A message from the NSW Government.

As we continue to support industry and business to remain COVID-safe, we want to ensure employers and their workers who test positive for COVID-19 have the key information and resources they need.

Rules for workers who test positive for COVID-19

If a worker tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to self-isolate immediately for 7 days from the day they were tested, and not leave home or let anyone come into their home unless they live there.

A negative PCR (nose and throat swab) or rapid antigen test is not needed to leave isolation and return to work.

If they have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath after 7 days, they must remain in isolation until 24 hours after their symptoms have resolved.

People should wear a mask when near or talking to others, and avoid visiting high risk settings (health care, aged care, disability care or correctional facilities) for a further 3 days.

How a business will find out that a worker tests positive for COVID-19

A business owner or employer might be notified that a worker who has attended the workplace has tested positive for COVID-19 by:

• the worker who has tested positive
• an employer of a worker who visits the workplace
• public health authorities.

If you run a business, you must notify SafeWork NSW if a worker has, or is likely to have, contracted COVID-19 at work and requires hospitalisation.

Business responsibilities to inform workers about a positive COVID-19 case

Employers should advise workers and contractors of the general situation, noting that the privacy and confidentiality of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 must always be maintained. Information provided should include:

• symptoms of COVID-19 that staff and contractors should monitor themselves for
• where to seek advice and help
• reminders to staff, contractors, visitors and customers to not enter the premises if they are unwell
• advice on physical distancing and personal hygiene measures
• what infection control measures the business operator has put in place, including cleaning
• any other specific advice provided by NSW Health.

Guidance is available for businesses with a worker who tests positive for COVID-19 on nsw.gov.au. You can also download a factsheet from NSW Health.

Thank you for your support to protect the community and help NSW stay open during this period.

FIA Finance and Business Partner, HLB Mann Judd, is excited to launch their newest publication - Personal Wealth Adviser.

Their personal wealth management team in Sydney has grown and they now have specialists in debt advisory, estate planning and personal insurances as well as wealth management, superannuation and SMSFs.

This issue of Personal Wealth Adviser provides insights into what you should be doing today to help secure the future for you and your family.

Our inaugural issue includes articles on:

READ MORE

SafeWork NSW Executive Director, Tony Williams, has announced that inspectors will be visiting construction sites state-wide throughout January and February 2022, to talk with principal contractors and site supervisors about silica dust and mental health risks.

Silica dust is deadly

Most sand is made up of quartz which is another name for silica.

Because sand is used in so many building products, silica dust can be found on nearly all construction sites. When you cut, grind or drill concrete, bricks, or sandstone you can breathe in large amounts of very fine silica dust, which can be deadly.

Principal contractors and builders have a duty to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes having safe systems of work and the correct safety equipment, such as water or on-tool dust capture, when working with products/materials containing silica.

Mental ill-health in construction

Mental ill-health is a “real” and serious problem in the building and construction industry.

Whilst not all mental ill-health is caused at work, employers have responsibilities under work health and safety laws to ensure that workplace mental health hazards (also called psychosocial hazards) are effectively managed.

This includes having the appropriate systems in place to identify, consult and manage psychosocial hazards such as; not tolerating bullying or violence, not having unreasonable deadlines, giving clear instructions, and ensuring a physically safe working environment.

Get the facts

To find out more about what you can do to reduce the risks of silica dust exposure and mental ill-health at work, see SafeWork NSW newly updated building and construction industry safety page on the SafeWork NSW website. Here you will find toolbox talks, safety checklists and fact sheets on silica and mental health risks. Small construction businesses can also learn more about our $500 small business rebate program, register for an online safety workshop, listen to a SafetyCAST, or access other construction specific simple safety tools.

With the continuous market success of Acrow Formwork & Scaffolding's Powershore 30 high load capacity shoring system, we introduce you to its big brother!

A heavy-duty high load propping & shoring solution that:

✔ Can withstand up to shoring loads per vertical member

✔ Is suitable for both a propping application but also as a beam

✔ Is versatile with other Acrow Formwork & Scaffolding products such as soldiers and Powershore 30

✔ Has safety features like the ability to jack & de-jack a load hydraulically

✔ Can complement our existing propping products from 10kN to 1000kN

A heavy duty high load and propping system used to create temporary stand-alone frames and raking strut structures, with the is capable of supporting loads in excess of .

Contact your nearest branch for more information on this new addition to our fleet, or visit our website for more details.

Acrow Formwork & Scaffolding
Tel: 1300 138 362
Email

Guidelines for reporting COVID-19 cases in the workplace have changed in Victoria.

Employers and self-employed persons are no longer required to notify WorkSafe if a worker with COVID-19 attends their workplace unless they became aware of the positive diagnosis before 14 January 2022.

Any confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis attending the workplace before 14 January 2022 still needs to be reported to WorkSafe by contacting WorkSafe Advisory Service.

