WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 1

WELD CONNECTWELDING TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA NOVEMBER 2017

www.wtia.com.au

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 2

CONTENTS03 WTIA CEO Update05 Victoria Division News06 New South Wales Division News07 South Australia Division News08 Western Australia Division News09 Queensland Division News10 Northern Territory Division News12 WTIA News & Updates13 Training&Certification17 Upcoming Events

WTIA NATIONAL OFFICEBuilding 3, Level 3, Suite 520 Bridge StreetPymble, NSW 2073(PO Box 197Macquarie Park BC, NSW 1670) T: +61 (0)2 8748 0100E: info@wtia.com.au

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERGeoff CrittendenT: +61 (0)2 8748 0100E: g.crittenden@wtia.com.au

QUALIFICATION & CERTIFICATION MANAGERAnnette DickersonT: +61 (0)2 8748 0170E: a.dickerson@wtia.com.au

TRAINING MANAGERPaul JamesT: +61 (0)2 8748 0150E: p.james@wtia.com.au

MEMBERSHIP MANAGERDonna SouthT: +61 (0)2 8748 0130E: d.south@wtia.com.au

ADVERTISINGDonna SouthT: +61 (0)2 8748 0130E: d.south@wtia.com.au

EDITORIALSally WoodT: +61 (0)434 442 687E: sally@wordly.com.au

JOIN TODAY TO RECEIVE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF

WTIA MEMBERSHIP FREE OF CHARGEFor a limited time only, if you take out 2018 WTIA membership, you will receive free membership for the remainder of 2017. That is one months worth of membership, completely free of charge.

Now really is the time to become a WTIA member!

www.wtia.com.au | membership@wtia.com.au | 02 8748 0100

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 3

WTIA CEO UPDATEwe have received from all major shipbuilders and defence industry primes, such as Navantia.

Unfortunately, while Hon. Susan Close was enthusiastic about the Advanced Welder Training Centre, she was concerned about the capital investment required from the South Australian State Government. She has requested a submission from TAFE SA encompassing the potential for augmented reality training in all industrial sectors.

This means that the WTIA has no authority to establish a South Australian Advanced Welder Training Centre, which will severely delay the Defence Welding Hub. The bureaucratic merry-go-round that will now occur will cause delays in developing the welder capability required for delivery of the Offshore Patrol Vessels

and the Future Frigates. The decision by the South Australian Government is contrary to industry needs and requirements, and has been made despite widespread support from all the defence industry primes.

I also met with Steven Marshall, the South Australian Leader of the Opposition, and Former Senator Nick Xenophon. Both were extremely supportive of the Advanced Welder Training Centre, and amazed at the Government’sreluctancetosupport the project—for such a small investment, there will be an extremely high return.

It is an absolute imperative that all state governments get behind technical training for the shipbuilding industry, and do so quickly—these types of projects always take much longer to establish than politicians imagine.

STATE GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

Overthelastmonth,I’vemet with a number of State Government representatives.

Whilst in Perth, I was due to meet the Hon. Suzanne Ellery, Minister for Education and Training. Unfortunately, Suzanne was ill, so instead I met with the Hon. Samantha Helen Rowe, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training.

During the meeting, I gave a presentation on the importance of welder training, particularly in relation to shipbuilding, highlighting how important welder training is to the future of industry in Western Australia.

I received an extremely positive response from the Hon. Samantha Helen Rowe, who requested a detailed business case. In conjunction with South Metro TAFE, I am working on this business case, which is strongly supported by all major shipbuilders in Western Australia, particularly Austal.

While in Adelaide, I met with the Hon. Susan Close, Minister for Higher Education and Skills. I gave a detailed presentation on theWTIA’sproposedAdvancedWelder Training Centre. My presentation emphasised how important improved welder training is for all industries, as well as the widespread support

5

12

2Meetings with welding industry stakeholders

Member events

543

39

Welders registered on the AustralianWelderCertificationRegister

Hotline queries resolved

State Division Committee meetings

WTIA FAST FACTS OCTOBER 2017

Newly Trained International Welding Specialists

7

Meetings with State Governments

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 4

WTIA CEO UPDATEClass Sustainability Program. Phil Growden (Austal) also provided an update on the PacificPatrolBoats,forwhichthe WTIA has been drafting weldingprocedures.Austal’sfeedback on these procedures was extremely positive.

