, Constructive Legal Solutions, has been engaged by individual members, to lodge tailored EAs, using the EA template as the base document. The team is here to assist you with any tailoring or modifications to the standard template that your organisations require to be reflected.

This round of negotiations has also resulted in improving communication lines with the ETU, which we foresee will enable working more collaboratively with the union for key pan-industry projects in the future, here in Victoria. Dean and I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank our bargaining representatives, Rob Selymesi, Michael Sharpe, David Edgecumbe, Jim Natsis and John Carrier who volunteered their time and provided practical and relevant insights into the service and maintenance and construction work performed by members on the ground. If you would like to learn more about the agreement, you can read about it here www.bit.ly/necaea2025. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact NECA on necavic@neca.asn.au, or contact NECA Victoria’s legal arm (Constructive Legal Solutions) directly via admin@constructivelegalsolutions.com.au. As always, we invite you to enjoy the rest of the material prepared for you by the NECA team across some of the Victoriancentric issues, as well as proving a sense of ‘what is hot’ across the other states.

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OVERHAUL OF VICTORIA’S

SECURITY OF PAYMENT REGIME AS PART OF NECA’S ROLE AS A PEAK INDUSTRY BODY, NECA VICTORIA AIMS TO HELP OUR MEMBERS AND THE WIDER INDUSTRY, NOT ONLY TO OPERATE AND MANAGE THEIR BUSINESSES MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, BUT TO ALSO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS TO GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORS. NECA Victoria was recently approached by the Victorian Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) to provide feedback on the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (the SOP Act) from the outset. A personal thank you to those members who took the time to provide feedback, as the crucial information on the day-to-day practical impacts on contracting businesses, has allowed NECA Victoria to properly represent members’ interests.

The issues Outlined below are the most common issues members face when it comes to payments for services performed: 1. Not getting paid As a finishing trade, electrical contractors are involved in the latter stages of the building and construction cycle. In the event

a head/principal contractor falls into receivership, electrical contractors, as subcontractors, can be heavily disadvantaged compared to other trades, which are paid much earlier in the build. 2. Late payments The most common issue is noncompliance with payment terms on invoices. For example, if payment terms are 60 days, the client can unilaterally stretch out payment to 90 days or longer, causing serious cash flow issues for the subcontractor, who typically works on terms of trade with suppliers, for 60 days or less. Members have also reluctantly accepted repayments in small monthly amounts, which can be an administrative nightmare to control. Long delays are also encountered in processing variations, payments and return of cash retentions. In these instances,

businesses, mainly SMEs, continue to experience cash flow issues due to the backlog, which creates a vicious cycle. To counter these payment issues, members have made use of debt collectors, the Magistrates Court or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), but the consensus is that debts are not pursued if they are less than $1,000 and the process is time-consuming. Even where an order is obtained, it is of little assistance if the client is insolvent. ……So that leaves us with the SOP Act.

Problems with the SOP Act The Act has been touted as a fast-track, cost effective process that aims to ensure that any person who carries out construction (or who supplies related goods and services under a construction contract), is entitled to receive and can recover progress payments for those works, goods and services. However, this is not what is experienced by members on the ground. In fact, the current process is time-consuming, complex, and expensive to access. Some of the key problems with subcontractors utilising the SOP Act include: a) If the subcontractor uses their statutory right under the Act to suspend work until paid, they are usually threatened with claims for liquidated damages. b) Usually, the appropriate person to deal with the payment from the client end is not contactable/accountable. c) The Act does not embrace variations, especially where the principal contractor/builder issues a variation order for works without a price.

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The electrical subcontractor is instructed to carry out the works immediately or is threatened with liquidated damages. When the variation is eventually submitted, it is disputed and frequently only offered as a percentage of the cost. d) Most subcontractors are reluctant to proceed with the SOP process, as they do not want to damage the relationship with the client (principal contractor/government) out of fear of potentially losing future work.

What needs to change? Based on the above issues, NECA Victoria has made the following recommendations to the Victorian Government. Retention Trusts is a system where retention money is held in trust for the subcontractor in a trust account, established with an authorised deposittaking institution. These types of schemes should be administered by the Government, to reduce or avoid administrative burdens on business, and to create a level playing field via a consistent and transparent approach. Payment Withholding Request (PWR) legislation, similar to that existing in NSW. A PWR is served by a subcontractor who has made an adjudication application for a payment claim. It includes a written statement by the subcontractor/claimant in the form

of a statutory declaration, that it genuinely believes that the amount of money claimed is owed to the subcontractor by the head contractor. Upon receiving a PWR, the principal must withhold from any amount payable to the contractor, an amount equivalent to that claimed by the subcontractor. If the principal fails to comply with this request, it will become jointly and severally liable with the head contractor for the amount owed to the subcontractor.

head contractor from being used for other purposes or, in the case of a head contractor’s insolvency, being available to an administrator or liquidator. 



Legislation should be enacted to mandate payment of SME contractors within seven days, according to agreed payment terms and enforce heavy penalties for non-compliance/ late payment with an interest impost. Granting the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) the power to sanction and/ or exclude from Federal Government contracts head contractors, who have repeatedly failed to make payments or return retention money within the specified time to subcontractors, as is the case under the WA Building and Construction Industry Code of Conduct 2016.

Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) have the potential to compliment security of payment laws. It is a bank account opened and maintained by the head contractor in government sector construction contracts, into which the principal deposits contract payments. Simultaneous payments are then made from the PBA to the head contractor and subcontractors (including suppliers and consultants). The PBA has trust status established through a Trust Deed.

Harmonisation of creditor line process laws across Australia, to assist subcontractors operating nationally.

The purpose of the PBA arrangement is to ensure, as far as possible, that money paid to the head contractor for work undertaken by subcontractors is passed on promptly. The trust status of the PBA prevents money paid to the

The full submission can be located on the NECA Victoria website at www.neca.asn.au/vic/advocacy-vic. We will continue to provide members with updates, as this important issue progresses with government.

Joy Meilak General Manager Business and Commercial Services, NECA Victoria joy.meilak@neca.asn.au

FREE HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (HCM) MINI MANUAL GRAB YOUR FREE COPY

Due to popular demand, NECA is excited to announce a Mini HCM Manual – FREE for all NECA Victoria Members. The policies featured in this HCM Manual have been designed specifically for the Electrotechnology industry and will assist businesses achieve their human resources and workplace compliance requirements It features 3 complimentary polices such as Employment Conditions Policy, Leave and Absences Policy, Performance and Conduct Policy as well as additional resources. Request your free copy via email at workplace.relations@neca.asn.au.

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU

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THE IMPORTANCE OF

LODGING CERTIFICATES OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Energy Safe Victoria’s ESVConnect platform has transformed the way Certificates of Electrical Safety (COES) are lodged into an efficient streamlined process. While paper COES will eventually be phased out, ESV, Victoria’s independent energy regulator, is still accepting them and each certificate must be lodged with ESV via the IVR system. When carrying out work, both Registered Electrical Contractors (REC)/Licensed Electrical Workers (LEW) and Licensed Electrical Inspectors (LEI) can lodge paper COES via ESV’s quick and easy IVR phone system on 1300 360 366. ESV analysis shows that in 2020, more than 4,700 COES (or 10% of all lodged paper Prescribed COES) were not lodged by the inspecting LEI. RECs and LEWs must lodge all paper certificates of compliance through the IVR phone system within two days of completing each certificate. It is acknowledged that LEIs are unable to lodge certificates of inspection without the responsible REC or LEW completing their lodgement first. The Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 highlights these requirements in regulations 263 and 254.

Through its analysis, ESV found that of the 4,730 certificates not lodged:  A total of 2,738 REC/LEW certificates of compliance (or 57.79% of 4,730) were initially lodged within two days of certificate of compliance completion. The LEI certificate of inspection was never lodged.  A total of 786 REC/LEW certificates of compliance (or 16.62% of 4,730) were initially lodged within eight days of certificate of compliance completion. The LEI certificate of inspection was never lodged.  A total of 1,206 REC/LEW certificates of compliance (or 25.5% of 4,730) were lodged more than nine days after certificate of compliance completion. The LEI certificate of inspection was never lodged.

enabling LEIs to meet their obligation. We’re calling on LEIs to ensure they have no unlodged paper COES.

This analysis shows that the majority of RECs and LEWs have lodged their certificates of compliance either within or shortly after the required timeframe,

Further information regarding lodgement processes for paper COES are available on the ESV website on the Paper COES page.

LEIs can provide as a service to their clients the ability to lodge the certificate of compliance on behalf of the REC/ LEW since LEIs have this ability in the IVR or online services system. RECs, LEWs and LEIs can contact ESV for assistance or issues with the lodging of certificates. However, penalties may apply for those who do not lodge paper COES within the required timeframes. We urge everyone responsible for the delivery and inspection of electrical work to ensure they fulfil these important requirements as we work to ensure all electrical work is safe and in line with all Victorian laws.

Marnie Williams Director of Energy Safety & CEO Energy Safe Victoria www.esv.vic.gov.au

HSEQ PLUS PASSES THE TEST NECA Victoria is delighted to announce that the HSEQ Plus Safety Management System has received it’s compliance accreditation for AS4801, ISO9001 and ISO1400 (for Safety, Quality and Environmental Management) after its annual audit.

rigorous, fully independent, review against three key industry standards, whilst also implementing continuous improvements over the year to ensure the system meets the needs of the ever evolving electrotechnology industry.

Each year NECA’s HSEQ Plus Safety Management System undertakes a

The demands are rigorous, but NECA continues to strive to ensure the HSEQ

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Plus Management System continues to be an industry leading compliant product that assists you in meeting your OH&S obligations and keeping your workers safe. If you would like to find out more about the HSEQ Plus Safety Management System, please contact the safety team via email on safety@neca.asn.au or 1300 300 031.

September 2021

QUICKER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

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FOR INJURED VICTORIAN WORKERS New laws passed recently in Victoria aim to help workers who suffer a work-related mental injury to access support and treatment more quickly. Under the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Provisional Payments) Act 2021 people seeking compensation for a mental injury in a workplace may be entitled to provisional payments to cover reasonable medical expenses while they await the outcome of their claim. Eligible workers and volunteers will receive provisional payments for up to thirteen weeks, whether a claim is accepted or not. The aim of the legislation is to avoid affected workers and volunteers having to choose between delaying critical care – potentially jeopardising and/ or delaying recovery – and facing stressful out-of-pocket costs for GP

visits, psychologist or psychiatrist appointments and medication.

likely than the average worker to suffer serious and debilitating mental illness.

This interim assistance is particularly important in cases of mental injury, as the claims are often complex, and take an average of twenty days longer to determine than physical injury claims.

Participants accessing the pilot reported that they were more likely to seek early treatment for their mental injury because of the provisional payments program.

The scheme follows a successful pilot which provided provisional payments to police and emergency services workers and volunteers. Police and emergency services workers were chosen for the pilot in recognition of the significant mental stress they face in the workplace. Studies consistently show that they are more

The government hopes that the expanded program will allow more injured people to access the treatment they need in a timely manner, thereby improving recovery outcomes. They are also looking at new regulations to strengthen the occupational health and safety framework, to provide clearer guidance to employers on their obligations to protect workers from mental injury.

Remember that NECA Victorian members, their employees and their families have access to FREE mental wellbeing services from our partner - Hunterlink.

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HAVE YOU BEEN TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN WELLBEING?

1 in11 Australians will suffer depression in any given year

Australians will suffer anxiety in any given year

1 in 5 Australian adults drink alcohol at levels that puts them at risk of harm

We’ve expanded our wellbeing services to include workplace mental health support and behavioural health and safety awareness around drugs and alcohol Learn more: www.protect.net.au

BRANCH UPDATE Carl Copeland NECA WA Branch Secretary

WA BRANCH

Energy Inspectors whoITnow Excellence ALTHOUGHand MARKET CONDITIONS REMAIN DIFFICULT, IS attend PLEASING the events. This direct access to Apprentice Awards

TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR THAT THE inspectors is something that members More than 400 people attended the NECA have requested for a number of years VARIOUS GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PACKAGES AIMED AT INCREASING WA Excellence and Apprentice Awards and it is proving to be very beneficial at TheCONSTRUCTION Westin Perth on Friday, JuneHOMES THE OF 25 NEW HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT. forIS both members and the inspectors. 2021. The evening is one of our highlight Between now and the end of the year, events for the year, showcasing our we will be holding NECA Industry Nights industry’s most exceptional projects and NECA has met with theand Minister for Industrial Members in this sector expect a considerable in Narrogin, Bunbury Geraldton – best performing apprentices. Thank you Relations, Bill Johnston, and personally increase in work in the near future. I look forward to speaking with many to everyone for the time and effort they expressed concerns to him. We were more of youour at those events. To register, put preparing their nominations, Theinto strong prices for gold and iron ore in particularly adamant that the legislation visit https://memberarea.necawa. and for attending the event. was particular have ensured thatItmembers must contain defences that protect asn.au/Home/EventCalendar. wonderful industry working in to thecelebrate resourceour sector are also contractors whose safety practices in person, afterdemand being unable to holdwork. enjoying strong for electrical meet the legislative Skills Shortage inrequirements. the the event in 2020 due to COVID-19. Electrical Industry NECA Technical is taking as many, if not It is ridiculous to have a situation where Special guests Yaz Mubarakai more, calls thanincluded it was before COVID, a business ownerahas implemented Without a doubt, serious lack of MLA, for there Jandakot, Saj lots Khan, whichMember indicates are still of safety practices that ensure compliance labour is a critical issue that members Building and Energy’s Executive members performing work. with all of their WHS obligations and yet are experiencing in the regions. It’s Director, and Tiffany Allen, CEO of can still be subjected to prosecution. not uncommon to hear comments like, There is obviouslyTraining still a long way to go in the Construction Fund. “If I could, I would hire five new guys terms of a full recovery but it does seem NECA has lobbied the even McGowan Athat huge thank you to theisevent sponsor tomorrow,” or “I don’t answer Western Australia better placed government, as well as the Liberal calls from new clients. I just don’t have Clipsal and Schneider Electric for than other states at present. Opposition and cross-bench members of enough staff to do any more work.” their ongoing support of this event Parliament, as part of a coalition of more and our industry. Go to page 16 to Industrial Manslaughter This is a common issue in the Perth than twenty other industry associations find out more about WA’s winning Legislation metro areaoppose as well. I recently attended who also this legislation. apprentices and projects. Good luck to the Government Skills Shortage Summit, those of youthere who will be representing Sometimes are critical pieces of I encourage every Western Australian where NECA and several other industry our state atthat the National legislation industry Awards. has to fight business owner and director to read the associations strongly urged the tooth and nail to prevent; the Western joint submission to government that government to urgently assess means Regional Nights Australian Industry Government’s proposed NECA WA more has made along the other by which labour can with be safely industrial manslaughter legislation is industryinto associations. The current submission, brought our state. The skills The General Manager of Member such a law. which is on NECA WA’s website, iseffect more shortage is having a detrimental Services, Aidan O’Grady, and I have than 20 pages long but it is critical on members and their businesses, been visiting regional locations It is vital thatmany all contractors familiarise thatityou understand the potential and needs to be urgently addressed. over the pastwith fewthis months to hostbecause NECA themselves legislation implications for you,ways your that business, We need to develop satisfyyour Industry Nights and meet with members. it will criminalise workplace accidents. co-workers and your need family. industry’s desperate for more We have appreciated the opportunity The Government’s proposed industrial labour while responding to community to learn more about what is business impacting manslaughter law exposes Members can be assured that NECA WA concern about the spread of COVID-19. members how caninhelp areas owners toand up to 10we years jail in and a will continue to fiercely oppose this such as Portfine Hedland, Karratha,occurs Broome, $2.5million if an accident on legislation in its current form. NECA WA Board of Directors Kununurra, Kalgoorlie your worksite – even ifand youBusselton. haven’t been reckless or negligent. ISecurity would likeof to Payments congratulateLegislation Chris I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy Sweeting from Westwide Electrical these events. Regional members from It is vital that members understand the The Statewho Government has elected also recently Services was recently across ourcould stateface are under very engaged risks they the worstduring parts released its long-awaited drafttakes Security as President of NECA WA. Chris the to Australian hear (e.g.presentations Section 30B) ofand the eager Western of Payments legislation. This is vital over from Peter Beveridge of Williams about what is proposed happeningWorkplace in the industry. Government’s Health legislationMy forsincere NECA members and for Electrical. thanks to Peter & Safety Bill. Section 30B is unique to WA. subcontractors in general. for his commitment and dedication NECA’s Industry Nights are also a great It is not found in any other state or territory. to the role over the past two years. opportunity to hear directly from the Western Power and Building and September SEPTEMBER2021 2020

WA BRANCH

I would also like to welcome three new NECA WA Board members - Oliver Forster from ODF Electrical, Andrew Lucas from ADL Electrics, and Dan Bailey from HTR Electrical. Dan also runs the recently opened Tradie HQ in Osborne Park, a unique co-working space for tradespeople. If you haven’t visited Tradie HQ, I urge you to take a look - it’s a fantastic concept with extensive benefits for many businesses. Visit www.tradiehqwa.com.au to find out more.

