Did you know that when comparing fatigue to alcohol that:

• Being awake for 17 hours impairs performance to the same level as having a 0.05 blood alcohol content; and
• Being awake for 20 hours impairs performance to the same level as having a 0.1 blood alcohol content.

More information on fatigue and the management of fatigue in the workplace especially if you have employees working shifts at various times of the day and night can be found on the Workcover website.

Treatment of minor strains and sprains can be sped along with the use of some basic first aid. Here is a simple technique that is easy to remember – it’s called the R.I.C.E. technique which stands for:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression; and
• Elevation

The RICE technique works to reduce swelling and is recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury.

You know your sprain or strain is more serious when you have any of the following signs:

• Severe pain and cannot weight-bear on the injured joint;
• The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (other than swelling);
• You cannot move the injured joint;
• You cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain;
• Your limb buckles or gives way; or
• You have numbness in any part of the injured area.

If you are in doubt about the seriousness of the injury, it is always better to err on the side of caution.

Your first point of call should be Darren Gibson who is our dedicated OH&S Manager on 0407 663 086.

This also serves as a timely reminder that 1300apprentice OH&S Manager, Darren Gibson is your first point of call should you be involved in any work related accident or incident.

Source: http://bit.ly/cxSgNA

Here is a hit list of tips for you to keep front of mind:

1. Determine any risk and what you will need to do to safely complete a task;
2. Clear a pathway before you move something;
3. Use proper equipment;
4. Check weight. Never attempt to lift or carry loads you think are too heavy. Ask for help. Learn to lift as a team;
5. Take frequent breaks;
6. Take your time – injuries can happen when tasks are rushed;
7. Lift with your knees bent, don’t stoop over an object, use the strength of your legs, hold objects close and tighten the stomach muscles;
8. Warm up your muscles with gentle stretches before engaging in any manual work;
9. Pushing loads (using your body weight to assist) will be less stressful on your body than pulling a load;
10. Organise the work area to reduce the amount of bending, twisting and stretching required.

The most important tip for manual handling is to use your common sense.

We want to keep our great track record and avoid OH&S incidents. So, if there is one time of the year that accidents are more likely to happen it is now, as we enter the “silly season”. There is a need to take extra care to take responsibility for ourselves in the workplace and not allow work to be affected by the increase in celebrations and festivals you may attend.

Look after your health and your career!

Do not:

• Drink excessive amounts of alcohol the night before work
• Operate machinery when you are tired or intoxicated
• Let sleep deprivation affect your concentration
• Allow yourself to get dehydrated – especially when working outdoors
• Let the effects of partying affect your mood and your ability to focus

 
For more information please visit our OH&S page or read through of our policies associated with work place safety by clicking here.

A Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic commissions and services refrigeration and air conditioning units for both domestic and commercial industries. Mechanics learn how to read and interpret plans for installation and assembly and service existing units. You will become skilled in the use of tools such as pipe cutters and using gauges and mechanical and pneumatic testing equipment on a wide variety of job sites. For more information on this trade check out this SkillsOne link.

2. Sheetmetal Worker
A sheetmetal worker assembles, installs and repairs structures that are made from sheetmetal. The industry uses a wide variety of metals including stainless steel, aluminium, steel, brass or copper sheets. Sheetmetal workers will learn how to install pre-fabricated parts including altering parts at job sites using tools such as hammers and punches and using finishing techniques such as trimming and joining of assembled parts with hand tools and portable power tools. Find out more about sheetmetal at this SkillsOne link.

3. Cabinetmaker
A cabinetmaker uses hand and machine skills to custom build commercial and traditional style furniture. Accuracy, attention to detail, and a love of working with wood and other material is a cabinetmakers dream. You will learn to read job specifications and drawings and diagrams in order to cut timber to the right measurements. Using glue, dowels, nails and screws you will join parts together to form completed units. Finally, you will learn how to trim and sand joints in preparation towards a finished product. To really understand what cabinetmakers do check out this SkillsOne link.