A highlight of the meeting was a demonstration of the Soldamatic augmented reality welder training equipment by Melissa Odendaal (WTIA Welding Consultant). Thank you to Austal for their hospitality, particularly Paddy Gregg and Phil Growden.

WEST AUSTRALIA DIVISION END OF YEAR EVENT

I recently attended the West AustraliaDivision’sEndof Year Event, at which I presented Rob West with a WTIA Honorary Fellowship. A long standing member, Rob was a WTIA Board Member from 2008 to 2017, and the Chairman of the SMART Pressure Equipment Group. Rob’ssupportfortheWTIAandin-depth technical knowledge are much appreciated.

Geoff CrittendenWTIA CEO

NAVANTIA, TAFE SA & WTIA MoU

Together with TAFE SA, the WTIA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Navantia. The objective of the MoU is to ensure that TAFE SA, the WTIA and Navantia work collaboratively so that Navantia Australia has access to the necessary welding capability to deliver the Future Frigates if selected.

Areas of cooperation include: training,qualificationandcertificationofwelders,supervisors, inspectors and technicians; development andqualificationofweldingand testing procedures; joint research and development; and technology transfer.

DEFENCE SMART INDUSTRY GROUP MEETING

In early November, I attended the Defence SMART Industry Group meeting, which was hosted by Austal in Perth. The meeting featured several informative presentations, including: Emmanual Mitti (Defence West) who spoke on the WA State Government Defence Industry Development Plan; Paolo Campi and Greg Tunny (Fincantieri) who provided an overview of Fincantieri and their shipbuilding plan; Ehsan Kharaji (BAE Systems) who gave an overview of BAE Systems Australia; and David Price and Rod Brown (ASC) who spoke on the Collins

NEW WTIA MEMBERS OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER 2017

We’dliketowelcomethefollowingnewWTIAmembers:INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Ciaran ConnollyScott CoxJozo FilipovicGajendran GovindarajanShane LewisTravis Ribot De BresacKane RobinsonKevin RoachIvan WebbChaolin Yu

CORPORATE MEMBERS

Austedan FabricationsBrowns Precision WeldingCentral EngineeringNIX Engineering Group

To become a WTIA member, visit www.wtia.com.au or contact us on 02 8748 0100 or membership@wtia.com.au

L to R: Geoff Crittenden (WTIA CEO), Donato Martínez (Vice President, Navantia Australia) and Brian Rungie (Executive Director Education, TAFE SA) sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 5

VICTORIA DIVISION NEWSWELDING Q&A

The Victorian Division recentlyhostedtheWTIA’sfirstWeldingQ&A.HostedbyChisholm Institute of TAFE, The event proved be highly popular. There were over 35 members in attendance, with representation from TAFE, industry and students who were attending a Welding Supervisor’scourse.

An expert panel from across the welding industry was assembled to answer questions. The panel was chaired by Robert Vernon, and included:• Louis Victor Blain (Lead

Welding Engineer, Bombardier Transportation)

• Phill Stubbington (Welding Engineer, Lincoln Electric)

• Robert Wiseman (Welding Engineer, Specialised Welding Products)

• Mathew Billman (Quality Assurance Manager, Crib Point Engineering; and Teacher, Chisholm Institute of TAFE)

A wide variety of questions were put forward to the panel. Questions included weldability of materials, selection of consumables, requirements forqualificationtoISO9606,weldercertificationtoAS1796,

and the requirements of the AustralianWelderCertificationRegister (AWCR).

The forum closed at 7.00pm not due to a lack of questions, but rather a lack of time. Many attendees even remained for further discussions after the officialcloseoftheevent.

END OF YEAR EVENT

The end of year event will give members an opportunity to hear from WTIA CEO, Geoff Crittenden,abouttheWTIA’ssignificantachievementsin2017, as well as what to look forward to in 2018.