The new Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements Western Power recently released the new Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements (WASIR). It is important to note that this document supersedes the Western Australian Distribution Connections Manual (WADCM). It’s a large document with more than 300 pages, but the bulk of the most relevant changes are in Sections 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The clauses in these sections cover the greatest number of changes which directly affect new, altered and/or upgraded connections. As is the norm, you have six months to apply the requirements, but the sooner you start using the new rules the better. The new rules come into effect on 1 February 2022. Clause 2.4 ‘Application’ provides additional specific detail on exemption criteria options. The WASIR is available on the Western Power website at www.bit.ly/wasirneca or on our Technical Knowledge Base (TKB) at www.necawa.zendesk.com.

Vale Owen Pallier It’s with great sadness that we acknowledge the sudden passing of Owen Pallier from Gallows Electrical in Cowaramup in a tragic car accident. Owen was a very active member of our industry in the South West and had been a member of NECA for a number of years. Our deepest sympathies go out to Owen’s family, friends and colleagues.

The Clean Energy Council I regularly receive feedback from members about the Clean Energy Council (CEC) - the vast majority of which is

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU

negative. It seems that there is room for improvement in regard to how the CEC is interacting with members.

overdue and EGT will continue to take advantage of these opportunities for the benefit of our host employers.

In response, I have organised a meeting with key senior managers of the CEC to discuss its role within the industry.

At the recent NECA WA Excellence and Apprentice Awards, EGT host employers and apprentices represented in most categories and took out multiple awards. Congratulations to all apprentice and host employer nominees and winners and thank you for your ongoing support.

If you have an issue regarding the CEC that you would like addressed during this meeting, I encourage you to contact myself on (08) 6241 6100 or carl.copeland@necawa.asn.au. I would be more than happy to add your concerns to the agenda. The CEC has an enormous amount of influence in the renewable energy sector and they must be held accountable to industry for their actions.

Electrical Group Training (EGT) EGT has continued to recruit aggressively in June and July despite the COVID-19 lockdown at the start of July, taking on thirteen new apprentices in June and twenty-seven new apprentices in July. We still have unmet demand from our loyal host employers and thus will continue starting new apprentices, aiming to recruit fourteen new starters every three weeks to meet industry’s requirements. July also saw an increase in apprentice wages after the Fair Work Commission increased the minimum wage by 2.5%. This increase flowed down to the Modern Award for most of our apprentices from 1 July, but EGT did not pass this increase on to host employers until 2 August and we have done everything we can to keep the impact on host employers to a minimum. There has also been some movement in the adult apprentice space, with EGT continuing to recruit for sixteen Indigenous and/or female adult apprentices, to take part in the Construction Training Fund (CTF) pilot program. We now have nine of sixteen places on this pilot remaining. We also have an approved budget to fullyfund up to nine more adults who don’t fit the CTF program criteria and are recruiting for funded positions on the State Government’s new $5.2 million Jobs and Skills WA Adult Apprenticeship Employer Incentive program. These programs mean we can employ adult apprentices and hire them out at the same charge-out rate (normal hours) as our junior apprentices. Funding in this space is welcome and long

College of Electrical Training (CET) In possibly one of the steepest ‘V’ curve recoveries seen in recent years, apprentice numbers have returned to levels that haven’t been seen since the mining boom. Whilst this is encouraging, it has been challenging to get apprentices into training as quickly as we would like. This has also coincided with the transition from the UEE11 training package to the UEE20 version. ‘Perfect storm’ is an understatement, but one we are well prepared to weather. CET has been working with our development team, the Department of Training and Workforce Development and other stakeholders (including TAFE), to ensure that the needs of industry are met. Additionally, maintaining strong relationships with the local members of parliament has ensured that we are tapping into future electricians, as they navigate their final years of schooling while undertaking the Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) pre-apprenticeship. After some lean commencement years, it certainly is appreciated that employers are investing again in training of apprentices; they truly are the future of our industry.

NECA WA CALENDAR OF EVENTS NECA Industry Night, Geraldton  Master Builders Association, Geraldton  Thursday, 14 October 2021  4.30pm – 6.30pm NECA Industry Night, Bunbury  Quality Hotel Lighthouse, Bunbury  Thursday, 28 October 2021  4.30pm – 6.30pm NECA Industry Night, Narrogin  Duke of York Hotel, Narrogin  Thursday, 4 November 2021  4.30pm – 6.30pm

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WESTERN POWER REMINDER ABOUT

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ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS WESTERN POWER WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS THAT WHEN INSTALLING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY DO NOT EXCEED THE CAPACITY OF THE SUPPLY AND CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT. Specific attention is required for residential and small commercial connections that have a standard connection service, to ensure the connection remains safe and compliant.

minimum sized consumer mains cable for domestic premises to be in accordance with clause 9.2:

The Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements (WASIR) defines standard supply as 240 volt single-phase (+/- 6%) or 415 volt three-phase (+/- 6%) for:



 

32 amps per phase, threephase (415 volts); and

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32 amps single-phase (240 volts); or



32 amps three-phase (415 volts); or



63 amps single-phase (240 volts); or

Rural centres and connections within the SWIS*:

16 amps per phase, multiphase (480 volts); and Maximum size of consumer mains cable shall not exceed 35mm2.

The Western Australian Electrical Requirements (WAER) also stipulates

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three-phase: 6 square millimetres, copper conductors.

To determine the maximum demand, refer to AS/NZS 3000:2018, specifically: 

Perth metropolitan and major regional centres within the SWIS:

single-phase: 10 square millimetres, copper conductors; or

clause 2.2.2 maximum demand, and appendix C, circuit arrangements and clause C2 maximum demand (with reference to tables C1 and C2 for single and multiple domestic and commercial electrical installations).

The consumers main switch must be upgraded to a circuit breaker rated for a standard connection service if: 

 

the capacity exceeds the supply arrangement rating;

any requested additional load above a standard connection service. For further information on this process, please visit www.westernpower.com.au/connections/ power-supply/modify-your-power-supply. Please contact WA Electrical Inspectors if you have any queries at www.waei.com.au. *Notes:

is unknown; or

I. Subject to service availability

the connection is to a network mini pillar or pit.

II. For network connection generation capacity limits, refer to WASIR Section 15 and Western Power’s embedded generation requirements.

In all cases, an application must be made to Western Power to accommodate

September 2021

MULTIPLE EARTHED NEUTRALS EXPLAINED It is permissible to have more than one MEN, providing the switchboards

The figure accompanying this article is an example of a compliant installation with a combination of distribution boards with either a MEN or Distribution Board 2 – Outbuilding 2 a running earth.

Earth

Neutral

MEN Connection

Neutral

Earth

Distribution Board 1 – Outbuilding 1

Main Switchboard

Neutral

Earth

are in buildings that are separated by land as per the requirements of clause 5.5.3.1 of AS/NZS 3000:2018.

Consumers main

NECA Technical receive many enquiries in regard to properties with Multiple Earthed Neutrals (MENs).

MEN Connection

Neutral

Earth electrode

Earth

Earth electrode

Distribution Board 3 – Outbuilding 3

Earth electrode

This installation incorporates a main switchboard and three distribution boards in separate outbuildings. The main switchboard has a MEN connection at the earth bar and a connection to the main earth electrode. Distribution boards

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1 and 2 also have a MEN connection and the earth bars are connected to independent earth electrodes. There is no MEN connection at distribution board 3, as there is a running earth conductor connected directly to the installation earthing system. The neutral conductor supplying distribution board 2 cannot rely on a terminal at distribution board 1, and must be continuous to distribution board 2 as required by clause 2.2.1.3 of AS/NZS 3000:2018.

Malcolm Scott Technical Services Advisor ECA WA www.neca.asn.au/wa

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RELEASE OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN

SERVICE AND INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS 2021 AFTER AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS, WESTERN POWER AND HORIZON POWER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SERVICE AND INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS 2021 (WASIR). THE WASIR SUPERSEDES THE WA DISTRIBUTION CONNECTIONS MANUAL (WADCM). Members should read and apply these requirements to all new consumer electrical installations as soon as practical but no later than six months from the date of publication, which was 1 August 2021.

New requirements for WA During the course of 2020/21, two major reviews were undertaken of the WA Electrical Requirements (WAER) and the WADCM. In July 2021 Horizon Power and Western Power finalised the WADCM review, resulting in the publication of an updated and rebadged edition, named the WASIR.

The drivers for change and the review were critically important to ensure the technical requirements applicable to consumer network connections, aligned with an evolving renewable energy market and state/ national compliance frameworks.

to account for current and future consumer energy profiles. These changes are applicable to both direct (whole current) and CT connected arrangements with new mandatory testing and reporting requirements introduced for the larger systems.

With updated content, the new WASIR provides a detailed roadmap as well as links to a range of existing and new Horizon Power and Western Power published technical manuals, standards and guidelines associated with both traditional and emerging connection configurations.

All new and altered consumer connections or supply arrangements must comply with these revised requirements and applicable current network/industry requirements. The installation and connection of renewable energy and storage systems is deemed to be an alteration, therefore classified as a new connection.

The updated requirements are aligned with the pending introduction of the new 2021 WAER network embedded generation/standalone power system standards and technical rules. Sections 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the WASIR should be studied in detail given the number of changes.

Updates Section 11 While network metering options have not changed, connection methodologies, capacity, protection, control and monitoring requirements have been modified 56

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Additionally, all new and/or altered Western Power consumer connections require the installation’s main-switch to be a circuit breaker rated in accordance with the network operator’s Technical Rules, EG Requirements and the WASIR. The installation of electric vehicle charging systems may also require the modification of the consumer’s main protection arrangements, where the capacity of the existing supply arrangement is or may be exceeded. Section 12 There are a number of changes to this section, including new distributed energy resource criteria for consumer installations with multiple points of supply arrangements. Easement and restricted covenant conditions have been updated and amalgamated with Section 6. The requirements associated with exclusion zones, encroachments and redundant assets have been amended to clearly define responsibilities, as has the criteria for separation and excavation near network assets. September 2021

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Section 13 This section has been updated and restructured to incorporate large scale consumer electrical installations, including PV systems exceeding 200kVA, battery energy storage systems exceeding 200kWh and wind turbine installations larger than 200kW. New requirements are now in place to ensure large scale consumer electrical installations and HV connections are managed through the same submission processes. There is a new requirement in this section to ensure that consumer sites with multiple points of supply are maintained at the same voltage. Section 14 A large part of the engineering content has been replaced with specific directional references to the relevant public network technical requirements to remove the potential for duplication. Content on substation oil containment, fire/noise clearances and responsibilities for substation

screening/ construction can now be found in the respective network operator substation design documents. Section 15 This section was reviewed along similar lines to Section 14, in that embedded generation content can or will be available via each network operator’s suite of public technical documents. Information on alternative, normal, supplementary and uninterruptible power supplies together with high level information on stand-alone power systems, distributed energy resources and embedded generation system types/categories has been retained in this section. Consumers and industry are encouraged to read and apply these requirements

to all new consumer electrical installations as soon as practical but no later than six months from the date of publication (1 August 2021). WASIR clause 2.4 provides additional specific detail on the date of compliance and exemption criteria options. Should you require further information please contact Horizon Power or Western Power.

TRAINING 6,000+ PEOPLE EVERY YEAR > Popular courses on offer include electrical pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and post trade courses > State-of-the-art training facilities with purpose-built classrooms and workshops > Highly skilled instructors with hands-on industry experience > Respected and recommended by WA’s electrical industry > Blended learning – mixture of online and face-to-face delivery > Flexible course options

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BEING AN ELECTRICIAN IT’S NOT JUST A JOB; IT’S A CAREER

SINCE STARTING HER ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIP TWENTY YEARS AGO, LAURA ALLEN HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR HER ENTHUSIASM, PASSION FOR THE ELECTRICAL TRADE AND NATURAL LEADERSHIP. Formerly an Electrical Group Training (EGT) apprentice, she has worked in a variety of roles within the resources sector, purposefully finding new opportunities and never being afraid to give something new a go. EGT was pleased to interview Laura, where she shared her exciting journey, the lessons learned and her insight that being electrician is not just a job, it’s a career. What are some of the highlights of your career? When I started my apprenticeship, I was so excited. I just wanted to be a sparky and I loved that I was getting paid to learn and work with my hands. I worked in Perth with different host employers across the domestic, commercial, construction and industrial sectors. Then I set my sights on working up north.

At the time, it was unusual for a female apprentice to be sent to site from Perth, but I really wanted to work there, so I decided to move to Karratha. Once I had somewhere to live, EGT arranged a placement for me at a host contractor on a Pilbara Iron site where I stayed until after I completed my apprenticeship. I then spent 18-months working in communications and fibre optics, before going to work with a contractor at the Karratha Gas Plant, in a lighting campaign team. It was there that I got my hazardous areas certificate and on-the-job experience working with instrumentation electricians. The next step involved obtaining my instrumentation accreditation. Having these skills positioned me for offshore work, and after the challenges

of getting my foot in the door, I spent twelve years working in a variety of roles. Woodside became the vessel owner in 2012, and I completed two projects in Singapore with this vessel. I also worked my way up to being the Registered Person Electrical (RPE). That was a major milestone for me and for Woodside too, as I was the first female to work in that role. My next step was to cross into operations and from there I became Woodside’s first offshore female Process Maintenance Coordinator (PMC). It was after my second project in Singapore that I took a temporary transfer into my current role at Woodside’s Perth office. I’m a Process Owner and I am responsible for overseeing all of the operations processes for seven assets, both on and offshore. I assess and manage operational risks and support managers in the safe running of all their assets. It’s been a fantastic and exciting opportunity. I’m almost at the end of my transfer and I’m waiting to see where I’ll go next. I want to keep growing, learning and building my skills. You’ve actively looked for growth opportunities in your work. Yes, I have. Not long after I became a tradesperson, we were going into a shut down on site and three of the team weren’t available to work. That left me, the Site Manager and his wife who was a labourer. The Site Manager was set to cancel the shut, but I assured him that his wife and I could do the work. He wasn’t convinced, but I believed the work was within my capabilities, so he agreed we could get started. He left site to go and find other tradies to give us a hand, but by the time he came back, we’d completed all the work including the testing and lock off. Everything was ready to go back online. Following our success my employer offered me a Leading Hand role; however, I had an ‘aha’ moment and decided to resign. I realised I was always going to be seen as the ‘apprentice’ on that site

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despite having become a fully-fledged electrician and felt I wouldn’t grow if I stayed. Each time I’ve mastered my role, I’ve started looking for the next challenge. And the challenges haven’t always been electrical ones. When I worked in communications and fibre optics, I travelled on my own all over the northwest. It was lonely at times. I’d be driving six to eight hours by myself through the desert. There was no one to bounce ideas off, and working solo gave me a true understanding of myself and my capabilities. Sometimes it was scary. One time, I’d just left Port Hedland, and there was a rogue cow on the road. I slowed and it ambled into the bushes, but as I passed, it charged me and hit the car. The police attended the site, dealt with the cow, then left me to wait (in my now undrivable car) for my boss to arrive. Not long after they left, the herd arrived out of nowhere and started rocking the car. When I got out, they followed me until I climbed a tree. Luckily four guys turned up in a vehicle and scared the herd off, except they then started to raid my car. I’d left my valuables on the dashboard so leapt out of the tree to stop them. I was in a very vulnerable situation. Fortunately, it all ended well. My boss wasn’t too far away and he arrived soon after they left, but it was a long tow back to Karratha. The fact is, no one prepares you for situations like that. You think you’re prepared for life, but so many things happen that you don’t expect. You have to be resourceful and courageous. You’ve been described as a natural leader. How have you developed your leadership skills? Becoming a Leading Hand at the Karratha Gas Plant taught me what leadership really meant. As a Leading Hand, you’re often caught in the middle, reporting to managers, but also looking after a team. At this stage I was twenty-two, highly motivated and determined to succeed. I was setting hard targets and expecting the world from my team, who didn’t respond well to my approach. One day I went home particularly discouraged, wondering what was happening. At our team meeting the next day, I apologised for how I’d approached things and asked for the team’s help. I told them I was there for open feedback; I wanted to be a good boss, not their enemy. I asked them what it would take.

