Page 27 - Climate Control News Magazine August 2019

Heating Systems
Safety fears for boilermakers and welders
THE LACK OF regulation covering steel manu- facturing, fabrication and erection is a national disgrace, according to Weld Australia CEO, Geoff Crittenden.
In a bid to improve safety for boilermakers and welders, Crittenden met with Australian Manu- facturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) Victorian state secretary, Tony Mavromatis, to discuss a range of safety and compliance issues.
Discussions focused on Australia’s relaxed welding regulatory and compliance frame- works, which have resulted in a growing lack of adherence to Australian Welding Standards, and a substantial increase in the risk of welding related injury for both workers and members of the public.
“There is absolutely no question, lives are at risk. The only way to guarantee public safety is to implement and enforce regulations that mandate compliance to Australian Standards for the manufacture, fabrication, and erection of steel within Australia, and the inspection of imported structural and fabricated steel,” Crit- tenden said.
Mavromatis said the AMWU has a lot of mem- bers who are welders and boilermakers.
“They are watching as their trade is degraded. The big concern is that if non-qualified people are welding – whether it’s a multi-storey build- ing or a road sign – someone is going to die,” Mayromatis said.
“Until someone is seriously hurt, the authori- ties won’t pay attention.
“We have a range of concerns. Do builders,
This female apprentice is part of a trade in need of more protection.
surveyors, fabricators and engineers under- stand what is required when it comes to meet- ing Australian Standards? Most concerning of all, there are no welding regulations mandated by legislation.”
Together, Weld Australia and the AMWU are working to develop and maintain the framework and infrastructure required to identify and ana- lyse welding risk, as well as formulate and exe- cute mitigation strategies.
Safe Work Australia is currently undertaking a review of Workplace Health & Safety Laws.
Safe Work Australia CEO, Michelle Baxter, said overall the review found that WHS laws have been effective but identified areas that need to be addressed with 34 recommendations.
“We are now seeking feedback on the recom- mendations with consultation open for six weeks,” she said.
Written submissions are due by August 5, 2019.
Expansion drives search for tradies
VICTORIAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY
A F Gason Pty Ltd is looking to employ at least 15 more staff which is part of a multi-million expansion. The company is based in Ararat which is 198km
west of Melbourne and 90km west of Ballarat. The town has a population of less than 10,000
people so it's no surprise to learn that A F Gason is the biggest employer in Ararat.
While the company is currently seeking skilled welders and press brake operators, it manufacturers under the brand names Jindara and Eureka, providers of a leading range of com- bustion wood burning household heaters.
This is in addition to steel component manu- facturing projects for other established brand name businesses.
A F Gason currently employs over 120 staff and is family owned with fourth generation fam- ily members active in the business.
Combining a range of services including laser cutting, powder coating, automated welding and assembly of a diverse range of farm machinery
A welder on-site at the A F Gason manufacturing facility in Ararat, which is 90km west of Ballarat.
and industrial components A F Gason is embark- ing on a major new capital equipment investment in advanced laser cutting and materials handling.
The company expects to have its latest Euro- pean technology based laser cutting and the re- lated Stopa component storage system ready for commissioning in the first quarter of next year.
It will be an investment in the business of around $6 million and it will be housed in a new building on the company’s 3.5 hectare site.
A F Gason’s managing director Wayne Gason says that the company already has a highly skilled workforce and has a very active in-house and externally supported apprenticeship train- ing program.
“We have always had a reliable and supportive workforce of principally local residents but cur- rently we are looking to add at least 15 new em- ployees to our team,” he said. ✺
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS AUGUST 2019
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