A welding trivia competition will also be held during the evening, so be sure to bring your thinking caps with you!

VIC CONTACTMelissa OdendaalWelding Consultant 0418922369m.odendaal@wtia.com.au

Panel members (L to R): Robert Wiseman, Louis Victor Blain, Robert Vernon, Mathew Billman and Phill Stubbington.

Welding Q&A Panel members (L to R): Robert Wiseman, Louis Victor Blain, Robert Vernon, Mathew Billman and Phill Stubbington.

Event Details• Date: Wednesday 22

November • Time:6:30pm• Location: Melbourne

Bowling Club, 138 Union Street, Windsor 3181

Register for the Victoria Division’sEndofYearevent.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 6

NSW DIVISION NEWS

NSW CONTACTRebecca HansenMembership Coordinator 02 8748 0135 r.hansen@wtia.com.au

PRECISION METAL GROUP AUST AWARDED CERTIFICATION TO AS/NZS ISO 3834

The WTIA would like to congratulate Precision Metal Group Aust on being awarded AS/NZSISO3834certification.The WTIA was particularly impressed at how quickly Precision Metal Group was awardtheircertification.

Precision Metal Group Aust are specialists in mechanical engineering services, onsite machining, machinery maintenance and relocation, and welding. They also provide high-quality welding inspection and supervision services.

AS/NZSISO3834certificationincreases the likelihood of global supply chain opportunities and repeat business,bolsteringprofitability.CertificationhelpsAustralianbusinesses demonstrate their ability to deliver a compliant, quality fusion welded product on time and to budget.

AS/NZS ISO 3834 is the minimum benchmark for welding quality globally. As more companies become certifiedtothestandard,thosewithoutitwillfinditharderto win work from local and international suppliers alike.

END OF YEAR EVENT The New South Wales Division is pleased to invite members to attend the 2017 End of Year Celebration. Hosted by the Carnarvon Golf Club, the event gives members an opportunity to hear from WTIA CEO, Geoff Crittenden,aboutsignificantachievements in 2017 and what to look forward to in 2018.

Event Details• Date:Thursday16

November • Time:6:00pm• Location: Carnarvon Golf

Club,65-95NottinghillRoad, Lidcombe

Register for the New South Wales End of Year event.

L to R: Jason Elias (Managing Director, PMG) and Paolo Corronca (Technology Manager, WTIA).

L to R: Alireza Samimi (Welding Engineer, PMG) and Paolo Corronca (Technology Manager, WTIA).

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 7

SA DIVISION NEWS

SA CONTACTPaolo Corronca Technology Manager0438012099p.corronca@wtia.com.au

Collaborationfinalistnominations and three of the finalistsintheVETTrainerorTeacher of the Year Awards, which is an outstanding achievement.

Plus, in the individual categories, three of the award winners were TAFE SA trained, including the Apprentice of the Year Award (won by Laura Pivovaroff), the Trainee of the Year Award (won by Sandy Beaton), and the Vocational Student of the Year Award (won by Rachelle Boyle).

TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE

The WTIA recently facilitated atwoday‘TraintheTrainer’course in Adelaide. Eight of TAFESA’sinstructorsattendedthe course.

The course focused on how to train and assess welders to meet the skill and capability requirements of the upcoming shipbuilding projects. As such, the course included an overview of how to weld in accordancewithISOqualifiedwelding procedures developed specificallyforshipbuilding.

The capabilities of all attendees was tested, welding in a variety of positions and joints, and all passed with flyingcolours.Thecoursealsoincluded information on how to test and register welders through WeldQ and the AustralianWelderCertificationRegister (AWCR).

The training was very successful, with a lot of interaction between the WTIA trainer and the TAFE instructors, who were very enthusiastic about the course.

TAFE SA WINS THE SA TRAINING AWARDS

The WTIA would like to congratulate TAFE SA on winning the 2017 South

Attendees at the Train the Trainer course.

AustralianTrainingAwards’Large Training Provider of the Year Award for the second year in a row.