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This was a real turning point. All my team-members were experienced leaders. They were using their skills, earning good money and were very proud of their work. They’d ‘iced me’, not because I was young or female or gay, but because of how I’d approached them. I hadn’t appreciated what their work involved and the finesse it required. They took me under their wing and I learned from the best. It built my leadership qualities and took me to the next level. Earlier this year, your industry leadership was recognised when you won a 2021 Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia Women in Resources Award. Can you tell us about that? I won the Outstanding Operator/ Technician/Trade Woman in Resources Award, which recognises women who have broken new ground for women in nontraditional fields and contributed to the resources sector and broader community. Since then, I’ve had the chance to present to a number of industry forums including the Australian Oil and Gas Conference, Women in Mining and Resources Leadership Summit and Women in Mining in the Pilbara Forum. When I wrote the submission, it made me reflect on my career. I realised I’ve achieved a lot without stopping to reflect on this – I’ve had to work hard at every gate. In my roles, hurdles often looked like blockers and sometimes it felt like people were trying to stop me. I realised these obstacles were actually enablers that made me think more laterally, work harder and be more effective. I’ve had to navigate many challenges, but they don’t define me. It’s the negative experiences that have taught me the most and helped me to grow. How did doing your apprenticeship through EGT contribute to your success? The best thing about EGT, was rotating through different host employers and industry sectors. The exposure to so many areas gave me the foundation for everything I’ve done in my life. Doing metropolitan domestic work may seem a long way from working

offshore, but I’ve drawn on all the experiences my apprenticeship gave me. Working offshore has relied on my industrial skills, domestic experience to support the residential sections and construction skills when we took the vessel to Singapore for refurbishment. It all linked back to the fundamentals from my apprenticeship. Being able to move around, rather than stay in a single sector, has made all the difference to my technical career. It also kept my mindset open, rather than narrowing my focus to any one part of industry. What advice would you give to current apprentices? Being an electrician is a career rather than just a job. When you become an apprentice, the goal is to get your ticket and become a tradie, but it’s actually much bigger than that. I didn’t realise that until I was well down the path. You can start as a housing sparky and end up as an offshore manager if you work hard. You have to be on the lookout, be open and never say no. If you want something, and someone says no, then find another way to work towards your goal. It’s all about the journey, which for me is never ending. I thought I’d be an electrician forever, but now I’m in an office managing risk across multiple assets. Doing an apprenticeship is a bit like getting the key to the kingdom. Once you unlock the door, it’s up to you about what you do, how you use it and where you want to go.

To have your inspirational story told, contact Aimee Hills at aimee.hills@ecawa.org.au.

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HOW NECA LEGAL WA CAN HELP YOU

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AVOID COSTLY CONTRACT DISPUTES UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS OF COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS YOUR COMPANY ENTERS INTO IS ESSENTIAL TO BUSINESS PROFITABILITY AND LONGEVITY. CONTRACT DISPUTES CAN BE COSTLY – AND SOME HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SINK YOUR BUSINESS. THAT IS WHY NECA WA STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT MEMBERS SEEK EXPERT ADVICE ON PROPOSED COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS BEFORE THEY ARE SIGNED. Contract disputes – what are they?

Three reasons to avoid contract disputes

Before we look at ways you can avoid contract disputes, let’s address what they are. A contract dispute is a disagreement between parties to a contract over the contractual entitlements and obligations. In the electrical contracting industry, these disputes often arise between a head contractor and a subcontractor.

1. To ensure your business continues to be paid for works performed.

Contract disputes within commercial relationships — Four key matters to consider Commercial relationships are often governed by Subcontractor Agreement terms or by terms contained in a Purchase Order, and they may differ. Before signing a contract or commencing work, below are four key matters you must consider: 1. Which terms and conditions apply? Is it the terms of the Purchase Order or the Subcontractor Agreement? 2. Which party can make variations and if made, in what circumstances can an extension of time be sought and what procedures must be followed? 3. Under what circumstances can the contract be terminated, and what are the consequences? 4. What are the indemnity and insurance requirements? Does it conflict with any existing insurance policies?

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2. To reduce the risk of termination by the head contractor and costly litigation, which can expose your business to grave financial risks. 3. To avoid straining ongoing business relationships, which can prevent you from obtaining future work.

How NECA Legal WA can help NECA Legal WA can assist members by reviewing your commercial contracts. A review will benefit your business by: 



Clarifying the meaning of critical provisions; Highlighting the main hazards and ambiguities; and Providing advice on unfair contract terms and recommending changes.

These reviews will help you to understand a contract prior to signing, lessening the likelihood of a future contractual dispute and the risk of claims for damages.

Johnny Brits Legal Practice Director, NECA Legal WA necalegalwa@ecawa.org.au

NECA Legal WA can also provide template Terms and Conditions and Subcontractor Agreements, specifically tailored to your individual requirements.

How much will it cost to review your contracts? NECA Legal WA undertake contract reviews at the member-only hourly rate of $290 plus GST. On average, it takes two to four hours to complete a contract review, depending on length and complexity. Note that the first half hour is free as part of your NECA WA membership. Should you have concerns over a particular contractual clause in an existing contract, you can contact NECA Legal WA for thirty minutes of free advice. Get in touch with NECA Legal WA today to find out more about how they can assist your business in regard to commercial contracts – phone (08) 6241 6129 or email necalegalwa@ecawa.org.au.

Disclaimer: This summary is a guide only and is not legal advice.

September 2021

“A Labour Hire company for electricians. Run by electricians”.

BRANCH UPDATE Oliver Judd NECA NSW/ACT Executive Director

The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to prove a huge challenge for members and NECA alike, as we all try and adapt to the rapidly changing Public Health Orders and relevant advice to keep people safe and informed. Unfortunately, the Delta-variant outbreak forced the most significant restrictions on general construction and trade services we’ve seen across NSW and the ACT since the pandemic began. From shutdowns, capacity restrictions, limitations on work types and shifting testing and vaccination requirements – there has been change after change for electrical contractors to wade through. NECA has been at the forefront working closely with government, participating in multiple working groups with senior bureaucrats, on a daily basis. Off the back of these meetings, we’ve been able to provide dozens of updates for members and numerous webinars with up-to-the-minute information.

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NECA’s member services, technical, legal and policy teams have been working around the clock responding to a fourfold increase in member contact throughout July and August. Digesting the complex Public Health Orders for members has been important to ensure businesses know what work they can perform, where and what is required onsite to allow COVID-safe work. It’s a continuing challenge to balance the need for businesses to get back to maximum building and construction production without restriction, versus the obligations to limit mobility and potential exposure to the dangers of the virus. I cannot speak highly enough of members and the NECA team for our collective resilience during this difficult time.

New requirements for class 2 building design in NSW The NSW Government’s Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (DBP) came into effect as of 1 July 2021. The changes apply to professional engineers, design practitioners and building practitioners working on class 2 buildings or buildings with a class 2 part.

Electrotechnology works are included in the reform if the work is part of a fire safety system, emergency and exit lighting, or electrical services such as major plant and equipment, for example, vehicle storage systems, loading dock lifters or other engineering service equipment required for compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Professional engineers and designers can find more information about the registration process on the NSW Department of Fair Trading’s website.

ASPs in the spotlight NECA, along with Master Builders ACT, recently met with Shane Rattenbury, ACT Attorney-General and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction. In our discussions with the Minister, we presented the benefits of introducing an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) type scheme for the ACT. Such a scheme, similar to the one which exists in NSW, allows authorised electrical contractors to perform a range of contestable work on the electricity distribution network. NECA has the strong support of Master Builders ACT, because in many cases, connections for new residential properties are taking weeks to complete, delaying final certification and occupancy. We will continue to lobby the government and keep members updated as we progress.

Project Remediate Project Remediate is being managed by the Office of the NSW Building Commissioner to remove combustible cladding on more than 220 buildings. The NSW Government has appointed Hansen Yuncken as the managing contractor to coordinate all activities necessary to deliver a safe and durable solution for each building. This includes establishing a panel of pre-qualified services to ensure all remediation work complies with standards and program requirements. Project Remediate involves significant electrical work, depending on the design of the building requiring treatment, including

September 2021

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the temporary removal and reinstallation of utilities and other services that may be located on the outside of buildings.

ASP SCHEME REVIEW UPDATE

To register for project updates on the Department of Customer Service’s website: www.bit.ly/nswremediate

Recently the NSW Government’s Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) initiated a review of the Accredited Service Provider (ASP) Scheme. They released an issues paper with twenty-five specific questions relating to many facets of the scheme review.

State Budget boom for electrical work The NSW State Budget 2021/22 confirmed a range of major projects and initiatives that will help secure a strong pipeline of electrical contracting work. Billions of dollars continue to flow for rail, road and transport projects alongside new schools, hospitals and social housing investment. The government has also committed heavily to the advancement of renewables and emerging technology including electric vehicle subsidies. Establishing five Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in the Central-West Orana, New England South-West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra regions is expected to unlock $20.7 billion of private sector energy investment and more than 5,000 construction jobs in regional NSW.

The review is all encompassing and is looking at ways to improve the contestable connection experience for customers, ASPs and Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) in NSW. In preparing our submission, NECA sought members’ input via a number of avenues including surveys, meetings with ASP and DPIE representatives, and a subcommittee made up of a range of ASPs. Some of the key areas of NECA’s submission were:  Introduction of an independent  Improved dispute resolution electrical regulator for NSW; pathways for ASPs;  Elimination of duplication  Broadening the scope of contestable across DPIE and DNSPs; works to include sub-transmission works, vegetation management and  Grading of ASP/3s; installation of temporary insulation;  Network access for electrically  Streamlined accreditation processes trained ASP/3s; for ASPs and their employees; and  Acknowledged pathways for the next  The addition of duplicated DNSP generation of power distribution processes in accreditation processes. workers through the ASP Scheme; The submission was submitted on Friday 20 August. The next step will be circulation of a position paper in the coming months, highlighting the proposed new accreditation scheme. A link to the Issues Paper can be found at energy.nsw.gov.au/asp-scheme-review

GROUP TRAINING

Electrical contractors are recognised as providing an essential service, so they can continue working under current NSW/ACT BRANCH government rules and are set to play a critical role in the economic recovery as governments invest in infrastructure and construction. Demand for electrical work and the apprentices’ skills is, therefore, remaining relatively strong.

ADDRESSING INDUSTRY’S SKILLS SHORTAGES With the general freeze on migration into Australia, current and future skills shortages have become a key discussion point for businesses across all industries. Within the electrical industry, NECA Training and Apprenticeships is working to build its apprenticeship numbers to strengthen our workforce now and into the future. NECA Training and Apprenticeships is a not-for-profit registered group training organisation (GTO) owned by NECA. With offices in Sydney, Brisbane and the ACT, we currently have 790 apprentices placed with host employers and gaining experience in the diverse range work that NECA members offer. As theof business landscape changes rapidly, it was great how team Group training offerstoa see range of the benefits came together to adapt and innovate over self-employing apprentices: so that the learning environment could  Flexible labour to cope with continue without disruption. your peak and quiet times.  Simple and competitive pay rates that The ability to change rapidly was noticed the full ofpicked employment into by take industry andcost even up by the account. This includes college media, including an article in thestudies, SMH all types leave, workers where NECAofwas praised forcompensation, our ability to superannuation, tax, RDOs more. adapt, and recognised for ourand efforts in  The opportunity to ensureItapprentices re-homing 100 apprentices. was great fitelectrical with your contracting team and thewas type of work that deemed do - if service, they don’t quitehelps fit, NECA anyou essential which to willdemand find an apprentice that does. keep high.  All recruitment and retention While many training providers have risks belong to NECA, not you closed their doors due to COVID as the host employer.

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Apprentices turn up ready to work with a full uniform, PPE and initial safety training.  Field Officers work with you to understand your needs, mentor apprentices and address any issues that may arise. Unlike many competitors, NECA’s Field Officers are all experienced electricians drawn from the contracting industry.  NECA manages the complexities of the national training system. This is a great option for specialist businesses who are unable to provide the full range of apprenticeship training. Apprentices can be easily moved, ensuring they get a well-rounded experience while 19,your leaving apprentices their business has the and labour it needs. employers in limbo, NECA Training and Businesses of allquickly sizes can accessits Apprenticeships modified the flexibility and benefits group schedule so learning couldof continue. training. current host employers All theoryOur lessons were moved online, include the full range from small family and the number of apprentices attending companies to the industry’s largest practical lessons was reduced to adhere contractors. As testament to the to social distancing requirements. success of group training, some of our current hosts and are now run by former NECA Training Apprenticeships’ NECA apprentices who’ve experienced approach meant minimal disruption to the value of group training first-hand. 

Tom Tom Emeleus Emeleus General General Manager, Manager, NECA NECA Training Training and and Apprenticeships Apprenticeships www.necatraining.com.au www.necatraining.com.au (02) 9188 4424

SEPTEMBER 2020

COMPLIANCE STATEMENT FOR MAIN SWITCHBOARDS GREATER THAN 125 AMPS Access Canberra electrical inspections require a Compliance Statement for a Main Switchboard (MSB) where, a) The total of the connected load at the point where the MSB is installed exceeds 125A r.m.s per phase; or

Access Canberra Electrical Inspections Team  (02) 6207 7775 8:30am to 4:30pm Business Days  electrical.inspections@act.gov.au

 www.ccesscanberra.act.gov.au

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Recognising this, NECA Training and Apprenticeships moved quickly to convert its post-trade courses, so qualified electricians could continue Apprenticeship recruitment now open to upskill – for example, with solar grid For more than three decades NECA Training connect and battery storage training and Apprenticeships has supportedIn – and maintain key qualifications. industry a strong, workforce. NSW, thiswith includes ASPqualified (Accredited Service Provider) training, which allows Our robust recruiting system identifies an electrical contractor to work on apprentices who are dedicated and the electricity network, undertaking passionate about ouroften industry, resulting maintenance critical to keeping in completion that ratesisthat are well above the industry lights on.average. Over 95% of our apprentices gain employment with our NECAemployers Training and Apprenticeships host after their apprenticeship, employs nearly 800 and demonstrating that apprentices NECA’s apprentices thenhighly-valued partners withbyelectrical are industry.contracting businesses, who provide on-the-job We are currently recruiting apprentices experience. who will be ready to work in your business. Thefind success of NECA Trainingabout and To out more and enquire Apprenticeships’ model has minimised becoming a host, call your local NECA office theemail impact on the fledgling careers of or contact@necatraining.com.au. the apprentices. While some apprentice opportunities have disappeared, such as those servicing businesses in the hospitality sector, new opportunities have emerged, such as hospital projects. With group training systems like NECA’s, apprentices can continue to learn through periods of major change.

b) The prospective short-circuit current at the incoming terminals of the MSB is greater than 10kA r.m.s. The switchboard compliance requirement is found in AS/NZS 3000:2018 A2 clause 2.10.3.2

Electricians are required to submit a completed statement from their switchboard manufacture with their Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES), and to have the statement available on site. The compliance statement form can be downloaded from our website, and is titled “Fact Sheet - Switchboards 61439 Compliance Statement” at www.bit.ly/act61439

September 2021

HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF AN

ELECTRICAL APPRENTICE WITHOUT TAKING ON THE RISK

NECA Electrical Apprenticeships employ quality apprentices and place them with host companies for any amount of time from 3 months to 4 years. Becoming a host company means that you pay a fixed charge out rate, whilst we take on all the added costs, responsibilities and risk. Build your future: 97% of our graduating apprentices are employed by their host on completion.

