ACCESS in ACTION
Safety first, always and uppermost
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Training Director: Phil Middleton
Tel: 02 9622 6060
Technical Director: Peter Wenn
Tel: 03 9568 7211
EWPA National Executive
President: Tim Nuttall
Tel: 03 9547 7700
Vice President: Rick Mustillo
Tel: 02 9817 7610
Past President: Bernie Kiekebosch
Tel: 03 9801 7274
NSW President: John Glover
Tel: 02 9735 7600
Victorian President: Tim Hille
Tel: 03 9555 1116
Queensland President: Mitch Ely
Tel: 07 5431 4000
SA President: Mike Williams
Tel: 0439 811 126
WA President: Will Reilly
Tel: 08 9456 4400
Executive Director: Phil Newby
Tel: 02 9998 2222
National Operations Manager:
James Oxenham
Mob: 0410704 979
ELEVATING WORK PLATFROM
ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
PO Box 1304 MONA
VALE
NSW 1660
Tel: 02 9998 2222
Fax: 02 9998 2299
info@ewpa.com.au
www.ewpa.com.au
Telescopic Handler Association
of Australia
President:
Stuart Walker
T: 02 9517 3174
The EWPA continues to act on a couple
of key issues. Grey imports, dodgy major
Inspections and changes to the PPSA. The
good news is we are still fighting hard
on all fronts. The bad news is we are not
gaining much traction from the regulatory
authorities charged with the responsibility
of protecting our industry from the perils
these issues create.
The importation of
second hand machines into
Australia, that fail to meet
the rigorous standards
imposed on new machine
imports is a continuing
problem. There is a flood
of machines hitting our
shores and despite our best efforts we
have been unable to get the authorities
focused on the cause.
We have made representations to the
ACCC on the issue of misleading and
deceptive advertising, where the sellers are
making representations the imports meet
AS 1418.10 and the units have had Major
Inspections, when clearly they don’t.
The ACCC were given the opportunity
to address this issue of deceptive and
misleading behaviour but instead referred
us back to Worksafe. I am not surprised
at this response given the recent reports
relating to their activity in relation to the
CBA (The Saturday Age - June 1, 2013 -
pages 1,12,13 and14.)
WorkSafe similarly have been very
slow to respond to such an important
equipment safety issue. The matter
was referred to them in October 2012.
We are still waiting for a response. The
documents the EWPA presented on this
matter are apparently still being cited by
WorkSafe. According to WorkSafe, they
require another four months to respond
to the information. For the EWPA and
for me personally, as President of our key
representative industry body, I find this
situation sadly lacking. If indeed another
four months are required for a response
from WorkSafe on this matter that will
be close to a 12 month turn around on a
serious workplace safety issue.
Since this delay is affecting our industry
and market, the EWPA proposes our next
correspondence on the issue of deceptive
and misleading advertising regarding
second hand equipment not meeting
Australian Standards, be addressed to the
Parliamentary Minister responsible, as well
as the Coroner, to see if they have any
interest in workplace safety.
While on the topic of safety, the
incidence of EWP tip over seems to
becoming more prevalent. The Association
has taken note of the number of incidents
reported on Vertikal’s web site that
occurred in Australia. As far as we are
aware, primarily, the risk of tipping is a site
risk assessment issue; however the EWPA
is aware the entire industry (hire and
access) needs to be proactive in assisting
clients meet risk assessment obligations.
The newly developed EWP Safe Use
Information Pack has a section that gives
end users a check list of potential risks
associated with any site, including the
stability of the surface the machine will be
placed on before the machine is operated.
The Yellow Card operator training
program has been relaunched. It is now a
unit of competency, specifically
RIIHAN301B Operate
Elevating Work Platforms.
It was officially launched on
Monday, 1 July 2013 and over
300
EWPA Accredited Trainers
have completed the upgrade
course. This new program
is online and is App driven. It includes a
photo licence card issued to the candidate
once they have completed the training and
assessment components.
This upgrade was made to meet the
ongoing demands of the market and
industry where sometimes duty of care
training is not deemed sufficient. Yellow
Card holders will now be able to check
their details online and trainers will be
able to track application forms from point
of training to card issue. This is another
major investment by the EWPA into the
industry with the aim of continually
improving safety standards.
With the Federal Election still a month or
so away I am sure we all hope a renewed
stability sweeps through Canberra, and
confidence is restored, so we can all focus
on growth in the new year.
Tim Nuttall
EWPA National President
“
WorkSafe similarly have been very slow to respond
to such an important equipment safety issue. The
matter was referred to them in October 2012.
We are still waiting for a response....”
20
| ACCESS
in
ACTION | AUGUST 2013