As mentioned by Robin Murt (Chief Executive, TAFE SA) in his acceptance speech, the contributionoftheTAFESA’sBoard, Executive team and staff enabled the organisation to deliver the high quality of education and training that was recognised throughout the awards’judgingprocess.

TAFE SA was also a partner in one of the Industry

AryaSharifian(Graduate,WTIA)presentsattheTraintheTrainercourse.

Robin Murt (Chief Executive, TAFE SA) accepts South Australian Training Award.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 8

WA DIVISION NEWSEND OF YEAR EVENT

The West Australia Division recently held its 2017 End of Year Event, which was very well received with approximately 25 members in attendance.

Geoff Crittenden (CEO, WTIA) welcomed everyone to the event. He began by thanking Gary Lantzke (CEO, Callidus Welding Solutions) and Callidus for sponsoring the evening. Geoff invited Gary up onstagetoreceiveacertificateof appreciation.

Callidus delivers engineering solutions tailored to client specificerosionandcorrosionchallenges. Their highly trained team provides significantexperienceinthejoining, rebuild and overlay of corrosion and wear-resistant alloys for the mineral processing, power generation, marine and mining industries.

Next, Geoff introduced Rob West and described his contributions to WTIA over the years. Rob was then presented with an Honorary WTIA Fellowship.

An expert mechanical engineer,Robhas35years’experience in the alumina

industry including plant engineering, supervision, small-capital and mega-project development and execution, commissioning, maintenance, and workforce management.

A long-standing WTIA member, Rob served as a WTIA Board Member from 2008 to 2017, and was the Chairman of the WTIA’sSMARTPressureEquipment Group. Rob has also been heavily involved in the activities of Standards Standard, serving as the

Chairman of the ME/001 - Pressure Equipment Committee since 2012, and a member of this Committee since 2004.

Finally, Geoff provided a detailed update on the AustralianWelderCertificationRegister (AWCR), as well as the progress that is being made in Western Australia towards the establishment of an Advanced Welder Training Centre in preparation for defence industry projects.

WA CONTACT

Louise PetrickTechnology Manager0409789540 l.petrick@wtia.com.au

Gary Lantzke (CEO, Callidus Welding Solutions) and Geoff Crittenden (CEO, WTIA).

Rob West (WTIA Honorary Fellow) and Geoff Crittenden (CEO, WTIA).

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 9

QLD DIVISION NEWSAS/NZS 1554: THE GREAT DEBATE

The Queensland Division recently facilitated a presentation and open discussion on some of the obligations of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1554 - Structural steel welding, and how to comply effectively.

The pros and cons of welder qualificationsinrelationtobothAS/NZS 1554.1 and ISO9606werediscussed,aswell as how the two Australian Standards interact.

Doug Hawkes (MD and Principal Structural Engineer, Structural Integrity Engineering) opened the event with a general introduction and overview of AS/NZS 1554.Doug’s20years’ofexperience has included design and auditing of mining infrastructure and structural failure investigations. Doug is a current WTIA Councillor.

Mark Sullivan (Welding Inspector and Supervisor, CertifiedWeldingCompany)spoke on the storage and handling of welding consumables. Mark has 30years’experienceintheindustry many of which were spent in construction and oil

QLD CONTACTRebecca HansenMembership Coordinator 02 8748 0135 r.hansen@wtia.com.au

and gas sectors. Mark is aWTIACertifiedSeniorWelding Inspector.

Andrew Gray (Managing Director, HiVue Inspection & Compliance) also gave a presentation, speaking onthe‘Why,What,When& How with WPS – an opportunityfordebate’.

Andrew’scompanyHiVueprovides inspection and compliance service across a broad spectrum of industries, from oil and gas, construction and mining, through to pressure equipment, defence, and food and beverage. Andrew has35years’industryexperience, and is a WTIA CertifiedSeniorWeldingInspector.

With 30 people in attendance at the event, the topic generated lively discussion and saw many attendees still chatting long after the officialpresentationswerecomplete.