NECA ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIPS PROVIDE

Advertising Recruitment Interviews and selection Medicals including colour blindness test Payroll On-going monitoring and mentoring by licensed electrical field staff All administration and paperwork TAFE (monitoring results)

COSTS INCLUDED IN THE CHARGE OUT RATE Annual Leave days Sick days Public holidays TAFE days (36/yr) TAFE fees Superannuation Uniforms and PPE Workers Compensation

WE ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT | PASSING THE BENEFITS ON TO YOU

Connect with your local NECA centre ACT Brett McIntyre T (02) 6280 5580 NSW Brad Hoff man T (02) 9744 2754 QLD Mark Wood T (07) 3276 7950

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ELECTRICAL APPRENTICESHIPS national electrical and communications association

SAFETY OBSERVERS

NSW/ACT BRANCH

AND LVR/CPR – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW “Two there should be. No more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it.” — Darth Bane, Star Wars Canon

near’ energised electrical equipment will need a safety observer present. Hence the ‘Rule of Two’ comparison.

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, the Rule of Two was a Sith philosophy established by Sith Lord Darth Bane, in order for the Sith to survive and one day gain revenge on the Jedi. The rule mandated that only two Sith Lords could exist at any given time: a master to represent the power of the dark side of the Force, and an apprentice to train under the master and to one day fulfill their role.

At NECA we have been providing complimentary compliance audits for many of our members and we specifically have a question about compliance with safety observer laws. As a result of these audits, we’ve found the majority of electrical contractors are confused with the requirements, and have been undertaking work without safety observers present when there should have been.

Yes, I am not only a safety nerd, but a Star Wars geek as well. However, it occurs to me that the Sith’s survival philosophy is strikingly similar to what electricians need to keep themselves safe. The way safety observers are written into law is basically a ‘Rule of Two’.

Safety risks and triggers

So, what is the law regarding the requirement for Safety Observers? Well, it’s complicated. First, to understand how the regulations work, you need to understand the steps. The steps outlined below are based on the Model WHS Regulations (check your local jurisdiction’s regulations for more specific requirements). Clause 154 prohibits all electrical work on energised electrical equipment. This includes testing, fault finding, testing for dead, verification and anything within 500mm of an exposed live or unverified conductor. Clause 157 provides the four exceptions to the above rule which allows a licensed electrician to undertake this work when needed (which is basically a lot of the time).

What triggers the requirement for a safety observer if you are undertaking testing work? Clause 161 (5) says you don’t need a safety observer when ‘there is no serious risk’, so what are those serious risks? NECA’s safety professionals believe those risk/triggers are: 1. Electrical testing work in an area of reduced mobility. This includes:  Awkward positions such as kneeling or laying down.  Restricted areas in and around switchboards.  Ceiling and roof spaces.  Spaces under floors.  Ladders, scaffolds, or elevated work platforms.  Trenches.  Pits or tunnels.  Confined spaces.

Clause 161 (1) mandates that any work completed under the four exceptions must be completed by a competent person with a safety observer present (the ‘Rule of Two’).

2. When separation from earth cannot be maintained.

Clause 161 (4) requires the safety observer to be competent in emergency, rescue and resuscitation. Also, the safety observer must have been assessed in the previous twelve months as competent to rescue and resuscitate a person.

Before starting any work, check your surroundings and equipment. Voltages between phases and earth (including metal work, damp situations, other conductive surfaces, and persons nearby) can result in an electric shock.

Clause 161 (5) provides an exemption to the requirement of a safety observer if you have completed a risk assessment that shows that there is no serious risk associated with the proposed work, and the work only consists of testing. Clear as mud right! The best way to summarise it is to say that the majority of the work ‘on or

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3. Work on high fault level equipment and situations, greater than 20kA. Example of the kA (kilo amps) rating on a circuit breaker.

4. Work on exposed energised conductors or live conductive parts. If the above conditions are not present, and the work you are undertaking only consists of testing, then you don’t require a safety observer, as long as you have completed the risk assessment. Based on my experience, these situations will be in the minority.

Choosing a safety observer Electrical apprentices are allowed to undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and low voltage rescue (LVR) training, which will make them competent to be a safety observer. This works well because not only are apprentices cheaper to send to the training, but apprentices are not permitted to undertake the work themselves, and need to observe the work to learn. A tradesman to test the power, and an apprentice to train under the tradesman and maybe even save the tradesman if needed. This sounds a lot like Darth Bane’s ‘Rule of Two’. Our new NECA Electrical SWMS details the requirements for safety observers. NECA members from ACT, NSW, QLD and TAS (Group States) can download this document for free from TKB at www.bit.ly/tkbswms. Everyone else can purchase this document from our online document store at www.bit.ly/swmsbuy. The electrotechnology industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country. It becomes very easy, when you are focused on quoting, estimating, invoicing, ordering parts, time sheets and keeping schedules, to be blindsided by non-conformances. I have seen businesses brought to their knees because of something simple they forgot, or just weren’t focused on. NECA’s HSEQ compliance audit is a quick thirty-minute audit that helps you focus on the important things, so your business doesn’t fall through the cracks. If you are a NECA member, call us today to book your free HSEQ compliance audit.

Owen Leslie WHS Manager, NECA NSW owen.leslie@neca.asn.au

September 2021

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NESS Super is your super fund

The information contained in this document is current at the time of its publication. However, some information can change over time. The contents are for general information only and do not constitute personal advice. Disclaimer: We that you consult a suitably qualified person making any However, financial decisions. The recommend information contained in this with document is current at the timebefore of its publication. some information can change over time. The contents are for general information only and do not constitute personal advice.

investmentthat return the NESS option ofbefore 19.65% was for year ended 30 June 2021. This return is net of tax and investment expenses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. WeThe recommend youfor consult withMySuper a suitablyinvestment qualified person making anythe financial decisions. #

*# The National Electrical andfor Communications Association NSW (NECA) is a major of NESS Pty Ltd, thereturn Trustee of NESS investment return the NESS MySuper investment option of 19.65% wasshareholder for the year ended 30Super June 2021. This is net of tax Super. and investment expenses. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. An adviser employed NESS Super PtyAssociation Ltd and canNSW only (NECA) recommend NESSshareholder Super products. Refer to nesssuper.com.au forofdetails. *^ National Electrical andbyCommunications is a major of NESS Super Pty Ltd, the Trustee NESS Super. ^ An adviser employed by NESS Super Pty Ltd and can only recommend NESS Super products. Refer to nesssuper.com.au for details.

NES52022 NECA News Ad_August 2021_vF.indd 1

23/8/21 4:58 pm

BRANCH UPDATE At the moment, a lot is going on in venues, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton our everyday lives and our industry. Peterthe Lamont and Gladstone. This has been a valuable Lockdowns have become primary program that has allowed us to talk faceway governments treat COVID-19 NECA QLD Executive Director to-face with members about several outbreaks, and the urgency to get fully issues, including presentations from the vaccinated has become imperative. Electrical Safety Office and our Technical Businesses are doing it tough in these Advisor and WHS Coordinator, and times, not knowing what might be provide information from our Business around the corner, while continuing to are on hand toManagers help members, particularly In our current times with the and COVID crisis, Development on how to get the make sure their businesses staff through times. many of our businesses haveengaged. been pushed best usethese out ofchallenging your NECA membership. are kept safe and actively to their limits. NECA has been working The Queensland Government’s review Here in Queensland, therefederal has been tirelessly to engage with andsome Safety Resources of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) terrific news, with the announcement state governments to advocate on behalf and Regulations is also starting build NECA members in Queensland cantoalso from Tokyo on 21 July that Brisbane of our industry and to provide timely and a bit of pace now, HSEQ as theresources independent and southeast Queensland will host access expanded which comprehensive information to our members. reviewer awill finalise report before the Olympic Games in 2032. KPMG has includes free Safetyhis STAR system Christmas. NECA participated in estimated the economic and social for members, andhas a broader Technical NECA Expands several consultation avenues, including benefits are worthResources $8.1 billion, to and that Knowledge Base. For those members representation on the Electrical Safety Support QLD Members in Queensland, some 90,000 jobs will be wanting more from their safety systems, Board and Industry Reference Groups, created. KPMG reports that the games NECA WHSsubmission has extended its collection During this time NECA Queensland has our NECA to the review and will fuel economic growth, upgraded of safety packages to include two taken the opportunity to expand its face-to-face meetings with the reviewer. and improved infrastructure, better new digital HSEQ systems that can be service to NECA members in industryoffering and government partnerships In the last few months, we have been purchased. Queensland by investments sharing member service and increased in the local lucky enough to continue with our delivery across the eastern economy. This should lead toseaboard greater The Road Ahead planned events. In June, we held our with NSW,opportunities ACT and Tasmania. business for our industry annual Queensland Race Day at Doomben over the next eleven years leading up to NECA QLD is excited be hosting and Racecourse. It was atomagnificent NECA members across the state will the games. Who hasn’t enjoyed watching afun digital education program for partners day enjoyed by our business now have access to a comprehensive our athletes performing so well on the contractors to build In their skillswe inheld spite and NECA members. August network of integrated services that world stage over in Tokyo? I am sure of restrictions. We look forward theCOVID much-anticipated 2020/21 NECA brings together a team highly that Brisbane will host aofmagnificent Queensland Excellence Awards Brisbane to 2021, when we will be rollingatout our experienced staff across our Branches. Olympic Games that will make everyone City Town Hall. With record entries this long-anticipated roadshows across This includes a newly-formed proud of our sunshine state. Contact year, innovation excellence within Queensland. Moreand information will follow Centre to assist members with timely our industry shone at its very best. over the coming months. Our work continues, and here at NECA and immediate advice and services Queensland, we have safety, been very active We areyou currently finalising and our 2021/22 relating to technical, legal, Thank to our members Business in keeping our members up-to-date calendar of events and it is shaping industrial relations, HR and general on Partners for your ongoing support of all the changes and developments as up to be a big year. Keep an eye out membership enquiries. NECA QLD and our industry. they happen. Our NECA Industry Nights for NECA invites in your emails. program has continued the By sharing services, thisthroughout has enabled us Take care and stay safe. state, withlocally sessions held areas in Brisbane to expand in other including in our on-the-ground team of staff who

SAFEWORK QLD DEVELOPS MANUAL TASK TRAINING MATERIAL

QLD BRANCH

QUEENSLAND EXECUTIVE TOconstruction THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY The construction industry,DIRECTOR including APPOINTED in the industry are: BOARD electrical and data and communications work, involves many manual tasks NECA Queensland Executive Director that can lead to unfortunate injuries if and ACRS Director PeterToLamont performed incorrectly. name ahas few, been as a member tasksappointed such as crawling aroundofinthe ceiling Electrical SafetytoBoard by tight the Minister spaces, having get into or difficult for Education and Industrial Relations, to reach locations, carrying heavy objects the Hon Grace Grace MP. poor posture, or picking things up with can lead to unwanted consequences. The Board’s function is to give advice and make recommendations to thefrom Minister It is worth noting that injuries sprains about policies, strategies and legislative and strains account for almost 50% of all arrangements for electrical safety. Its workers compensation claims. Of those, 15% do notrole return toprovide the workplace. Key secondary is to advice and examples of sprain and strain injuries

rotator cuff injuries;  muscle sprains and strains; recommendations to the Regulator about energy efficiency  prolapsed discs;and the performance of electrical equipment.  tendonitis of the shoulder or elbow; and  ligament or tendon ruptures. Minister Grace said “the Board provides an essential link between industry, the To help workplaces manage all these community and government in working manual tasks, Workplace Health and to improve electrical safety.” Safety Queensland has developed a set of interactive online training materials Peter’s appointment is for three years, that are available on their website. from 1 October 2020. 

For details, visit worksafe.qld.gov.au

September 2020 2021 SEPTEMBER

QLD BRANCH

NECA MEMBER ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY SAFETY NETWORK UPDATE Over the last 18 months, NECA has been committed to increasing our Workplace Health and Safety offerings and resources so members have the support they need. New to the NECA team is Belinda Binnington, HSEQ Coordinator. Belinda has been travelling around Queensland to meet members’ needs by ensuring HSEQ systems are compliant, conducting audits and discussing NECA’s updated SWMS. Since 1 July 2020, all NECA members have been privy to NECA’s free WHS system through their membership. We also offer more comprehensive HSEQ

systems that can be tailored to the scale and type of work performed by your business. While these systems have a fee, they provide everything you need to help meet all of your clients’ pre-qualification requirements and electrical and communication safety and WHS legislative requirements. To assist NECA members with emerging challenges in technology and COVID19’s impact on your business, the NECA WHS team recently introduced a monthly safety online networking group – Electrical Industry Safety Network (EISN)

as a way to help members improve their electrical health and safety awareness and practices across industry. The meetings provide members with best practice WHS advice about current issues from NECA’s WHS team, with guest speakers and an open Q&A session. The monthly NECA member EISN meetings are conducted online every third Friday of each month from 10am. If you would like to attend the meetings, email NECA Member Services, memberservices@neca.asn.au

AND THAT’S A WRAP

FOR THE 2020/21 NECA QUEENSLAND INDUSTRY NIGHTS THE NECA QUEENSLAND TEAM HAVE HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL ROADSHOW PROGRAM OF INDUSTRY NIGHTS ACROSS THE STATE DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS. THE INDUSTRY NIGHTS HAVE BEEN AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP MEMBERS AND THE BROADER ELECTRICAL COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR INDUSTRY. The team have travelled across a number of regional centres and southeast Queensland to deliver these informative sessions. The program kicked off at Logan in February, and since then, sessions have been held in Chermside, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone. These nights have provided opportunities for our members and the

broader electrical industry to meet and chat with the NECA team and inspectors from the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) on industry issues such as compliance priorities and eliminating unlicensed electrical work in Queensland. The industry nights also afforded contractors an opportunity to be privy to the latest products demonstrated by NECA’s business partners. We would like to give a big shout-out to our NECA Industry Night team: 



Logonholme

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NECA QLD’s Business Development Manager, Christopher Gradwell, NECA QLD’s WHS Coordinator, Belinda Binnington, and NECA Training Business Development Manager and Technical Advisor, Michael Horsham.

Their ongoing efforts, commitment and enthusiasm have ensured that each event runs smoothly

Sunshine Coast

and NECA members have been provided with practical support to run their business successfully. NECA would like to acknowledge and thank its business partners - Haymans, IPD, ABB, simPRO and Energy Super and ESO Inspectors for their continued support for NECA Queensland and the industry. Keep an eye out for your invite to our next series of industry roadshows you won’t want to miss these ones!

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QUEENSLAND RACE DAY

QLD BRANCH

THE NECA QLD BRANCH WAS PLEASED TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL RACE DAY AT DOOMBEN RACECOURSE, BRISBANE ON WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE. THE DAY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS WITH OVER 200 PEOPLE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, FINE FOOD AND FREE-FLOWING DRINKS. NECA’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, CHRISTOPHER GRADWELL, WAS AN EXCELLENT MC WHO KEPT THE CROWD ENTERTAINED FOR THE DAY. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME SOCIALISING AND WATCHING THE RACES.

“The event was such a welcome respite for everyone after all the COVID-19 issues of the past year and a half.” — Peter Lamont, Director ACRS and NECA Senior Policy Advisor

Off the racecourse, we had a number of winners. Best dressed female was Maughen Langer from OTI Power wearing her emerald green pants suite. Jeff Smith of LGL Electrical, took the best dressed male award, with his unique combination of casual attire and cowboy hat, with the lucky door prize won by David Millar of Fredon. Thank you to all Race Day sponsors who donated prizes on the day. NECA would like to thank its Race Day sponsors for their support: Schneider Electric, Haymans, Energy Super, NHP Electrical Engineering, Lawrence & Hanson, IPD Group, WorkPac, ACRS, CNW, TM Scrap Metal and NECA Training and Apprenticeships. As always, it’s hard not to forget the dedication and hard work of NECA’s team for making yet another event a continued success for members.

