April 2011
Newsletter Edition # 04, April 14, 2011
Dear Colleagues,
This edition contains many interesting articles about important changes within the training industry, Work Cover announcements, important information for employers, as well as a link to all our training programs.
We hope you enjoy these regular updates .
Phil Stuart
General Manager
New WorkCover Guide
Here is a link to a new WorkCover guide relating to erection, alteration and dismantling Aluminium Scaffolds.
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/FORMSPUBLICATIONS/publications/pages/erectingalteringdismantlingscaffoldpart2.aspx
SAFETY ALERTS
Elevating Work Platform
Here is a link to a WorkCover safety alert relating to a fatality involving an Elevating Work Platform. Platform operators, even when operating EWPs under 11m should have adequate training in assessing ground conditions. This can be achieved by completing the WorkCover licensing course, a program mapped to a relevant unit of competency, or completion of the EWP Association's "yellow Card" course.
The new Australian Standard requires EWPs to be fitted with load sensors and alarms to warn operators.
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/overturned_boom_type_elevating_work_platform_3042.pdf
Excavation
The following is a link to a recent safety alert regarding collapse of excavations. There have been several unfortunate fatalities in recent years as a result of collapsed trenches. HPOTS have developed and delivered excavation safety programs for a number of our customers over the years.
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/preventing_collapse_excavations_safety_alert_3043.pdf
Loaders
This link is to a DPI safety alert relating to the use of loaders on stockpiles. It also covers a number of important points relating to trainee operators on log books.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/376423/SA11-03-Stockpile-collapses-on-loader-driver.pdf
National VET Regulator
On 1 July this year VETAB and its peer in each State will be replaced by the National VET Regulator, The Australian Skills Quality Authority. Their website www.asqa.gov.au is not working as I write this but might be a useful site to bookmark. The National regulator should improve coordination between the States but given the wide variations in approaches to operator licensing a healthy degree of scepticism may be appropriate.
Qualification requirements for Trainers and Assessors
VETAB in a recent circular to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) again sought to clarify the issues surrounding necessary qualifications for Trainers and Assessors. These issues have primarily arisen following the introduction of the TAE10 training package to replace the TAA. I have mentioned in previous newsletters that unfortunately many less scrupulous RTOs see opportunities to promote unnecessary updates of qualifications because there's a dollar, or a thousand, in it.
A few months ago I advised that the Industry and Business Skills Industry Skills Council, the developers of both packages stated that upgrades were not essential. Now VETAB has provided the following information;
A trainer/assessor who holds a previous qualification (eg BSZ40198 or TAA40107) will by June 2012 need to demonstrate to their RTO that they have equivalent competencies to those required for training and/or assessment from TAE40110. They do not need to hold the TAE40110.
As the TAE40110 is basically a 'repackaging' of the TAA40107 with a few things moved around and less emphasis on the Training Industry Environment, there appears to be little reason for people holding this qualification to upgrade.