Editorial
November-December 2008

Andrew Clarke - PIASA Executive Officer

Welcome to the November / December Edition

I would like to start this article with a big thank you to all the PIA staff involved in helping put together the magnificent Annual Awards function. This year being our Centenary Year made it an extra special occasion, and with
a huge attendance and a large list of
award winning entries for the prestigious achievement awards, it all led to a very successful night.

Hot off the Press
Annual Awards Dinner

As I stated above, the Dinner was an outstanding success with record numbers approximately 525 attending the event, also a huge contingent of plumbing contractors and industry stakeholders in attendance.

Congratulations to the Award winners for their efforts in producing outstanding work in their respective fields and congratulations to the Apprentice winners George Nashar and James Shearer for winning the Outstanding Post Trade Apprentice and the CITB most Outstanding Apprentice awards respectfully.

Interactive online Air Testing Training Course

The PIA in conjunction with SA Water and Creative Digital Video have produced an interactive online Air Testing Training Program designed to assist plumbers to switch from water testing of drains and waste systems to air testing methodologies.
Due to the increasing scarcity of water in our reservoirs and River Murray, the PIA offered to assist in reducing the wastage of this precious resource by initiating a more efficient and environmentally friendly practise.

The PIA will be alerting members to the changes once the Standards Committee have finalised the changes.

National Training Package

The National Training Package CPC08 which was touted as “The Package” that would bring all the states together under the one training package has been rejected by a number of states and now appears the opportunity has been lost to establish a common package for Australia. This is a lost opportunity that will have an impact on the National licensing proposal and will create a level of uncertainty between interstate qualifications and levels of competencies.

New regulations on the Control of Legionella

The South Australian Health Department has released the new regulations on the control of Legionella in manufactured water systems. The regulations are quite comprehensive and outline the correct manufacturing, installation, and maintenance procedures. The PIA will be holding a number of information sessions to assist the industry in understanding the new regulations. The Health Department has made it clear that there is a 12 month phase in period before the regulations will be made mandatory. For further information please refer to the PIA website or contact the PIA.

Finally I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year on behalf of the PIA staff and executive.

Andrew Clarke

Executive Director

 

 

SA Water and PIA believe that this is the way of the future and plumbers are encouraged to view the training package on the PIA Website and complete the training program.
(Website; www.piasa.com.au)

Safe Trenching and Excavation Practices 2009

The PIA are also in the early stages of yet another Interactive online training course. The PIA has been successful in winning a grant for this project through the Safework SA OH&S Small Grants Program.
The project is a major step towards providing the industry with improved support of safe practises and an awareness campaign about the dangers involved in plumbing work.

The PIA are constantly active in pursuing avenues to make the industry safe and casualty free. We are aware of the stress and strain the industry is under with the lack of skilled tradespeople, and we acknowledge that the level of accountability and accreditation is increasing at an alarming rate, but our duty of care is also your duty of care, so please maintain a high level of compliance with continual upgrading of knowledge and participation in these types of interactive training courses.
The course will be finalised in February 2009, and our wish is for more of these types of programs to be produced to assist you in the future.

AS/NZS 5601 Gas Standard Review

The merging of the Australian Standard AS 5601 with the New Zealand standard is underway, and after a lengthy review period of the draft standards by the PIA and the Technical Advisory Centre, a number of minor changes to the standards have been identified.