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September 2021

FIRST INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE QLD BRANCH

PURSUED FOR AN ELECTRICAL FATALITY

EMPLOYER MSF SUGAR PTY LTD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER OF A WORKER IN A POWER LINE INCIDENT. UNDER QUEENSLAND’S ELECTRICAL SAFETY LAWS, THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO $11.5 MILLION IN THE FIRST CASE OF INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER. The worker was electrocuted at a site near Little Mulgrave in Queensland in July 2019, allegedly after a crane touched, or came in close proximity to, overhead power lines in the course of work on a cane rail system. The state’s independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor has charged MSF Sugar over the fatality, pursuant to section 48N (“Industrial

manslaughter–person conducting business or undertaking”) of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) (the Act). The case is expected to commence soon in the Cairns Magistrates Court. As a result of the incident, the Queensland Electrical Safety Office and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland have issued a safety alert outlining three steps for preventing

incidents involving overhead or underground power lines. These include developing a safe system of work before commencing the relevant task, keeping workers and contractors informed about electrical safety, and avoiding entering exclusion zones.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT Peter Lamont Director ACRS and Senior Policy Advisor Peter.Lamont@neca.asn.au

THE AUSTRALIAN CABLING REGISTRATION SERVICE (ACRS) IS ONE OF FIVE REGISTERED CABLING REGISTRATION PROVIDERS APPROVED BY THE AUSTRALIAN MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY (ACMA). ACRS IS A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NECA. As well as providing cabling provider registration services, ACRS provides access to regular, timely, and up-todate information on the state of the data and telecommunications industry, and makes representations to the Federal Government on behalf of the industry on policy and compliance matters.

response to their discussion paper on the convergence between electrical and telecommunications cabling. This discussion paper looks at options on what level of training and qualifications a cabler should hold when working on ES3 wiring as defined in the cabling Wiring Rules AS/CA S009:2020.

At the end of the June 2021 quarter, there were 26,491 providers registered through ACRS. Around 50% of the registered cablers worked primarily in the telecommunications industry. A further 40% worked primarily within the electrical industry sector, with the balance being made up of workers in the computing, data, fire, security or other industry sectors. ACRS has an active process of contacting cablers when they don’t re-register to make sure their cabling registration stays up-to-date.

ACRS are concerned that communications workers have not been given anywhere near the level of adequate training required to deal with the potential electrical hazards that can eventuate from ES3 rated cabling work, which can sustain voltage levels significantly greater than ELV at up to 1,000 volts.

ACRS UPDATE

The staff at ACRS recently moved to NECA’s Centre of Excellence at Chullora. This has given ACRS better access to the diversified services available through NECA and more modern facilities from which to offer registration services to cablers.

ACRS continues to meet with ACMA, though our meetings are now all via Microsoft Teams rather than face-toface. Most recently ACRS promoted the need for better monitoring and compliance of the cabling industry. ACRS also worked with ACMA to ensure the TCA1 Form has been updated to include the latest edition of the Wiring Rules. This updated form is now available on our website.

ACRS continues to be active in policy debates. Recently ACRS partnered with NECA in preparing a submission to the Communications Alliance in

Reminder: The TCA1 Form must be completed by the registered cabler for every job and a copy must be given to the customer. The registered cabler must retain a copy for at least twelve months.

September 2021

ACRS UPDATE

NBN STRATEGIC DIRECTION BECOMES CLEARER The Federal Government has released its Statement of Expectation for the continued rollout and upgrades to the National Broadband Network (NBN). The Minister for Finance, the Hon Simon Birmingham, and the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP on 26 August 2021, released the government’s objectives noting the NBN: “will reliably and affordably meet the current and future broadband needs of households and businesses,

including in regional and remote Australia, foster productivity and innovation, and support our goal for Australia to be a leading digital economy and society by 2030.” In outlining this objective, the Ministers committed the NBN to:  Delivering a reliable, resilient and secure network;  Minimising and remediating outages;  Supporting households and businesses connecting to and using the NBN;

Improving regional and remote coverage; Positioning effectively for emerging and future technologies;  Working with stakeholders to increase digital capability; and  Providing timely, accurate and transparent information.  

The NBN company is on track to have some eight million premises, or 75% of homes and businesses on fixed line networks by 2023.

ARE YOUR SKILLS UP-TO-DATE? If you are a cabler who installs specialised cabling in customer premises, make sure your qualifications satisfy the ACMA Cabling Provider Rules. In 2014 the ACMA mandated cabling arrangements, to ensure all cabling providers have the necessary skills to perform specialised cabling work for the current and emerging customer cabling environment; however, ACRS is still receiving daily enquiries regarding competencies.

AUDIT FINDS ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY LEVELS NEAR 5G MOBILE BASE STATIONS ARE VERY LOW After completing an audit of 129 mobile base stations in early 2021, ACMA data shows that the levels of electromagnetic energy (EME) at 5G-enabled mobile base station sites are very low. The results show that for all sites measured, average EME levels in publicly-accessible areas were less than 1.5% of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) limit, with the majority of sites being under 1%.

These competencies only apply to cabling providers who are undertaking the relevant specialised cabling work within a customer’s premises. However, a cabler who does not have the Structured, Optical Fibre or Coaxial competencies, will not be permitted to install or work on that type of cabling, unless they perform that type of cabling work under the direct supervision of a registered cabling provider with the appropriate specialist competencies.

With a more expansive 5G rollout underway in Australia, compliance with the EME Standard for 5G-enabled mobile base stations will continue to be a priority for ACMA for the forseeable future.

ACMA REPORT: WHAT WE WATCH AND LISTEN TO The ACMA has released a report that provides an insight into what Australians watch and what we listen to. The report compares 2020 with 2018 and makes for fascinating reading. With regards to what we watch, the key features of the report show that:  Watching live free-to-air TV has declined to only 56% of Australian homes compared to 75% two years earlier;  In contrast, watching online subscription services has risen from 32% to 55%; and  Similarly, catch-up TV watching has increased from 19% to 36%.

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU

The time spent watching video content increased to an average of 28.5 hours per week in 2020 in each household. Households purchase an average of 1.7 streaming services each. The most popular device for watching video content is the mobile phone at 55%, followed by smart TVs at 41%. In total, 9 out of 10 Australians used a device to stream video content, with Netflix being the most popular. With regards to what we listen to, the key features of the report show that:  Listening to radio remains fairly constant;

Streaming music has risen dramatically from 37% in 2018 to 63% in 2020; and  Listening to podcasts has increased to more than 20%. 

Over three in five Australians listened to at least one music streaming service. Spotify remains the most popular music streaming service and the average amount spent each week streaming music is now more than 13.3 hours.

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AMENDMENT 2 OF THE WIRING RULES CRITICAL UPDATES TO BE AWARE OF

THE TRANSITION PERIOD FOR AMENDMENT 2 OF THE WIRING RULES (AS/NZS 3000) APPLIES UNTIL OCTOBER 30 2021, EXCEPT FOR NSW WHICH TOOK EFFECT WHEN THE AMENDMENT WAS RELEASED ON APRIL 30 2020. SOME OF THE KEY REVISIONS RELATE TO RCDS, SWITCHROOM ACCESSIBILITY, EQUIPMENT CONNECTIONS, RESULTS RECORDING, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE REVISED AS/NZS 61439 SERIES. IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO NEW TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVED INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES, THE AMENDMENTS ALSO SEEK TO REMOVE CONFUSING WORDING AND IMPROVE READABILITY AND COMPLIANCE. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE KEY UPDATES AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR INSTALLERS. If you’re adding a new moulded case circuit breaker (MCCB) and enclosure to an existing switchboard with <125 amps, does it need to comply with AS/NZS 61439?

can be achieved in a number of ways, including spacing. Some State Service Rules require a space between the main switch and other circuits.

overcurrent protection then a rewireable fuse, so this could explain the difference in the ratings as well as the availability of the common sizes of circuit breakers.

If the capacity of the switchboard is not increased and the alterations are not affecting the structural integrity of the switchboard, then the additions can be made. Always consult a switchboard manufacturer before altering any large manufactured switchboards.

Does equipment that has its own switchboard for parts of the equipment need to comply to the new switchboard requirements? For example chiller sets, large production line motor control centres (MCCs) etc?

Do three-phase 50 amp outlets need RCD protection for equipment directly connected over 32 amps?

Are RCD socket outlets no longer permitted when adding a new GPO to an existing circuit without RCD protection?

Yes, the equipment meets the definition of a switchboard and the switchboard is either >125 amps or has a fault rating of greater then 10kA.

They are not permitted for domestic installations if any socket outlets are added to an existing circuit, then the protection must be installed at the origin of the circuit. See clause 2.6.3.2.5. For non-domestic and non-residential installations, see clause 2.6.3.2.3.2 as the requirements are the same as for domestic apart from the exception that allows an RCD to be placed adjacent to the outlet. Are these changes retrospective? If we find power boards in non-accessible areas, do we need to replace them? No, changes to standards are never retrospective. NECAs recommendation is to remove the power boards. Can you clarify the requirements for main switches and the colour and spacing requirements? Main switches must be clearly marked and identifiable. Clause 2.3.3.5 details identification requirements. Main switches must be able to be secured in the open position. This

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There are some types of equipment that would not meet the definition of a switchboard, and this is where there can be confusion. Is steel conduit suitable for WSX3 for mechanical protection? What about flexible steel conduit (anaconda)? Galvanised medium tube is required as per clause H5.4. It is best to use Appendix H for all mechanical protection requirements as each scenario is unique. Table I1 seems to upgrade the capacity of what would have an existing 8A rewireable fuse to a 10A circuit breaker. I believe it should be kept the same or downgraded due to the age of the wiring. Is this stating that an existing domestic light circuit with a 8A rewireable fuse is okay to replace with 10A RCBO? Yes, you are reading the table correctly. The tripping characteristics of a circuit breaker should provide a better

No in non-domestic, nonresidential installations only, RCD protection is only required up to 32 amps. See clause 2.6.3.2.3.3. When carrying out maintenance and repairs, such as fixing wiring only for circuits without RCDs, do we need to fit an RCD to those circuits? Or is it only for additions? All alterations and additions need to have RCDs fitted to those circuits. This includes adding to an existing circuit. If you are carrying out maintenance and repairs, you are not required to install RCDs. However it is a good practice to put RCDs on wherever possible. Note: There are also other state regulations regarding rental properties and property sales and the installation of RCDs (and smoke alarms) before they change owners or leases. What about AC RCD protection requirements for residential and commercial? The use of Type AC RCDs is being phased out over the next two years. From April 2023, in NSW and October 2023 in all other states, only Type A RCDs will be allowed to be used in all scenarios.

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TECH TALK

clause 3.9.4.4 AS/NZS 3000. See also Clause 3.4.5 in AS/NZS 4777.1. I have been to new homes and still see circuit breakers on stove, cooktops and hot water systems. Is RCD protection required? If you’re altering an existing switchboard to install meter protection devices, does the switchboard have to be upgraded to comply with AS/NZS 61439? Any alterations need to be carried out in discussion with a switchboard manufacturer. The extent of the compliance to AS/NZS 61439 will depend on the nature and extent of the alterations. Do we need to put an RCBO on solar? Solar supplies are not classified as final subcircuits; therefore, they are not required to have an RCD fitted. It’s an alternate or supplement supply. However, you can install an RCD if required for cable protection as per

For new installations from 2018 onwards (after the new rules were introduced) RCDs are required on these circuits. This applies to all circuits in domestic and residential installations. See clause 2.6.3.2.2. What’s the best way to tackle a switchboard with asbestos which needs a RCBO to be installed? Working on asbestos switchboards is not prohibited. Each state has regulator rules for working with asbestos and this includes bonded asbestos switchboards. The state regulator’s rules must be followed.

Is it mandatory to replace an asbestos switchboard panel when doing an upgrade from fuses to RCDs? No, but it is strongly recommended to remove any asbestos switchboard panels. Again, it is important to follow state regulator requirements when working with asbestos. When modifying an existing main switchboard (MSB) (100 amp) to add a new circuit breaker over 100 amps, does the existing board need to comply with AS/NZS 61439? If there is an increase in the current rating of a switchboard, and it falls into either >125 amps or >10kA, then the requirements of AS/NZS 61439 apply. To find out more about Amendment 2 of the Wiring Rules, contact the technical services offered by your local NECA Branch.

THE HOWS AND WHERES OF

INSTALLING BATTERY SYSTEMS WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF AS/NZS 5139:2019, A FEW ISSUES HAVE COME TO LIGHT AROUND INSTALLATION PRACTICES AND WHERE AND HOW WE CAN INSTALL THESES BATTERY SYSTEMS. Note: For the purpose of this document, a BESS is a pre-assembled, integrated Battery Energy Storage System, e.g. Tesla Powerwall 2. A pre-assembled battery system is one which may have auxiliary equipment included, but does not include an inverter. We will also be only addressing systems that meet the “Best Practice Guide” Section 4 and 5 of AS/NZS 5139:2019. As mentioned in the standard, when installing a pre-assembled integrated BESS or pre-assembled battery system: “No appliance not associated with the BESS or Pre-assembled battery system can be installed within the restricted zones.” Associated equipment would indicate any equipment that performs part of the generation equipment to enable the storage of power to the associated battery system. Commonly, data cable is used between systems. This would indicate the inverter fits into this category, if it is providing the renewable power from the solar panels to charge the associated batteries. Is an inverter an appliance? As per AS/NZS 3000:2018 Clause 1.4.9 an Appliance is: “A consuming device, other than a lamp, in which electricity is converted into heat, motion, or any other form of energy, or is substantially changed in its electrical character.” An inverter does change substantially its electrical character from DC, and converts it to AC. So yes, it is considered an appliance. In allowing inverters to be within the restricted zone (Fig 1), you must also take into account the clearances required for each piece of equipment, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Is it ok to have light switches and socket outlets within this restricted zone? Light switches and socket outlets are defined as an accessory, so installing them in this area would be ok. But any appliance not associated will be required to be outside of the zone (e.g. ducted vacuum system).

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A BESS or pre-assembled battery system installed in any corridor, hallway or lobby shall ensure sufficient clearance from the battery system for safe egress; no less than 1 metre. Suitable locations may include a garage, dedicated battery room or veranda or a suitable shed.

Fig 1 – Restricted zones for equipment not associated with the BESS or pre-assembled battery system Suitable locations In areas of domestic or residential electrical installations, a BESS or preassembled battery system shall not be installed in any habitable room. What is a habitable room? A habitual room is any room associated with domestic or residential electrical installation used for normal living activities. These could be, for example; a bedroom, living room, lounge room, kitchen, dining room and many more as mentioned in AS/NZS 5139:2019. They also shall not be installed: 1. In areas of restricted locations, as defined for switchboards in AS/NZS 3000. 2. Within 600mm of any exit. 3. Within 600mm of any vertical side of a window or building ventilation that ventilates a habitable room. 4. Within 600mm of any hot water unit, air-conditioning unit or any other appliance not associated with the BESS or preassembled battery system. 5. Within 900mm below any of the items mentioned in 2, 3 and 4 above. 6. In a ceiling space. 7. On a roof, except where specifically deemed suitable. 8. In wall cavities. 9. Under access walkways. 10. In an evacuation or escape route. 11. Within hazardous areas defined in AS/NZS 3000.

Note: when installing in a garage, you may require suitable barriers to prevent the chances of a car coming into contact with the BESS or preassembled battery system. They may be required to be removable so you can work on the equipment safely. When installing a BESS or preassembled battery system, you must be mindful of its location. Is the room behind a habitable room? If so, you will require a nonFig 2 – Example combustible of barriers barrier to be placed behind the BESS or pre-assembled battery system. This barrier can be made of cement sheet, brick, masonry block, concrete and ceramic or terracotta tiles, or other products tested to AS 1530.1 which are non-combustible. Where the BESS or pre-assembled battery system is mounted on the floor within 300mm of the wall or structure separating it from the habitable room, the barrier shall extend (shown in Fig 3):  600mm beyond the vertical sides of the BESS or preassembled battery system.  900mm above the BESS or preassembled battery system.  To the extent of the bottom of the BESS or pre-assembled battery system. If the top of the BESS or pre-assembled battery system is within 900mm of the

September 2021

TECH TALK

ceiling or structure above the BESS or pre-assembled battery system, then the ceiling or structure shall be suitably non-combustible for an area of 600mm past the extremities of the BESS or pre-assembled battery system.

and ventilated to maintain protection against environmental conditions. The room should be assessed to minimise the build up of other materials around the equipment. Generally, 900 mm unimpeded access on the working side is required, but more details on specific distances is in clauses 4.2.5 and 5.2.5 AS/NZS 5139. Or as specified by the manufacturer, whichever is greater. Risk Assessment The location of a BESS or pre-assembled battery system shall also be determined by the outcome of the risk assessment.

