NEWS IN BRIEF
TRAINERS’ PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
The EWPA’s intention of becoming an
RTO drives alignment to the National
(
VET) Regulator (NVR) standards for
continuing registration of RTOs. The
following is part of what is expected of
an organisation’s trainers: 15.4 Training
and assessment is delivered by trainers
and assessors who:
a) have the necessary training and
assessment competencies as
determined by the National Quality
Council or its successors, and
b) have the relevant vocational
competencies at least to the level being
delivered or assessed, and
c) can demonstrate current industry
skills directly relevant to the training/
assessment being undertaken, and
d) continue to develop their Vocational
Education and Training (VET)
knowledge and skills as well as their
industry currency and trainer/assessor
Trainers are required to continually
develop skills and remain engaged
in the industry. While most trainers
are entwined in the training industry,
many may be hard pressed to provide
ongoing evidence of compliance.
The EWPA suggests members consider
collecting and keeping evidence such
as EWPA, HRIA or TSHA minutes which
show an attendee list. As a professional
industry body and soon to be RTO, the
EWPA is a great way for members to
easily show personal development and
maintain ongoing industry engagement.
EWPA Minutes are available on the web
page. Evidence from manufacturers or
suppliers is also appropriate.
TSHA UPDATE
The TSHA continues to receive reports
of incidents of telehandlers rolling
over where the operator appears to
have had no substantiated training
or instruction. The TSHA has advised
when hiring out TSHs it is required to
ensure the operators have been trained
particularly 3tonne and under.
The TSHA Gold Card training program
is now nationally available, so it is
advised this program is promoted to
those customers who use the 3tonne
and under machines with operators
who lack proof of training.
The TSHA warns regulators are aware
of the problem and advises the industry
it is much better for the industry overall
to self-regulate than to force regulators
to act.
24
| ACCESS
in
ACTION | FEBRUARY 2013
ACCESS IN ACTION
Melbourne based, Northern
Access which has been
operating in hire for elevated
access including booms and
scissor lifts since March 2004,
has expanded to open a general
hire section Northern Hire &
Access in May last year.
Owner Robert Douglas said
the move was made to “take on
the big giants like Coates and
Kennards and help the home
handyman and construction
companies with quality new
gear at great prices.”
Robert started with one truck
and one scissor lift.
“
We now have five trucks
and more than 400 machines
nationwide with a Perth branch
operating in access as well. Our
fleet ranges from jack hammers
to Kanga loaders and mini
excavators as well as cherry
pickers, boom lifts, scissor lifts
and floor sanding equipment.
So basically we have all your
hire needs at a great price,”
Robert said.
Christian Grzankowski, Branch
Operations Manager, joined the
company from Monash Hire.
“
I introduced the general
hire part of the industry to Rob
when I came on board in May
2012
and it’s been nothing
Expanding into general hire and access
The transition to a national
approach to uniform licensing
and mobility across Australia
was finalised for high-risk
work licences in NSW on 31
December 2012.
High-risk work licences are
needed to operate machinery
including forklifts and cranes,
and pressure equipment such
as boilers and turbines. They
are also required in order to
carry out scaffolding, rigging
and dogging work. The
changeover on 31 December,
2012
marked the final stage
of the NSW transition, which
began in 2006.
WorkCover NSW Work
Health and Safety Division
General Manager John Watson
said: “The changes are going
be very beneficial to people in
NSW holding a high-risk work
licence.”
Workers & high-risk work licences
John said there are two main
changes to the current system.
“
The three different
WorkCover high-risk work
licences are now combined into
one easily-recognisable card
with a photo, expiry date, and
information showing the type
of high-risk activity the holder
is licensed to perform.
“
Secondly, this new card will
be recognised across all the
states and territories.
“
This is going to be
beneficial across many
industries where we see people
moving interstate for short or
long periods of work.
“
It makes sense to have one
licence recognised no matter
where you work in Australia,”
John said.
For more information
contact: 1800 335 791 or visit:
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
HR
but a success. We are based in
Melbourne’s Northern suburbs
(
Campbellfield) which is one of
the largest growth corridors, so
we are in the right area.”
Services provided by Northern
Hire & Access include: general
hire and handyman tools; hire
and sale of equipment; service
and maintenance; transport of
machinery; EWP license training;
and free on-site inspection.
Contact: 03 9308 8884 or visit:
www.northernaccess.com.au
HR
“
Running a hire and rental
business, you think you
have enough problems with
customers, vandals and all the
others who can put your stock
at risk when it leaves your
premises,” Ben Gair, an OAMPS
insurance broker specialising
in hire and rental business
protection notes said.
“
But some of your biggest
risks are inside your office, even
on your payroll.
“
Recent insurance claims
suffered by OAMPS Hire and
Rental clients have included:
money embezzled by staff;
alleged sexual discrimination
claims; and alleged unfair
dismissal claims.
“
Fortunately, all these
Beware of the risks inside your door
incidents were covered by an
OAMPS Management Liability
Insurance Policy,” Ben said.
“
Just as well, because legal
and other settlement costs
for employment practices
breaches can easily run to
hundreds of thousands of
dollars. David Jones and its
board of directors recently
settled an action made against
them for alleged breaches of
the Sex Discrimination Act. The
settlement figure was thought
to be in the vicinity of $850,000.
“
Management liability
insurance is a cover you can’t
afford not to have.
“
Many businesses are
unknowingly at risk and
don’t have adequate cover in
place. Employment practices
breaches don’t require physical
harassment: the way you talk
to someone, the tasks you give
them or passing them over for
promotion can all be triggers.
“
OAMPS Insurance Brokers
has negotiated management
liability insurance packages
ideal for the Hire and Rental
industry. Thanks to OAMPS’
close association with the Hire
and Rental Industry Association,
it understands what is required.
OAMPS can advise on risk
management, negotiate cover
and assist in the event an
incident occurs.”
For more information contact:
1800 240 432
or visit website:
www.oamps.com.au
HR