END OF YEAR EVENT

Geoff Crittenden, WTIA CEO, will give a presentation at the end of year event, focusedontheWTIA’smajor projects and achievements in 2017, as well as plans for 2018. Peter Kuebler of BOC will also be presented with a WTIA Honorary Fellowship.

Queensland Division members will also have the opportunity to meet with other like-minded members, discuss challenges thatthey’refacing,andbuildastronger professional network.

Event Details• Date: Tuesday 5 December • Time:6:00pm• Location: Regatta Hotel,

543 Coronation Drive, Toowong4066

Register for the Queensland Division End of Year event.

Doug Hawkes (MD & Principal Structural Engineer, Structural Integrity Engineering) gives a presentation.

Andrew Gray (Managing Director, HiVue Inspection & Compliance) gives a presentation.

Mark Sullivan (Welding Inspector & Supervisor, CertifiedWeldingCompany)givesapresentation.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 10

NT DIVISION NEWSDARWIN HOSTS THE NORTHERN AUSTRALIA DEFENCE SUMMIT

Thecountry’sleadingdefenceofficialsandindustryleadersconverged in Darwin in late October for the 5th Annual Northern Australia Defence Summit. The high-level, policy-driven two-day Summit featured presentations by Ministers,defenceofficials,industry leaders and military commanders.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the NT played a pivotal role as a centre for marine services and supply, supporting the Australian defence forces. “Defence plays a very important and positive role in the Territory – including economically – and we want to see that continue and grow,” Gunner said.

“This is why we are investing $100 million towards job-

creating projects such as the Ship Lift facility at East Arm to enable the maintenance and servicing of defence and Australia Border Force vessels.”

“This is a strategic investment intotheTerritory’seconomicfuturetounlocktheNorth’sjobcreating potential. The Territory Labor Government wants to maximise opportunities for Territory businesses to become embedded in the supply chains of defence projects.”

Gunner said many national and international companies now operate in the NT and local enterprise is expanding as new areas of opportunity emerge.

“Just one example of this: we could be launching rockets into space from Arnhem Land within a year. Being close to the equator means rockets need less fuel to enter the atmosphere;ArnhemLand’s

proximity to the sea also allows for safe and reliable drop zones,” said Gunner.

END OF YEAR EVENT

Geoff Crittenden, WTIA CEO, will give a presentation at the end of year event, focused on theWTIA’smajorprojectsandachievements in 2017, as well as plans for 2018.

Event Details• Date: Tuesday 12

December • Time:6:00pm• Location: The Precinct, 7

Kitchener Drive, Darwin

Register for the Northern Territory Division End of Year event.

NT CONTACTRebecca HansenMembership Coordinator 02 8748 0135 r.hansen@wtia.com.au

For over 40 years, Blumax NT has delivered quality steel fabrication services throughout Darwin and across the Top End. Our successful, long-established business, operating out of brand new premises, is currently for sale. With Darwin’s local procurement policies, purchasing a trusted local business puts you in prime position for major upcoming defence, oil and gas and construction opportunities in the NT.

Our modern, functional warehouse is comprised of: 4,000m2 yard; 1,080m2 shed; 2,910m2 concrete lay down area; and 164m2 office with an open reception area, four separate offices, and all fixtures and fitouts, including Tekla and CAD drafting programs. State-of-the-art plant and equipment includes: 2 overhead cranes; a Mitsubishi semi-crane truck; a site truck with miller welder (400 amps) and tool box; 4 saws; 2 punch and shear machines; 6 welding stations; and hand tools.

0419 834 089 | www.blumaxnt.com.au

ESTABLISHED DARWIN FABRICATION BUSINESS FOR SALE

$850,000Negotiable.

Long lease also available. Only selling due to health reasons.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 11

WTIA NEWS & UPDATESGUIDE TO AS/NZS ISO 3834 CERTIFICATION

The WTIA has recently released a guide on how to use AS/NZSISO3834certification.

AS/NZSISO3834certificationhelps businesses operate moreefficiently,improvingclient satisfaction. It increases the likelihood of global supply chain opportunities and repeat business,bolsteringprofitability.

