SURVEY DELIVERS THE DETAIL

Tom McKenny, Roving Reporter

A recently completed Members’ survey has elicited a range of interesting responses and results from CMPA Voting Members. The survey encompassed a range of questions on everything from operational issues to occupational health and safety, equipment inventories through to views and opinions regarding the CMPA newsletter.

CMPA Chairman, Grant Phillips, said the survey was an important element in judging the value of the organisation and reconciling Members’ expectations with the direction taken by the Management Committee. “Survey’s such as this basically keep an organisation on track, but importantly they also provide significant research for what our future direction should be.”

“From this survey we have not only learned where we should be heading, but received feedback on where we have been. We’ve learned about our Members. We now have a better understanding of the types of businesses they operate, the equipment and staffing involved, their current competencies, and future training and educational requirements,” Mr Phillips said. “Importantly, we are also keeping abreast of their needs and requirements from the Association as it grows.”

The survey was presented under several topic areas including education and training, the CMPA newsletter, industry awards, capital works expectations, marketing, employment issues, and issues of concern amongst other topics.

Education & Training

Respondents strongly supported education and training issues in the industry regardless of whether provided by the CMPA, DPI or other body. Three quarters of respondents indicated that they, or an employee, had attended Work Safely training and high percentages indicated they would support other vocational training courses.

The survey flagged the concept of industry awards to recognise Members’ businesses and enhance the public’s perception of the industry, with a focus on improving safety and environmental management.

Categories mooted for award evaluation included site presentation, operational presentation and rehabilitation programs. Almost 75% of respondents indicated their willingness to become involved in such a program.

Capital Expenditure

This survey topic focused on finance and acquisition issues associated with operations.

Almost 70% of respondents indicated a ‘sympathetic’ lending relationship with their bank, while 51% indicated they would be interested in the CMPA forming a financing relationship with a suitable institution.

Comments ranged from “We don’t talk to our bank – they don’t want to know you unless you want to borrow money,” to “It may be a good idea to have a relationship with banks regarding Work Authorities being used as security”.

The concept of a CMPA developed ‘Guideline for Capital Acquisition’ document was roundly supported.

Equipment – acquisition and value

A range of equipment is scheduled to be replaced according to Member’s feedback.

Nineteen respondents said they would be replacing an excavator, 25 a loader, 50 would be upgrading crushing equipment in some form, 15 said they would be purchasing off road dump trucks, and the same number for on-road trucks.

The respondents indicated they had capital equipment valued at approximately $35 million, including loaders, excavators, dump trucks, trucks and trailers, mobile equipment and crushing equipment.

Marketing

Three quarters of the respondents placed high importance on the quality of materials supplied to customers, while only about a third supplied information such as MSDS, grading specifications or product identification for some products.

However, more than 70% said they would be interested in the CMPA developing a range of information sheets detailing product attributes as required by key customer groups.

The majority of respondents indicated they would be interested in the CMPA web site being developed to include their company details, including the type of services provided, products and localities.

Members suggested this be linked to their company web sites, Associate web addresses and other information sources as “The future could open up many Members’ businesses to new markets”.

Almost 100% of members receive and read the newsletter and 90% considered it to be of assistance, most indicating that it has raised their level of issues awareness and kept them in touch with others’ experiences in the industry.

Employment

Just 10% of respondents said they experience difficulties in retaining employees, however, 72% indicated they could not easily replace skilled employees.

Almost 90% said they believed their employees had the necessary skills to carry out the job, while only 30% believed that persons applying for employment met their expectations of the role.

Responses included, “We have to sift through 40 people before getting an employee that meets our expectations”, and, “Existing employees have the required skills, newer employees do not”.

Key Concerns

Over half the respondents indicated their sites contained silica, but marginally less than half the sites had been tested for silica. The greater majority was unsure whether their site complied with the previous legal limit of 0. 2mg/m3 (now 0.1mg/m3 )

Seventy five percent of sites had been reviewed for rehabilitation bonds by the DPI over the past five years, 32% indicated the bond remained the same while 5% did not know whether the bond rose and 11% did not respond. Thirty two percent said rehabilitation bonds had affected heir ability to borrow money and reduced liquidity or equity. Forty seven percent said it did not have an impact.

The DPI had conducted a safety audit or visit in the past 12months at 47% of respondents’ sites.

Value of the CMPA

Almost 80% said they had utilised the CMPA’s resources,with comments regarding the Association’s value including: “Meeting people, talking about problems in the industry, learning how to address issues and bringing that back to our business – it helps in the decision making process in our business”.

Another said “Where do I start? –I would be buggered without you. I would give it up if (the CMPA) weren’t here helping the little bloke”.

Others indicated the value of education and training provided to their workers and themselves, the importance of networking and the interactions with Government agencies, and the respect of suppliers.

Some expressed confidence in being able to get some direction with writing safety procedures or seeking legal opinion, or as a general information source.

One said the CMPA had “Been fundamental in our OH&S policies and general management, and underpinned our commitment to OH&S otherwise it would have been in the too hard basket”.

Another said “I believe it’s given us a stronger voice within our industry – others won’t look after us if we do not help ourselves”.

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