Fig 3 – Barrier zones near a habitable room facing wall Room requirements Room requirements may vary a little between a BESS and pre-assembled battery system. The common thread is to have clear access, that is not obstructed by the structure of the building, fixtures and fittings within the room. The room should be clean, dry

Each installation shall have a risk assessment. All the hazards associated with the relevant battery type and all associated components shall be identified. The risk assessment shall be performed prior to planning an installation.

Note: See Appendix G in AS/NZS 5139:2019 for additional information on a risk assessment. Hazards to identify include:  Electrical,  Energy,  Mechanical,  Fire,  Explosive gas,  Chemical, and  Toxic fumes. See Clause 3.2.2 and Table 3.1 AS/NZS 5139:2019 for further information. The safety data sheets (SDSs) and the manufacturer’s installation instructions shall be provided for all battery energy storage systems. This shall be included in your documentation requirements set out in Clause 6.4.1 AS/NZS 5139:2019.

Louis Knoops Technical Manager, NECA Victoria

Hire an apprentice and claim up to $28,000 per year in Government Subsidies The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy has been extended until March 2022. Scan the QR code to check your eligibility.

APPRENTICESHIPS TRAINEESHIPS WORKFORCE

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CRIMPING TECHNOLOGY

TECH TALK

THE RIGHT LUG, THE RIGHT TOOL, THE RIGHT CONNECTION MANY PEOPLE IN THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIMPING AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR INSTALLATION’S PERFORMANCE. WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CRIMPING CAN HELP ENSURE THE RIGHT CONNECTION. Crimping, also called swaging, is a method of cold forging an electrical conductor within the connector’s barrel. It involves compressing the connector and conductor material into a smaller cross-sectional area of the die resulting in a compression ratio, which is compared to successfully tested products.

Good Crimp

Under Crimped

Over Crimped

Minimal to no air gaps with nicely formed sharp corners on the hex of the crimp.

Many air gaps present with rounded corners on the hex of the crimp many may result in join failure.

Minimal to no air gaps with winging obvious on two adjacent corners of the hex where the dies meet and may result in joint failure.

Die shapes In Australia and New Zealand, the hex die is the most common die shape used with compression connectors. Indent crimping is common in smaller sizes, especially hand crimping tools. Indent crimping is common with solid aluminium used with larger size conductors e.g., 240mm2. Copper conductors require copper or reverse bi-metal lugs and aluminium conductors require aluminium or bi-metal lugs. The two metals compress differently and have different rates of thermal expansion, so connectors need to suit the metal type. Galvanic corrosion between copper and aluminium is also an additional restriction. Dies for copper or aluminium are metalspecific and are not interchangeable. Copper dies have a narrower width than aluminium dies as copper is a harder metal. Check the dies against the recommended “across the flat” (AF) of the hex measurement to select the correct die. Australia and New Zealand have crimp connectors with thicker walls than European DIN or USA style lugs and links. Australian dies are specifically designed for lugs and links used in Australia and do not work on European or USA connectors.

the compaction. The measurement should be the same as the AF of the die ±0.2mm.

Preparation and installation Proper cable and conductor preparation is essential.  Always work as cleanly as possible, removing any dirt from the cable.  Use appropriate stripping tools with PPE such as cut level 5 gloves.  Remove any insulation, water block or foreign material.  Aluminium must be scratch-brushed to remove aluminium oxide, which has a high electrical resistance. Once the connection point has been prepared, the lug or link can be installed using the correct tooling. The right lug, the right tool for the right connection. Once the connector is installed, dress it with sand paper to remove any flashing or burrs, before installing any heat shrink or cold applied tubing.

Testing Underground lugs and links are tested according to AS/NZS 4325. Two tests are required for Class B – mechanical tension and an accelerated aging test by heat cycling. The heat cycle test is lengthy, subjecting the connectors to 1000 hot and cold cycles to test the viability of the cold forge. The standard has a Class A requirement, which includes short time current tests. Overhead connectors in Australia are tested to AS 1154. Mechanical tension is mandatory, but heat cycling and short time current is optional. Cabac has a NATA accredited laboratory to test their connectors according to AS/NZS 4325. Cabac Lugs and links are manufactured to the relevant specifications.

View the full webinar To find out more about crimping, visit: www.bit.ly/crimpneca

Checking the crimp is correct A good method for checking the crimp is correct is to use a vernier caliper to measure the AF across the compaction. The die must close and this test will confirm

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Mike Matulewicz Legend Cabac www.cabac.com.au

September 2021

SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY PROJECT

CABLE MANAGEMENT

An Australian leader in electrical products specialising in creating end-to-end solutions for the needs of any project across all sectors of the electrical industry.

TEST & MEASUREMENT

TOOLS

DATA & COMMS

DON’T RISK YOUR JOB! For your protection, only use CABAC branded lugs, links or connectors and rest easy knowing they are designed, manufactured and certified to Australian and New Zealand Standards.

ALWAYS ON SPEC For more information visit cabac.com.au

NEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWS

LEGAL

NEW LEGISLATION CONCERNING SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS PASSED FEDERAL PARLIAMENT AND IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

Here is a summary all employers should be aware of:

Unfair dismissal When the Fair Work Commission determines whether a dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable, sexual harassment conduct can amount to a valid reason for dismissal. It is also proposed that the definition of serious misconduct in the Fair Work Regulations be amended to include sexual harassment.

Orders to stop sexual harassment The Fair Work Commission’s anti-bullying jurisdiction will be expanded. The Commission will be able to make an order to stop sexual harassment in the workplace from taking place, but no order to pay a pecuniary payment can be made.

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The Sex Discrimination Act Discrimination involving harassment on the grounds of sex would be prohibited by the Sex Discrimination Act. Harassment on the grounds of sex will be defined as unwelcome conduct of a seriously demeaning nature by reason of the person’s sex, in circumstances in which a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated.

The Fair Work Act

to take compassionate leave if the employee, or the employee’s spouse or de facto partner, has a miscarriage. Employers are advised to: 



familiarise themselves with the new changes in legislation, review their workplace policies and amend them if required, immediately act on allegations of sexual harassment, and seek legal advice if uncertain about their obligations.

The Fair Work Act will also be amended, and an employee will be entitled

Johnny Brits Legal Practice Director, NECA Legal WA

Disclaimer: This summary is a guide only and is not legal advice. For further information on sexual harassment, contact your local Branch.

September 2021

WHAT YOU MUST DO WHEN ENTERING INTO AN

LEGAL

UNSOLICITED CONSUMER AGREEMENT IF YOU ENTER INTO AN UNSOLICITED CONSUMER AGREEMENT WITH A CUSTOMER (CONSUMER), THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW IMPOSES ADDED OBLIGATIONS. An unsolicited consumer agreement is generally established if these factors are met:  The agreement is for the supply of goods or services to a consumer;  The agreement is the result of negotiations between the supplier of the goods or services and consumer;  The consumer did not invite the supplier to visit them or make a telephone call, to engage in negotiations for the supply of goods or services; and  There is no defined price when the agreement is made, or the price exceeds $100. If an unsolicited consumer agreement has been formed, the supplier of the goods or services must comply with sections 79 and 80 of the Australian Consumer Law. Such obligations include, but are not limited to: 

There must be a written agreement outlining the relevant terms.

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU



This agreement must be signed by the consumer.

Further, on the front page of this agreement, the following must be clearly displayed:  The text ‘Important Notice to the Consumer’;  The text ‘You have a right to cancel this agreement within 10 business days from and including the day after you signed or received this agreement’; and  The text ‘Details about your additional rights to cancel this agreement are set out in the information attached to this agreement’.

Failure to comply with the above and any part of sections 79 and 80 of the Australian Consumer Law can expose sole traders to a fine of up to $10,000 and companies to a fine of up to $50,000.

Disclaimer: This summary is a guide only and is not legal advice. For more information on Unsolicited Consumer Agreements, call the legal service offered by your NECA Branch.

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CASUAL EMPLOYMENT CLARIFIED

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

HIGH COURT OVERTURNS DECISION IN WORKPAC v ROSSATO MANY EMPLOYERS FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING TO FIND A CLEAR DEFINITION OF WHAT A CASUAL EMPLOYEE IS. A RECENT APPEAL TO THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA IN WORKPAC PTY LTD V ROSSATO & ORS [2021] HCA 23 OVERTURNED THE FULL FEDERAL COURT’S PREVIOUS DECISION IN 2020 THAT MR. ROBERT ROSSATO (MR. ROSSATO), A COAL MINEWORKER, WAS NOT A CASUAL WORKER AND WAS ENTITLED TO PAID LEAVE. THE DECISION CLARIFIES WHAT DOES AND WHAT DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF A FIRM, ADVANCE COMMITMENT TO ONGOING EMPLOYMENT. The High Court’s Decision in Workpac v Rossato In short, Mr. Rossato was a labour-hire mining truck driver who was employed by Workpac. Between 2014 and 2018, Mr Rossato worked across six consecutive contracts, which all described him as a casual employee. Mr. Rossato worked a fixed weekly roster, that was often given to him at least seven months in advance. The 2020 decision, which found that Mr. Rossato was not a casual employee was appealed to the High Court of Australia where it was found that Mr. Rossato was in fact a casual employee and therefore, not entitled to any paid leave entitlements. The Court based its decision on the requirements of a firm, advance commitment to ongoing employment.

Firm, advance commitment requirement The High Court confirmed that casual employees have ‘no firm advance commitment’ to continuing and indefinite work according to an agreed pattern of work. In determining that Mr. Rossato did not have a firm, advance commitment, it considered the following: 1. Mr. Rossato was engaged on an ‘assignment-by-assignment’ basis; 2. Mr. Rossato had the ability to accept or reject assignments; and 3. Workpac was not obliged to offer further or additional assignments. The above three considerations demonstrate a lack of a firm, advance commitment to ongoing employment. Further to this, it was also determined that should a written employment

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contract exist, it must expressly state or reasonably imply the nature of an advance commitment and ongoing employment relationship. Although argued that a shift-based roster fixed in advance could deem Mr. Rossato not to be a casual employee, the High Court found that this is not sufficient in establishing an ongoing employment relationship beyond the completion of each assignment.

Significance of the decision The Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, which was introduced in March 2021, provided greater clarity on the definition of a casual employee. It defines a casual worker as an individual who: 1. Has been provided with an offer of employment on the basis that the employer makes no firm, advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work according to an agreed pattern of work; 2. Accepts the above offer; and 3. Is an employee as a result of the above acceptance. This Amendment now applies to all future cases concerning casual employment.

Marina Galatoulas Solicitor, NECA Legal

However, this recent High Court decision is relevant to all previously binding decisions that have been made by a Court in relation to casual employment that may be subject to appeal.

What this means for employers In light of this decision, employers are now encouraged to review their casual employment contracts to ensure that they expressly state the following: 1. The individual is a casual employee working on a casual basis; and 2. There is no firm, advance commitment of ongoing work. In summary, the High Court has clarified that where the formal relationship between the parties, being the employment contract, genuinely reflects a casual engagement, this will be recognised by the courts. Contact your local NECA Branch if you require your employment contracts to be reviewed or if you have any enquiries about casual employment.

Disclaimer: This summary is a guide only and is not legal advice. For more information on legislative obligations, contact the legal service offered by your local NECA Branch.

September 2021

CONTACT NECA FOR EXPERT LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION

NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH

This October, make health and safety part of your workplace culture by thinking safe, working This October, make health and safe. This October, make health and safe and being safety part of your workplace safety part of your workplace your logo your logo here by thinking safe, working cultureculture by thinking safe, working safeworkmonth.s make health and safe and safe. being safe. #safeworkmonth safe and being This October,This makeOctober, health and safety part of your workplace OCTOBER IS NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH — A TIME FOR WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS TO COMMIT TO safety part of your workplace your logo here culture thinking safe, workingyour logo here culture by thinking safe,byworking BUILDING A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE. NECA SUPPORTS THIS YEAR’S THEME FOR NATIONAL#ThinkWorkB #safeworkmonth safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au #Think safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au safe and being safe. #safeworkmonth This October, make health and safe and being safe. SAFE WORK MONTH “THINK SAFE. WORK SAFE. BE SAFE.” safety part of your workplace your logo here culture by thinking safe, working #safeworkmonth safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au #ThinkWorkBeSafe #safeworkmonth safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au #ThinkWorkBeSafe safe and being safe. #safeworkmonth

It is an important mechanism for raising awareness about health and safety, and helps us highlight, understand and investigate WHS issues in our workplaces. People are the electrical safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au #ThinkWorkBeSafe industry’s most valued asset, and their health and safety needs to be our top priority.

We encourage members to join National Safe Work Month. As a starting point, we’ve included several practical articles that will help you think about your workplace health and safety policies and processes. You can also find out more by visiting: safeworkmonth.swa.gov.au

CREATING A STRONG SAFETY CULTURE Australia has come a long way in improving workplace safety. We’ve gone from the days of using ladders to perform all sorts of tasks, to using work platforms with edge protection. We’ve replaced the old stubbies shorts and thongs with UV and ARC rated clothing and safety boots. Despite this, data shows incident and fatality rates is remaining stagnant, a situation that are being blamed on the human-centred approach to safety being replaced with a compliance-based approach.

focus heavily on “safety work” when it is “working safely”, that drives results.

Safety work

Integrating safety into work management activities is more effective and has better safety outcomes than maintaining two separate systems.

Research shows many safety activities aren’t changing the safety of the work as it is being performed. “Safety work” is not leading to “working safely”. “Safety work” is defined as all the things done for safety e.g. inspections, audits, training, risk assessments, inductions and using checklists. These activities do not always alter the way that people perform their tasks. Safe work method statements (SWMS) are a prime example. Whilst these have been around for many years, and are a legal requirement for high-risk construction work, once “inducted” into them, workers find it hard to remember the many details contained across numerous SWMS. Most workers, when put to the test, cannot recall the detail in all the paperwork they sign off on. “Safety work” is said to distract employers from a true understanding of safety, which evolves from the way they plan and execute work. Many businesses

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Integrating safety and work management activities To manage safety effectively, the way work is managed needs to change, so that safety is delivered as an outcome. This can be best achieved through core operational processes rather than safety management processes.

Integration involves understanding how safety can evolve, or be broken by, the processes involved in work activities. This involves changing:  workers’ capabilities, by way of operational training rather than safety training;  their equipment,  the information available about the work they’re doing; and  the amount of time allocated to tasks. It is only by changing these sorts of work processes that we improve the chances of consistently delivering safety outcomes.

Employers need to give workers the authority, resources and ability to actually fix problems as they arise, so they feel empowered to improve their working conditions. Safety professionals also play a crucial role in helping their organisations understand that safety is created by the way they manage work and not through completing safety processes.

How can we all effect change? While it is important to demonstrate top-down safety leadership, it is equally important to listen to the voices of those who are actually exposed to the risk. Workers can provide valuable information about the challenges they face and what they need to work safely. The most useful thing businesses can do, is to listen, rather than talk, whether you are a manager, safety professional or a solo business owner. Communication must involve relaying and receiving information as well as acting upon the information received (as required). Employers need to adopt a bottom-up, human-centred participative style of engagement with their workforce.

Belinda Binnington NECA WHS Coordinator

September 2021

SAFETY HAS A COST BENEFIT

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, SAFETY CAN BE A COST OR AN INVESTMENT. IN THIS ARTICLE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAL COSTS OF SAFETY AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF AN INJURY ON YOUR BUSINESS. We should all agree that we need safety programs to prevent our people being injured. Not only do we have moral obligations to our employees to provide a safe workplace, but regulators also require this from us. They are prepared to hold us financially and legally accountable, should we be proven negligent. The primary objective of a business is to make money for its stakeholders, showing an acceptable number on the positive side of the profit and loss ledger. This comes down to planning and budgeting to ensure that any safety outlay provides a cost benefit to the company. Safety programs cost money. To name just a few requirements, there are inductions, training, PPE, safety staff, inspections and certifications. Furthermore, there is the dollar value of the work time lost doing pre-start meetings, toolbox talks, RACS, Take-5s and the like. If no workplace incidents ever happen on the worksite, and no occupational injuries are experienced, then some may take the view that the money was spent unnecessarily, resulting in lower profit. However, others may consider money well-spent as it resulted in no injuries or incidents, thus increasing the profit margin.