Certificationhelpsbusinessesdemonstrate their ability to deliver a compliant, quality fusion welded product on time and to budget. As more companiesbecomecertified,thosewithoutitwillfinditharderto win work from local and international suppliers.

For a copy of the guide, contact Paolo Corronca (WTIA Technology Manager) on p.corronca@wtia.com.au.

2017 EDITION OF TECHNICAL NOTE 15 NOW AVAILABLE

The revised 2017 edition of Technical Note 15: Welding and Fabrication of Quenched and Tempered (Q&T) Steel is now available. This Technical Note provides basic information on the types of Q&T steels commonly encountered in Australia, and presents general recommendations and guidance on the selection of welding process, care and choice of consumables, welding procedures, and related fabrication operations suchasflamecutting,plasmacutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, shearing and forming.

For more information or to purchase a copy, visit: https://shop.wtia.com.au

JOIN TODAY TO RECEIVE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF

WTIA MEMBERSHIP FREE OF CHARGEFor a limited time only, if you take out 2018 WTIA membership, you will receive free membership for the remainder of 2017. That is two months worth of membership,

completely free of charge. Now really is the time to become a WTIA member!

www.wtia.com.au | membership@wtia.com.au | 02 8748 0100

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 12

In conjunction with the American Welding Society (AWS), the Welding Technology Institute of Australia offers a number of online courses to help develop your welding knowledge. These courses are available any time day and night and are designed as self-paced modules which will allow you to complete them in your own time.

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

These online courses includeSafety in Welding, which covers hazards, safety equipment, ventilation, welding inconfinedspaces,andsafetyprecautionsandspecifications.

The Metallurgy course covers the characteristics of atoms,

the periodic table, chemical bonding, chemical reactivity, the atomic structure of materials, and the properties of metals.

The Non-Destructive Testing course describes the principles and performance of visual testing, penetrant testing,

magnetic particle testing, radiographic testing, and ultrasonic testing. Topics covered include discontinuities and their causes, as well as the role of vision, capillary action, magnetism, radiation, and sound in all types of testing.

For further information, please feel free to contact the WTIA Training department:• 02 8748 0100 • training@wtia.com.au• https://net.wtia.com.au/

OnlineCourses

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 13

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

When hazards and associated risks could occur as a result of using dangerous chemicals orsubstances,thefirstcourseof action should always be to eliminate these hazards. If elimination is not practicable, the risk should be minimised through substitution, isolation or engineering controls.

If risk still exists once substitution, isolation or engineering controls have been implemented, the risk must be minimised through administrative controls.

Any remaining risk must then be mitigated with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Administrative control measures and PPE rely on behavioural traits and supervision, and when used on their own are generally the least effective way of minimising risks.

PPE is the lowest form of protection for a worker and should therefore be the last resort in any risk minimisation plan. If you do need to resort to PPE, you need to keep in mind that employers have duties concerning the provision and use of PPE—you must provide PPE to all your employees or ensure that they can easily access it.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT PPE TO USE?

PPE provides vital protection against the hazards to which you or your employees are exposed. As such, there are several factors to keep in mind when choosing and using PPE.

Proper Fit:PPEmustfitproperly.IfPPEdoesnotfitproperly,it’seffectivenesswillbesignificantlyreducedandcancauseinjuries.Ill-fittingPPE should be re-adjusted or replaced, just as any other piece of faulty equipment.

Proper Use: Depending on the type of PPE in question, incorrect use can cause serious injuries and even death. As such, suitable training should be provided on the correct use of issued PPE.

Suitability: PPE must be suitable for the task for which it is being used. For instance, if you require PPE to protect you againstexposuretospecifichazardous substances, you should review the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of the substances that you are using.

An SDS will provide information such as expose limits, control measures, PPE requirements and health data. Based on this information, you can then select the most suitable PPE for the job.

In addition to SDS, there may also be legislation, codes of practice and workplace health and safety policies that mandate the most appropriate PPEforaspecifictask.