4. Plasterer
Plasterers are taught how to provide the finish to walls, ceilings and floors in material known as gypsum, and cement using trowels or spray guns. You will learn how to take measurements to ensure that corners and angles are level using hand tools, as well as work to prepare surfaces, construct mouldings and gain skills to repair and restore existing surfaces. Plasterers also learn how to apply textured and decorative finishes to walls, ceilings and floors.

5. Landscape Gardener
Landscape horticulturists are trained to construct and renovate garden landscapes and know how to identify plants and trees in a domestic or commercial environment. You will learn how to use and maintain equipment, and follow safety procedures. As you progress, skills learnt will include, site preparation for landscaping, building retaining walls, paving, installation of water features, soil preparation, drainage and installation of irrigation. To find out why this is the ‘best job in the world’ click here to watch this SkillsOne video.

Because these jobs are listed on the National Skills Need List, it means there are additional benefits to you as an apprentice. To enquire about these jobs or any other apprentice or trainee opportunities, please contact Chad Smith by phoning 1300apprentice.

LTI – Laceration

ZH Alert No: STE170  Date of Issue: 20/01/2012

WHAT HAPPENED:

An employee suffered a serious laceration injury whilst using a five inch angle grinder to grind the hand rail that was previously welded. The employee had his index finger caught between the spinning blade and the guard causing a laceration.

Why Did It Happen:

Our employee was facing away from his work that he was grinding. He started the grinder prior to turning around and facing the job surface. When he turned the job was closer then he thought to his body, causing him to bump his elbow on the job, this made him lose his grip on the grinder and his finger slipped between the blade and the grinder guard.

Contributing Factors:

• Starting the grinder prior to turning around and facing the job surface.
• Inexperience with the safe use of the grinder
• Lack of training on Safe use of the grinder

Corrective Actions Required:

• Host employer to retrain the employee on the safe use of the angle grinder
• Employee to ensure that they are facing the job surface prior to starting any type of machinery

Key Learning’s:

Always wear PPE provided by 1300apprentice and your host employer.This employee’s injuries could have been much worse if he was not wearing gloves. Remember to STOP THINK ACT REVIEW prior to the commencement of any Activity.

For further information email: Darren Gibson – OHS Manager 1300apprentice

Flash burn is a result of your eyes being exposed to bright ultraviolet (UV) light from sources such as direct sunlight, lightning, extremely bright lights and most commonly a welding torch.

Symptoms of welder’s flash include mild to severe pain, bloodshot eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and a feeling there is something in your eye.

Generally the cornea will repair itself over one to two days without any permanent damage to your eyes, although if welder’s flash isn’t treated correctly, an infection may occur which can lead to permanent vision loss.

Welder’s flash is easily prevented by wearing a welding mask that is made to Australian standards such as those supplied by 1300apprentice. When in the outdoors, around water and snow in particular, always wear sunglasses that protect from UV A and B light such as glasses with polarised lenses.

If you happen to incur welder’s flash, seek medical treatment immediately and then contact your field officer. Follow up appointments should be made for 24-48 hours after the incident to ensure your eyes are healing and that no infection has set in.
Source: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/edfactsheets/eye-injury-flashburns.pdf

ZH Alert No: STE148 revised. Date of Issue: 26/09/2011

What Happened:

Our refrigeration apprentice was working on a roof attempting to pull bearings off a steel shaft. He was tapping the bearings with a hammer and some steel came off striking him in the eye, the steel lodged in his eye and protruded out requiring surgery to remove the steel and close the wound on the eye ball.

Why Did It Happen:

According to our apprentice it is standard practice to hammer the bearing case until it cracks and loosens around the shaft. The injury occurred because our apprentice was not wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that was issued.

If our apprentice was wearing safety glasses this injury would not occur.

