Page 1 of 4 National Fire Industry Association February 2014 eNews Mining leases ARE subject to BCIPA & no middle ground for jurisdictional error ANTEC Windsor Standards Australia Fair Work Commission Advice for the day: Teamwork is essential; it allows you to blame someone else. New Procurement Framework provides certainty for Government and Industry New guidelines released by Austroads and the Australasian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) on 13 February 2014 provide a consistent procurement and contracting approach for road, bridge and non-residential building projects across Australian government. The guidelines specifically respond to a range of issues raised by industry. They outline a process for developing procurement strategies and establish a series of common tendering and contracting principles which have been agreed to by all Australian states and territories. The guide harmonises terminology, methods and processes currently in use to create a consistent overarching framework for procurement and contracting, incorporating a range of delivery model options for individual projects and a baseline process for developing procurement strategies. It also provides information about recent developments in the use of interactive and collaborative procurement processes and project techniques such as building information modelling. Copies of the Austroads and APCC Building and Construction Procurement Guide can be downloaded from Feb 14 NFIA eNews In December 2013 the Queensland Court of Appeal overturned two important, controversial BCIPA decisions of lower courts. Catherine Parry, Clayton Utz, sets out what they mean for the construction and energy sectors. Read more>>> Seamless National Economy: final report on performance After five years, governments have completed 31 of the 45 reforms in the National Partnership Agreement to Deliver a Seamless National Economy. The council's final report to COAG finds that governments have implemented the majority of reforms, leaving 11 reforms that are partially completed, and three that are not completed. Continue Reading Open for Public Comment: Fire Hydrant Installation Standards Australia has announced the release of the draft Standard AS 2419.1 Fire hydrant installations Part 1/03/2014 Page 2 of 4 the APCC website. Fair Work Commission 1st anti-bullying statistics The Fair Work Amendment Act 2013 amended the Fair Work Act 2009 to provide the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) with the power to make orders to stop bullying at work. From 1 January 2014 a worker in a business or undertaking covered under the Act has been able to apply to the Commission for an order to prevent them from being bullied at work. Applications can be made by a worker who 'reasonably believes that he or she has been bullied at work'. A worker is 'bullied at work' if, while at work, an individual or group repeatedly behaves unreasonably towards the worker and that behaviour creates a risk to health and safety. The Commission has released a 'benchbook' which deals with the new statutory provisions in more detail, as well as a summary of the way the Commission deals with these matters. These documents, together with further information and guidance material, are available on the Commission's website. Each application is assessed at an early stage to decide whether it falls within FWC jurisdiction, the parties involved, the nature of the alleged bullying and how the application should be dealt with. Where mediation or conciliation is undertaken, the emphasis will be on the resolution of issues so that constructive and cooperative relationships can resume. Monetary settlements are not promoted or recommended by the Commission. 1 System design, installation and commissioning for public comment. The Standard applies to the design, installation and commissioning of any fire hydrant used to protect buildings, yards, marinas, wharves and plant. The public comment period is open for submissions until 2 April 2014. EAHL Licencing In November 2013 a notice was issued by the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board to all technicians holding an EAHL ? Experienced Persons. This notice indicated that from 1 December 2014, the EAHL ? Experienced Persons (Entitlement 1-5) will no longer be available for new applicants or for renewals. If your EAHL ? Experienced Persons (Entitlement 1-5) expires after 1 December 2014, the licence will be valid until the date of expiry. The Commission has confirmed it had received 44 applications during the first month of the new anti-bullying jurisdiction and 28,049 unique hits to the Commission website seeking information. An EAHL ? Experienced Persons (Entitlement 1-5) has been a transitional licence. It has played a pivotal role in allowing technicians to continue to work while their industry experience is assessed and units of competencies could be undertaken to attain an EAHL ? Qualified Persons (Entitlement 15). The Commission has commenced to deal with all applications within the 14-day period required by the Act. Some applications have already been dealt with by a Commission Member, while others were being expeditiously dealt with through the process outlined in the Commission's case management model. Six applications have been withdrawn during the preliminary assessment process. The Extinguishing Agent Trainee Licence valid for a period of 12 months will now serve this function, allowing individuals sufficient time to undertake the training and assessment needed to gain an EAHL - Qualified Persons (Entitlement 1-5). NFIA Queensland FireBall 17 May 2014 Feb 14 NFIA eNews In 2014, the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board will undertake a gradual phase-in of 1/03/2014 Page 3 of 4 Last year's NFIA Queensland FireBall was a great event and received wonderful feedback - the general consensus was that the entertainment was the best ever. This year's entertainment will take the event in another direction and will undoubtedly be the BEST EVER FIREBALL ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE. Add in the great food and drinks package and the fundraising for Cancer Council Queensland and it will a fantastic night Please mark your calendar for the Queensland Fire Protection Industry's flagship event - 17 May 2014 - the 2014 Fireball. Tickets will be available in a week or so. Fair Work Amendment Bill For further information, or to find out who is delivering the training for Entitlement 6, contact the Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board Executive Officer, Carlos Santin on 1300 731 922 or by email [email protected] ACIF Update The Federal Government introduced the Fair Work Amendment Bill into the Parliament on 28 February 2014. This Bill amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to implement parts of "The Coalition's Policy to improve the Fair Work Laws". 'Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders - Design, construction and installation' The Australian Standard has been updated. The new AS 1657-2013 reflects changes in the industry and aims to align current Work Health and Safety regulations and the National Construction Code (NCC) The new standard will be published in the NCC 2014. AS 1657-2013 provides a complete set of guidelines including technical specifications and criteria for fixed platforms, walkways, guardrails, stairways, ladders and permanently configured (but movable) platforms. The standard focuses on greater safety for people who need to access spaces for operating, inspection, maintenance and servicing purposes. Changes include: - inclusion of single stile ladders - broader scope of testing products and more comprehensive test methods - testing a wider range of products for use when proof of performance is required. Copies of the standard can be obtained through EAHL ? Qualified Persons (Entitlement 6), ensuring technicians have attained all competencies required to undertake the full range of work covered by the EAHL - Qualified Persons. One of the projects being undertaken following the BIM Summit held by ACIF and the APCC last November is the development of an electronic Knowledge Hub of the Benefits and Resources) associated with both PTI and BIM. The purpose is to create a register of BIM-related research and development projects for the design and construction industry in order to avoid duplication of effort and facilitate collaboration. Save the date for the next ACIF Briefings May 2014 for the updated ACIF Forecasts. Registrations open in March. Brisbane, Wednesday 14 May Canberra, Thursday 15 May Sydney, Friday 16 May Melbourne, Tuesday 20 May Adelaide, Wednesday 21 May Perth, Thursday 22 May SAI Global and the NCC can be purchased from the Australian Building Codes Board. Feb 14 NFIA eNews 1/03/2014 Page 4 of 4 | PO Box 46 | Brunswick South | Vic 3055 | P: 03 9013 5595 | E: [email protected] Feb 14 NFIA eNews 1/03/2014