Personal Protective Equipment: Are You Exposed?By Paul James, WTIA Training Manager

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 14

TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONSpecifications and Limitations: You may need to beawareofthespecificationsand limitations of particular PPE items. For instance, respiratorfiltershavealimitedusage life and will need to be regularly replaced.

Cleanliness: It is usually best to issue complete sets of PPE to all individual employees. However, sometimes, PPE must be shared because of infrequent use, cost or specialty. Whether you share PPE with your workmates or own an entire set of your own, it is vital that it is kept clean and well looked after.

We’veallpickeduparespirator at some stage and thought,“There’snowayI’mputting this on my face! It looks like it contains more harmful thingsthanit’sdesignedtoprotect against!” It is generally a simple task to clean PPE. So, be sure this task is undertaken regularly.

Administrative Controls: To ensure the effective use of PPE, there must be administrative controls in place (such as procedures or policies) that direct the use of PPE.

Administrative controls ensure that employers have a formal process in place that all employees are obligated to follow. This helps protect the health and safety of employees, as well as the legal obligations of the employer.

In addition, employees can quickly and easily understand their obligations when it comes to the use of PPE. Risk assessments, consultation and SDS are just some of the tools that may be used to determine PPE requirements and inform these administrative controls.

Supervisors are key to this process—they should represent both the employee and employer, and take the lead when it comes to the correct selection and use of PPE.

For some members of my generation—the‘oldergeneration’—itwascommonsense to use PPE when performing hazardous tasks. The problem is that sometimeswedidn’tuseorhave appropriate PPE because some hazards were not known to be dangerous back then.

Some of the substances that we used years ago may be causing health issues today because of unprotected

exposure over 20 years ago. While we understand a lot more about inherent workplace risks due to exposure to hazardous substances, much is still unknown about long term effects. Who would have thought that talcum powder was a carcinogen or that reusing plastic water bottles and take away containers could be poisonous?

PPE is the last barrier against the hazards that cannot be mitigatedsufficientlybyothermeans. Without PPE, you are exposed to the effects that hazardous substances have on the human body. Hindsight has shown that if more emphasis was placed on the importance and correct use of PPE earlier, many deaths and serious illnesses could have been avoided.

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you require further information about training, contact training@wtia.com.au

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 15

Whether you need to brush up on skills acquired years ago, or want totryyourhandatsomethingnew,there’ssuretobeaneventfor you. Keep in mind that attending WTIA events counts towards

CPDrequirementsforcertificationapplicationsandrenewals.Fordetailsonthese events or exams, contact events@wtia.com.auor+61287480100.

CORROSION & PREVENTION

Sydney, 12 to 15 NovemberHosted by the Australasian Corrosion Association, the four day Corrosion & Prevention 2017 conference will comprise a program of keynote presentations and technical papers, integrated with an exhibition which will showcase products and services. Over 500 delegates are expected to attend from industries such as protective coatings, water, defence, building and construction, mining, oil and gas, power and more. For details, visit: www.corrosion.com.au

UPCOMING EVENTS

ASIA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (APICAM)

Melbourne, 4 to 6 DecemberSome of the leading minds in the industry will give presentations on important areas such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the automotive, biomedical, defence, manufacturing and aerospace industries. The event is being curated by Materials Australia, the peak Australian materials science, engineering and technology body. For details, visit: www.apicam2017.com.au

2018 WTIA COURSE DATES

Ifyou’vebeenconsideringupskilling, and are interested intakingoneoftheWTIA’scourses in 2018, now is the time to start planning ahead.

All course dates for 2018 are now available via the WTIA’swebsite.Simplyvisithttps://wtia.com.au/solutions/training-and-certification, andclickonthe‘CourseTimetable’button.

WTIA OFFICE CHRISTMAS CLOSURE DATES

TheWTIA’snationalofficewillbeclosedover Christmas and the New Year, from Thursday 21 December 2017, returning on Monday 8 January 2018.

WTIA Newsletter November 2017 | Page 16

www.wtia.com.au

Welding Technology Institute of Australia

For further information about advertising in Weld Connect, please contact:Donna South on d.south@wtia.com.au or +61 (0)2 8748 0130

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