eNews

Welcome to NECA eNews

The NECA QLD eNews tells you about all that is happening in the electrical and communications industry and the association.

                                                                                  September 2010

A message from the State Office

The past week has seen a flurry of interest in new memberships with several applications currently being processed.  This increased interest further indicates the need for professional businesses to be aligned with a true National representative body. 

In the coming weeks NECA Queensland will relocate its State Office to Salisbury making support services even easier for its members.  Naturally, whilst NECA will continue to offer high quality services on a low or no cost basis for members, the new offices will better provide a central location for member and industry meetings.

Last week’s new eNews was well received with many positive comments from members relating to increasing communication.  Please take a minute each week to stay informed, remember “at NECA we care about your business”.  

NECA receives important information as the Peak Industry Body

As you will be aware NECA was the first to warn the Government of the dangers associated with the bungled insulation program.  Once the extent of the danger became clear, Government turned to NECA as a trusted advisor and we are now in a position where we, as the Peak Industry Body, receive regular updates.  The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has provided this interim update on FISP:

The department will be placing advertisements in a select range of NSW, Qld and NT newspapers on Saturday 25 September and Saturday 2 October regarding FISP to:

• advise electricians that the end date for submitting interim foil inspection        claims is 7 October 2010; and
• advising households that safety inspections of foil insulation are available by calling the Safety Hotline.

The advertisements are intended to capture everyone with foil installation and to shut down the interim payments process.

The advertisements are being published in those newspapers to target householders considered most likely to have had foil installed and electricians who participated in the interim inspection arrangements.

Included with the eNews are copies of the advertisements for download if required.

Electrical Safety Office Announcement: Understanding electrical equipment approvals and safety requirements

Free state-wide seminars for technicians and appliance repairers

If you work in the electrical industry and you service or repair electrical equipment this free Electrical Safety Office seminar is for you.

Seminars will be held in 20 locations throughout Queensland from October to December.

The seminars are an opportunity for technicians and those who service appliances to talk to electrical safety inspectors about checking electrical equipment and safety approval compliance in Queensland.

Topics will include:

• Obligations
• Certificate of Approval for prescribed equipment
• Safety requirements for other electrical equipment.

Who should attend? This information directly relates to your job.

• Appliance repairers
• Service and maintenance technicians
• Electrical workers
• Restricted electrical licence holders
• Designers and manufacturers of electrical equipment
• Electrical contractors
• Electrical licence holders
• Electricians
• Maintenance electricians
• Apprentices - electrical and refrigeration

Who else will benefit from attending? This seminar may assist people in other occupations.

• Refrigeration workers - electrical licence holders
• Designers of electrical installations
• Electrical engineers
• Facilities managers
• Maintenance managers and engineers
• Safety managers and officers
• Supervisors and managers of electrical workers

Find out more about times and locations at:
http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and-safe-work/electrical-safety/electrical-safety-event-calendar.

National Model Electrical Regulations

Safe Work Australia (SWA) has accepted a number of NECAs suggestions for the twelve recommendations in the “policy proposal” being considered in meetings during July, August and September discussing harmonisation of the state electrical (OHS) safety regulations.  In particular, the service fuse removal provision has been included plus a general requirement to use RCDs on all socket outlets for all businesses.  NECA have submitted further comments.  It is likely that the requirement for testing and tagging of electrical articles will be restricted to construction and hostile operating environments (ie similar to NSW).  Further information will be provided when available.

NECA Services available to Members

As you know your NECA membership gives you access to an extensive range of service offers. Each week we highlight some of these services available exclusively to NECA members.

Occupational health and safety – A range of useful resources and specialist advice is available, to assist businesses to address occupational health and safety issues.

Industrial relations and human resource management – NECA members have access to advice, consultancy services, documentation and training on a wide range of industrial relations and human resource management issues.

Education and training – NECA provides a comprehensive calendar of current training programs, heavily subsidised for members, which focus on increasing technical and management knowledge and skills.  Current programs include, for example:  EcoSmart Electricians, a training and accreditation program for contractors and electricians in energy efficient products, services and installations; Costing and Estimating course; Principles of Contract Management course; and Security of Payment course.

Commercial and contracts – NECA can advise on contracts to minimise disputes and ensure adequate protection, providing a range of contract templates, documents and advice.

NECA Training

We are currently offering three NECA smart training programs. They include:

Photovoltaic (PV) program

Licensed electricians can undertake the PV Training course offered by NECA to obtain accreditation from the Clean Energy Council and then access the increasing work in the renewable energy area.  This course will give you the qualification necessary to get the Clean Energy Council (formerly BCSE) Grid Connect Install Accreditation. The Accreditation is essential for householders who wish to take advantage of any government rebate schemes.

http://qld.neca.asn.au/index.php/education_and_training/photovoltaic_pv_grid_connect_training_/

Eco-Smart Electricians program

Aimed at training electricians and contractors in energy efficiency, particularly those who provide advice to customers on energy efficient building projects, renovations or refurbishments, or who advise on the purchase of products such as air conditioners or heating appliances, and who wish to increase their skills and differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

An accreditation program is also available for contractors who have successfully completed all four modules of the course, to enable them to promote themselves as offering differentiated and specialist skills in the area of energy efficiency. Other marketing and business-support benefits are also available to accredited contractors.

http://qld.neca.asn.au/index.php/education_and_training/ecosmart_electricians/

AS3012 Construction Wiring 

This two day course is designed specifically for licensed electrical trades personnel who select, wire, install, maintain and remove Construction Wiring and associated electrical equipment or who test and tag portable electrical equipment as designated to comply under AS/NZS 3012. 

 The course covers among other things:

• Legal Framework for OH&S
• Earth Leakage Protection
• Construction Site Switchboards
• Protection of Final Sub-Circuits
• Periodic Inspection of Plant
• Portable Generators
• Flexible Extension Cords
• Fixed Construction Wiring
• Lift Shafts
• Construction Lighting
• Relocatable Structures
• Alterations to Construction Installations
• Compliance Responsibilities

We are currently finalising the AS3012 program and are seeking expressions of interest in this course.

Please contact NECA Qld or go to your http://www.neca.asn.au for further details.

Contact us

Email: necaq@neca.asn.au

State Office number: 1300 794 846

New contact details for Guy Houghton

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Mobile 0408 193 446