Contributing Factors:

• Apprentice not wearing PPE. PPE is considered a priority in the Hierarchy of Control as a way to help alleviate risks associated with tasks;
• Lack of reinforcement of PPE use from the host employer;

Corrective Actions Required:

• All apprentices must wear minimum PPE when working;
• Field officers to reinforce the use of PPE with apprentices and Host Employers reminding them that they have a responsibility under the Occupational Health and Safety act to work safely; and
• Host Employers to monitor and reinforce the wearing of PPE to all apprentices.

Key Learnings:

PPE is always the last line of defense against these type of injuries however if this employee was wearing safety glasses this injury would not have occurred.

Remember to STOP THINK ACT REVIEW prior to the commencement of any activity.

For further information email: Darren Gibson – OHS Manager 1300apprentice

As a Group Training Organisation (GTO) we are committed to assisting businesses with an alternative form of recruitment that allows businesses to up skill young workers and help young workers enter their chosen industry with a desire to be trained on-the-job.

(Please note that the information provided is written based entirely on new entrant workers rather than existing workers).

The traineeship

The traineeship, a Certificate III Surveying and Spatial Information Services is an 18 month traineeship and is suitable for an entry level role. 1300apprentice targets this type of traineeship at school leavers with minimal to no experience in the industry. Majority of the candidates range between 18 to 20 years of age.

Training is predominantly on-the-job with an option to complete off-the-job units of competency by attending TAFE one day a week or via online. Depending on where the trainee attends TAFE, there may also be some Saturday training.

Trainees must demonstrate competency in 11 units in total. Seven of these are core units and covers areas such as map presentation principles, collect, store and retrieve spatial data, perform spatial computations and read and interpret maps.

Further information on the course can be found on the TAFE NSW website. Click on the TAFE link: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/howex/servlet/Course?Command=GetCourse&CourseNo=10708&selType=nationalCodes

What are the benefits?

• A trainee gains practical experience in the workplace whilst also completing a nationally recognised qualification;
• There are opportunities for trainees to continue their studies through higher qualifications once completing the Certificate III including consideration towards a university pathway;
• This is an opportunity for businesses to expose someone younger to the industry who may not have initially thought of a career in this field;
• Further benefits are available to host employers if you choose to utilise the services of a Group Training Organisation (GTO) such as 1300apprentice.

Obligations of the Employer

• To provide on-the-job training that aligns to the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) theory and allows them to meet the requirements of their trade or qualification;
• Ensure that the trainee is instructed and supervised by a person who is competent in their chosen trade or qualification;
• Provide a safe working environment.

Wages/Incentives

Trainees can be paid under the National Training Wage Schedule for Modern Awards unless the parent award provides specific provisions for traineeships in this industry.

There are Federal incentives payable to employees if taking on the employment of a full-time new entrant worker. For further details about incentives contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre.or click on the enclosed link http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search/aacsearch.asp

Who is 1300apprentice

1300apprentice is a not-for-profit group training organisation (GTO) dedicated to upskilling people through nationally recognised qualifications in apprentice or traineeship pathways.

We take on all legal employer responsibilities (contractual arrangements) of the trainee for the duration of the 18 month traineeship and facilitate the process including:

• Recruitment – you decide who you want to employ – the final decision rests with you;
• Rotation of the trainee to another host employer on your behalf if your business no longer requires a trainee;
• Invoice for productive time and RTO hours only – this allows you to match costs to income and better assists your cash flow;
• We liaise with the RTO on any queries and progress of off-the-job units of competency;
• The trainee sits on our workers compensation rather than your own.

For further information on the services provided by 1300apprentice please contact Samantha Leet on 9715 7344.

Traineeships may not be the answer for your business and this article was written with the intent to provide a little more information on how it works and provide an alternative option that may be suitable.

Don’t forgot to also subscribe to our eNewsletter. The first edition for 2012 will be available in February. In the meantime also take a look at our blog section of the website. This is where you will find useful information on a whole range of interest topics. If you have something interesting for our blog we would also love to hear from you.