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TASMANIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD

Building & Construction

Training News

The latest news on training in the building and construction industry

Phone: 6223 7804 NUMBER 83

www.tbcitb.com.au

[email protected]

Print Post Approved PP739016/00048

MARCH 2015

Committed to improvement

Andrew Walter Construction staff (above) recently completed an annual training day at Redbanks, Nugent.

ANDREW Walter Constructions is a company that is focused on continuous improvement, both in the work it completes and the skills of its employees. Established in 1991, Andrew Walter Constructions is one of Tasmania’s leading civil contractors, providing services for government and private clients across civil, industrial, building and rural industries.

In November last year, 70 Andrew Walter Constructions employees gathered at Redbanks, Nugent to complete annual training across a diverse range of topics including cultural and environmental awareness, warden fire safety, electrical awareness, drug and alcohol education, heart health, defensive driving, safe use of hand-held power tools and mental health.

“Employee training is very important and we have determined that the best way to deliver this training is in a group environment,” office manager Gill Anning said. “We close the business every year for one-day to conduct the identified training requirements from the previous year.

Continues page 3

FOCUS CONTINUES ON APPRENTICES THE Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board will continue to look at targeted incentive programs to encourage apprenticeships in the industry, chairperson Tracy Matthews said. Tracy said while the recent state of the industry had meant apprenticeships had continued to decline and non-completion had increased, activity levels were expected to improve over the next threeyears.

development at all times. “Although industry activity may be down, planning for the future skill needs is essential to ensure the predicted skill mix required in four to five years is able to be met.”

“Encouraging apprenticeships will be important to respond to this predicted growth of activity,” she said.

Tracy said the Board would continue to provide financial assistance in nonapprenticeship areas – occupational health and safety, business and other related skills, skill areas of perceived shortage, retraining and up-skilling for existing employees and emerging technologies.

“The Board encourages industry to recognise the importance of workforce

“As would be expected, these programs are also reviewed annually to ensure they

are still responding to the requirement of industry participants,” she said. Tracy said the Board would present its Training Plan for 2015/16 to the Minister for State Growth, Matthew Groom, for approval in May. “Without pre-empting the contents of the plan in detail, it will take into account the state of the industry and the funds available to the Board for training,” he said. “The plan is expected to include some initiatives to respond to current circumstances while continuing with the programs of ongoing benefit to employees and employers.” Continues page 2

Training News

A HANDS-ON APPROACH TO SAFETY

approaches and on-site equipment when undertaking bridge construction. The one-day course included the construction of a laydown area where Bridge Pro Engineering employees were given instruction on roller and loader equipment use. “The assessor provided a very hands-on approach to the training, with a written assessment at the end,” Ms Triffett said. “That is what made this course so effective – it wasn’t sitting in a room and listening to someone lecture, but rather a handson demonstration of correct operating procedure for the equipment.” Ms Triffett said the feedback received from the employees who participated was overwhelmingly positive. “When I asked them what they thought they all said the same thing – that it was excellent and the best course they’ve ever done,” she said.

Bridge Pro Engineering employees Ben Morely, on the ground, and George Harris, in the loader.

Bridge Pro Engineering places a high premium on the skills and safety of its employees. To demonstrate this, the company’s employees participated in a roller and loader competency course funded by the Tasmanian Building Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB). Operating since 2010, the Latrobe-based business provides statewide construction and professional services to the civil and commercial engineering industry, as well as operates as Australia’s first manufacturer and supplier of verti-blocks.

Administration officer Ky-Lee Triffett said providing employees with the skills they needed to work safely was the primary consideration when the company decided to undertake the course.

Tracy said the Board had recently finalised a State of the Industry Report that would be available shortly. “This report, and the Training Plan, are the culmination of many avenues of consultation and liaison with industry participants and stakeholders,” she said. The Board has collected information and views about the state of the industry and the training and skill development required to prepare the industry for the future by a number of means: • Biennial regional industry workshops.

“The assessor was very easy-going and the guys liked not being tied to a classroom.”

