Ultralam LVL formwork beams by FIA member AUSWOOD, are produced from the strongest slow-growing softwood lumber of North-West of Russia with Finnish E0 phenolic glue and high-tech American water resistant orange coating is certified and 3rd party audited by Australian SAI Global according to AS/NZS 4357.

Construction

• 3.2mm veneers of Spruce/Scott Pine
• Scarf joint through out
• A bond - Dynea
• Water resistant coating from USA

Strict Quality Control procedure makes sure every single piece Ultralam LVL by AUSWOOD performs at customer site.

Stringent quality control is maintained throughout the whole production cycle, from the log yard to the finishing line.

   

A whole set of chemical analysis and physical tests are performed on a continuous basis by the quality assurance laboratory.

    

Random samples are constantly brought to the laboratory, tests of the bending strength, modulus of elasticity, tension and compression density, moisture content and bonding strength properties.

   

With integration of raw material and most advanced technologies, Ultralam LVL by AUSWOOD is supplied with the following advantages:

• Strong - high strength timber and scarf jointed veneer E12 M of Elasticity 12000 MPa
• Light - lower density species 560 kg/m3
• Economical - low unit cost and long lifespan

Ultralam LVL by AUSWOOD helps forming up prosperity of construction industry.

For formwork Association membership discount or volume discount

Contact Auswood at:

Frank 0423 677 267

Noel 0423 353 954

      

Symons Formwork, part of diversified, concrete industry giant Dayton Superior Corporation, have been manufacturing formwork since 1901. They report that the USA experience with safety in construction parallels much of the experiences of the Australian industry, with the top 5 reportable violations in the construction industry being –

1. Fall protection
2. Hazard communication
3. Scaffold
4. Ladders
5. Respiratory

with the Fall Protection cumulative count since 2015 being more than double any other violation.

With almost 100,000m2 now in the Australian market, Symons’ DeckFast is proving to be a very popular formwork system. Renowned for innovation and a strong safety culture, Symons has recently developed a new generation of their integrated DeckFast handrail system.

Generic handrail systems for formwork generally only provide a top rail at 900-1000mm above the forming surface (plywood). However, it is common for edge protection to be installed only 200-300mm in from the edge board. With the Symons’ DeckFast system supporting up to 560mm of concrete, conceivably the top of the finished slab could be only 500mm below the top rail of a generic handrail system.

Symons’ new generation of fall protection handrail now positions the top rail some 1500mm above the deck surface, so that the top rails is never less than 900mm above the soles on the boots of any nearby worker. This 50% higher system has been designed and tested to AS4994 in Dayton Superior’s USA laboratories, but also includes additional, independent, NATA approved testing in Australia.

With a 50% increase in post height, the torsional load on the clamp supporting each post more than doubles. The proprietary anchoring clamp used by Symons for more than a decade, easily withstood this large increase in load. This clamp fits the DeckFast profile precisely and allows the vertical handrail post to pre-attached to the DeckFast panels and swung up from the safety of the floor below.

All in all, a very safe system.

Deckfast handrail proprietary clamp

Deckfast 2 component formwork

The Government has announced that it will wind back the eligibility criteria for the JobKeeper Payment scheme for the extended period from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021. This is a welcome concession from the announcement made three weeks ago in which the conclusion of the JobKeeper Payment scheme was extended from 27 September 2020 to 28 March 2021.

The latest announcement is a result of the economic impact the Victorian lockdown will have on the national economy and will ensure that more businesses and employees are eligible to receive JobKeeper payments.

Turnover tests

• For the first extension period to 3 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to demonstrate that their actual GST turnover has significantly fallen (using the relevant existing decline in turnover tests) in the September 2020 quarter only relative to the corresponding quarter in 2019.
• For the second extension period to 28 March 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to demonstrate that their actual GST turnover has significantly fallen (using the relevant existing decline in turnover tests) in the December 2020 quarter only relative to the corresponding quarter in 2019.

