the master electrician magazine autumn 2012

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insideSparkies at Easter

Evolution on Gardiner

Ecoult ultra battery technology

How WHS harmonisation affects you

THE INTERVIEW: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

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60 years of providing:

Celebrating

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The Master Electrician Autumn 2012

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table of contentsAverage Net Distribution 30 634

CAB Audited as of September 2011

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are offered solely in pursuance of the objects of the electrical contractors association and master electricians australia to provide an informative service to contractors in the electrical industry on legal, commercial and other issues and problems related to the industry. The electrical contractors association and master electricians australia are not aware that any person intends to act or rely upon such statements and opinions contained in this publication or the manner in which it might be possible to do so. The electrical contractors association and master electricians australia issues no invitation to any member or other persons to act or rely upon such statements or opinions or any of them and it accepts no responsibility for any of them. it intends by this provision to exclude, to the extent permitted by law, all liability for any such statements and opinions. The master electrician magazine can be viewed online at www.masterelectricians.com.au

Editorial ContaCts & ContributorsEDITOR Malcolm Richards ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kylie RobinsonADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Janelle MacDonaldPHONE 07 3252 4860EMAIL [email protected] AND PRINT POMO 07 3844 3873

GEnEral EnquiriEsMaster Electricians AustraliaPO Box 2438, Fortitude Valley BC Queensland 4006PHONE 1300 889 198FAX 1800 622 914EMAIL [email protected] www.masterelectricians.com.au ABN 31 145 178 203

Follow us @Masterelectrics on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/masterelectricians

www.masterelectricians.com.au or call 1300 889 198

Welcome to the autumn edition of the master electrician.

AcTive safety management is more important than ever – not just for saving lives - but for protecting the wellbeing of your livelihood. This edition we share with you the distressing story of two contractors, two tragic accidents and two very different outcomes. Turn to page 4 to see what the one critical difference was. Experts have expressed concern that retaining talent in our ‘two-speed’ economy will be one of the biggest challenges for small businesses over the coming years. So how can you keep your top workers? Turn to page 22 for some simple tips from one of our industry specialists.Have you registered to attend the electrical industry conference of the year? Places are filling fast for our action-packed Annual Conference in Melbourne this August. Visit www.masterelectricians.com.au to secure your spot today.Dr Karl is one of Australia’s most loved scientists and TV personalities. Find out why he loves sparkies on page 40.

Until next time.

Kylie Robinson Associate Editor

The Master Electrician is printed on environmentally responsible paper sourced from accredited sustainable forestry plantations. The paper is made with Elemental Chlorine Free pulps (ECF)

when worlds collide 04

sparkies on film sets 06

general news 08

the buzz 10

evolution on gardiner 14

electrician’s easter adventures 16

simple tips for keeping staff 22

meet a master electrician 24

renewable energy spotlight 26

news from the distributors 30

regulator wrap up 34

letter of the law 38

the interview 40

gadget guide 42

techno biz 43

technical talk 46

workplace relations 48

plug into your client base 50

all about ME 52

test drive 56

events calendar 58

best or worst story 59

the last word 62

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Celebrating

CNW Master Electricians Ad March 9 V3.indd 1 3/19/2012 9:56:30 AM

www.masterelectricians.com.au

This is a story of two electrical contracting businesses, two tragic accidents and two completely different outcomes for the business owners.

When worlds collide

feature

One case, in Queensland, involved the death of a 50-year-old electrician while he was working on a domestic project in 2006.

The second case involves an equally tragic fatality – a young man who was killed while working on a commercial installation in Victoria.

It’s the nightmare scenario for any contractor, and in both cases it led to lengthy and expensive legal investigations, the ripples from which continue to spread even today.

There was one critical difference, however; in the Victorian case, the contractor was using the SafetyConnect active safety system. That ensured the business owners had not only provided the correct training and safety advice to their workers, but that there was a failsafe paper trail demonstrating that the right procedures had been followed.

In the Queensland case, the Coroner cited a range of factors – including a

decision to work live without adequate safeguards, and poor knowledge and training in safety procedures. The industrial court found the contractor guilty of failing to ensure a safe workplace and fined him in excess of $60,000 which added to the extensive legal bills already incurred. This was on top of the personal stress of the incident and the financial stress on someone in the final years of their career.

In the Victorian case, although the employee was also working live, the business owners were able to use their SafetyConnect systems and records to demonstrate that they had provided all necessary training and advice to their personnel – including, critically, a directive to disconnect the power.

While the death of an employee is no less distressing, SafetyConnect gave the Victorian business a paper trail which significantly reduced the legal and emotional burden flowing from the tragedy. Subsequently,

EnergySafe Victoria decided not to prosecute.

Safety Connect Australia general manager Wayne Crookes said SafetyConnect was not only an essential tool for ensuring active safety in your business, but was also a priceless insurance policy in the event that something did go wrong on a work site.

“The fact is, electrical contracting businesses operate on foreign and unfamiliar sites, beyond the reach of their own office environment and safety policies,” Mr Crookes said.

“However, the national workplace safety laws being rolled out across most states place a heavy onus on all business owners and managers to guarantee the safety of their staff in those strange and remote locations.

“How can they do that? SafetyConnect is a large part of the answer.”

He said the system gave businesses a safety manual, induction processes and a

set of policies designed and proven to be at the cutting edge of electrical safety.

It also gave topics and agendas for six formal staff meetings and six toolbox talks each year, to ensure the safety messages were getting through to employees.

And to document the process, it requires staff to sign forms acknowledging their participation in the training. The business, and its processes, are audited six monthly to prove compliance.

Mr Crookes said in the Victorian case, the employer was able to use SafetyConnect records to demonstrate they had given appropriate instructions to the staff about not working live, and were also able to produce the safe work method statement which detailed the instructions to the employee about ensuring the power was disconnected.

“Working live is the first topic we cover, as it continues to be the greatest safety challenge


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for the industry,” he said.

“We seek to instil the notion that simply saving time or money is not an acceptable reason for working live.

“The aim is to mitigate as much risk as possible. Ultimately it comes down to the operator, but the employer has a responsibility to ensure staff are fully trained and aware of the dangers, and have been given instructions in how they must proceed.

“SafetyConnect not only provides that training, it also provides the proof that can help a business avoid a lengthy and expensive legal battle.”

One of the businesses involved in this case – both are now SafetyConnect members – said the program was ideal for small to medium businesses, particularly those undergoing growth and change.

“We grew from being a sole trader to having 30 staff, but in some parts we were still doing things the way we always had.

“You can get so focused on moving the business forward – getting the work and then doing the jobs – that you take your eye off other things.

“SafetyConnect forced us to focus on safety – to formalise things and make it consistent

– and that has been a valuable exercise for the business and for our staff.

“The word around the traps is only 10 per cent of businesses would be doing this. I recommend it to everyone. We all should be doing it.”

Mr Crookes said all contractors should be aiming for 100 per cent safety for employees.

“Everyone has the right to go home at the end of the work day. Families have the right to get their dad or mum back when their shift is complete.

“While there are never any guarantees in life, SafetyConnect is a big step in the right direction.

“Many small businesses don’t think it can ever happen to them yet all too often we see the results of poor decisions in maintaining the most essential part of the business.

“If you aren’t sure about whether your company can withstand the ultimate challenge, then you need to adopt a suitable system to help you. You wouldn’t try to do your own accounting or training so why not rely on the experts to assist you in this critical risk.”

For more information on the SafetyConnect program, contact 1300 636 787 or visit www.safetyconnect.com.au

Queensland contractor Victorian contractor

Fatality occurred from live work

Fatality occurred from live work

No active safety system SafetyConnect safety management system implemented

No documentation directing workers to safe work procedures

Documented safe work method statements directing employees not to work live

No proven training given to employees about the dangers of working live

Documented toolbox talk about the dangers of working live

Fined in excess of $60,000 for failing to provide a safe workplace plus legal fees

EnergySafe Victoria did not prosecute


feature

The next time you’re at the cinema or watching your favourite show on TV, look a little closer at how the light falls perfectly to highlight the features of the stunning leading lady. The people responsible for making her look like a radiant goddess are called gaffers, and they love their jobs.

Adam Williams has been in the business for 30 years, and is a gaffer with Filmlighting Pty Ltd.

“A gaffer is the head of the lighting department, right below the director of photography on set,” Adam said.

“We work in a studio, or out on location shoots in the middle of nowhere, running very high-powered lighting equipment.

“The shoot could require anything up to 24,000 Watt HMI discharge lamps, providing 5600° Kelvin which simulates daylight, down to 150 Watt tungsten lights at 3200° Kelvin depending on the colour temperature required for the scene.”

When going out on location, the lighting crews power the lights with industry-specific generators.

“Even though the lighting equipment runs on single-phase, we use 100 to 200 kVA three-phase generators connected to switchboards around the set, which act as a temporary power distribution system.

“It’s critical that the generators are all sound-proof, meaning they are super quiet so they don’t interfere with the film’s audio.”

As the gaffer, Adam stands with the director of photography pointing fingers and instructing his assistant, the ‘best boy’ and lighting technicians to place equipment in specific places around the set.

“Depending on the scene, you might need to position a light behind the camera to help fill in the shadows that are created by the sun.

“A lot of the time these lighting technicians are not electricians because they don’t need to be – there’s no open electricity, all the equipment is tested and tagged,” Adam said.

There is generally a qualified tradesman working under the gaffer, and some gaffers were originally trained as sparkies.

But unlike many of his counterparts, Adam was trained as a boilermaker, not an electrician.

He acquired his ‘S’ Licence in Victoria, allowing him to do minor electrical work, and he has his Test & Tag ticket, which is enough for his position.

“Most maintenance of equipment is carried out by trained electricians and all the electronics are sent away to be fixed. There is usually an electrician on site, working with the lighting crew and he can do a lot of the work himself.”

The rigging gaffer will go to locations before the main shooting crew arrives to set up the larger infrastructure, such as cherry pickers, for large lighting rigs and to lay the cabling infrastructure. Rigging gaffers will sometimes need to set up temporary infrastructure that requires the use of two or three generators. These could be anywhere from 100 kVA to 500 kVA, and require 1,000 to 1,500 metres of 400 amp three-phase cabling.

Adam said his job is very fast-paced, and the level of stress on set varies across jobs.

“If you’re doing the lighting for a pizza commercial, the shoot will usually only take one day and there’s not a lot of pressure, but it could end up being an 18-hour day.

“But if you’re doing a serious film or big budget television series, like American sci-fi drama Terra Nova filmed in Australia recently, the pressure is definitely on,” he said.

Sparkies on film setsLights, camera, action! Zoe Knobel speaks with an expert to find out what role electricians play behind the scenes of major films and television shows.

“To get into the industry, it’s very much not ‘what you know’, it’s ‘who you know’.”

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the master electrician Autumn 2012

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“The pressure increases with the value of the show.

“On large US projects like that, there are a lot of American producers applying pressure to get the day’s shooting done ‘on time and on budget’.”

Like regular electricians, gaffers get work on a contract basis.

“The average film shoot takes anywhere between four and thirteen weeks to complete. The post-production stage continues for several months afterwards of course, when the lighting technicians are no longer required.

“Some blockbuster films like The Matrix would involve up to six-months or more for filming.”

An average commercial shoot spans one or two days, while a bigger budget ad could take four or more days.

However long the project, gaffers and their lighting technicians must remain highly vigilant.

“There are risks involved, but it’s all about risk management, not reaction,” said Adam.

“The risks are greater when you’re dealing with a day-to-day temporary power supply. You’ve got to make sure cable runs are protected from foot traffic and mechanical damage

like cars running over the cords.”

While gaffers enjoy their work, it doesn’t offer a particularly high level of job security.

“It’s a feast and famine business – sometimes we’ll have a lot of work and not enough guys to do it, and other times it’s a lot of sitting around waiting.

“In this industry, you’ve got to go where the work is, which means a lot of travel. I was down in Sydney for a while working on Packed to the Rafters, and my next job’s in Melbourne with the truck for six months.

“Myself, and other guys from our company, have done jobs in New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and England. A few lighting technicians recently worked on a nine-month project in Taiwan. We take the trucks over in shipping containers for jobs like that, or use locally sourced equipment.”

When there are no films or TV shows to work on, gaffers often work on short contracts doing commercials.

“I’m not too interested in commercials with the ‘creative types’ though. I prefer doing dramas. First of all there’s a continuity of work, and it’s also

challenging and stimulating. The money is also more consistent in movies and I like making something good to watch.

“When I was younger I did some great Aussie feature films like Spotswood with Toni Collette, Russell Crowe and Anthony Hopkins.

“More recently, Terra Nova was fantastic, especially because of the size of the show. They had a budget of around $15-$20 million for a six-week shoot.”

If you’re a movie buff, this might sound like the perfect job for you, but it’s not an easy gig to score.

“To get into the industry, it’s very much not ‘what you

know’, it’s ‘who you know’,” he said.

“There are no formal apprenticeships, but you start at the bottom as a generator operator trainee where you learn how many amps the fixtures draw, and how to balance the phases and loadings.

“Everyone thinks it’s glamorous, but it’s a very competitive industry and everyone wants to be in it, so production companies and crew agencies have very high standards of who they will take on.

“The allure is that it’s exciting but it’s also hard work, and you have to work in all weather. We don’t stop just because it starts raining.”


general newsImportant changes to how to connect to the electricity network are coming to Queensland, proposed for 1 July 2012.

As part of a national energy reform, a key change for electrical contractors is that customers must now enter into a connection contract with Energex in order to be connected to the Energex network. When making an application for a connection, a customer can nominate a representative (such as their electrician) to complete a connection application on their behalf. There is also the provision to expedite the connection application process for jobs under 100 amps of load which will enable applicants to fast-track their application.