“We wanted to make sure our workers are knowledgeable about the potential risks of working on-site and that they have the skills to safely and correctly operate machinery, including the correct positioning and operation of equipment,” she said.

Ms Triffett said the course was very effective and changes were already evident.

Ms Triffett said employees needed to take account of issues including road works,

“We’ll definitely repeat the course in the future if the need arises.”

FOCUS CONTINUES ON APPRENTICES

From front page

“I think it helped that they got to work with the equipment and physically participate.

• Annual public meetings. • Maintaining relationships and regular communication with industry associations. • Specific research projects and activities. Tracy said this had enabled the creation of a wealth of knowledge and views about the industry, past, present and future. “This information, together with that of other organisations related to and studying the industry, enables the Board to provide support and assistance for training and development within the industry targeted towards future needs,” she said.

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“We want the employees to have these skills and we’re very pleased they got something valuable out of it,” she said.

Mother’s Day Classic

THREE members of the team at the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board will be running and raising money for breast cancer research in the Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday 10 May 2015. Chief executive officer Simon Cocker, business manager Paul Lockwood and administration officer Maree McCulley will run and walk to raise money for this important national cause. To donate, visit the TBCITB web site (www. tbcitb.com.au) and follow the link to make a donation.

Training News

Protecting our greatest asset

The In2Construction team, from left, Mike Fitzgerald, Stephen Marshall, Charlie Greenwood, Peter Ventieri (Director), Phil Hesketh (Director), Jason Wagner (Director), Mark Singleton and Tristan Birch.

EMPLOYEES are a company’s greatest asset, joint-owner of In2Construction Peter Ventieri said.

reiterate the issues of manual handling and hazard reporting and bring them to the forefront of our workers’ minds.

In2Construction – established by business partners Peter Ventieri, Phil Hesketh and Jason Wagner – has been operating less than eight-years.

“Our staff are aware of our expectation on safety as we provide them with an extensive induction when they enter the business.

The company has a solid reputation based on strong working relationships, communication and quality of work, winning numerous HIA & MBA awards, including the Master Builders Tasmania Builder of the Year (Housing) 2011.

“Our WHS Management System is critical in providing them with the tools to ensure that safety is the main priority.”

To protect its employees and promote the culture of workplace health and safety, In2Construction recently participated in a manual handling and hazard incidentreporting course, funded by the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB). Peter said the course provided a valuable reminder to employees of the importance of work health and safety (WHS). “We are definitely proactive about safety,” he said. “The main aim of this course was to

Since the implementation of the 2012 Work Health and Safety Act, In2Construction has placed increased time and focus on staff training to improve on its safety skills as “there is always room for improvement”. Peter said hazard reporting was particularly important as it allowed for smart decisionmaking. “I know it sounds cliché but our number one priority is always the safety of our employees, and they know it,” he said. “This is part of the reason we have no staff turnover. “No matter how small an issue, it is always important to report it and let someone

know, you’ve got to look out for your mates. “All of our workers understand that they have a responsibility to workplace safety, both to protect themselves and those around them. “Identifying hazards and reporting incidents, regardless of how minor they are, can give critical information to all stakeholders in order to make smart decisions on the safety of everyone on-site.” Peter said the course ticked all the right boxes and was a vital aspect of employee training. “Everyone who is in the construction business needs to be aware of the WHS legislation and their company’s internal systems that are in place,” he said. “It is important never to forget the basics and that is why we would definitely consider repeating the course in the future. “The bottom line can never be financial – that’s short sighted – it’s about the safety of your people, they are our greatest asset, our mates and we want to make sure they make it home safely to their families, every day.”

COMMITTED TO IMPROVEMENT From front page

“It’s a great opportunity for the whole workforce to spend time together, work as a team and still achieve outcomes for the business.”

In addition to the full training day, the senior management team also took the opportunity to complete a critical incident management course funded by the Tasmanian Building Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB).

Gill said training not only added value to the business, but also benefited the individuals involved, improving their marketability in the workplace.

“We’ve recently received accreditation under the Office of the Federal Safety Committee and critical incident management was a required area of training,” Gill said.