Under the rules announced on 21 July 2020, businesses would have been required to demonstrate that their turnover for the first period had fallen in both the June and September quarter, and for the third period that their turnover had fallen in all of the June, September and December quarters.

Below are links to examples of the way that the new rules would apply:

• JobKeeper 2.0 – For profit entity with annual turnover of less than $1 billion
• JobKeeper 2.0 – Not-for-profit organisation 

Employee eligibility

• Employees will now qualify for the JobKeeper Payment with effect from 3 August 2020 if they were employed by the business as at 1 July 2020.

Previously, the employee criteria remained unchanged with employees needing to have been employed by the business as at 1 March 2020.

Broadly, the latest JobKeeper Payment changes are summarised below:

The rules and other guidance are summarised on the Treasury Website which can be accessed via the following links:

• Extension of JobKeeper Payment Fact Sheet 
• JobKeeper Payment Fact Sheet

We will continue to keep you updated with further information as it becomes available.

The SafeWork NSW Awards recognise excellence and innovation in work health and safety during Safe Work Month every October. 

The Awards program for 2020 is focused on recognising ‘outstanding work health and safety response to the changed working environment due to COVID-19’.
 
Businesses, unions and industry associations can nominate. Submissions close midnight on Sunday 9 August, 2020.  

Apply today.

Some NSW businesses are required to have COVID-19 Safety Plans in place under new Public Health Orders. The COVID-19 Safety Plans are designed to assist businesses to create and maintain a safe environment for workers and customers.   

Businesses with completed COVID-19 Safety Plans can register as a COVID Safe business and can download or display COVID-19 Safe posters or digital badges to let customers know that it is safe to visit. Visit the NSW Government’s COVID-19 information hub to check requirements for COVID-19 Safety Plans as restrictions and advice may change. 

We are regularly updating our FAQs for individuals, communities and businesses in NSW on the NSW Government's COVID-19 information hub. 

SafeWork NSW has developed its first incident animation that aims to raise the profile of work health and safety in high risk areas using case studies of workplace incidents. This animation profiles the construction industry and is based on an actual incident involving a building collapse.

SafeWork NSW encourages you to share the incident animation with your workers and any other contacts you may have in your industry to highlight the risks associated with excavation.    

This animation can be viewed on the SafeWork NSW incident animation page.

For more information please visit their website or contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

Remember, safety starts with you.

SafeWork NSW

If any of our FIA members use cranes, this may be of interest, from our legal Partner Kingston Reid and an update from SWNSW.

SafeWork’s Centre for WHS has also partnered with RMIT to release a summary of report findings on crane safety and incidents. 

For more information on mobile crane safety see the SafeWork NSW website, including the new fact sheet on hiring or using a mobile crane or click on the links below.

Do you have a new HRW Class operator?

Roles & Responsibilities when hiring or using a mobile crane

Tower Cranes - Project findings report.

An update for Victorian employers from FIA Partner Kingston Reid.

From 28 July 2020 until 27 July 2021, an employer or self-employed person in Victoria who fails to notify the Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe) of certain confirmed COVID-19 cases will be guilty of a criminal offence.

Background

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) requires employers and self-employed persons to notify WorkSafe of certain “incidents” at a workplace under their management and control immediately after becoming aware that they have occurred. These are commonly referred to as notifiable incidents.

The Act identifies many types of notifiable incidents but also allows such incidents to be prescribed by regulations.

The Act also requires that sites where notifiable incidents occur not be disturbed until released by a WorkSafe inspector, other than in very limited circumstances.

What has changed?

On 28 July 2020 the Governor of Victoria made the Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulation 2020.

The Regulation deems a notifiable incident to have occurred if an employer becomes aware that:

• an employee;
• an independent contractor engaged by the employer; or
• an employee of the independent contractor engaged by the employer,

has received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and attended the workplace within the infectious period.

The Regulation defines “confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis” as a positive result for a person who has undergone a diagnostic procedure for COVID-19.