Visit energex.com.au for more information.

ALMOsT two-thirds (62 per cent) of those deaths were unintentional.

While the findings show that an average of 20 people die each year in Australia due to unintentional electrocution, this is less than levels a few decades ago. Despite this, it is likely that most of these deaths are still preventable.

Master Electricians group CEO Malcolm Richards said that these figures highlight the fact that Australians are not adequately protected electrically in their homes.

“The distressing fact is that a lot of domestic electrocutions can be prevented by having protection devices such as

safety switches installed on all circuits,” Mr Richards said.

Independent research commissioned for Master Electricians Australia’s Switch Thinking Report shows that more than 80 per cent of home owners believe they are well protected, or very well protected, from electrical injury in their own homes. However an alarming 40 per cent of home owners remain completely unprotected by safety switches. This signals a potentially fatal disconnect between perception and reality.

Regulations and safety campaigns have been progressively implemented aimed at minimising unintentional deaths from

Alarming statistics released from National CoronerBetween 1 July 2000 and 31 October 2011, there were 321 electrocution deaths reported to Australian coroners as identified and closed on the national coroners information system (ncis) database.

electrocution, whether in the workplace or at home, but it seems the message of the severe danger of electricity is not reaching home.

“We have undertaken many consumer awareness campaigns in the media, and most recently on radio, to educate home owners about the benefits of safety switches and the extreme dangers of electricity,” Mr Richards said.

“Although based on these findings, there is still a long way to go.”

Major findings in relation to unintentional electrocution deaths include:

• The highest proportion occurred in the 30-39 age group (22.1 per cent)

• Ninety-six per cent involved males

• New South Wales had the highest frequency

• The most common objects involved included overhead power lines (22.1 per cent), electrical appliances (16.6 per cent) and direct contact with electrical wires (11.6 per cent)

New South Wales had the highest frequency of unintentional electrocution deaths, but the observed rates based upon population were highest in the Northern Territory and Tasmania. The south-eastern mainland states/territories of Australia (Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) were the only jurisdictions with rates of unintentional electrocution deaths below the national average of 0.10 per 100,000 persons.

A copy of the report can be found in the ‘Master Electricians Only’ section of the website at www.masterelectricians.com.au

w w w w

09378_LaserElectricalPressAd_180x57.indd 1 20/03/12 9:53 PM

Important changes to how to connect to the electricity network are coming to Queensland, proposed for 1 July 2012.

As part of a national energy reform, a key change for electrical contractors is that customers must now enter into a connection contract with Energex in order to be connected to the Energex network. When making an application for a connection, a customer can nominate a representative (such as their electrician) to complete a connection application on their behalf. There is also the provision to expedite the connection application process for jobs under 100 amps of load which will enable applicants to fast-track their application.

Visit energex.com.au for more information.


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July 2013• Higher superannuation guarantee

• Guaranteed contributions for workers aged to 75.

The schedule to increase the superannuation guarantee (SG) rate from 9 to 12 per cent is as follows:

The Institute of Public Accountants chief Andrew Conway says although the increase will help individuals support themselves in retirement, the likely effect on SMEs in administering the policy has not been properly considered.

“The cost of administering superannuation is a major burden for small business,” Conway says.

The Council of Small Business of Australia

the buzz

The government has announced changes that, if agreed to by parliament, will gradually increase the superannuation guarantee rate (charge percentage) from 9 per cent to 12 per cent by 2019/20.

The proposed new super changes include:

• Increasing the super guarantee from 9 per cent to 12 per cent

• New tax breaks on super contributions for low income and part-time workers

• Guaranteed contributions for workers up to age 75

• No costly sales commissions and rules to require financial planners to act in a persons ‘best interest’.

Many of the super changes are part of a broad package of tax reforms proposed by the government. None of the changes have yet been through Parliament and all have a number of stages to go before they become law. However, the anticipated dates are as follows:

July 2012• New $500 low income tax break

• More flexible contributions for over 50’s

• Ban on commissions and new rules for financial planners.

From SG Rate (%)

July 2013 9.25

July 2014 9.5

July 2015 10

July 2016 10.5

July 2017 11

July 2018 11.5

July 2019 12

ExpErts dividEd about potEntial supErannuation inCrEasEs

has long complained about the time required to process super payments, and regular tinkering of the system.

But the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) says the increase in labour costs in 2013-14 is “likely to be minimal” and will stay small as the superannuation guarantee level is increased to 12 per cent through to 2020.

ASFA also says the required increase in the price of goods and services produced by small business in order to offset the increase “would be relatively small”.

“The amount of increased SG contributions in dollar terms paid by small businesses is likely to be around $300 million in 2013-14 and a further $300 million or so in 2014-15,” ASFA says.

“Other government proposed measures will deliver tax savings to small businesses which exceed those amounts,” nominating the reduction in the company tax rate to 29 per cent and the instant tax write-off.”

Michael Davison, senior policy adviser - superannuation at CPA Australia, says a lot of the fears about the potential cost to SMEs are unfounded.

“From an administrative point of view, because you’re already paying super it should be part of your pay roll,” Davison said.

tEstEd to australian standards, in australiaAustest Laboratories, the largest safety, EMC, telecommunications and environmental testing company in Australia, has released the “Australian Tested Product” mark free to all clients who have submitted products for compliance testing. The mark is aimed to show consumers which importers and manufacturers have committed to meeting Australian Standards performed under an accredited testing regime.

There is no fee for the use of the mark by Austest clients. A basic terms and conditions document is required to be signed before use of the mark, which can be obtained from Austest Laboratories. The mark can be applied to any products tested with Austest Labs since June 2008.

Visit www.austest.com.au for more information.


11

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The amount of compensation claims that businesses spend to workers suffering from skin cancer has doubled in less than a decade.

This is according to a report provided by the Cancer Council in Western Australia which says that total compensation claims for skin cancer have increased to $4 million in 2008-2009 from $2 million in 2001-2002. More than 1,300 workers suffering from work-related injuries involving skin cancer claimed compensation between 2001 and 2009.

Cancer Council Australia’s occupational and environmental cancer risk committee chair Terry Slevin said that the findings should alarm employers. Mr. Slevin also said that a significant number of employers are still ignorant of the fact that ultraviolet radiation is an occupational health and safety concern. “The important message for employers is that all of the cost, stress and pain associated with these claims can be avoided.”

“My advice to anyone who employs people to work outdoors is to develop and institute sun-protected policies and procedures as a priority, or be prepared to face the legal and financial consequences down the track.”

Reports have shown that more than a third of Australian workers are exposed to direct sunlight while at work. About 200 melanomas, considered as the most deadly form of skin cancer, and 34,000 non-melanoma cancers develop every year due to workers’ exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Mr. Slevin also says that more money is being spent in workers compensation than those spent on public education campaigns about the importance of sun protection.

“That highlights the need for greater investment in skin cancer prevention in Australia, where we still have the highest rates in the world.”

skin CanCEr Claims doublEd in lEss than a dECadE


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the buzz

rEnEwablE EnErGy bonus sChEmE ClosEs on 30 JunE 2012 The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme, which assisted Australian households in replacing their hot water systems with renewable alternatives, will close on 30 June 2012.

Applications lodged up to 30 June 2012 will continue to be processed, while those received after 30 June 2012 will be ineligible.

Clean Energy Council acting chief executive Kane Thornton said the unexpected decision would have a negative effect on sales and jobs in an industry that has been struggling with the high Australian dollar.

“Cutting this program without warning in the middle of a financial year is yet another example of stop-start policy making that continues to plague the entire clean energy sector,” Mr Thornton said.

“It has given the industry no time to prepare and makes business planning almost impossible.”

The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) has called on the government to reinstate the rebate, challenging the sudden axing of what AuSES chief executive John Grimes called “one of the most successful clean energy programs introduced in recent years.

“Water heating is the single largest source of carbon pollution for Australian families, accounting for around 23 per cent of household emissions, so it makes sense to encourage Australians to invest in solar hot water,” Mr Grimes said.

thrEE EmployEE fatalitiEs in onE wEEk in quEEnsland Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are currently investigating.

One worker was electrocuted while working on a billboard in the western Brisbane suburb of Sherwood.

Another young worker was electrocuted on a construction site at Clermont, 250 km south west of Mackay.

A third worker was killed during the erection of an electrical transmission tower at Jandowae, north-west of Toowoomba. A section of the tower fell while being lifted by a crane.

This is a shocking reminder for contractors to consider the effectiveness of their safety management systems in preventing incidents like this from occurring at a workplace.

smart mEtEr safEty CharGE laid An electrician has been charged after a woman suffered an electric shock from her newly installed smart meter.

Energy Safe Victoria charged electrician Nileshkumar Patel, of Ormond, with installing an unsafe smart meter. If the offence is proven, he could face a fine of up to $30,000.

The resident suffered a shock in January last year as she watered her garden.

Premier Ted Baillieu again defended the smart meters.

national liCEnsinG implEmEntation ExtEndEd until 2013The Chair of the National Occupational Licensing Authority’s Board (NOLA), Elizabeth Crouch, has welcomed statements by business and government leaders reaffirming their commitment to reform of Australia’s occupational licensing system. Ms Crouch said “the NOLA Board is heartened by the statements made by both business and government leaders” at the Council of Australian Governments’ Business Advisory Forum on 12 April and the formal COAG meeting on 13 April 2012. In reaffirming its commitment to the reforms, COAG has offered welcome clarity to industry and tradespeople by announcing that the first wave of national licences will now be introduced from 2013. This first wave includes electrical, plumbing and gasfitting, refrigeration and air-conditioning, and property occupations.

In their official statement, COAG members noted that the complexity of the reforms made it impossible for national occupational licensing to commence from 1 July 2012. Instead, the system will now start in 2013.

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feature

As the city’s tallest building, ‘Evolution on Gardiner’ is an iconic symbol in Darwin’s low-lying landscape.

The 60 million dollar project was initiated by Sunbuild, the largest locally owned company in the top end of the Northern Territory.

The project saw a lot of technology introduced to Darwin for the first time including the installation of a jump-form lift system, and the use of a wind tunnel test on a model of the building to ensure its cyclone rating.

Looking to cater to the high-end of the market, Sunbuild wanted to ensure the construction of Evolution on Gardiner would be

Overlooking darwin’s waterfront is a 33-storey ‘vertical village’ with 104 premium apartments and penthouses.

complemented with sophisticated control technology that met consumer expectations.

In stepped Controlability, an Australian technology company specialising in total building systems and building management software.

More than up for the challenge, the team at Controlability brought experience in electrical contracting, remote services, and emergency and essential services.

Their award winning building control system, Signature, carries all the building’s communication services over a single cable to each tenancy, significantly reducing the complexity of electrical service design and installation.

The system can manage the metering for the water, gas and unified communications throughout the whole site, and provide the building manager with one point to control services like elevators and security.

Control of the system is via a user-friendly touch screen interface providing total building security, video monitoring and access control for residents and their visitors.

Malcolm Hodgkinson, Controlability’s technical manager, says the benefits for electrical contractors are significant as well.

“Our current technology transports all the communications in the buildings across a single fibre backbone so they can do telephony, internet, television, intercom, all the different services across this single cable,” Mr Hodgkinson said.

“The fibre is already cut and terminated, so the electrical contractor doesn’t have to farm that work out, they just pull it in. It’s manufactured, tested, packaged and ready to go.

“The building is less complicated. It’s a smarter way of cabling buildings these days compared to the five wire solution they have used in the past.”

Simon Geor, Controlability’s general manager, says the system’s flexibility provides a broad range of options for those involved.

“With us it’s a software platform that opens you up to using any IT network. The developer and electrician have a lot of choice and can negotiate between brands, as long as it fits within certain pre-defined regulations,” Mr Geor said.

“It’s like developing an iPhone for a hi-rise. Multiple applications are available across multiple platforms.

“The developer has the choice on the end user product and they can use it to help sell their development and make it smarter.”

Being more than double the height of any existing building in Darwin’s CBD meant that Controlability was in new territory admits Malcolm Hodgkinson.

Evolution on Gardiner

“It’s like developing an iPhone for a hi-rise. Multiple applications are available across multiple platforms.”


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“Because of the size of the building we spent a bit of time streamlining the infrastructure. We were able to apply everything we’d learnt before and it went really well,” Mr Hodgkinson said.

“The network infrastructure was tricky. Using ethernet infrastructure means you have to break the structure up. Not like with fibre.

“We had to plan and manage that many endpoints. There’s 110 network points for the apartments alone, so getting that infrastructure into place was challenging and we had to break it down.”

Like many other building projects, overcoming unforeseen obstacles is just part of the process. Mr Hodgkinson recalls at one point Sunbuild were caught out with the fire regulations changing and needed a fire stair intercom system.

“We had the communications system in place and solved the problem by simply hanging a network intercom inside the fire door,” he said.

“Because of the way Signature unifies everything, we could tie in the release and monitoring of the fire stair intercom with the rest of the system.

“If someone gets stuck in the stairs, they can get hold of the building manager straight away who can release them immediately, and it’s all monitored 24x7 like any IT system.”

Since Evolution on Gardiner, Controlability has gone on to refine their system even further by moving away from Cat5 to Fibre to the Home (FTTH) just like the NBN, as well as launching a cloud-based solution.

“We’re becoming more flexible in the way we’re looking at developing buildings. Traditionally you would have infrastructure in the bottom of the building but with a cloud system that all changes,” Mr Hodgkinson said.

Using the cloud and cheaper prices has also meant Controlability has been able to diversify their market offering and work on smaller sites.

“It’s only recently these services have become economically viable for the smaller end. In the last year or two the price of this infrastructure has become more affordable.

“Using a cloud system means smaller sites don’t need an onsite manager to run it. A body corporate can run three or four buildings with one interface.”