“For the individual who receives training they acquire additional skills to allow them to be more versatile, more highly skilled and more motivated through selfconfidence to show initiative and offer support on-site,” she said.

“The course focuses on the management of communication, including such things as communicating with family, dealing with the media and ensuring that there is professional support available for

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employees. “It’s definitely important as it gives us training on the correct procedures and responses to put in place in the event of an accident, ensuring that we are fully prepared in case anything should happen.” Gill said the course was a valuable experience and received positive feedback from the management team. “They all learnt something and were pleased to attend,” she said. “It is important to ensure all our employees have up-to-date training, so we would definitely repeat the course in the future, as required.”

Training News

Big uptake of mobile technology NEED MONEY THE preliminary findings of research commissioned by the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board has revealed “…a surprisingly large uptake of mobile technologies based around smart phones and tablets…” among sole traders and small trade subcontracting businesses. The research found that these devices were used to “automate and coordinate” normal business processes, including ordering, invoicing, banking and taxation. The research also found that there were signs that some businesses recognised the value of social media as a marketing tool. The findings come from the latest of a series of research activities undertaken by the University of Newcastle for the TBCITB designed to ascertain: • Overall levels of innovation adoption. • Nature and extent of strategic planning activities undertaken by firms in the sector. • Business processes associated with innovation adoption and commonly found across the Tasmanian architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors. TBCITB chief executive officer Simon Cocker said the Board was concerned

that during the preliminary stages of the Royal Hobart Hospital redevelopment the Tasmanian AEC sectors were illprepared to engage with project teams using Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. “In the UK from 2016 all governmentfunded projects will mandate the use of BIM,” he said. “This is likely to become standard practice in most jurisdictions in coming years which presents a real risk for Tasmanian AEC businesses that rely on government projects for work.” The research concluded that the increasing use of mobile technologies – particularly tablets – by “micro enterprises” meant that the bottom end of the construction value chain would find it easier to receive project information through this channel. “The challenge will be to encourage midtier design practices and contractors to engage with the technology,” the research report said. The report said it was important for the Tasmanian industry to incorporate BIM technology into their normal business practices so that they were “…readily able to compete or collaborate with major mainland contractors when substantial projects come onto the market.”

ONLINE APPLICATION FOR FUNDING SO EASY VISITORS to the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) website will notice a modern look and feel. While the address (tbcitb.com.au) and the information available has remained the same, the website has been given a more contemporary look. It has also been designed so that is easier to find the information participants

are looking for with simple tabs across the top and bottom of each page. It is even easier to apply online to attend a course, conduct a course or develop a course. On the main landing page, simply roll your mouse over the Training & Applications tab at the top, and click on the appropriate link on the drop down menu.

NEWSLETTER BY EMAIL THE Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) is keen to increase the circulation of its newsletter among building and construction industry participants by developing an email contact list. While there are no plans to stop printing the TBCITB Training News that is distributed four times a year, distributing an electronic copy of the

newsletter – in addition to the hard copies – allows recipients to easily distribute it to their colleagues.

If you are interested in receiving an electronic copy of the newsletter by email, which you could then forward to other people in your business and others with an interest in building and construction industry training, please send your email details to [email protected].

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FOR TRAINING

THE Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) manages industry training levy funds to support training in the building and construction industry. All employers, sub-contractors and selfemployed contractors in the building and construction industry can apply for funding for training programs. The TBCITB web site www.tbcitb.com.au provides detailed information about what needs to be considered when determining the training needs of employees. The funding for training link at www.tbcitb.com.au/points.htm asks employers to first determine exactly what training is required to meet the organisation’s needs, select staff to be trained, talk to training providers and access the TBCITB’s database to find the right provider. After asking for and receiving written information from these providers regarding course outlines, training times and costs, the TBCITB recommends careful assessment of the full cost of training. If the cost is reasonable against the criteria of total number of people trained and skills acquired, complete the application for funding form and submit it to the Board with the course outline. It is important to note that applications must be approved before commencing training. Once training has been completed, you will need to provide to the TBCITB details originally sought when the training was approved for reimbursement of training costs. As a final step, evaluate the training and review the training outcomes after a reasonable period of time to determine whether the skills learned are being applied in the workplace. You can apply for funding for training direct to the TBCITB by completing the application to attend a training course. Approval must be obtained prior to training commencing. Application forms must be received by the TBCITB at least three working days prior to training commencing, including amendments to applications. The form can be downloaded off the web site and printed or submitted directly online from www.tbcitb.com.au. You can also telephone the TBCITB for an application form or further advice on 6223 7804.