The “infectious period” starts 14 days prior to the earlier of the onset of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and ends when the person receives a clearance from isolation from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Regulation also requires self-employed persons who have received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and attended the workplace within the infectious period to notify WorkSafe of those matters.

What does this mean for employers and self-employed persons in Victoria?

For the next 12 months, an employer or self-employed person who becomes aware of a confirmed COVID-19 case of the kind captured by the Regulation will need to:

• notify WorkSafe immediately upon becoming aware of the case, by the fastest means possible;
• provide written notification to WorkSafe within 48 hours of first being required to notify WorkSafe, using the form published on WorkSafe’s website; and
• ensure that the workplace (or the part of it) that the person attended is not disturbed – other than for the purpose of protecting the health or safety of a person or taking essential action to make the site safe or to prevent a further occurrence of an incident – until a WorkSafe inspector arrives at the site or such other time as a WorkSafe inspector directs.

Failure to do any of these things could result in the employer or self-employed person being charged and found guilty of criminal offences, and liable to a maximum fine of $198,264 (for a body corporate) or $39,652 (for an individual) per offence.

If you are in any doubt as to whether a confirmed COVID-19 case is notifiable to WorkSafe, or as to the steps that you should take at the relevant worksite after becoming aware of a notifiable COVID-19 case, contact us at Kingston Reid to discuss.

Dominic Fleeton
Partner
+61 3 9958 9616
dominic.fleeton@kingstonreid.com

John Makris
Partner
+61 2 9169 8407
john.makris@kingstonreid.com

Safety Alert from NSW Government re COVID-19.

The construction industry has been protecting each other and our local communities by doing the right thing during COVID-19, and we need to continue working together to avoid community transmission.

SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Victoria are continuing to work together with construction industry associations, including the Master Builders Association and Housing Industry Association, to ensure construction safety and good hygiene practices continue during the pandemic on both sides of the border.

Both regulators will continue to visit construction sites along the border region to ensure construction sites are safe and that sites are maintaining COVID-19 control measures (eg.physical distancing, access to hand washing facilities/sanitisation etc).

There are many simple steps building site managers can take to ensure that workers are kept safe so sites can continue to operate and be productive (please see links below).

For advice on the COVID-19 Health and Safety measures, visit:

NSW

• NSW.gov.au - for a COVID Safe Check, and COVID-19 Safety Plans
• NSW Government’s COVID-19 Information Hub 
• SafeWork guidance

VIC - WorkSafe

• Construction site COVID-19 guidance to manage risk of exposure

• Construction simplified checklist for managing the risk of exposure to COVID-19

• Travelling in vehicles

• General COVID-19 information and guidance for workplaces

Association websites

• Housing Industry Association - COVID-19
• Master Builders Association - COVID-19

The workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been reduced in Comcare jurisdictions.

From 1 July 2020, the WES for silica halved from an eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.1 mg/m3 to 0.05 mg/m3 under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.

The new standard was agreed by work health and safety ministers following an extensive review of safe exposure levels by Safe Work Australia.

Silica dust can cause serious illness and disease, and employers should keep worker exposures as low as reasonably practicable.

Air monitoring will need to be conducted If there is any doubt that the exposure standard is being exceeded or to find out if there is a risk to a worker’s health.

Under the WHS Regulations, employers must provide health monitoring for workers if they carry out ongoing work using, handling, generating or storing crystalline silica and there is a significant risk to the workers’ health because of exposure.

While there has been significant attention on RCS in manufactured or engineered stone, exposure risks extend to a broad range of industries.

Silica is widely encountered in extractive industries, in the manufacture of many concrete-based building materials, and finds widespread use in manufacturing processes.

Typical leading industries include construction, tunnelling, foundries, cement manufacturing, quarrying and mining.

When workers cut, crush, drill, polish, saw or grind products that contain silica, dust particles are generated that are small enough to lodge deep in the lungs and cause illness or disease including silicosis.

Comcare will continue to work with duty holders to ensure they are managing risks and applying the new exposure standard.

Original article published in Australian Institute of Health & Safety.