Simon Geor says since the completion of the Gardiner project, the company’s profile has been raised and it has generated a lot of interest.

“It’s opened up new paths within the Northern Territory and South East Queensland markets and clients have come to Darwin to look at the building. Plus, we’ve been able to get involved as one of Philips technology partners,” Mr Geor said.

The company is now working on an impressive new project in Darwin called ‘The Avenue’ with 310 apartments and 50 commercial tenancies over two 14-storey towers.

“We are going the whole hog with it, offering up a complete IT system for the management company running it,” Mr Geor said.


16

feature

lifestyle

Electricians’ Easter Adventuresit’s the small business owner’s dream – four glorious days off work. so how did Master electricians spend their mini holiday at easter? From home renovations, to visiting theme parks, to attacking some serious paperwork – Master electricians across the country spent their breaks in very different ways. Zoe Knobel caught up with members from each state and territory to see what they got up to over the April long weekend.

Shaun O’Connor’s daughter enjoying a ride


17

shaun o’Connordirector, territory Energy

Shaun O’Connor’s long weekend was shorter than most, as he was still on call to work on Good Friday. But he and his family made up for lost time by travelling from Canberra on Saturday to attend the Royal Easter Show in Sydney.

Shaun and his wife Tanya packed up their nine-year-old daughter Layla, seven-year-old son Austin and five-year-old little girl Nellie to get on the road at 6am.

“We’re used to going to the Canberra Show, which is pretty big, but the Sydney Show is one hundred times bigger,” he said.

“We were there for six hours and didn’t see half of it! The kids tried out just about every ride possible and of course we came home with a lot of show bags.”

But it wasn’t the roller-coasters or the fairy floss that interested Shaun most.

“I spent a bit of time at the wood-chopping event, and I’ve been in touch with someone to get involved in it. I guess it’s because it’s a very Australian kind of sport so I’d like to try my hand at it.”

Once the family left the show, equally weary and content, there was a traditional Easter egg hunt in their Sydney hotel room for the kids. Then they trekked home and the long weekend finished in much the same way as other sparkies around the country.

“By Sunday and Monday I was back working around the house. It was good to catch up on everything.”

Joshua axford director, Compass Cabling services

Joshua Axford intended to work on home renovations all weekend, but as many business owners and directors can relate to, his Easter break didn’t quite go to plan.

“I sat in the office for four days,” he said.

“Can’t say my wife was too happy about it…”

So while he didn’t get a chance to catch any sun, or paint any walls, he did have a very productive break.

“I’m feeling better I got lots of stuff done. Customers normally call on weekends, but because they all went away, the phone didn’t ring.

“Without any interruptions it was easy to catch up on work that had been sitting on my desk for up to 18-months. Some of that paperwork was pretty dusty, to be honest.”

In another familiar story for home handymen, Josh says he couldn’t have done the renos he planned anyway due to a supplier not delivering the goods.

“The materials that we needed didn’t arrive before the weekend, so that affected my plans as well.

“We started renos at Christmas and basically gutted the master bedroom and hallway and re-sheeted all the walls. We still have a bit of painting to do as well as the floor-coverings. I’ll make up for it over the next few weekends.

“But it’s a relief to have cleared so much paperwork off my desk!”

nsWact

The family at Sydney Easter Show. Clearing the paperwork.


18

Garry frEnCh General manager, Jt mining Electrical Contracting

Like Josh in NSW, Garry French used the public holidays to catch up on some paperwork at home, but fortunately he got some quality downtime on Easter Sunday as it was a double celebration for the French family.

“It was my daughter Zoe’s first birthday,” Garry said.

“Lots of Aunties and Uncles came to celebrate all day. We actually had two sittings; one side of the family came to lunch, the other side came to dinner.”

With quite a few young children in the family, including the birthday girl and her four-year-old brother Zach, there had to be a traditional Easter egg hunt.

“It was Zoe’s first Easter and she gave the chocolate eggs a good go.

“We had to make it pretty easy for her and didn’t hide them too well.”

Garry stopped short of dressing up like the Easter Bunny this year, but he said it was real party even without the furry guy showing up.

Erin bull owner and director, bull Electrical pty ltd

Erin Bull and his wife Kristen road-tripped from their home in Melbourne to visit family in Sydney with a special bundle in their Easter basket – a tiny four-month-old daughter.

“It was good to show Scarlett off to Kristen’s family and our friends there.

“Scarlett’s the only little one in the extended family so she gets passed around a lot at the moment. She’s getting a lot of attention from people she’s just met.

“Her grandparents were rapt to see her.”

While the traffic didn’t play nice, thankfully the weather showed them a good time.

“Can’t say I enjoyed the drive but loved getting away from Melbourne and work. It was definitely a little warmer up there too.”

The weekend consisted of back-to-back BBQs with friends and family in the sun. Cleverly, Erin managed to avoid traffic chaos by extending their break an extra day to arrive home on Tuesday.

VicWa

Main: Garry French with Zoe and Zach. Inset: Zoe’s first birthday. Main: Erin Bull with wife and baby. Inset: Feeding baby Scarlett.


19

Callan ChristiEdirector, platinum Electrical Contractors Gladstone

Callan Christie and his young family made the most of the sunshine in Queensland by travelling from Gladstone to visit some of the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks.

He and his wife Nikki treated their three kids with Super Passes which included entry to Sea World, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild over Easter.

By the end of the weekend both the parents along with their eight-year-old daughter Tayla, five-year-old Bella and six-month-old son Curtis were ready for another holiday.

“It was flat out!” he said.

“The kids loved it. I think they liked Movie World and Wet’n’Wild the most for the rides. Our oldest girl was big enough to go on a few of them, but Curtis wasn’t quite tall enough to be eligible...”

So in all the excitement, what was the highlight for mum and dad?

“Getting home!” he laughed.

“But personally, I had a good time at Wet’n’Wild because I could go on more rides with Tayla. It was a good break, and at the end of the day it’s about making it fun for the kids.”

QldntmathEw timmsowner and director, power Concepts

At the top end, Mathew Timms packed up his family in their new camper trailer and set out on an Aussie adventure over Easter.

He and his wife Simone and their two boys Mitchell, seven, and Lucas, four, ventured south of Darwin to camp at a tourist park by the Daly River.

“It was a lot of fun breaking-in the new camper trailer,” Mathew said.

“It is sensational camping on a mattress.”

The weather treated them well while they were away, with only a quick shower followed by endless sun.

The Timms family went on their trip with three other groups with half a dozen kids between them aged from 18-months to eight-years-old.

“There would have been around 60 kids staying at the site in total, so the tourist park put on an Easter egg hunt.

“We told the boys the Easter Bunny had found us in the bush.”

The family spent a lot of time relaxing, taking day-trips to waterfalls and visiting local fishing spots.

Main: Matthew Timms showing off Aussie pride in the bush. L-R: The Easter bunny visits the bush. Mitch and Lucas resting after the drive to the campsite.

Main: Callan Christie and family. L-R: Daughters with Marvin the Martian. Callan’s wife with their baby son.


20

taspEtEr abrahamowner/manager, bridport Electrical services

Right down the bottom of the country, Peter Abraham didn’t stop in his action-packed weekend.

“On Good Friday we went down to watch the start of the Three Peaks Race at Beauty Point, just north of Launceston.”

Peter said conditions were great when they set off, but it turned over night and some of the yachts ran aground.

But before the rain hit, Peter enjoyed jet skiing with his partner Jan then spent time with his family at his mother’s place.

“We had four generations there, with my children and their children as well.

“There was an Easter egg hunt for the kids and they certainly had plenty of energy after all that chocolate.”

On Saturday there was a change of pace when Peter and the boys from work, including his son Ben, went to play a round of golf.

“We did a job at the Lost Farm Golf Course a while back, so we went there and played 20 holes. We’re not usually big on golf, but it was a good day.”

And Peter’s adventure didn’t stop there; next up was a fishing trip with a mate.

“One of the highlights of my weekend was tuna fishing at St Helens. It was really cold, and we caught and released about 18 fish because they were quite small and not so nice to eat. But hopefully they’ll be there with their mates next time for us to catch.”

mark faCChini owner, platinum Electrical Contractors adelaide

Mark Facchini and his family had fun at home over the long weekend and used the extra time to tackle some renovations.

But the weekend was even quieter than he’d planned after arriving back from India on Thursday where his phone was stolen.

“Losing my phone meant I had no incoming calls over the weekend, which was kind of a blessing,” he said.

“I was just telling my wife, it was great not having a phone. I was totally offline for the whole weekend.”

There wasn’t exactly peace and quiet at the Facchini residence though.

“Over the weekend we finished gutting the kitchen and reinstalled a brand new one. It finally brought some functionality back to the house.”

The renos were a family affair, with Mark’s brother-in-law stopping by to help out.

“He dropped in on Friday, and when the weather turned bad his plans were rain-checked so lucky for us, he stayed to help out.

“Our 13-year-old daughter Summer and 12-year-old son Levi helped out a little, but our youngest daughter Bella’s only one-and-half so she didn’t really give us a hand.”

Once a lot of the job was done, they all had a break to go to church for the Easter service on Sunday, followed by tonnes of chocolate.

sa

Main: Peter’s family jet skiing. L-R: Peter on the golf course and with the boys at the club.

Main: Mark measuring up. L-R: Reno’s with Mark’s daughter. Wife and son helping out.

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1. Provide opportunities for career progression“Employees don’t just think about the present – if they see a bright future with your firm they are more likely to stick around,” said Mr Taylor.

“Good staff seek opportunities to learn new skills and techniques in order to enhance their career prospects. Providing opportunities for personal growth, particularly in relation to training, shows an employee that their interests are aligned with those of the business, and can significantly boost their satisfaction.”

2. monitor quality of supervisionIn relation to retention, the most important workplace relationship for any staff member is with their immediate supervisor or manager.

“If this relationship is poor, the worker is much more likely to seek employment elsewhere,” he said.

“The important thing is not just that the supervisor or manager is friendly, but that they effectively communicate their expectations, workforce opportunities and provide performance feedback. Make sure managers speak to their staff often about what they like and dislike in their roles, and are empowered to act on staff recommendations where appropriate.”

3. make sure staff are resourced to do their job“Nothing is more demoralising to staff than failure, particularly when they feel they have not been provided with the tools, time or training to do the job expected of them. This may leave them feeling like they have been set up to fail,” Mr Taylor said.

“Ensure that staff have the resources to do the job and they will be far less likely to quit.”

feature

chieF executive officer of EE-Oz Training Standards, Bob Taylor, says smaller electrical contracting businesses particularly will suffer if they don’t take steps to ensure their workers are satisfied in their roles.

“As we all know, small enterprises sink or swim on the quality of their workforce,” Mr Taylor said.

“Losing a key staff member can cripple an enterprise’s capacity to conduct their business in the short term, and there can be significant additional costs involved with bringing a new staff member up to speed in the longer term.

“For small and medium employers who are unable to compete on wages with the bigger end of town, this can be particularly problematic.”

As economic conditions improve and demand for workers increases, staff

retention is likely to become even more important over the next few years, he said.

“For employers, the main thing to remember is that wages, although important, are not the only consideration for all employees in deciding whether to seek new employment.

“When negotiating compensation packages, make sure you take the individual’s needs into account. While one worker may prefer a pay rise, another may prefer more flexible hours, relocation, a training program or new responsibilities.

“Understanding what matters to an individual employee will allow you to develop the most appropriate compensation package for them and for you.”

EE-Oz Training Standards have developed three simple measures employers can take on when developing their own staff retention policy:

simple tips for keeping staffin any cut-throat industry, keeping good staff is critical to keeping clients. And with the mining and resources boom currently sweeping the country, the domestic trade industry is battling to retain qualified workers and apprentices.

“As we all know, small enterprises sink or swim on the quality of their workforce.”

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24

meet a master electrician

LATe last year, Amanda packed up her successful career in Tenterfield, New South Wales to re-establish her business AMJ Electrical in Brisbane.

Without a customer base and strong network in the city, it was a logical choice for Amanda to become an Accredited Master Electrician.

“I’d been receiving The Master Electrician magazine for a while beforehand and finally joined-up for the advertising and marketing opportunities when I moved to Brisbane,” said Amanda.

Based in Chermside, and specialising in domestic and small commercial jobs, Amanda’s services include retro-fitting, air-conditioning and installing security systems.

She has been operating her own business for nine years and says it’s “good fun”, but has faced a number of new challenges since moving at Christmas.

In Tenterfield, Amanda was one of six contractors servicing a population of 3,500 people, but the competition is far greater in a larger urban centre.

“There are a lot more options for customers here. I mean, where I live now, there are two other electricians living on the same block.

“I really value the support of Master Electricians Australia and the credibility they give my business name, along with tools like the safety audit.”

To overcome the challenges inherent to relocation, Amanda is firmly focused on marketing.

“It hasn’t been as easy as I’d anticipated, but I’m concentrating on

As a small fish in a big pond, brand-new Master electrician Amanda Mccallum knows how important it is to swim with the right school.

Name: Amanda McCallum Company: AMJ Electrical State: Queensland Status: Accredited Master Electrician

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getting the word out there right now. I’ve been fortunate enough to be working from referrals.

“My passion is retro-fitting – I love it. It’s really interesting renovating an older home. I’ve renovated my own as well. It’s great fun to live on a building site…” she laughed.

While female electricians are still certainly a minority, Amanda says times continue to change.

“When I entered the industry I didn’t see many women working day-to-day, but a lot has changed since then.

“I’ve never come across discrimination in my career. The industry has definitely evolved – there’s been a real change in professionalism and perceptions of women in the last ten years.

