US EPA targets electrical industry for financial obligations in clean-up of environmental releases
13 January, 2010The electric power generation, transmission and distribution industry in the US was one of three industries identified by the EPA as potentially being required to provide financial assurances to fund the clean-up of environmental releases.
Protection against non-conforming electrical appliances and installations
15 December, 2009A conference was held recently in the Middle East to promote the global standardisation of electrotechnology that seeks to eradicate the trading of non-conforming electrical products.
ACT government takes stand against ‘sham’ contracting
14 December, 2009A recently released Bill in the ACT endeavours to prevent employers engaging in ‘sham’ contracting to avoid their legal obligations to workers.
NECA welcomes new SA Security of Payment Bill that will protect contractors
08 December, 2009The NECA South Australia Chapter has applauded the passage of a new bill to guarantee security of payment for the construction industry.
Luminaires for industrial and hazardous environments
02 December, 2009 by Sebastian Beier, Market Sector Manager, CSE Division, Sylvania Lighting AustralasiaIndustrial environments can pose significant challenges to the safety and effective operation of lighting systems. Luminaire selection and system design must meet performance goals where mechanical strength, weight, thermal, electrical, corrosion resistance, hazardous environment and water and dust ingress requirements must be considered. Designers must gain a firm understanding of all environmental factors that can cause system failures to deliver ‘environmental compatibility’ of lighting.
Avoiding costly underground cable problems - now and in the future
02 December, 2009 by Paul StathisRecently, a friend of mine who operates an excavator tore through a mains cable as he was digging footings on a commercial site. Not only did he get the scare of his life, but he had a few anxious moments afterwards wondering if he would cop the huge repair bill for the damage he had just caused. Fortunately for him, he called Dial Before You Dig before commencing to excavate.
Is it time to genuinely adopt 230 V as our distribution voltage?
01 December, 2009 by Prof Alex Baitch, Principal, BES (Aust) Pty Ltd and Visiting Professorial Fellow at University of WollongongThe article in September/October 2008 Electrical Solutions raised many questions regarding supply voltage variances. Author Paul Stathis was warned that he could be opening a can of worms. The advice he received was not wrong. In this article, I will attempt to answer some of the issues raised in the previous article and bring attention to more issues that need to be addressed by the electrical industry.
Why calibrate your test equipment?
01 December, 2009 by Paul StathisTest and measurement equipment is essential to the electrical trade, be it for electrical, data or control systems. Whether it’s for commissioning a new installation or finding a fault in an existing one, electrical tradespeople and technicians put a lot of faith in the readings from these instruments. But how can they be certain what’s being reported is correct?
Dealing with the halogen downlight conundrum
01 December, 2009 by Paul StathisThe 2007 Wiring Rules introduced a number of installation directives for halogen downlights because of the high incidence of fires directly attributable to the extreme heat output from them igniting nearby combustible materials. One of these directives is to leave considerable clearance around them from all materials, including insulation. But this introduces the problem of potentially compromising a home’s thermal efficiency. How do electrical contractors deal with this conundrum?
Action needed on safety inspection standards to combat dangers of installing insulation
30 November, 2009NECA has called for urgent action by federal and state governments to introduce new safety inspection requirements for the insulation installation industry.
The contractor ‘killing fields’ - life, death and liability for a contractor - Part 3
24 November, 2009 by Andrew Douglas*Under OHS legislation, employers have a statutory duty to secure the health, safety and welfare of employees and third persons working at or near their workplace.
The contractor ‘killing fields’ - life, death and liability for a contractor - Part 2
05 November, 2009 by Andrew Douglas*The implications of the Fair Work Act on contractor relationships.
Revised standards for electrical installations in hazardous areas
19 October, 2009Standards Australia has published two new standards for electrical installations in hazardous areas to supersede existing standards.
Revised standards for electrical installations in hazardous areas
19 October, 2009Standards Australia has published two new standards for electrical installations in hazardous areas standards to supersede existing standards.
The contractor ‘killing fields’ - life, death and liability for a contractor - Part 1
16 October, 2009 by Andrew Douglas*Part 1 - Defining independent contractor relationships. The use of independent contractors is a common business practice around the country, often perceived as a flexible and low-risk alternative to engaging employees. But many of the obligations and duties owed to employees under Industrial Relations and OHS legislation extend to independent contractors as well.