Training News

Providing the skills to survive and thrive David said the course taught apprentices and workers to drink alcohol responsibly. “We don’t go in and tell them they shouldn’t be drinking or having a good time,” he said. “Rather, it’s about opening up and having an honest discussion about Australia’s drinking culture and how this has the potential to affect their working and social life. “It’s about giving them the information they need to make up their own minds about something that has the potential to affect their career and future.” The course runs at the end of a half-day induction and includes information about the effects of alcohol, illicit drugs, dealing with peer pressure, as well as the myths surrounding alcohol.

Northern support worker for OzHelp Tasmania David Nancarrow giving an alcohol and drugs lecture to young apprentices.

“Most of the people who take the course are young apprentices aged from 16 to 19 and so the course gives us the chance to get in early and prepare them for what they may encounter when they enter the workforce,” David said.

PRIOR to 2006, 10 apprentices and workers in the building and construction industry were losing their life to suicide, drugs and alcohol and ’other’ causes every year.

“They’re at an age where they have important life changes, such as getting a licence, legally being able to drink, having a steady income and the responsibility of work and developing a career.

In response, the Ozhelp Tasmania Foundation – established in 2007 – helps develop resilience in apprentices and provides invaluable support services for suicide prevention.

“Building and construction is a very demanding industry and they need to understand that if they’re not on the ball there can be serious consequences, both for themselves and others.”

This includes ‘Skills for Life’ training at TasTafe to help strengthen the health and wellbeing of apprentices, as well as to support the industry’s understanding of these issues.

David said the drug and alcohol course had had an overwhelmingly positive reception since its implementation.

Northern support worker for OzHelp Tasmania David Nancarrow said the drug and alcohol course, funded by the Tasmanian Building Construction Industry Board (TBCITB), was an essential component of the induction training for new carpenter apprentices. “This type of training is particularly important for those entering the industry, as the trade is extremely deadline and detailoriented,” he said. “Young apprentices can be under quite a lot of pressure to get things right, sometimes leading to stress and the consumption of alcohol as a way of unwinding at the end of the week.”

“We’ve never had any negative feedback,” he said. “Most of the responses we’ve received highlight that the course was very interesting and relevant to that age group, with the majority of participants finding it extremely helpful. “The apprentices are very dedicated to their career and training and they’ve expressed to us how much they enjoy the chance to share stories and talk openly about these life issues. “The main message we leave them with is that they can contact OzHelp Tasmania on 1300 694 357 throughout their apprenticeship if they need any type of support, as OzHelp provides an outreach service at no cost to the apprentice.”

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INDUSTRYFUNDED TRAINING VITAL THE Building and Construction Industry Training Fund and Levy, which is administered by the Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board, was established to improve and develop industry training. The levy payable by industry participants is 0.2 per cent of the estimated value of building or construction work worth more than $12,000. The definition of building and construction work under the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund Act is very broad, including the erection, extension, repair, resurfacing or alteration of buildings, structures, water and sewerage works, dams, roads, tunnels, piers, jetties, docks, silos, masts and demolition work. The levy must be paid before the relevant council approval can be given for the building or construction work to commence. If building approval is not required, the levy must be paid before work commences. The levy may be paid at all city and municipal councils in Tasmania or the TBCITB offices at 2 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point. Failure to pay the levy is an offence with a penalty payable that is the sum of twice the amount of the levy required to be paid and a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

Easier access to first aid training THE Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) and St John Tasmania are in discussions about simplifying the process for employees of eligible industry businesses to enrol in and attend the various courses offered by St John. The TBCITB will provide more detail on the new arrangement that in the next issue of the Training News.

