Welding Training a Success!
Perform Basic Cutting & Welding—Delivering the Results
Three years ago a couple of gentleman by the names of Roy Webb and Craig James from E B Mawson & Sons identified that there was a skills gap in their organisation with regards to on site oxy/fuel cutting and welding tasks.
At the time the only services available for the up-skilling of their people was to send them to Melbourne to carry out a welding training course. This became a major frustration as this was a very costly task and would keep staff away from work for a minimum of three days which was not a practical solution.
Their frustrations were forwarded to the CMPA where Ron Kerr and Sarah Andrew took action.
A combined effort by the CMPA, Box Hill Institute of TAFE and Quantec Solutions created a training course, participant funding and a resource manual to suit the unit of competency Perform Basic Cutting & Welding of the Certificate II in Extractive Industries Operations Training Package.
The Training Participants Resource Manual is the only one in Australia to be designed to suit a quarry working environment.
The first training course took place on site at Galli Quarries in Kilmore on 7 October 2004. Since then organisations including Castella Quarries, Yarra Valley Quarries, Conundrum Holdings, Galli Quarries, Walsh Ballarat Quarries, Casacir, Wodonga Quarries, Tylden Quarries, Violet Town Quarries, McKenzie Creek Quarry, Redstone Crushing & Plant Hire and E B Mawson & Sons have all participated in the training.
Throughout the journey we have had our ups and downs, however overall everyone at the CMPA must be very proud of the achievements to date.
The CMPA is the first Association to lead Australia in oxy/fuel cutting and welding safety, and the first in the mining and quarrying industries to up -skill their people in on site welding.
How do I know this? Because Quantec Solutions is the selected provider by the Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA) to deliver training course MDG25 – Oxy/Fuel and Welding Management Systems to all Mining companies in Australia.
Companies often undertake a course when their site experiences a welding incident – this is TOO LATE! Being proactive is the key!
As mentioned, some CMPA members have taken the opportunity to train their people. This two day course has bred a confidence with great return and success. All sites undertaking the training course have become compliant to oxy/fuel and welding Acts and Regulations, staff have become proactive in welding safety, and most of all, operators are confident to commence and complete their welding tasks to a high standard.
This module has successfully trained Drew Baglin from Violet Town Quarries from having no welding certificate to a basic level then to structural arc welding AS1554 certification.
Drew made comment on how much useful information he gained in oxy/fuel and welding safety, and how he now forwards that information to others at Violet Town Quarries.
The biggest reward for Drew since achieving this qualification was that Violet Town Quarries have recently installed a crusher and now weld lifting lugs with confidence and to appropriate Australian Standards. Drew also welds bins, screens, platforms and handrails at great heights.
Terex Jaques and Yarra Valley Quarries have also followed this program and on 17 March 2006 and 18 May 2006 respectively have up skilled their people to be qualified in welding lifting lugs.
To Roy Webb and Craig James at EB Mawson & Sons, your desire 3 years ago has trenched a tremendous career path for people and is now returning financial gains to their companies.
Congratulations to all CMPA Members.
To organise a Perform Basic Cutting and Welding Training Course at your site or for further information call the CMPA now!
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