“In saying that, it’s not often I meet females still working in the trade, a lot of them move into other roles like engineering.”

Currently a sole trader, Amanda plans to expand with the recruitment of a junior sparky.

“I’ll definitely take on an apprentice; I think it’s really important to give them a shot. I had a great experience training my previous apprentice to completion.”

For any contractors who are thinking about taking on a young worker, Amanda says it’s a worthwhile time commitment.

“It’s not difficult, really,” she said.

“I’d be happy to take on a female apprentice if they were the right person for the job, that’s what it’s about.”

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26

FOr over 20 years, electricians have been installing solar panels on homes around the country to take advantage of a technology championed as the solution to slowing global warming, and reducing the planet’s reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels.

The prevalence of concentrated solar power plants, commercial wind farms, and technologies to harness wave power has consistently increased.

Yet in all this time, renewable energies have failed to surpass coal or gas-fired power generation as dominant sources of electricity.

In order for solar power to truly change the energy arena, it must overcome the challenges of reliability, bulk generation, and storage so it can be accessed around-the-clock in the same way homes can tap into the traditional electricity grid.

Australian-based company Ecoult, has worked with global research and manufacturing partners to solve this issue and bring a brand new bulk storage technology to the market. Ecoult believes their UltraBattery® will change the role solar and wind energy play in the electricity market by smoothing the volatility of renewable power, allowing it to be integrated seamlessly into the grid.

Ecoult’s chief executive officer John Wood explains how the technology that was invented and incubated at Australia’s CSIRO, could revolutionise the way the world uses renewable energy.

“The challenge of making renewable energy generation a reliable process is the issue and the opportunity of the 21st century,” said Mr Wood.

“Currently, renewable energy sources like wind and solar are

limited by intermittency and storage issues. The breeze doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine 24-hours a day, and previously there has been no reliable, safe and economical storage solution to fill the gap. Renewable energy also suffers from volatility, where sudden changes in weather conditions can cause fluctuations in output, which in turn can lead to grid instabilities.

“It’s probably the biggest question to solve in order to eventually move into a renewable cycle, rather than remaining in a consumption cycle of burning finite resources and accumulating by-products like CO2,” he said.

While this has been an issue for some time, Ecoult found that existing storage solutions were not commercially cost effective, and priced renewable energy out of the market when compared with fossil fuels.

“In dollar terms, it currently costs around three to four cents per kWh to produce power from coal, and six to 20 cents per kWh for energy from renewable sources.

“But once you’ve harnessed energy from the wind or the sun, it then costs a further 10 cents per kWh to store and retrieve it from batteries, and even then you don’t get everything back as some power is lost in that transfer.

feature

renewable energy spotlight

This Australian invention will revolutionise the renewable energy market

Ecoult UltraBattery® technology

“The challenge of making renewable energy generation a reliable process is the issue and the opportunity of the 21st century.”


27

Call SafetyConnect Australia on 1300 636 787 to find out how an expert like Andrew, together with the SafetyConnect safety management system will make life easier for you.

Andrew knows that having a quality safety management system implemented in your business can do more than just satisfy your obligations, it can save lives.

Andrew is the man you can rely on when it comes to safety. He lives it, breathes it, and speaks to real contractors everyday about how to improve it.

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“The conditions are now right to solve the storage issue. Availability of improved storage, at a lower cost, will effectively integrate intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power into the electrical grid.”

Ecoult has developed a next generation hybrid, long-life lead, acid battery which allows the management of fluctuations in the power generation process, ensuring stable, reliable energy is available whenever and wherever it is needed.

“What sets UltraBattery® further apart is the capacitor integrated into its chemistry,” said Mr Wood.

“UltraBattery® will retain its capacity and process much more

energy in its lifetime when operated in a partial state of charge band than alternative lead acid batteries. This is because the capacitor has been incorporated in such a way that it modifies the behaviour of the battery chemistry by inhibiting the build-up of hard sulphate deposits.

“This added capacitor means the unit does not need to be frequently overcharged like other lead acid batteries, and it will operate more effectively and consistently for longer.”

Ecoult’s energy storage solution is already being used locally at the Hampton Wind Farm in Australia’s Blue Mountains, a project funded by the Australian Government.

The experiential data gained from advanced battery projects such as these, and others implemented in the USA and Australia this year, will be used to propel UltraBattery® further into the commercial marketplace and make it available to an even wider spectrum of applications.

While the UltraBattery® product is available today for use in large-scale solutions (MegaWatt or above), it has not yet been released for small commercial systems or residential use.

The support Ecoult has had from the Australian, United States and Japanese Governments, along with its strong commercial and research partnerships, will allow the company to continue its exploration into large-scale energy storage solutions, as well as smaller systems based on the UltraBattery® and other technology breakthroughs currently in the R&D phase.

“These future systems will allow businesses and individuals to integrate renewables into the grid, making it truly omnipresent technology, allowing the transition to a renewables-biased economy.”


28

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The Master Electrician accreditation means something. It’s not easy to earn or to keep, but that’s why it is so valuable. The accreditation is a mark of excellence, not a certificate of participation, and it is the very thing that is going to immediately position your business as a leader in the electrical industry.

In a crowded market place, consumers find it difficult to differentiate between providers offering seemingly identical services. The

Master Electrician logo will make you stand out from the rest. Use of the Master Electrician brand provides a guarantee of a professional, safe and ethical service that makes your business stand out in the eyes of the public, builders, principal contractors and government.

An independent survey* with respondents from right across Australia, was undertaken for Master Electricians Australia in June 2010 looking at attitudes toward the

benefit spotlight

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The Accredited Master electrician logo has become the hallmark that inspires trust for electrical contractors and consumers nationally.

*Ind

epen

dent

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vey

unde

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n by

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Thi

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nationally recognised Master Electricians brand among members of the public. This research showed that an overwhelming majority of respondents would choose a Master Electrician to do electrical work first; such is the sense of security created by the brand.

Use of the Master Electrician branding gives you a clear point of difference over your competitors and increased recognition by the public and industry.

As a Master Electrician you will receive a range of marketing tools including:

• An exclusive marketing kit that will show you how to make the most of this advantage by using it effectively with customers, industry and the media

• Access to the accredited Master Electrician logo, permitting you to utilise it on your advertising, stationery and clothing, making your company immediately recognisable for your expertise, and quality of service

• Stickers featuring the accredited Master Electrician logo to display on your vehicle/s.

In a fast-paced, rapidly-changing and highly-competitive business environment, running a business can be challenging – can you afford not to have the competitive edge?

Connect with Master Electricians Australia today to find out how we can enhance your greatest assets – you and your staff – with our name and specialised service to ensure that you get the recognition that your skills and experience deserve.

Visit www.masterelectricians.com.au or contact 1300 889 198.

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30

news from the distributors

JEmEnaPolICE ASKED To INVESTIGATE DElIbERATE SmART mETER INTERfERENCE

Jemena has referred evidence to Victoria Police of the deliberate application of foreign liquids to a number of smart meters on its network. A police investigation into the vandalism has now commenced.

Independent chemical tests received by Jemena confirm that substances of different types were applied to the meters. The tests also confirm that none of the components inside the meters contain liquid of the type or quantities that have been involved in five smart meter failures in that one particular week in March.

Jemena Managing Director Paul Adams said the test results point to deliberate interference with the meters and this had to stop.

“We were suspicious of some instances of safe meter failure because of the amount and type of liquid found on site.

“Interfering with the safe operation of smart meters is a very dangerous thing to do. While the vandalised meters failed safely, it must be remembered that all electrical equipment is dangerous and must not be tampered with.

“Interfering with a meter also causes unnecessary loss of supply to our customers causing understandable frustration and uncertainty about future supply reliability and the safety of their smart meter,” said Mr Adams.

Mr Adams reiterated that the Jemena smart meters, the same meters installed across much of the rest of Victoria, were safe.

Mr Adams said he was extremely disappointed that the public have been unnecessarily alarmed and that Jemena’s good reputation has been damaged by poorly informed public allegations.

“Smart meters are designed so any internal pressure from a failure is released so they fail safely and do not explode.

“There is no evidence that they cause switchboard fires. Photos in the media of a blackened backing board to which the meter is attached is most likely carbon deposits, or soot, not the remnants of a fire or explosion.

“Our job is to ensure safe, reliable electricity supply to our customers and we have an excellent record of doing just that. The smart meters being installed by Jemena meet all relevant Australian standards and extremely rigorous risk assessments were undertaken as part of our meter procurement process.

“The entire Advanced Metering Infrastructure Program was confirmed safe in December 2011 by the Victorian Government and its agencies after an extensive review.

“I now look forward to the outcome of this police investigation and continuing to get on with delivering safe, high quality service to our 300,000 customers,” Mr Adams said.

VicwEstErn powErCHANGES To THE CoNNECTIoN of INVERTER ENERGy SySTEmS PRoCESS

Since December, Western Power has changed the way that information about renewable systems is captured. If you install and connect renewable systems you will need to provide additional information with your Notice of Completion.

what information?Western Power needs to know details of the inverter energy system you are connecting – such as the generation source, inverter model and meter number.

why does western power need this information?Western Power needs to know about all generation connected to its network. This is so that we can make sure there is available capacity in the network to meet demand.

why can’t this information be gathered during application for renewable supply?At the approval stage of the process there is no guarantee that the supply will be connected. We need to ensure that the supply is approved for connection, and, once connected, that we know the size, make and type connected to help with our future planning.

how will this affect you?

AllDetails of the inverter energy system connected, including the meter number, will be required on all Notices of Completion connecting energy systems to the Western Power network.

ETIC users (preferred method):For ease of use - all information will be captured within your notice - select “Alternative Energy” and you will be prompted to complete the new required fields, including the type of system installed and the maximum rated output. You will not need to submit any additional forms to Western Power.

When you install an identical system at other sites, use ETIC’s ‘copy’ function to create identical notices that only need an address change.

If you are not an ETIC user and would like to register you can download a registration form by going to www.westernpower.com.au and searching for the term ‘ETIC’.

Alternatively you can contact us on 13 10 87, selecting option four to speak to an energise adviser.

Paper NoticesWe have developed a form to be completed and submitted attached to your EnergySafety Notice of Completion. The form captures only the necessary information so as to keep paperwork to a minimum.

Wa


31

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FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE INDUSTRY! Getting Ready For Digital is now even easier. As customers become more tech-savvy, their service expectations have also increased. So to meet the rising demand for digital entertainment and technologies, Matchmaster have developed a new software package to help customers and installers understand and identify digital ready products and accessories to suit the site being upgraded to digital. The Matchmaster Antenna Selection Guide is ‘FREE’! Check it out at www.matchmaster.tv

Why was the Matchmaster Antenna Locator developed?It’s all about becoming ready for the Digital Switchover, with the Government making changes to the television industry by setting firm dates for switching off analog transmitters. As part of the transition to digital-only services, the new Matchmaster Antenna Selection Guide will assist with making the transition even easier

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ausGridAuSGRID uRGES HANDymEN To STAy SAfE

Tradespeople and home handymen are being urged to take the right steps to work safely around electricity, after reports that a 30-year-old man drilled into electricity cables during renovation work in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The man received serious burns to his body and was taken to hospital after reportedly drilling into the live electricity cables that connect the main switchboard to the electricity network.

The incident caused an explosion and blacked out several properties in the area.

“This is a very unfortunate incident,” an Ausgrid spokesperson said.

“Live electricity can kill. It is simply not worth the risk to undertake work near electrical fittings or equipment without the proper qualifications or checks.”

Ausgrid research shows that more than one third of people performing work around the home had drilled or nailed into a wall without checking for electrical wires.

The survey also showed that a quarter of reported electric shocks were a result of Do-It-Yourself activities.

nsW


32

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EnErGExmETERING foR TARIff 33 CoNNECTIoN

The response to our ‘Pool Rewards’ campaign where customers receive $250 for connecting their pool to Tariff 33 or installing an energy efficient pool pump, has identified the need for clarification on some Tariff 33 metering options. There are two reasons for this:

1. The relay contacts in the switching unit have a maximum rating of 20amps

2. ENERGEX often switches hot water and other loads on different control channels.

When a customer requests to connect their pool pump to Tariff 33 in addition to their hot water, it will need to comply with the Queensland Electricity Connection and Metering Manual (QECMM 8.2.1). This requires the electrical contractor to install a separate load wire from each switch of a dual channel relay or electronic integrated meter to the switchboard; one for the hot water and one for the pool pump. Refer to ECMM Drawing 8.2 and 8.3.

However, on existing installations where a Tariff 33 controlled supply submain connects to a remote distribution board, it is permitted to connect the pool pump to this controlled supply submain (refer QECMM 8.2.1 note), provided that the requirements for maximum of 20amps inductive load are no exceeded for our relay switches.

For new or existing installations, a Form 2 or EWR is required to be submitted for ENERGEX to carry out the metering/relay alterations and verification.

Note: Where a polyphase meter already exists at a meter panel and Tariff 33 equipment is to be connected, meter wiring must be installed for an additional meter and relay. (Refer to ECMM drawing 8.5). A polyphase meter including a relay is not available.

Qld

Etsa utilitiEsCHANGES To THE PV oNlINE APPlICATIoN foRm

To ensure ETSA Utilities can continue to manage customer applications for PV SEG installations in the most efficient way, we are making changes to the online application form.

These changes are being made to further improve its useability and to ensure all the relevant information we need to process PV applications is received. Some improvements being incorporated into the new system have been based on feedback from the solar industry.