Training News

TALKING ABOUT MEN’S HEALTH The presentation covered a range of issues, including the benefits of a balanced lifestyle and the dangers of prostate cancer and depression.

“We know our workers appreciate the effort we put in to make sure that they remain healthy at work, especially as a small business.”

Pelham Painters owner and operator Scott Pelham said that men’s health had significant implications for their small business.

Scott said it was the first time they had specifically addressed the issue of men’s health.

“The main aim of the presentation was to make our workers more aware of what is going on and how it can affect them,” he said.

From left, Max Walker and owner of Pelham Painters, Scott Pelham.

GENERALLY speaking, men are often less inclined to talk about their physical and mental health, waiting for a health problem to become serious before seeking out help or advice. To raise awareness about physical and mental health and the importance of staying vigilant, small business Pelham Painters took part in a men’s health presentation, delivered by Cameron Blight from Health Services.

“We wanted to start the discussion,” he said. “It’s alarming how little we talk about men’s health, especially prostate cancer.

“We rely on our workers to stay productive and healthier men means more productive men.

“We often laugh about it, or laugh it off, but it is a silent killer of men and it is something we need to take seriously.

“It’s about prevention and getting in early – trying to avoid having to deal with these issues later and having to take extended time off work.”

“It’s about getting comfortable talking about a sensitive issue and offering our support.”

Pelham Painters – established in 1953 – employs around 14 workers and caters to commercial, domestic and industrial jobs. Scott said they wanted to play an active role in promoting men’s health, adding to the measures already in place to protect their workers. “Every six months we send our workers to the doctor to get tested for lead poisoning, as many residential houses still contain lead-based paint,” he said. “They also receive a general check-up, including a check for high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Scott said the business would continue to address this issue in the future. “The presentation got a very positive response and the men were very interested and engaged,” he said. “I realise that big lifestyle changes won’t happen overnight – such as quitting smoking – but the important thing is taking the first step and putting the issue out there. “We definitely want to continue to promote the importance of men’s health in the industry and this could even include taking part in Movember or the Point-to-Pinnacle in order to raise money for the cause.”

Payment security for industry workers CARRYING bad debt is a problem often faced by any business in any industry, Masters Plumbers Association of Tasmania (MPAT) executive officer Angela Ayling said. MPAT – a membership organisation representing the commercial interests of plumbers, as well as around 150 small to medium businesses throughout Tasmania – has found that a large number of its members are regularly carrying a percentage of bad debt. “This debt can range from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars and we’ve seen that it is particularly problematic for smaller businesses who expend essential resources chasing late payments,” Ms Ayling said. To address this issue and aid in professional development, approximately 100 industry participants attended a security of payments course, including members, designers, electricians,

engineers and architects. The course, funded by the Tasmania Building Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB), was based on the Security of Payment Act 2009, a piece of legislation that enables practitioners to have a debt recovery process on bad debt. “A security of payment claim can significantly speed up the process of receiving payments,” Ms Ayling said. “That’s why we decided to seek funding for the course – to let our members and other industry workers know that there is an option for recovering bad debt and that it has quite a high success rate in Tasmania.” Two security of payment seminars were conducted in Launceston and Hobart, run by Department of Justice employees Kerry Shepherd and Brendon Bowes. “We’d like to extend our thanks to Kerry

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and Brendon for their insightful and knowledgeable presentations about a very technical topic,” Ms Ayling said. “In the past we’ve found that people are a bit scared of using this option because they don’t quite know how to go about it. “That is why our main aim was to educate workers on what a security of payment claim is, when they can use it and what the process involves. Ms Ayling said the course was very successful and MPAT would continue to work on raising awareness about the benefits of lodging security of payment claims. “A lot of our members are now asking for further assistance in processing claims, which is really good to see,” she said. “Overall, I would say the course was a great success as the participants found it informative and are now keen for additional training in other areas.”