More information on the latest COVID-19 reporting requirements in Victoria is available on WorkSafe's website or by phoning their advisory service on 1800 136 089.

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Employers and workers need to be aware of their responsibilities and entitlements during COVID-19. Comcare have prepared guidance to assist workers and employers to meet their obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

With the current surge in COVID-19 cases nationally, Comcare is reminding employers to notify of confirmed cases - but only if they are work related.

Updated guidance on their website sets out the circumstances in which COVID-19 cases should be notified to Comcare:

There is no need to notify Comcare of COVID-19 cases that are known to have occurred through community exposure.

Notification is an important process that allows Comcare to consider and address risks to health and safety arising from work. Comare will assess each notification and determine whether regulatory action is required on a case-by-case basis, and according to standard procedures.

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As you are aware, the FIA has been advocating and working hard to ask the government to reconsider the training needs of the formwork industry, to provide apprenticeship pathways and appropriate funding channels to improve the safety and quality in our industry.

Since the AISC’s approval to supersede the Certificate Formwork/Falsework qualification by CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry, the Formwork industry has raised concerns and highlighted the importance of structured training due to significant safety issues, the number of large infrastructure projects across Australia and the need for skilled labour.

The first part of a campaign for a new formwork training and education pathway is to ask The AISC to provide a new formwork qualification that is relevant, up to date and provides value to our members and the industry.

The FIA is pleased to announce that The AISC has requested the Construction IRC undertake stakeholder consultation to:

Initial consultation has been held with the IRC, major infrastructure employers and representatives from the Formwork Industry Association (FIA), the Civil Construction Industry via the Civil Contractors Federation SA (CCFSA) and NSW TAFE.

This initial consultation has indicated that the required units of competency for such a qualification are mostly already available on the National Training Register and that the requirement is to package them into a stand alone AQF level III qualification.

This following draft qualification is being put forward as suitable for meeting the needs of this sector – your feedback is now being sought through the survey. The feedback survey closes 31st of January, 2022.

The FIA asks that you and your colleagues complete the survey ASAP via the links. It should take no more than 10 mins to complete and consists of eleven questions.

PROVIDE FEEDBACK

As per the revised Formwork Code of Practice, it is absolutely imperative that as many formwork companies and workers complete this survey to ensure change happens.

The importance of this to our industry and to your financial pockets is huge, not to mention the importance to the safety of our workers.

Without this change:

Look out for updates and if you want to speak to us for more information do not hesitate to contact me.

We attach a link to the feedback form below.

Thank you in advance - and remember 'Together We Are Stronger'.

PROVIDE FEEDBACK

Falls from heights are the main cause of fatality and injury in the construction sector.

It is therefore important that RTOs and those undertaking training are aware that there are two ‘working at heights’ units of competency (UoCs) available for delivery under the NSW Smart and Skilled 'Skilling for Recovery' initiative in the Construction stream. These are:

The advice from the Skills Service Organisations (SSOs) that look after the CPC and RII Training Packages is that students undertaking training targeted at the general, commercial and residential building & construction sectors should undertake training in CPCCCM2012 - Work safely at heights. This unit provides the skills and knowledge required to work safely on building and construction sites, where the worker is at risk of falling from one level of a construction build to another.

For those undertaking training targeted at the civil construction or mining industries, students should undertake training in RIIWHS204E - Work safely at heights. This unit provides the skills and knowledge required to work safely at heights in the resources and civil construction sectors, like road and rail projects.

These UoCs are not equivalent, therefore it is important that the correct unit is selected to ensure job seekers are provided with the right skills for the construction industry sector they intend to work in.

The NSW Government has formally launched the Careers NSW pilot program, which will offer targeted careers advice to all NSW residents regardless of age or job status.

The program was launched by Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister’s Geoff Lee and Victor Dominello. The pilot program will provide:

The Construction/infrastructure sector is one of a number initially prioritised in the piot in several metro and regional areas.

Careers NSW is also keen to hear from anyone in the sector that would like to share their passion and industry insights as an Industry Expert. You can do this by visiting the website or contacting the team directly via email

See the following handy information:

Careers NSW Introduction

e-flyer

Grants of up to $30,000 are available to eligible organisations that are able to boost the representation of women in the trades.

The Connecting Women to Trades Grant Round will enable organisations to engage with Smart and Skilled providers to deliver fee-free part qualifications. The projects will offer an introductory experience and targeted support for women considering a career in trades.

A total of $200,000 is available in the round, with organisations able to apply for amounts up to $30,000.

The key objective is to increase the appeal of trades to women, help to remove cultural and societal barriers, and support learning to maximise vocational outcomes.

Applications close next Tuesday 7 December 2021.

Successful projects will be announced in January and will need to be completed by 30 June 2022.

Further Information