When occupational injuries occur, it’s easy to see the immediate direct costs, but there are a multitude of ongoing indirect costs that should also be taken into account. Some researchers advocate that the significance of these indirect costs can be three to ten times higher than direct costs, depending on the business and the circumstances following the accident.

To answer this, it is necessary to understand the total costs associated with an occupational injury. Some costs are obvious and easy to assign to the injury, while other costs are embedded within larger issues or are less easily attributable. These two types of costs are often referred to as direct and indirect costs. Another description is visible and hidden costs.

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU



Frank Bird’s studies showed the ratio of direct to indirect costs to be between five and seven. To put that into perspective, if the direct costs of an occupational injury were $50,000, the indirect costs associated with the injury would be in the order of $250,000 plus. The direct costs are easily understood and identified. They include medical, rehabilitation and case management costs, disability settlements, insurance costs and legal costs. The indirect costs are more variable for each injury and less tangible; they are not easy to quantify in forecasting. Costs that need consideration include: 

So, which is it?

The cost of an injury



Training and hiring costs: With an employee away, it may be necessary to engage a new person for the task. This incurs onboarding and training costs for both the trainer and the new person. Lost productivity: New or temporarily reassigned employees are generally less productive. This loss could also be increased by a drop in workforce morale following the incident.

Brendan Craker Safety Manager, ECA WA

Disruption to the work program – especially when there is a limited window for the work program to be completed. Equipment usage downtime as it waits for external experts to assess that it’s safe to use. Overtime payments to make up the lost hours. Loss of goodwill or reputation: A history of safety incidents can affect how potential employees and customers view the company. This could lead to increased employee hiring costs and customer loss.

Seeing the big picture Preventing occupational injuries not only keeps employees safe, but also prevents potentially significant costs. After considering the potential costs linked to occupational injuries, we can safely say that a solid safety program is a value-add to the business. However, it is important that businesses cost safety requirements and include them in their pricing schedules when scoping projects. This will ensure that there are no conflicts between meeting the schedule and the safety program requirements. October is National Safe Work Month. Let’s all take this on board and work to the theme “think safe - work safe - be safe”.

For more information on WH&S, contact the WHS services offered by your local NECA Branch.

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BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO USING

USING VOLT STICKS Sometimes, cables can still be live even when the relevant power circuit has been correctly identified and isolated at the distribution board. Unknown factors, such as neutral conductors, can impact on cables and keep them energised, so it is critical to fully test cables before working on them. One important tool that can assist is the volt stick.

What is a volt stick? A volt stick, or a non-contact tester, is a testing device that detects the presence of AC voltages in a cable or piece of equipment, without the need to make direct contact with conductive material. A built-in sensor at the tip of the tester detects the presence of voltage when it makes contact with a conductor, outlet or supply cord - without the need to penetrate or cut the insulation. When the tip glows red and the unit beeps (although not all brands have this feature), this indicates that there is potentially a voltage present.

How to use a volt stick correctly Volt sticks should never be used to confirm that a circuit is correctly isolated - that is a job for a tradesperson using a multimeter. Volt sticks are to be used as a final safety check for you to confirm that what you’re about to touch isn’t energised.

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

Did you know?

 A volt stick must be well-maintained and To ensure you get an accurate used correctly to be an effective tool. reading from the volt stick,  Volt sticks do not detect DC voltages. the best practice is to:  Firstly, check the volt stick A faulty volt stick can lead to a serious incident! on a known live source. If the volt stick tip doesn’t light up brightly, or if the audible beep fails to sound How to maintain a volt stick (for those brands with this feature), you may need to change the batteries. To ensure your volt stick is in the  Ensure the object you are testing best possible condition to work is separated from other conductors correctly, there are a few maintenance or equipment, so that there is no steps that should be followed: doubt about which object you  Store the volt stick in a safe place are receiving a reading from. where it won’t get damaged (e.g. not  Move the volt stick close to the object in the bottom of your toolbox). The you wish to test. Be cautious and stay tip at the end of a volt stick can be clear of any potentially live parts. easily damaged, which will make it either unreliable or inoperable.  Run the volt stick slowly along both sides of the cable or around the  Replace volt stick batteries regularly. object, checking it is de-energised. A low battery reading can give the volt stick an incorrect indication.  If a voltage is present, the volt stick tip will light up and (if applicable)  Always test your volt stick beep. Alert your tradesperson before every use. so they can do further tests. Key takeaway  If the volt stick has indicated that the cable or object does not have voltage, A volt stick can be a valuable tool for test the volt stick again on a known live electricians – but only if it is used source to ensure it is working correctly. correctly. To prevent the occurrence of a life-threatening incident, it is essential Repeat these steps until you are that everyone in the electrical industry satisfied that you have correctly knows how to accurately use a volt stick identified that there is no voltage and ensure that the device is not faulty. present before commencing work.

GET WHS EXPERT ADVICE Safety in our industry is of the utmost importance. That’s why we offer a wide range of safety services for our members. Let us help you stay on top of your workplace health and safety requirements. If you have a WH&S question, get in touch with NECA in your state.

NECA ACT/QLD/NSW/TAS ........................................................................................ 1300 361 099 NECA SA/NT ......................................................................................................................... (08) 8272 2966 NECA VIC ........................................................................................................................................ 1300 632 247 NECA WA ................................................................................................................................... (08) 6241 6100

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September 2021

WAGO TOPJOB® S RAIL-MOUNT TERMINAL BLOCKS New Disconnect and Fuse Terminal Blocks with Push-Buttons

Changing the industry with the mere push of a button, WAGO now offers button-actuated function terminal blocks that are modeled after the successful push-button-equipped TOPJOB® S Rail-Mount Terminal Blocks. These new terminal blocks allow users to benefit from push-button convenience across the entire terminal block assembly. The new disconnect/test and fuse terminal blocks for 2.5mm² conductors feature WAGO‘s industry-proven Push-in CAGE CLAMP® connection technology, allowing solid and stranded conductors, as well as fine-stranded conductors with ferrules to be quickly terminated by just pushing them into the unit. Furthermore, they provide simple and intuitive operation – the orange color highlights the push-buttons. This rail-mount terminal block system conveniently uses the same wide range of accessories of WAGO‘s accessories as the TOPJOB® S Function Terminal Blocks with operating slots.

2202-1671

Push-Button 2-conductor Disconnect/Test Terminal Block •

• •

Reliable power circuit disconnection via integrated knife disconnect or a separate disconnect plug Clear visual confirmation of the switched status Suitable for nominal wire cross section 2.5mm2

2202-1611

2202-1981

Push-Button 2-conductor Fuse Terminal Block - Pivoting Fuse Holder

Push-Button 2-conductor Fuse Terminal Block - Automotive Fuses

•

Product electrical circuits against short-circuiting Suitable for miniature metric fuses or blade style fuses More versions available with LED indicator, and accessories such as jumpers and marking.

sales.anz@wago.com | (03) 8791 6300 | www.wago.com.au WAGO is a registered trademark of WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH.

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Terminal designed for mini-automotive blade style fuses. Compact design with only 5.2mm width, without the end-plate. Wide range of accessories available, making this range of terminals quick and easy to install.

IEC 61850

THE COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY FOR TOO LONG, THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY HAS RELIED ON COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS DESIGNED AND STANDARDISED BY OTHER INDUSTRIES AND SEGMENTS. FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY’S CONTINUED GROWTH AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO UTILISE A PURPOSE-BUILT PROTOCOL FOR POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION - IEC 61850. THIS ARTICLE SUMMARISES THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF IEC 61850 THAT SET IT APART FROM CURRENT STANDARD PRACTICE, AND WILL ALLOW THE INDUSTRY TO TAKE THE NEXT LEAP FORWARD TOWARDS A MORE CONNECTED AND DIGITAL FUTURE. IEC 61850 was released as a formal International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard in 2009, with development stretching back into the mid-1990s. Initially conceived as a Substation Automation (SA) system to standardise control and communications for large substations and switchyards, it has expanded with products offering support down to the moulded case circuit breaker (MCCB) level of low voltage distribution.

Purpose-built for electrical systems To better understand the advantages of IEC 61850, it is easiest to compare it to the well-known and currently regularly used protocol Modbus. The table below lists the chief disadvantages

of Modbus when used in an electrical system and how IEC 61850 has been designed to address these limitations. IEC 61850’s characteristics address the practical needs of electrical transmission and distribution systems, rather than process control systems where most protocols have traditionally grown out of.

Achieving value with IEC 61850 By using IEC 61850, a great deal of value can be gained in creating solutions that are presently difficult or impossible to execute without additional engineering and intermediate equipment. This is on top of efficiencies gained from reducing overall complexity and integrating intelligent functions into necessary devices.

Modbus Time keeping / Synchronisation across network

NTP / SNTP implemented on Modbus TCP (> 1ms)  None within Modbus RTU 

For example:  Selective zone interlocking through multiple levels of switchgear all the way up to medium voltage (MV).  Implementation of various network protection functions, for example, directional overcurrent with only intelligent circuit breakers, as opposed to circuit breakers and protection relays.  Transfer switching with only intelligent circuit breakers, as opposed to circuit breakers and automatic transfer switch (ATS) controllers and other auxiliary equipment.  Sequence of events recording at up to 1µs resolution. As can be seen from the examples above, some of the efficiencies gained by removing complexity are achieved by selecting intelligent circuit breaker

IEC 61850  

NTP / SNTP available PTP (IEEE 1588) (> 1µs)

Object – orientation

None, all data and devices exist as difficult to identify tables and lists. No way to enforce standardised tables and devices

All devices and data are object oriented. Common data for devices are standardised and generic, e.g. voltage, current, frequency, trip / close, etc

Hierarchy

Master / Slave protocol with all communication on a given bus initiated by the master

Distributed (peer to peer) model

Data contiguity

All data must be contiguous

Data prioritisation based on criticality of information, e.g., GOOSE messaging

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September 2021

NEW TECHNOLOGY

systems as well as using IEC 61850, such as the ABB Ability ecosystem of digital devices and software solutions. It is more important than ever to ensure that the correct combination of hardware and software is selected for the application to be undertaken.

Key takeaways The need for vastly more integrated power distributions systems for electric vehicles, grid storage and renewables will increase the drive for standardised communications services, with the

goal of achieving greater functionality through intelligent devices. IEC 61850 is now mature enough for serious consideration as the standard communications protocol for low voltage distribution systems in Australia. It allows for complex functions to be implemented purely through

communications, saving time and cost in execution and driving the industry towards further digital transformation.

View the full webinar To find out more about IEC 61850, view the full webinar here: www. bit.ly/iec61850neca

Steven Yan National Sales & Development, IPD Group www.ipdgroup.com.au

WE NOW OFFER A FULL RANGE OF LIGHTING POLES AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING CROSSARMS AND SPIGOTS TO SUIT YOUR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

Future Engineering & Communication have been designing, manufacturing and installing communications and power poles for the Australian market for over 30 years. INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE SUPPLY OF: Floodlight poles Street Light poles Telecommunication poles Power poles (transmission, distribution, and consumer) Special purpose poles (camera, wind etc.) Full range of standard and custom accessories Full range of site services from geotech to landscaping

Contact us today to discuss your project Telephone: (08) 9417 4999 Email: sales@futureau.com.au Website: www.futureau.com.au Office Locations: Western Australia | South Australia | New South Wales | Queensland

WHAT IS CYBER INSURANCE

BUSINESS

AND WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE IT

CYBER EXPOSURES ARE AN ENDEMIC THREAT TO ALL BUSINESSES. MORE THAN EVER, WE ARE RECEIVING ENQUIRIES FROM NECA MEMBERS ON HOW TO PROTECT THEIR BUSINESS FROM CYBER CRIMINALS. Managing cyber risk is no different. Even with the most secure cyber risk controls and employee training in place, data breaches, ransomware attacks and other cyber incidents can impact on your business and take a big toll. Cyber insurance needs to be part of an effective risk management strategy for every business.

Real claim examples Let’s look at the impact of cyber events on small businesses, some of which are NECA members. Social engineering and third-party liability A subcontractor emailed a NECA member asking them to change the bank details for payment. The request was verified through the authenticated email address. What the member didn’t know, was that the subcontractor’s email had been hacked and $70,000 was paid to a fraudulent account.

had access. A law firm was also brought in for remediation and to investigate if the matter needed to be brought to the attention of to the Privacy Commissioner.

A cyber policy with social engineering can manage cost recovery and pay any unrecoverable losses. This is an example of a third-party claim for the subcontractor or a social engineering claim for the contractor.

Claims covered business interruption losses, forensics and legal costs running to $63,000. Had there been a privacy breach, the insurer may also cover fines and mandated notifications.

Cover requirements Most cyber insurers will now only offer policies where a high level of cyber security protocols have been implemented in your business. These include: 

 

Data breach

What does cyber insurance cover?

The insured’s IT system was hacked and the hacker used this access to request funds transfers from clients and the insured’s bank. The total payments made amounted to $500,000.

An effective cyber policy covers five main areas:

The insurer appointed an IT Forensic Consultant to help recover $450,000 and paid the remaining $50,000 on the claim. Ransomware attack The insured’s system was hacked and cyber attackers prevented access to documents, including critical contract details and designs. The business contacted the insurer’s cyber incident response line and an IT forensic consultant was appointed to fix the damage and investigate if the hacker still

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1. Third-party claims – claims from third parties following breaches to your system. This includes defence costs, investigations and cover for fines and penalties. 2. Business interruption following a cyber incident. 3. Remediation. 4. Social engineering and phishing – use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information and into making payments. 5. C yber incident response hotline. This is one of the most important features of a good cyber policy.

 

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Two-factor authentication (2FA) or Multi-factor authentication (MFA); Password protection on all devices; Latest security updates and patches installed; Embedded firewalls and anti-virus; Processes to verify changes to bank accounts; and A two-person approval process for payments over $2,000.

Protect your business Over 400 members choose to insure their business through NECAGuard, an insurance offering that has been designed specifically for electrical contractors. To find out how you can obtain cyber insurance that will meet your needs, email necaguard@neca.asn.au or phone 1800 335 014 for more information.

September 2021

IS TIME ‘TIK-TOKING’ AWAY

OPINION

ON APPRENTICESHIPS?

IN 1985, TRAINEESHIPS WERE INTRODUCED, EXTENDING THE TRADITIONAL ‘TRADE’ MODEL TO A WIDER RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS. DURING THE 1990S, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS TO OFFSET THE COST OF APPRENTICESHIPS (AND TRAINEESHIPS), WITH THE GOAL OF ENCOURAGING MORE COMMENCEMENTS. THE PATTERN OF INCENTIVISING IS NOW BAKED INTO THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING MODEL. But for how long? Market trends are volatile, and the job market is particularly hard to judge. Four-year cycles (the traditional apprenticeship length) seem to rarely coordinate with the demands of growing labour shortages, or the inevitable glut of graduates at the end of a boom. It is not unusual to see a large intake of apprentices commencing, attempting to catch a cycle. As the cycle ends, the graduates find it hard to gain employment, or see wage pressure, giving cause for them to question their choice of trade. Adding to this are media articles focusing on ‘jobs that won’t exist in ten years’, feeding into a mindset where ‘signing’ up to a four-year apprenticeship, with questionable job outcomes, may seem a poor choice. So how does an electrical apprenticeship fare in this market? While ‘Tik-Tok’ content producers and ‘influencers’ can turn a dollar on social media, the underpinning norms of society still remain. People need to live, work and play somewhere. Building and construction, repairs and maintenance, will keep electricians, even as they are currently trained, in work for years to come. Being an expert in producing fifteen-second video clips won’t fix the short on your power circuit. However, there will be a turning point. To remain relevant, trades will need to address the peaks and troughs in labour demand, with a greater focus on being able to meet short term shortages, whilst building a future workforce that can better absorb these cycles. As emerging technologies drive a need for upskilled workers, the base skill sets in the electrical trade will continue to provide a solid foundation to build the

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knowledge and practical skills required, without unnecessarily adding long periods of training to address an acute shortage. As the 4 th industrial revolution advances, and other vocations wane and then cease to exist, some of these workers may have the foundation skills that fit the future electrician mould. But will a four-year apprenticeship work for them? Where competency development is currently linked to time served, is it a model we can keep for eternity? In 1640, apprenticeships were eight years long. In 1855, legislation in NSW set nominal and maximum durations for apprenticeships. After WWII, the split of on job/ off job training was established on an 80/20 split. At the start of the 20 th century, apprenticeships of seven years were common, after WWI, it was reduced to five, in the 1970s, to four. In 1973, the introduction of the National Apprentices Assistance Scheme was set against industry questioning the inflexibility of the system, and its capacity to meet changing labour market needs or adapt quickly. Almost fifty years on, we find ourselves asking the same questions.