The following are some of the new features that will be incorporated in the new online PV Form:

• You will be able to submit one application form with multiple inverter model details

• A new application type specifically for upgrade applications has been created. For these applications you will no longer need to include “UPGRADE” in the customer name

• Better explanations have been provided for the three different application types - existing installation, new supply, and upgrade

• Mandatory fields have been introduced to ensure the minimum information ETSA Utilities requires to process PV applications has been provided, ie relevant customer site address, postal address and customer contact

• Customer NMI number and the meter number the PV SEG system will be connected to, is now mandatory information

• The customer’s email address is now a mandatory field, to ensure customers receive the necessary documentation and notifications

• New specific declaration statements have been introduced that must be answered on behalf of the customer. These declarations are required to ensure the customer is aware of their legal obligations and FiT eligibility requirements under the current legislation

• For customers that are making an application for a second SEG installation, site address details for the their original SEG installation will be required

• Information fields are only shown when it is applicable for the specific application type and in association with the responses to the declaration statements.

For more information visit the ETSA Utilities website www.etsautilities.com.au

sa

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*vs prior model

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34

regulator wrap up

the latest state news from regulators

EnErGy safE viCtoriaRESTRICTED ElECTRICAl lICENCE RENEWAl PRoCESS – ClEARING uP CoNfuSIoN

There appears to be some confusion among licence holders about the requirements of the ‘new’ licensing regulations. This article explains the facts.

VicThe Electricity Safety (Registration & Licensing) Regulations 2010, commenced on 1 August 2010. This means that any restricted electrical licence holder who submits an application for renewal from that date must be assessed in accordance with the 2010 regulations.

The 2010 regulations made minor changes to the definition of electrical work and introduced the ability for suitably qualified restricted “D” licence holders to carry out fault-finding on equipment.

The introduction of Class 1 (with fault-finding) and Class 2 (without fault-finding) classifications for restricted licences is in line with the proposed national licensing structure, making Victoria the leader in national reform.

It also addresses concerns that ESV had identified where restricted licence holders were undertaking fault-finding when they were not competent to do so, which presented safety concerns.

GrandfatheringAll existing licence holders at 1 August 2010 were transferred to a Class 2 Licence in accordance with Regulation 42 of the 2010 Licensing Regulations.

This ensured that no one was disadvantaged and enables any licence holder to apply for a Class 1 Licence at the time of renewal. To do this, they need to satisfy ESV there is a continued need for the licence and they have the required training in fault-finding.

ESV must be satisfied that the current regulatory requirements are being met, and if fault-finding is required as part of a person’s primary function, you

must demonstrate how you are competent to undertake fault-finding by demonstration of competency or by completion of Unit P007, which is the competency required by the regulation, as well as P001B, which may include a practical assessment on the equipment that you are working with. Other competencies may also be accepted, for example in the refrigeration and air-conditioning area.

mEm30205 Certificate iii – mechanical trade (specialising in refrigeration & air Conditioning)Which includes: MEM18046B Fault-Find & Repair Electrical Equipment/Components up to 1000v ac/1500 v dc and UTENES505SB Locate and Rectify Fault(s) in Electrical Equipment (KVAC/1.5KVDC) by Procedures (motors).

mEm30298 Certificate iii – Engineering – mechanical trade (air Conditioning &refrigeration)Which includes: MEM18.46AA Fault-Find &Repair Electrical Equipment/Components up to 1000v ac/1500 v dc.

utE30999 Certificate iii – Electrotechnology – refrigeration & air ConditioningWhich includes: UTENES505SA Locate and Rectify Fault(s) in Electrical Equipment 1000v.

If you are applying for a Class 1 restricted licence please include any information you have and the staff in ESV Licensing will try to identify the appropriate qualification and provide guidance on any deficiencies.


35

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To find the spark go to our Industrial Lighting solutions

catalogue.

Pierlite Australia has created an exciting and functional Industrial Lighting reference catalogue addressing interior, exterior and emergency lighting design applications. To order your copy contact your nearest Pierlite Customer Service Centre.

To download your copy, simply install and activate a QR code scanner application on your smartphone. For more information visit www.pierlite.com

ElECtriCal safEty offiCEElECTRICAl GENERAToRS CAN PoSE A THREAT IN flooDS

Residents, workers and volunteers are urged to be super vigilant when using generators following floods.

Electrical Safety Office executive director Peter Lamont said users should be aware that generators can cause fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and electrocution if used incorrectly.

“Residents and workers in flood-affected areas should be extra careful when using generators to provide power to homes impacted by floods” Mr Lamont said.

“If you’re using a generator to power your home, it must be connected via a change-over switch installed by a licensed electrical contractor, otherwise power from your generator could energise powerlines nearby, causing an electric shock to anyone coming into contact.

“It would be a tragedy if lives were lost due to a lack of electrical safety awareness”.

Mr Lamont said those using electrical generators needed to be diligent and follow the manufacturer’s instructions or seek expert advice if in doubt.

Qld

“If you’re using a portable generator, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use it to power essential equipment, such as fridges.

“Keep your cables or leads protected from water and don’t exceed the generator’s load rating.

“The Electrical Safety Office advises that generators should only be run outdoors or in a well ventilated area. You should turn it off to refuel it, and it should be fitted with a safety switch.”


36

regulator wrap up

nsWfair tradinGCHANGES To HomE buIlDING lAWS

On 1 February 2012, the second phase of changes to the NSW Home Building Act came into effect. These changes affect electricians doing residential electrical work in NSW.

Consumer building guideBy law, tradespeople must give consumers a copy of the Consumer building guide, issued by NSW Fair Trading, before they enter into a contract for residential building work worth more than $5,000. The Guide has been revised to reflect the changes and can now be downloaded from Fair Trading’s ‘consumer building guide’ web page.

Copies of the Guide dated before January 2012 are no longer accurate. Traders should use the updated guide and updated contracts as soon as possible. However, traders will not be subject to enforcement action by NSW Fair Trading if they continue to use older versions of

the guide, or contracts that include older versions of the guide, during the first half of 2012.

home building contractsAll residential building work worth over $1,000 must be covered by a written contract.

Residential building work worth between $1,001 and $5,000 now require a written ‘small job’ contract with minimum information. Building jobs worth more than $5,000 must be covered by more extensive written contracts.

You can download these contracts FREE of cost from the ‘home building contracts’ page of the NSW Fair Trading website. The contracts are fillable and saveable, so contractors avoid the need to complete the same contract every time. Simply complete a contract once, save it, and re-use or edit it later for future jobs.

trader initiated dispute resolutionUnder the new laws, NSW Fair Trading’s quick and inexpensive dispute resolution process has been formally opened up to allow traders as well as consumers to

initiate requests for Fair Trading to assist. This does not extend to traders’ disputes with other traders.

statutory warrantyThe time periods for statutory warranties on home building work have been aligned with those for home warranty insurance (ie. six years for structural defects; two years for non-structural defects). The previous statutory time limit was seven years for both structural and non-structural defects.

home warranty insurance and cooling off periodsAll residential building work worth more than $20,000 must be covered by mandatory home warranty insurance. The previous threshold was $12,000. The new threshold also applies to cooling off periods. The minimum level of home warranty insurance cover has been increased from $300,000 to $340,000.

For more information about these amendments go to the NSW Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au


37

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offiCE of thE tEChniCal rEGulator SAfE REmoVAl of ASbESToS mETER PANElS

The recent boom in solar PV installations has led to a number of enquiries to the OTR about the safety and legalities of removing and disposing of old meter panels that contain asbestos. ETSA Utilities Service and Installation Rules Appendix 2.4 requires any meter panel containing asbestos to be replaced with modern materials prior to any meter change at customer request (such as changeover to import/export meter). Electrical workers working with old switchboard/meter panels that may contain asbestos should be aware that drilling, breaking or cutting these materials may release harmful asbestos fibres.

Although asbestos containing materials (ACM) used in panels are usually rough or fibrous and may have a strong tar smell, any black or dark brown switchboard/meter panels pre-dating 1987 may contain up to 20 per cent asbestos. The back of the panel may be stamped as containing asbestos or stamped with a brand name such as Lebah, Zelemite, Miscolite or Ausbestos. The use of all forms of asbestos was banned in 2003 with only a few, very specific, exemptions.

Small amounts of ACM’s, such as meter or switchboard panels, can be safely and legally removed and disposed of without a licence, as long as stringent safeguards are adhered to. SafeWork SA has a handy guide titled Asbestos and the Home Renovator on their website. This guide can be found at the link below, and provides detailed safety procedures and control measures to use when removing and disposing of small amounts of asbestos.

http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/uploaded_ files/asbestos_homerenovator.pdf

sa

WaoffiCE of EnErGyNEW PublIC uTIlITIES offICE To bE ESTAblISHED

Since 30 March 2012, the Office of Energy now ceases to exist with its functions, staff and resources transferred to the Department of Finance.

This follows a decision by State Government to establish a Public Utilities Office in order to consolidate and further develop the essential services policy capacity of government into one organisation.

The establishment of a Public Utilities Office, initially with responsibility for energy policy will, through economies of scale, provide a focused and better resourced service for government and enhance an industry wide perspective.

The current role and functions of the Office of Energy, including those of the coordinator of energy, will continue on commencement of the new Public Utilities Office.

The Public Utilities Office is now part of the Department of Finance headed by director general Anne Nolan. The Office will report through the director general to Energy Minister Peter Collier on energy industry and policy issues.


letter of the law

iT can be very frustrating for people to have tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars locked up in a superannuation account and not be able to access it until they retire.

This can be particularly so when you are renting your premises, and if only you had access to the money in your super fund, you could use it to buy a premises to operate your business and thereby, stop throwing dead rent money down the drain.

Self managed superannuation funds (SMSF) can borrow money to acquire property. We currently have dozens of clients who are borrowing money through

their superannuation fund to acquire properties, including premises from which to operate their businesses. This means what would otherwise be dead rent money, is actually being paid into your superannuation fund.

While it is not for us to give advice about the property market, some analysts are saying that now is a very good time to be buying premises - especially in some of the more depressed areas. There is also no doubt there are plenty of opportunities in the mining areas too.

However, there are very strict rules about super borrowing and if you don’t get it right, you could effectively lose half of your

superannuation (as the SMSF will lose its concessional tax treatment).

You could also be disqualified as a trustee or face prosecution and other penalties.

It is critical to get the right legal advice so your super fund borrowing complies with the law and will be hassle free.

For help about how you get your super fund to borrow, about setting up a self managed super fund, or simply for further information, call Sean Diljore on 07 3223 5909 or [email protected] or Suzanne Brown on 07 4963 0820 or [email protected]

did you know you can borrow money through your super fund to acquire property such as your business premises?

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Why become a Master Electrician?Research shows that consumers trust the ‘Masters’ brand, and are more likely to choose a Master Electrician over the competition. Buyers equate Master Electricians with experience, quality, reliability and integrity.

Through our extensive advertising to public and industry on the benefits of using a Master Electrician, you will be in demand from the public, builders, principle contractors and the government.

Master Electricians accreditation provides you with unlimited access to:• A wiring rules hotline• A large technical and standards advice team• Industry training and education• Employment and workplace relations advice• Expert advice on commercial and business matters• Regular up-to-date news and information• Use of the Master Electrician branding• Networking opportunities with industry supporters, suppliers, other allied

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Becoming a Master Electrician has changed the way we think. It ensures that we conduct ourselves in a safe manner and that we comply with all of our OH&S requirements. I feel proud that I am an Accredited Master ElectricianFrank Spiteri, A & F Electrical - Melbourne


40

the interview

i’M always happy to talk. A lot of sparkies listen to the shows, and my brother-in-law is a junior sparky so we’ve been talking about how much the electrical industry has changed from straight 240 volt work, to integration of data and communication systems in the home. In the USA right now, they’re installing electrical fittings including USB outlets. I like to talk to sparkies. They call in and give me all kinds of information like what to do when you’re in the shower and you get a zap from the water.

and what do you need to do then?You need to call a sparky! You’ve probably got a problem with the wiring, like a floating neutral. On the other hand, we did have some

bad work done by one guy who came and did up our bathroom. He put in two new power points and a light switch and the fittings were so poor that after six months two of them just died. One of them just fell out of the wall and the other one is cracked on its face. Some people use cheap fittings, so by them saving a few dollars instead of buying higher quality fittings that are up to Australian standards, it ended up costing me hundreds of dollars to fix.

you’ve just released your 31st book, Brain Food, about what we eat and how our body actually works. in your illustrious career as a scientist, what drives you to continue to investigate how the world works and share it with others?I’m always curious. I don’t understand why some people are not curious. One thing I discovered early on was that some people run out of curiosity anywhere after their late-teens. I don’t know what it is, but I never stopped.

you recently returned from a globe-trekking trip to see the aurora borealis and the aurora australis. how was that journey?We went up to Iceland for the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), and down to Antarctica for the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). It wasn’t the best Aurora; what I wanted to see was a full range of colour. I didn’t quite get that, but it was impressive. And I saw the Green Flash, spent a week under the Midnight Sun – when the Sun does not set, and just goes around you above the horizon – and jumped into the -1.8C water at Scott’s Hut. We were less than 720 Nautical Miles from the South Pole, and Mt. Erebus (an active volcano) was quietly smoking away. It was bright AND midnight, and whales cavorted in the water a few hundred metres from the ship.

Given some of the places you visited like the antarctic Circle can experience up to six-months of 24-hour sunlight, is there a future for solar power down there?The way it works with solar panels is that their output is judged on the energy payback time - the amount of time it takes to pay back the energy, or the cost of making those solar cells. That’s not referring to the dollars, but the energy spent in making the panels. The energy payback time is between 1.5 and 3.5 years depending on the cloud cover of the environment. Generally the Poles will get more sunlight, so their payback time would be shorter. For example, on the trip we had five days where the sun didn’t go down.

that must have played havoc with your sleeping patterns!Oh, mate, there’s so much to see, you can sleep when you’re dead! I just stayed awake and then crashed later.

With the solar cells, Australia is on the good end of cloud cover, and our energy payback is only one-and-a-half years, so in fact, Australia should have solar cells all over the place. If you look at the figures, Germany’s not as good as Australia. But where Australia has a total of around 1,250 megawatts of solar cells across the country, Germany installed 3,000 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems in just four weeks last year. Yet we’re the ones with better potential for producing mass amounts of solar power because of the sun we receive.

You’re a very busy man between appearances on radio, television shows, book tours, and regularly Tweeting to your 115,000 followers on Twitter. Thanks for making the time for this interview, dr Karl.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki


41

I have the same views as a group called Zero Carbon Australia, who found that we could supply all Australia’s electricity with renewable energies within ten years, and the cost averaged out over 30 years would be just one third of the price of burning coal. So not only is it better for the environment, but over 30 years it’s a lot cheaper.

there’s been a lot of debate about the benefits of switching to renewable energies like wind and solar in australia, but how will that impact existing jobs in the mining industry that would become obsolete?There are very few jobs in mining already. A lot of those 400 tonne big haul trucks are now becoming automated. John Howard used to say that coal mining was an essential industry to the Australian economy with regard to jobs, but under his Prime Ministership, the number of jobs in it dropped by two thirds.

If we were to adopt more renewable energies like solar in Australia, it would create 140,000 more jobs in a ten year window. After that the growth would settle down, of course. At the moment, the number of people involved in mining fossil fuels like coal is around 20,000, but the number required to operate renewable energies under the Zero Carbon Plan would be around 40,000.

It would also create more trade type and intellectual jobs, rather than just driving trucks on mine sites, and would supply all of Australia’s electricity – meeting base load power requirements.

you have some very strong views on the relationship between the environment and the economy. Given the turmoil in federal parliament lately, have you thought about having a tilt at politics?I tried that in 2007 and failed spectacularly after running for the Senate with the Climate Change Coalition in New South Wales.

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In 20 years’ time I think we’ll be seeing computers that are the size of a head of a match being implanted into people’s brains.

Even with all the support you get from triple J listeners?I couldn’t be linked to the ABC while I was involved in that so I couldn’t tell everyone what I was doing unfortunately – it was before the age of Twitter when you can now reach people more easily.

what are some of the trends you’ve seen in the electricity industry lately?There are three things happening in the field of electricity. Number One, we’re seeing Moore’s Law in play, where computers are halving in size every 18-months. Number Two, we are becoming more like computers. And Number Three, computers are becoming more like us.

In 20 years’ time I think we’ll be seeing computers that are the size of a head of a match being implanted into people’s brains. Information could be delivered directly to the computer in your head – so you could get things like cricket scores sent through directly, you won’t even have to look it up.

what are some new electronic gadgets on the market that we can look forward to seeing commercialised?One thing I’ve heard about lately is using your shoes to charge your iPhone or iPod. It’s a dielectric technology where it holds the charge using a special liquid. I think we’ll see that within around five years.

is that something you’ll use when you go running? what do you like to do to wind down?Oh, running’s not my thing. I like to spend time with my family, go for a swim at Maroubra beach, go four-wheel-driving, sometimes take trips to Antarctica… And I read a lot of science journals.

what are you reading about right now?I read quite broadly. There’s a lot of research going into how to harness the power of photosynthesis from plants and turn that into electricity. I’m also learning more about evidence that autism is not related to vaccinations of babies. Meanwhile, some scientists are looking for a way to reduce the salt content of chips without changing the taste.

Dr Karl’s latest book Brain Food is out now through Pan Macmillan Australia.


42

gadget guide

VIDEo GlASSES

Movies, games and more on a 40 inch virtual screen.

How would you like to be able to watch movies on the fly – anywhere, anytime? Well these groovy video glasses simulate a 40 inch screen and allow you to watch movies, or play video games whenever you would like.

They work by using the left and right eye display to produce a virtual cinema screen that will make you feel as if you are actually sitting in a real movie theatre. The glasses themselves are lightweight and comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time and have been fully tested to ensure no harm to your eyes is ever possible.

The video glasses connect to a powerful handheld media player that is capable of handling a wide variety of media. Everything from movies and photos, to eBooks, or even your favourite videos games by Nintendo and Sega, can easily be played by the handheld media player. The player also features 2GB of internal memory as well as a SD card slot that can accept up to an 8GB SD card. This brings the total storage capacity up to an amazing 10 GB!

RRP $195 www.gadgetbuy.com.au

EToN SCoRPIoN

No the Eton Scorpion doesn’t come with a tent, but that’s about the only thing you would need in addition to it for a trip to the great outdoors. Modestly described as a multi-function radio, this rugged gadget can be powered by hand using a fold-out turbine handle, or (if that sounds like too much effort) an integral solar panel.

As well as running a host of typical analogue radio functions, all that hand-cranking or sun-baking will also power a built-in LED torch and a USB mobile phone socket. Completing this tough little wonder gadget is a sturdy bottle-opener. Well... taking on nature can be thirsty work.

Product features include: AM FM radio tuner, SW band coverage, built-in LED flashlight, large solar panel, hand turbine power, USB cell phone socket, audio line input, aluminium key chain, splashproof, rugged exterior skin, battery charge indicator, bottle opener, and a DC power input for mains adaptor - 6V DC @ 300ma (centre positive).

RRP $89.95 http://planetgadget.com.au/ eton-scorpion/

buSbI DIGITAl VIDEo CAmERA

If you’re looking for a super slim point and shoot machine that allows you to create home movies and upload them to your computer in a flash, then this simple, but supremely effective little gizmo is for you.

This battery-operated Busbi has nine simple to use buttons and, a two inch LCD screen that can flip around to capture your own blog or commentary.

The nifty playback mode also allows you to view/delete the last video captured. If you want to watch all the videos captured, simply slide out the Busbi’s USB jack and plug it into your computer. You can even hook it up to the telly with the included AV cable.

The inexpensive Busbi comes with a 128MB internal memory; but you can upgrade to a 4GB card.

Product features include: VGA video recorder for easy upload to web, 5MP still images, simple record and playback leading functions, built in USB connection, 4x digital zoom, LCD display: 1.8inch (480x240) TFT LCD, and it supports Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

RRP $69.95 http://planetgadget.com.au/busbi-digital/


43

techno biz

ComPACT uNIVERSAl loCKouT foR mCb’S – uCl-4

Cirlock presents the UCL-4 compact universal lockout devices for miniature circuit breakers (MCBs).

Made from anodised aluminium, UCL-4 compact universal lockout devices can accommodate one padlock with a shackle size of up to 7mm.

The UCL-4 is designed to clamp onto the circuit breaker’s toggle in the ‘Off’ position with the use of a small flat screwdriver.

UCL-4 compact universal lockout devices will in most cases, not interfere with the cover plate due to their compact size.

Cirlock’s large range of lockout devices, for all energy sources can be purchased from your local electrical wholesaler.

For more information visit www.cirlock.com.au

flASHTITE Roof PENETRATIoN flASHING

The ‘Quick Tile’ roofing electrical solution that can be installed in minutes.

Flashtite is the easiest and quickest prefabricated roof penetration flashing solution available. Manufactured with an integrated tile base made from Wakaflex, the world’s number one lead-free flashing, Flashtite is the ‘Quick Tile’ flashing solution of choice that is ideal for busy electricians because it can be installed in minutes in five easy steps:

1. Cut boot to size

2. Remove central backing paper

3. Fit additional end adhesive strips provided

4. Fit over penetration and mould to tile

5. Remove remaining backing strips and adhere to surface.

The product is a non-toxic and lightweight solution, perfect for electrical and TV antennae installations and completes the lead free roof solution.

For more information visit www.evobuild.com.au

uNICo fRom olImPIA SPlENDID

This air-conditioner is unique. It has no outdoor unit.

The Unico from Olimpia Splendid represents the latest in air-conditioning technology. Instead of a big outer box, it’s got two small holes. The air-conditioner is installed from the inside, quickly and without any complex masonry. This means a fast and low cost installation.

There are four models with inverter technology to choose from, all with On/Off functionality, and with or without heat pump capability.

In terms of its functions, Unico is a true technological gem, capable of programming and optimising climate room by room, as well as dehumidifying and purifying the air.

Key features and benefits include no outdoor compressor, no outside access required when installing units and both inverter or standard models available.

For more information visit www.noirot.com.au

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46

technical talk

MAsTer Electricians Australia group CEO Malcolm Richards said such occurrences were part of the reason that harmonisation of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) laws first came to the attention of the Federal Government.

“Employers have a lot to consider when doing a job, and chief among their concerns is the safety of their workers,” Mr Richards said.

“Harmonisation goes some way to improving how safety is managed, but the legislation does introduce some further considerations for businesses.”

Those Tweed Heads operators saw the nationally harmonised WHS laws adopted by New South Wales and Queensland in January 2012, as they were by the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory.

Several states are still debating a date for

implementation, while Tasmania confirmed it would defer implementation for a full year until January 2013.

“The implementation process is ongoing, but we encourage Master Electricians and ECA members concerned about changes to use our SafetyConnect system to assist and protect your business,” Mr Richards said.

McKays Solicitors Associate Louise Wessel said the ultimate goal of the legislation is safety, but it comes at a cost.

“Increased consultation between employers, workers, and their representatives, along with more clearly delineated responsibilities, should bring about a safer working environment,” said Ms Wessel.

“But the penalties for failing to comply with the new WHS Act are much greater, so electrical contractors must ensure they’re aware of what is now expected of them.”

new terms in the harmonised whs act

person conducting a business or undertaking (pCbu)“A new, broader term for ‘employer’ was introduced in the model WHS Act. The acronym PCBU is now used, referring to a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking, alone or with others,” Ms Wessel said.

A PCBU is the legal body conducting the business or undertaking and not the natural person who may be a worker or an officer. This includes a sole trader, a partnership, a company, and a government department or public authority.

The PCBU has the primary duty of care to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of workers who are influenced or directed by them as the PCBU.

“This is an expansion of the traditional context of workplace health and safety obligations, extending to public safety and more,” Ms Wessel added.

workerUnder the Act, the term ‘employee’ is replaced by ‘worker’, which covers anyone who carries out work for a PCBU.

Worker incorporates a direct employee, a contractor or sub-contractor, an employee of a contractor or sub-contractor, an employee of a labour hire company, apprentice or trainee, student on work experience, outworker and volunteer.

officer“The new WHS Act also introduces new obligations for an ‘officer’ of a corporation,” she said.

An officer is a person who participates in making decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of a business, such as a director or company secretary.

“In a practical sense, an officer could include a silent partner of a business who may never actually set foot on a jobsite but will have a responsibility by law to implement safety initiatives to protect workers. It’s up to the people running the business to find out who the recognised officers are.”

As any electrical contractor working in Tweed heads or Albury-Wodonga knows, variances in legislation between neighbouring states can be a troublesome and time-consuming issue to manage.

how Whs harmonisation affects you


47

key challenges introduced by the whs actBroadly, the WHS Act increases the action PCBUs have to take to ensure workplace health and safety, increases the costs of complying, and increases union site access and fines. These changes present a variety of challenges.

Broader scope of dutyA key challenge presented by the WHS Act is the expansion of the category of individuals to whom workplace safety duties are owed according to the changes in terms and associated responsibilities.

No privilege against self-incriminationThe WHS Act removes a person’s entitlement to refuse to answer questions by an inspector as part of an investigation on the grounds of self-incrimination.

Increased union site access “The Act enables union representatives to enter the workplace if they hold a WHS entry permit, even if they don’t have any union members on the site,” said Ms Wessel.

They are permitted to consult with workers and the PCBU, inspect the workplace for contraventions, take copies of any relevant documents and give warnings regarding exposures to risks.

If a PCBU wrongfully refuses access to a WHS entry permit holder they may be liable for fines of up to $10,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a company. WHS entry permit holders do not have to tell you the name of the person that they are acting in respect of.

Consultation required between partiesThe WHS Act expands the obligations of PCBUs in regard to consultation. PCBUs must consult with workers, not just employees, who are, or are likely to be, directly affected by a matter relating to health and safety.

“This may involve consulting with contractors and their workers, employees of labour hire companies, students on work experience, apprentices and trainees, as well as with the PCBU’s own employees and volunteer workers,” said Ms Wessel.

A PCBU must also consult with elected health and safety representatives (HSR)

and pay for them to attend an approved work health and safety course.

“HSRs are elected by work groups – a group of workers who share a similar work situation such as those who do the night shift – and will hold office for three years,” she said.

“They’re empowered to represent the health and safety interests of all workers, monitor steps taken in compliance with the Act, investigate complaints, enquire into anything that appears to be a risk and be provided with the appropriate resources and facilities.

“Remember to be careful who is appointed, as these individuals can now issue you with notices which will require you to comply.”

Issuing of Provisional Improvement NoticesUnder the Act, health and safety representatives (HSR) have a right to issue Provisional Improvement Notices (PIN) on site.

“A HSR may issue a PIN to halt work or use of equipment that is deemed unsafe after consultation with the PCBU,” Ms Wessel said.

The PCBU must be consulted prior to the issuing of such a notice and given an opportunity to correct the situation.

“This issuing may cause large impacts for the PCBU if not addressed appropriately by all parties. Obviously with the interaction of the Fair Work Act and right of entry provisions for unions, PINs may become serious industrial disputes,” she said.

New penalties and defencesThe maximum penalties under the WHS Act present a significant increase on those under the previous legislation.

The penalties for failing to comply with health and safety duties range from $50,000 to $600,000 for an individual and

between $500,000 and $3 million for a company.

“In extreme breaches, the party at fault may face jail time,” said Ms Wessel.

“For example, if a person fails to comply with their duties and recklessly exposes an individual to a risk of death, serious injury or illness, that person may face up to five years in prison.”

tips for achieving complianceThe first step is to review your current safety systems and identify any gaps when compared to the obligations of the new WHS Act.

“Aim to eliminate, not manage, risk,” said Ms Wessel.

To do so, follow these ten steps:

1. Identify hazards

2. Assess the risks

3. Identify controls / solutions

4. Implement controls / solutions

5. Monitor and audit

6. Consult as required

7. Collaborate closely with the people who are responsible for quality public safety, product safety, security and workplace environments

8. Check your insurance covers the maximum penalties

9. Check that your current contracts for work do not attempt to burden you with all of the compliance and indemnity

10. Check that your estimates include enough to cover the cost of consulting on WHS issues and any changes you may need to make in the consulting process.

“Also, as the new definition of ‘officer’ is likely to increase the number of responsible personnel, we recommend that businesses review their structures and train all individuals that are classified as officers under the new definition.

“You may wish to seek legal advice to ensure your systems are fully compliant with the harmonised WHS Act.”

Anyone experiencing difficulties should connect with Master Electricians Australia at www.masterelectricians.com.au or call 1300 889 198.

“Harmonisation goes some way to improving how safety is managed, but the legislation does introduce some further considerations for businesses.”


48

workplace relations

The Act commenced operation, in part, on 1 July 2009. The remainder of the Act commenced operation on 1 January 2010, including the introduction of the Modern Awards.

Due to the scale of the reforms brought about by the Act, the government made a commitment to review the operation of the legislation two years after it was fully implemented.

The review will consider things such as how successful the Act has been in reaching the government’s objectives, and any areas where it needs improvement. Submissions were invited in order to enable the consideration of feedback from stakeholders affected by the operation of the Act.

submissionsThere have been many submissions made by registered organisations representing the needs of both employers and employees alike. This provides an

opportunity for evidence based discussion about the legislation and its operation this far.

By allowing submissions from stakeholders, industry participants who have a working knowledge of the effect the Act is having on running a business can have their say. It also allows employees to utilise their workplace rights effectively under the Act.

Obviously there are philosophical differences between applications on behalf of employers and employees. The review panel will need to find a balance between the two in order to enable the Act to better suit the needs of wider Australia.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) The ACCI has made a submission on behalf of employers. As the ECA Group is a member of the ACCI, the interests of Master Electricians and ECA members have been represented by this submission.

it has now been two years since the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) became fully implemented in the Australian industrial relations arena.

The key points put forward by ACCI argue against the increasing trend of including areas pertaining to managerial prerogative within enterprise agreements. This includes the ability for unions to begin industrial action in an attempt to sway employers to agree to terms in enterprise agreements that remove managerial prerogative.

Specific items of managerial prerogative referred to include business restructuring, outsourcing, and the use of contractors. Managerial prerogative is not an unlawful term in enterprise agreements under the current Act. ACCI hopes to have this changed.

ACCI has argued that items in enterprise agreements need to provide mutual gains such as improvements to productivity and efficiency, rather than just wages and conditions increases for employees. It suggests that when assessing enterprise agreements, the tribunal should be satisfied that negotiations have produced ‘trade-offs’ for each party that have been genuinely agreed to.

The ECA Group has identified the following issues faced by Master Electricians and ECA members, and the subsequent suggestions have been reflected in ACCI’s submission:

• Permit individual flexibility agreements to be included as a condition of employment and be subject to a no disadvantage test rather than the BOOT

• Establish Modern Award reviews based on benchmarking against contemporary business conditions, including a merit based review of penalty rates

• Amend unfair dismissal laws to allow for procedural flaws during termination

• Ensure that adverse action claims cannot be speculative

• Remove sections of the Act that criminalise some employer conduct

• Arrange a trade-off between wages and upcoming superannuation contribution increases.

The Australian Industry Group (AIG)The AiG submission has largely mirrored ACCI’s argument that the current Act is obstructing business flexibility, competition and productivity growth. Additionally AiG agree that unlawful terms in enterprise agreements need to be expanded to

fair Work Act Review 2012


49

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include restrictions on the use of contractors, labour-hire and outsourcing.

Their submission notes that under the current legislation, industrial disputation has increased and unions now have much more power in the bargaining process. This is particularly obvious in greenfields agreements where a union can refuse to enter into an agreement if their demands are not met.

It suggests a return to “voluntary bargaining”, along with a restriction on unions being covered by an enterprise agreement (unless it is explicitly stated in the agreement when voting occurs). Under the current Act, a union can apply to be party to an agreement upon lodgement with Fair Work Australia even if they were not involved in the negotiation process.

Recommended amendments to the National Employment Standards include the requirement of employees to produce medical certificates rather than the current wording of “evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person”, consistent public holidays between all states, and removal of the requirement to provide termination notice in writing.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) From a union’s perspective, the ACTU has submitted amendments to the Act with the objective to benefit employees.

These amendments include:

• Removing restrictions on enterprise agreements to allow them to be made about matters other than those pertaining to the relationship between employer/employees and employer/union. This relates to the issue of management prerogative as aforementioned, however, the union has taken the opposite stance and wants to be able to bargain about matters that would otherwise be left to management

• Greater unfair dismissal provisions to be provided to employees, including an extension of the application time limit from 14 to 60 days

• Greater right of entry provisions for unions including reduced restrictions on where they can hold meetings in the workplace

• Removing an employer’s ability to object to protected action ballot orders

• Remove the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code and extended qualifying period for small business.

The union has called for the review process to be based on the effectiveness of the legislation compared to previous regimes, rather than policy objectives. Furthermore, it should consider the effects on the wider community rather than just business.

Interestingly, the ACTU has claimed that the operation of the Act this far has provided productivity gains - an assertion that is widely disputed by employer groups and businesses alike.

Submissions for the review closed on 17 February, with the final report due by 31 May 2012.

The ECA Group will keep Master Electricians and ECA members updated on the Fair Work Act review, providing information through e-alerts and monthly newsletters.


50

business

feature

KeePing in touch with your customers is vital to retain their business in an industry chock full of competitors.

Email customers regularlySocial media has taken the world of marketing by storm, but email still has its place in strategic communications.

“Email is still the killer application of the internet,” Mr Young said.

“By providing you with an email address, customers and potential customers are taking a first step in the commitment process.

“An email newsletter list operated from your website is particularly important as it allows you to keep in touch with potential clients who just aren’t ready to buy yet.”

Mr Young said that it’s important that businesses take every opportunity, on and off-line, to collect email addresses as early as possible in the relationship to keep the doors of communication open.

To make this communication easier, Mr Young said you can set up your business website with a bulk emailing capability for

a small capital cost, or you can outsource bulk emailing to a third-party provider on a ‘pay-per-email’ basis.

The key to retaining clients is contacting them on a regular basis so you stay top of mind.

“As a guide, email your customers around once a month, or at least once a quarter. Even if you send them an email and they don’t look at it, your name is going to be ‘top of mind’ when they next need work done.”

Remember that email communication shouldn’t just be about generating work.

“Every communication should mix information and humour along with a special offer, but if it’s only about the sale, then it is going to be regarded as just more spam. It has to be about building a relationship and sales over time, not just sales tomorrow.

“It’s a good idea to find something humorous to put in each bulk email or e-newsletter you send. You might include a link to a funny YouTube video or a joke the customer will forward on to their friend or colleague.”

Soon, the customer will expect to find this gem and that will increase the likelihood they open the email in the first place.

“A good subject line is also critical to carrying your message and has a huge influence on whether the email will be read or deleted.”

But he warns against being over-eager and flooding customer’s inboxes. He also recommends checking out national and state spam and privacy laws.

“Be careful to comply with anti-spam laws and your state’s privacy act. Australia’s anti-spam legislation – the Spam Act 2003 – prohibits businesses from sending unsolicited emails.

“You must give recipients the option to ‘unsubscribe’ and allow them to access the details you have on them, according to privacy legislation.

“Properly designed mass emailing systems will look after all of this, but many businesses who just ‘blind carbon copy’ all their clients into the one email are unlikely to be compliant and could face significant fines.”

Plug into your client base with these tipsgraham Young, Owner and executive director of web design and development company, internet Thinking, provides some cost-effective options for small businesses.


51

Call or email for a quote - 1800 611 322 - [email protected]

use social networksThe latest Australian Facebook Performance Report compiled by The Online Circle found the energy and utilities industry placed little marketing focus on social media. On the whole, Facebook ‘fan’ numbers for electrical contractors are low, contributing to the industry’s online engagement rate of just 2.1 per cent.

In Mr Young’s experience in communicating with consumers, he’s found people take email more seriously than company Facebook updates, but in today’s market you must have this public profile.

“The trouble with promoting your business on social media is getting this exposure to convert to dollars spent,” he said.

“It’s important to have a presence here, but there’s no point having a profile unless customers and prospects ‘Like’ your page.”

To increase your number of ‘Likes’, ask your web designer to add a Facebook ‘Like’ button on your company website, or look up how you can add the code yourself. Facebook provides free and simple information on how to get this social plugin.

“Facebook is a great social media platform for small businesses, but in my opinion Twitter is not so important - it’s hard to find people in your local area, and the volume

of information on most people’s feeds mean that any one business is going to be swamped in the flood.”

improve search engine resultsIf you had your company website developed professionally, it was probably designed to factor in search engine optimisation (SEO). Essentially, this means key words and phrases on your website will make it easier for a customer who searches for “reliable and affordable electrician x place” to find you.

But a website is only one aspect of your web presence. Another way of doing well in search engine results is to take advantage of Google Places.

“Google Places is a really important feature and is overlooked by a lot of businesses,” Mr Young said.

“Places is Google’s attempt to beat directories like Yellow Pages in the directory business, so they show Google Places results before they show results from other directories.

“The Google Places app can plot where your business operates so when someone searches in a physical area, like “electrician in East Melbourne”, your business name will be listed alongside a Google map, pinpointing your location along with contact details.

“You can add extra details as well, like

your hours of operation, a photo of your premises, and reviews from customers, which is something worth paying attention to.”

Mobile businesses, like electrical contractors, can specify a “service area” in the sign up process instead of listing a physical address for company headquarters.

Mr Young says you also need to make sure you’re listed in relevant online directories besides Yellow Pages, like TrueLocal and StartLocal to boost your ‘backlinks’.

“It’s free to sign up to these listings and easy to update content like your business details, services, photos, reviews and special offers.”

don’t forget old school mailWhile there are cost-benefits in using the internet to communicate with clients, Mr Young says businesses shouldn’t rule out printed collateral.

“Mail box drops are still very effective and I’m a big fan of hard-copy marketing communications, particularly fridge magnets; most homes I visit have an array on display right next to the landline.

“The internet’s great, but there’s nothing like looking on the fridge when you’ve blown a fuse to find the guy you usually use to fix it.”


52

also be treated to some of Melbourne’s most famous and iconic sites and activities to ensure you experience the ‘real’ Melbourne.

So, what’s on offer?

• A range of inspirational keynote speakers who will cover everything from key industry information and innovation, to tips and tricks that will improve your business’s bottom line

• An excellent opportunity to meet industry experts and learn about the latest technologies

• A once in a lifetime AFL experience at the ‘G’

• An afternoon at Flemington Race Course

• “Gangsters and Molls” inspired evening at one of Melbourne’s historic theatres

• Sportsman’s dinner at Caulfield Racecourse

• World famous dining, from the sumptuous gourmet, to the speedy, but

all about me

MAsTer Electricians Australia and the Electrical Contractors Association are proud to present the 2012 Electrical Industry Annual Conference in Melbourne this August.

This event is the leading Conference for electrical contractors and their families, electricians looking for business advice and inspiration, electricity industry suppliers and wholesalers, electrical distribution companies and anyone else who wants to keep up-to-date with the latest industry information.

At this tax deductible Conference, you will hear from some of the sharpest minds in the industry who will leave you inspired and re-charged.

But motivational and educational business sessions are not all that is on offer, you will

2012 Annual conference to be held in Australia’s cultural capital - melbourne

MAsTer Electricians Australia celebrated the official opening of their NSW office with a fabulous Open Day event. Members and guests were invited to drop in during the all day celebration to meet the team, peruse the premises and network with industry representatives.

Master Electricians New South Wales state manager Jody McGann said “It’s great to see so much support and enthusiasm for our new office. This now gives us a local base for our NSW Members and all of our state-based activities. If the turn out we’ve had for our open day is anything to go by, Master Electricians in NSW is off to a great start”.

The NSW office for Master Electricians Australia is located at Level 3, 100 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150.

celebrations flow as new south Wales office officially opens

sublime, espresso on the go

• Gala networking dinners

• Shop till you drop in Melbourne’s vibrant retail scene

• Picturesque parks and gardens, beautiful scenery and thriving culture

• Plus much more to be announced!

Held from 10 to 14 August, as an avid reader of The Master Electrician, you can experience the iconic city of Melbourne for the great early bird price of $1,485 inc. GST. But, get in quick, there are only limited places available at this rate.

Simply visit www.masterelectricians.com.au to secure your spot today.

Your Conference registration includes your four-day exclusive pass to attend all business sessions, Trade Expo attendance, Welcome Cocktail Function, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded successful business owners in networking opportunities including two Melbourne-inspired Gala Dinners.

R to L: Nina Tran NSW Coordinator, Jody McGann, State Manager and Kelly Dove, Senior Policy Advisor


53

AccrediTed Master Electricians are required to provide a 12 month warranty on the work they perform, consequently, you need to be aware of the new warranty regulations which came into effect on 1 January 2012.

Please note that these requirements only relate to consumer transactions and do not apply to commercial work.

Regulation 90 of the Australian Consumer Law details the requirements to be contained in every warranty given to a consumer including some specific prescribed text.

Briefly, the requirements of Regulation 90 are:

• The warranty must be in a document that is transparent

• State how the warranty will be honoured and what the consumer must do to be entitled to make a claim

• Set out the details of the person giving the warranty

• State the period in which the defect must appear

• Set out the procedure for making a claim

• State who pays the costs of making the claim

• State that the warranty is in addition to any other remedies the consumer may have at law

• Contain a specifically worded statement about rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Failure to comply with the law can result in monetary penalties of up to a maximum of $50,000 for corporations and $10,000 for individuals. In addition, misleading representations may incur a maximum penalty of $1.1 million for corporations and $220,000 for individuals.

It is therefore imperative that:

1. All consumers are given a written warranty document

2. The document contains no misleading statements

3. The warranty document complies with Regulation 90 and includes all prescribed text.

Master Electricians Australia has commissioned McKays Solicitors to prepare a proforma warranty document for accredited Master Electricians and ECA members. However, you are reminded that you should always obtain legal advice to ensure the proforma document is suitable to your individual circumstances.

You can download the warranty document from the ‘Master Electricians Only’ website at www.masterelectricians.com.au or from the ‘ECA Members Only’ website at www.ecaq.asn.au

For assistance, connect with Master Electricians Australia on 1300 889 198 or [email protected]

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all about me

New SafetyConnect Australia manual launchedAFTer almost 12 months of development, SafetyConnect Australia is pleased to announce that Version 5 of the SafetyConnect Safety Management Manual is now available through the ‘Members Only’ area of the website at www.safetyconnect.com.au

The new and improved Manual is set to pioneer a new level of safety management for businesses across Australia through its compliance with AS/NZS 4801.

This significant upgrade will provide you with the tools required to implement best practice safety management in your business. It also allows you the opportunity to integrate your safety system with other management requirements such as Quality Assurance AS9001 and Environmental Sustainability AS14001.

So what’s changed?

The manual has been updated to reflect its accreditation to AS/NZS 4801 and the new format of the manual is detailed below:

Section 1: Overview

Section 2: Policies

Section 3: Electrical procedures

Section 4: Work health and safety procedures

Section 5: Forms

Section 6: Service manual

Section 7: Construction manual

Section 8: Incident reporting

Section 9: Legal register

This Version of the manual provides you with the necessary tools to achieve greater safety compliance with builders and contractors, as well as local, state and federal governments.

You will notice the manual is more than three times the size of Version 4. It contains all the necessary tools to implement an active work health and safety management system in your business and if desired, take the additional steps to have your own systems accredited to AS4801.

During 2012, we will provide you with regular communication about updates and amendments to the manual if and when they happen based on national harmonisation requirements.

For more information, connect with SafetyConnect Australia on 1300 636 787 or email [email protected]

in light of all of the recent flooding across the country, Master Electricians Australia embarked on a consumer awareness media campaign to urge all home owners who were affected to have their electrical appliances, fittings and solar panels tested properly before use to prevent any further tragedies.

An information hotline was set up in conjunction with the campaign to connect all flood affected residents with their local Master Electrician as quickly as possible.

We would like to thank all Master Electricians who made themselves available through this time. The full media release can be found on the Master Electricians Australia website at www.masterelectricians.com.au

MAsTer Electricians Australia’s national fuel card partner, Motorpass, are offering all businesses a chance to win a staggering $50,000 cash boost by simply signing up for a new account by the end of April 2012.

If that wasn’t incentive enough to sign up, as a valued Master Electrician or ECA member, you will also be able to take advantage of the following special offers:

• $50 joining fee waived

• Up to 4 cents per litre discount on diesel at ‘Golden Network’ sites

• Low monthly cost of $4.50 per card (excl. GST)

Call 1300 130 523 or visit motorpass.com.au to sign up today.

subscribe online – it’s freedO you receive the leading magazine for the electrical industry – The Master Electrician - every quarter? If not, why not subscribe for free today at www.masterelectricians.com.au?

The magazine will be delivered to your nominated address four times a year, keeping you connected to the latest industry information and advice to keep you on top of your game.

master electricians australia announces landmark radio partner deal MAsTer Electricians Australia has partnered with the NOVA network across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane for a series of radio campaigns that will continue to increase the awareness of the Master Electricians brand.

The different advertisements feature typical ‘Australian’ examples of people undertaking their own handy work when they experience a ‘zap’ from unsafe existing wiring.

The advertisements highlight important statistics that 15 people die every year and 300 are hospitalised from preventable electrical accidents in the home.

They also highlight the fact that Master Electricians deliver the highest level of safety advice and quality.

The advertisements urge people to connect with a Master Electrician at www.masterelectricians.com.au to book a home safety check.

Listen out for the campaigns on your local Nova station.

Business boost for new motorpass users

master Electricians Australia provides electrical safety advice to flood affected residents


55

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general news

WiTh energy efficiency being the catch cry of the twenty-first century, it is no wonder solar power has become so popular for home and business owners alike.

Driven by rebates, incentives and feed-in tariffs, rooftop solar panel installation has grown significantly, with just over 500,000 Australian households and schools now generating at least some of their own power.

But for Joe Hudson, Managing Director of Remote Solar Isolator, this technology also brings considerable risks. He’s raised concerns over one of the major problems with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems -- there is no safe way to isolate rooftop panels and stop the generation of potentially lethal Direct Current (DC) voltages.

“Even by using the latest recommended shutdown procedure or DC/PV isolators currently installed on every Australian solar PV installation, lethal DC voltages are still generated throughout the panels and the associated wiring,” he said.

“The Clean Energy Council and the Department of Fair Trading have all sent out warnings to say that these solar generators cannot be switched off, they can actually back feed into the grid and people can be electrocuted getting onto the roof.”

In February this year, Master Electricians Australia spokesperson Andrew Bailey, issued an urgent warning to those affected by flooding to exercise caution near solar panels.

“As waters continue to rise, solar panels present a very real threat of death or serious injury if people come into contact with the wiring.

“With solar panels gaining popularity relatively recently, this is a problem on a scale we haven’t seen before,” he said.

Joe Hudson’s solution to the problem is what’s called a remote solar isolator. The device is capable of simultaneously disconnecting each solar panel, stopping the combined voltage of panels and limiting the system voltage to a safe level.

This disconnection can be performed either at the switchboard, or remotely by disconnecting the supply voltage. When isolated, a green flashing strobe light on the roof and a switchboard mounted solar voltage indicator confirm the array has been safely isolated.

“If a remote solar isolator is fitted, anyone can stop the electricity being generated by the solar panels simply by flicking a switch at the meter board or, in an emergency, by remotely disconnecting power at the nearest substation,” Mr Hudson said.

“This provides a safe environment for all emergency personnel, tradespeople, and the homeowner to access the solar PV system and roof knowing that no lethal voltages are being generated.

“It’s something that should be incorporated into all systems. We’ve been told it goes above and beyond the Australian standard.”

Find out more at www.remotesolarisolator.com.au

remote solar isolatoremerging technology designed to help with solar panel fire issues


56

test drive

The unique exterior of the FJ Crusier is the first thing to catch your eye, and unique is the only way to describe it. After my first glance at a picture of it, I would probably have described it as being a cross between a Hummer and a Barbie doll car. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust, but you do get used to it and it starts to look a bit edgier and cooler. It certainly looks better, actually way better, in person than it does in pictures. All in all, I don’t hate it, but what I think is irrelevant as aesthetics are very personal. If you’re not as open minded (or as much of a fence-sitter) as

me, you’ll probably either love it or hate it. I genuinely am not sure which I am yet, I think I’m confused by it.

The interior thankfully looks a little less ‘bubbly’ than the exterior. In fact, it truly does look as if it’s made for 4WD’ing – easy to clean materials, simple and basic, yet still a bit cool and exciting. It also has low and high range selection and plenty of other 4WD specific features. It really does look and feel as though it’s intended to be taken into the mud and thrashed about. The only thing contradictory to this is that it’s only available in auto. It is also unique

Toyota FJ CruiserFirst the vW Beetle, then the Mini cooper – now they are re-inventing the FJ40 Land cruiser. now dubbed as simply the FJ crusier, this beast is a tribute to the early model Land cruiser. Although not as big as the ‘proper’ Land cruiser or Prado models, the FJ still holds its own on and off the road. By Andre Borell.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Engine 4.0L V6 VVT-i Petrol Only

Power 200kW

Torque 380Nm

Fuel Efficiency 13.6L/100km

Transmission Auto Only

Price From $44,990


57

Enquire about franchising today.Visit platinumelectrical.com.au, click the ‘franchise’ tab and lodge an Expression of Interest form.

calling all car enthusiasts!Do you think road testing a car for our magazine would be a dream job? If so, we want you! We are seeking guest reviewers from all over the country to test drive some of the hottest cars around.

Each quarter we will need a new driver, so what are you waiting for?

Contact the marketing team on 1300 889 198 or email [email protected] to lock your spot in today.

I would probably have described it as being a cross between a Hummer and a Barbie doll car.

in that the side doors are ‘barn door’ style (the back opening the opposite way to the front) and there is no B-pillar for easier access. You might have seen this before on the Mazda RX8. It makes sense for a sports car which are quite hard to get in and out, but I’m not sure I get it for a 4WD.

The handling of the FJ on road is quite good. Not as soft and sloppy as some other equivalents on the market. Off road, it is actually quite good too, and is still a real drivers’ 4WD. By this I mean it doesn’t have a dynamic suspension system, or multi-terrain crawl system – something I love. As you’d know if you’re a regular reader, I hate

things that dilute the driving experience – and the FJ doesn’t. Tip of the cap Toyota... tip of the cap.

Engine wise, we have petrol only 4L V6 (I just untipped my cap Toyota, where’s the diesel? ). We also only have auto transmission, why? It’s a bit of a thirsty bugger too chewing around 13.6L on average. It’s less on highways obviously, and a fair bit higher in traffic (around 16L/100km). Soccer mums, forget it, you’d be lucky to make it from servo to servo.

So, the verdict: to be honest, undecided. I like it, but I’m not sure where it fits in. It’s not a soccer mum SUV, that’s for sure, but it’s not an out-and-out terrain bashing mud monster – although the brochures sell it as that. It’s somewhere in between (with a quirky appearance). I guess that’s where it fits in actually – a mid-way 4WD for people that want something alternative looking, something to stand out from the crowd.


58

events calendar

may3 May 2012 GWN7 BizSmart 2012 – Work smarter not harder Perth www.bizsmartsouthwest.com.au

7 - 9 May 2012 Air Conditioning Refrigeration & Building Services Expo Melbourne www.arbs.com.au

8 - 11 May 2012 Health & Safety Workshop www.biztradeshows.com/trade-events

9 - 11 May CEDIA Expo 2012 Brisbane www.cediaexpo.com.au

18 - 20 May 2012 National Tradies Expo Adelaide Adelaide www.tradiesexpo.com.au

25 - 27 May 2012 National Tradies Expo Melbourne Melbourne www.tradiesexpo.com.au

JunE22 - 24 June 2012 National Tradies Expo Perth Perth www.tradiesexpo.com.au

22 - 24 June 2012 National Tradies Expo Brisbane Brisbane www.tradiesexpo.com.au

29 June - 1 July 2012 National Tradies Expo Sydney Sydney www.tradiesexpo.com.au

July 2 - 4 July 2012 Smart Electricity World Melbourne www.terrapinn.com/2012/smart-electricity-world

4 - 6 July 2012 Mining Electrical Safety Conference 2012 Brisbane http://mesc.iamevents.com.au

19 - 22 July 2012 Light Source Expo Melbourne www.biztradeshows.com/trade-events

imPortant dates this Quarter

8 May 2012 Mothers Day

11 - 17 June 2012 International Men’s Health Week

10 - 14 August 2012 2012 ECA/MEA Electrical Industry Conference Melbourne www.masterelectricians.com.au

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best or worst story

What iP rating would you give this?Thanks to Brett Hughes, $50 is on its way.

Send your entries to [email protected] for your chance to win.

liKe to Win $50?Send us your favourite picture or story and if we publish it, we’ll send you $50!

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62

the last word

TrAde unions have revealed, through statement and practice that they will continue the fight to try and remain relevant in today’s modern environment. Many employers have realised that putting time and effort into maintaining positive relationships with their workforce has reduced the need for major conflict with worker representatives.

With the national productivity falling, strike action on the increase, and union demands to have greater control over operational decision making, unions are slowly but surely regaining power at a rate not seen since the 70s and early 80s. However, interestingly, their membership continues to fall to just 18 per cent of the working population (ABS Data May 2011) and 14 per cent of the private sector (ABS Data May 2011).

Australian Council of Trade Unions has announced their intention to fight for

changes to the Fair Work Act to return to the days of compulsory arbitration along with a focus on standardised conditions - all at the expense of rewarding high performance and initiative. Workers and employers will have reduced flexibility, and bear the brunt of higher administrative costs to small and medium sized employers. A flexible workforce will always be the most productive in a very competitive market.

Unions also continue to fight for control by eliminating what they see as a ‘threat’ to themselves - legitimate self employed and motivated sub contractors. These legitimate business relationships need to be upheld as a foundation of our industry and the Australian economy.

With the demise of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, we expect to see an acceleration of claims, higher disputation and less productivity – all the

unions continue to push own agenda

while being told by selective data that unlawful industrial action is at its lowest level ever. But the real data is showing industrial action whether lawful or unlawful, is experiencing a growth not seen for many years.

MALCOLM RICHARDS Group CEO

e: [email protected] www.hylec.com.au

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the master electrician magazine autumn 2012

Documents

master electrician magazine

electrical industry

autumn edition

industry specialists

pp4240222346 autumn

australia post publications

dr karl

coming years