With over 233 years since the apprenticeship model landed with the first European settlers, the last thirty years have seen the greatest changes. Our apprenticeship model is world renowned for its effectiveness in delivering a skilled workforce. Imagine what another thirty years will bring? One thing is for certain, school leavers will look to industry for training. Credit to NCVER, Knight B. Evolution of apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia: an unfinished history, 2012. For the facts, figures and historical references.

Steve Hall General Manager, College of Electrical Training

September 2021

WE PUT THE ENERGY INTO SUPER We’re the industry super fund that’s just the right size to deliver strong long term performance and personal connection. We exist to benefit members and our decisions aren’t driven by the need to generate profit for shareholders. We’re big enough to matter but small enough to care about your employees.

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WHY CHOOSE US FOR YOUR STAFF? Low Fees:

Income Protection*:

As a profit-for-members fund, we work to keep our fees low, so our profits go back to the members.

We offer short 14 day waiting periods with excellent claim rates and give access to a leading provider of income protection insurance.

Personal Advice:

*See our Insurance Guide at energysuper.com.au/pds for more information.

Your employees can get tailored, personal advice on setting up their Energy Super account at no extra cost through ESI Financial Services Pty Ltd. To book an appointment visit our website or call us on 1300 436 374 between 8am-6pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Family & Friends: Your spouse, partner, children or friends can join and you don’t need to be part of the energy industry to be a member.

For help or further information, please speak to Damien Griggs on 0458 147 111 or email damien.griggs@energysuper.com.au.

Before making an investment decision you should consider the PDS and whether the Fund is right for you. If you need assistance, talk to one of our financial advisers. Any information or advice included in this message is provided by ESI Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 93 101 428 782) (AFSL 224952) a wholly owned entity of LGIAsuper (ABN 23 053 121 564) (RSE R1000160). LGIAsuper Trustee (ABN 94 085 088 484) (AFSL 230511) as trustee for LGIAsuper. While all due care and diligence has been taken in the preparation of this document, the Trustee reserves the right to correct errors or omissions. Information in this document is current as at 1 July 2021. Prepared and issued by LGIAsuper Trustee (ABN 94 085 088 484) (AFSL 230511) (the Trustee), as trustee for LGIAsuper (ABN 23 053 121 564) (RSE R1000160) (the Fund). A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is available from energysuper.com.au or by calling 1300 436 374.

www.energysuper.com.au

HEALTH & WELLBEING BEING YOUR PERSONAL BEST – 8 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK When it comes to the workplace, even small changes can bring about tangible benefits. As many of us spend a lot of our time at work, it’s good to check in every now and again about whether we’re doing everything we can to minimise stress and increase productivity. This has been increasingly difficult over the last twelve months, with many people’s jobs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you’re working remotely or not, sometimes, just a few small changes could be all you need to help you feel that little bit happier at work.

1. Set achievable goals Seeing a whole list of unticked boxes isn’t a great way to the end your work day. Try making a list at the start of every day that you think you can achieve on that day. Divide bigger tasks into sections and tick things off as you go.

2. Talk about your day Talking can be a great way to process the days events and receive support. Make yourself accountable to a friend or family member by booking in a regular coffee date or phone call.

3. Set boundaries for ‘me time’ Put some time in your diary to recharge and not think about work. Turn your phone or emails off during that time to allow yourself to have a proper break and pursue something that will help you unwind. This should be a daily thing – whether it’s time for family, friends, exercise or watching TV.

4. Cut out time-wasters If you’re in a busy work environment, you may find that there are certain tasks (or people) that you don’t enjoy spending

time on. While it can be hard to avoid necessary activities that need to be done, try to limit your involvement and make more time for things you do enjoy.

5. Get your steps up This may appear on every to do list ever, but exercise can be great way to clear your head when office politics start to take over. Start small by working in ten minutes here and there – walking an extra bus stop on your way to and from work, or getting some exercise during your lunch break if you’re working from home.

6. Be flexible

8. Stay focused If you’re constantly getting distracted by background noise at work why not put your headphones on and pump up the beats. Listening to music can be both relaxing and a great way to block out chatterboxes. If music isn’t your thing, different websites have selections of soundscapes you can listen to like rainforests, the beach or even just white noise. For more information or support on mental health in the workplace, visit beyondblue.org.au

Full-time, five days-a-week isn’t for everyone, and likely won’t be moving forward for many businesses. If you’re finding that your current arrangements aren’t suiting your day-to-day life, consider asking for flexible working arrangements. This could be anything from leaving early on Wednesdays to pick up the kids and extra (purchased) leave to having a blend of working remotely and onsite.

7. Take your breaks It’s easy to get caught up in meetings or eat lunch at your desk, but if this is becoming a regular thing it may be time to break the habit. Giving yourself a chance to rest and reset will help boost productivity when you return. This might be a quick walk around the block or eating lunch in the break room, or away from your workspace.

MOVEMBER 2021 – MEN’S HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Helping a friend is easy when you know how. Follow these four steps to let the conversation flow. 1. Ask - Start by mentioning anything different you’ve noticed. 2. Listen – Try to give them your full attention without disruptions. 3. Encourage Action – Help them focus on simple things that might improve their wellbeing. 4. Check In – Suggest a catchup, a phone call or drop them a message. For more information or support resources, visit au.movember.com

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September 2021

HEALTH & WELLBEING

TIME TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS ONE HOUR FORWARD Clocks are turned one hour forward on Sunday 3 October in ACT, NSW, SA, TAS and VIC. Daylight saving can mess with our body clock and trigger underlying health issues. Although we gain an extra hour of daylight, it usually means losing an hour of sleep. The Sleep Health Foundation has a list of tips to help people prepare and adjust to daylight saving time: 

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Make the bedroom as bright as possible when you first wake up in the morning. Eat a good breakfast. Go outside in the sunlight in the early mornings. Exercise outside in the mornings. Try to get between seven to nine hours sleep each night. Don’t exercise just before going to bed. Don’t drink coffee, tea or other caffeine drinks in the evening, avoid smoking just before bed or during the night.

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Don’t go to bed hungry or too soon after eating a large meal. Go to bed 15-20 minutes earlier for three to four days before putting the clocks forward.

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Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier on Saturday and Sunday mornings in preparation for the early start on Monday.

Grab one of our new sustainable Hoodies and Tees today Middy’s have partnered with SKINS to offer account customers our iconic Middy’s Hoodies and T-shirts in a new sustainable fabric. The sustainable fabric is made entirely from recycled plastic which reduces landfill, water and air pollution. In addition to being good for the planet, the sustainable fabric leads to higher quality garments that are softer, stronger and made to last. Another example of how Middy’s values sustainability and the ethical supply of goods. We recognise it’s a small step, but it’s one in the right direction. Join us as we look to reduce, reuse and recycle our planet’s finite resources. ✔ Made with 100% recycled fabrics ✔ Iconic and even more comfortable MID10440_08/21

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INSPECTION METHODS TO

A SAFETY ADVERTORIAL

DETERMINE POTENTIAL ARC FLASH ARC FLASHES CAN BE CONSIDERED AS SHORT CIRCUITS THROUGH THE AIR. THEY PRODUCE TREMENDOUS STORED UP ENERGY THAT TRAVELS OUTWARD FROM ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, WITH TEMPERATURES AS HIGH AS 19,000 DEGREES CELSIUS AND A FORCE EQUIVALENT TO BEING HIT BY A HAND GRENADE. IF AN ARC FLASH DOESN’T KILL YOU, IT WILL SEVERELY BURN OR INJURE YOU, COULD CAUSE HEARING AND MEMORY LOSS. WE REVIEW THE OPTIONS TO TEST FOR ARC FLASH POTENTIAL AND PREVENT INCIDENTS. The science of safety Arc flash incidents can result from poor work habits, dropping tools or accidental contact with energised equipment. However, some conditions that produce arc flash potential within enclosed cabinets can be detected before creating incidents. These conditions are arcing, tracking, and corona. While infrared thermography will detect heat generated by arcing and in most instances tracking, it does not sense corona. If cabinets are enclosed, unless there is an infrared (IR) test port, it is highly unlikely that infrared will detect the presence of emissions. Also, to view components within enclosed electrical cabinets, it’s necessary to conform to PPE standards. Therefore in many situations IR inspectors must wear cumbersome clothing and hoods and perform required procedures to open cabinets for inspection. This can be very time-consuming and, in hot weather, very uncomfortable. An integrated approach incorporating infrared, and ultrasound is recommended for detecting arc flash potential. Arcing, tracking, and corona emissions produce ionisation. Ionisation has by-

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products: ozone and nitrogen oxides. These combine with moisture to produce nitric acid, which is destructive to most dialectics and certain metallic compositions, resulting in corrosion. Electric condition monitoring aims to detect the presence of these events before flashover occurs or before they produce an arc flash incident when a cabinet is opened. Airborne/structure-borne ultrasound technology is ideally suited for detecting these emissions since the ionisation process produces ultrasound. Ultrasonic instruments sense between 20-100 kHz and use heterodyning to translate the ultrasonic emissions into the audible range. These portable instruments provide audio signal information via headphones with a visual display of signal intensity via a meter or Liquid Chrystal Display (LCD).

Portable instruments Typically, an operator will scan around the door seams and air vents of enclosed electrical cabinets with the scanning module while listening through headphones and observing a display panel. Arcing, tracking, and corona

all have distinct sound qualities that can be heard. If there are no air paths, the inspector will use the wave-guide to probe around the cabinet wall. As the ultrasound moves from airborne to structure-borne, there can be possible changes in wave characteristics. The operator will change the frequency from 40 kHz (effective for airborne scans) to 25 kHz. Should there be a need to analyse these patterns further, the sounds can be recorded and played back on spectral analysis software. This enables inspectors to observe subtle problems that might be missed by viewing a screen without sound.

Low voltages Which voltages and on what type of equipment is ultrasound most effective? The answer is not simple. Firstly, determining the definitions of low, mid, and high voltage is relative. The main concern in low voltage equipment is arcing. Typically 110, 220, and 440 volt systems are inspected with infrared imaging and/or spot radiometers for temperature changes. Hot spots, usually indicating resistance, can indicate a potential for equipment failure or a possible fire hazard. When

September 2021

A SAFETY ADVERTORIAL

arcing occurs, it is often accompanied by heat; however, it is not always possible to detect a hot spot if the equipment is covered. Ultrasound will hear arcing in circuit breakers, switches, contacts and relays. In most instances, quickly scanning a door seal or vent will detect the ultrasound emission. Listening for internal arcing in circuit breakers and switches can be accomplished with the contact probe. For example, touch a circuit breaker switch with the contact probe. The most effective method of low voltage inspection involves combining infrared imaging with an ultrasonic probe.

Mid and high voltages Higher voltages often produce more potential for equipment outage. Problems such as arcing, destructive corona, or tracking (sometimes referred to as “baby arcing”) and corona, as well as partial discharges and mechanical looseness, all produce detectable ultrasound that warn of impending failure. Detecting these emissions is relatively easy with ultrasound. The acoustic difference among these potentially destructive events is the sound pattern. Arcing produces erratic bursts, with sudden starts and stops of energy, while corona is a steady “buzzing” sound. Destructive corona has a buildup and drop-off of energy resulting in a buzzing sound accompanied by subtle popping noises. While scanning for these emissions, use a parabolic reflector. These accessories can more than double the detection distance of the standard scanning modules.

strong buzzing sound might be nothing more than mechanical looseness. Spectral analysis and time-domain can be useful tools in analysing electric emissions. Since all Ultraprobe instruments heterodyne ultrasound down into audible ranges, Ultraprobe 10000 may be used to record sounds. You must use a suitable recording device that has a suitable bandwidth in the lower frequencies. Digital voice recorders aren’t acceptable, as they only record signals above 300 Hz, which isn’t low enough for the 50 or 60 Hz peaks. Laptop computers, MP3 recorders, or quality cassette recorders work well for recording signals in the field. When recording signals, you need to ensure the signal is not distorted. On analogue instruments, you shouldn’t let the signal go over 50% of full scale on the signal strength indicator. On digital instruments, try to maintain the signal strength of between four to six segments of the bar graph. Sounds can be downloaded to a PC and viewed as a spectrum or time series for analysis. It’s important to examine both spectrum and time-domain images when making an evaluation. Examining time-domain images can also help. With corona, you’ll have a uniform band of signal with very few peaks that extend above the average band. With tracking, you will begin to see peaks created by the discharges extend above the average band. Arcing will show several “bursts” of energy which correspond with the discharges. In all cases, both the spectrum and the time-domain should be examined before the final determination is made.

New on-line condition monitors While the great majority of energised electrical equipment inspections incorporate portable instruments, these inspections are limited in their ability to protect equipment from failure or having an arc flash potential go undetected. The limitations are time-based. If an inspector is testing at the time any of these incidents is occurring, there is a good chance they will be detected and reported for corrective action. But, unlike mechanical conditions, which are usually detected first and then trended to specific action levels, once arcing, tracking, or corona are present, there is potential for failure and arc flash that can occur at any time. Therefore, continuous on-line monitoring of enclosed electrical equipment is needed. An electrical cabinet monitor is mounted on the internal side of a door or wall facing the components. Utilising an airborne scanner, a threshold level is set. Should an event of arcing, tracking, or corona occur, the sound level will be above the ambient threshold and be detected. Having continuous monitoring, that is not operator dependent, has clear advantages.

Mark Goodman VP of Engineering, UE Systems, Inc www.uesystems.com.au

VISIT ULTRA-TEK TO FIND OUT MORE ON UE SYSTEMS  www.uesystems.com.au  support@ultra-tek.com.au

Analysing recorded signals While it’s relatively easy to determine arcing, tracking, or corona by the sound pattern, there can be occasions where it may prove confusing. It’s possible that a

WWW.NECA.ASN.AU

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TOOLS OF THE TRADE THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

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X50 (ATPV 52 Cal) SWITCHING KIT 4 (Non Reflective) SKU: D-EASKJTXHLX50

To view the whole range of arc flash PPE, visit safetyspecialists.com.au or contact 1300 361 099. 98

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September 2021

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NECA NEWS September 2021

Articles inside

Inspection Methods to Determine Potential Arc Flash

Time to Turn Your Clocks One Hour Forward

Is Time ‘Tik-Toking’ Away on Apprenticeships?

IEC 61850 – The Communications Protocol for the Electrical Industry

What is Cyber Insurance and Why You Should Have It

Best Practice Guide to Using Volt Sticks

Safety Has a Cost Benefit

Casual Employment – High Court Overturns Decision in Workpac v Rossato

What You Must Do When Entering Into an Unsolicited Consumer Agreement

New Sexual Harassment Laws

Electrical Connector Crimping Technology – The Right Lug, The Right Tool, The Right Connection

The Hows and Wheres of Installing Battery Systems

Amendment 2 of the Wiring Rules Critical Updates To Be Aware Of

Director’s Report

Queensland Race Day

Safety Observers and LVR/CPR – What You Need to Know

Group Training Addressing Industry’s Skill Shortages

Compliance Statement for Main Switchboards Greater Than 125 Amps

How NECA Legal WA Can Help You Avoid Costly Contract Disputes

Being and Electrician – It’s Not Just a Job; It’s a Career

Western Power Reminder About Electric Vehicle Chargers

Release of the Western Australian Service and Installation Requirements 2021

Branch Update

Overhaul of Victoria’s Security of Payment Regime

NECA Legal Webinar Series

Understanding What Warranties Apply to Your Work in SA

Western Australia Winners

Tasmania Winners

Queensland Winners

States Send Electric Vehicles Down Different Policy Roads

Australian Capital Territory Winners

Can I Direct My Employees to Get Vaccinated?

NECA Has a Strong Voice on Fire Safety Systems Reform

COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace