PEER takes the health, safety and working environment of its staff, apprentices, host employers and the wider community very seriously.

As you will be aware, the situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing regularly. PEER is continuing to operate as usual and we are proactively monitoring the situation.

We will communicate any changes to our operational activities as necessary.

Whilst we have increased sanitation activities, here are some ways that individuals can help to reduce the spread of Coronavirus and other illnesses:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
• Use a bent elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. (A tissue can also be used and disposed of immediately and hands washed)
• Avoid touching your eyes or nose and mouth
• Avoid close contact with others who are unwell
• Clean surfaces and work areas regularly with disinfectant

Once it has been announced that Lockdown is over and we return to PEER, Apprentices, staff and all visitors are encouraged to use the hand sanitisers available at each entry point to PEER and in each classroom. A sanitation plan is also in place for communal (public) areas with regular cleaning of common areas.

PEER provides each apprentice with their own safety glasses. Apprentices are reminded they are not to share their safety glasses with other apprentices.

We ask that you please inform PEER if you or someone you are in regular contact with has tested positive for COVID -19.

Further Information

PEER will continue to monitor information and advice provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Federal and State Governments and provide updates as new information comes to hand.

Questions?

If you have any queries or need assistance in, don’t hesitate to contact our WHS Advisor on (08) 8348 1200 or email us at safety@peer.com.au

• A sprain is an injury to the ligaments and capsule at a joint in the body.
• A strain is an injury to muscles or tendons.

Soft tissue injuries may be sudden (acute) or long-standing (chronic). Healing depends on factors including the type of tissue and severity of injury, treatment undertaken, previous injuries, and the age and general health of the person.

One of the methods to avoid sprains and strains is to warm up before participating in any sports, exercise or work activity. When your muscles are tight, they are vulnerable to strain.

Get your body warmed up with some light exercise. When you’re warmed up (not before), commit to a full-body stretch session, focusing on additional stretches for your high-risk muscle groups.

Stretching allows your large joints (such as your shoulders and knees) to reach their maximum movement potential and is also a good time to mentally prepare for an event or work by clearing the mind, increasing focus, on the tasks ahead.

• Job task rotation to reduce the repetitive nature of a task, e.g. limiting tasks to set time limits and rotating tasks with another worker
• Shared tasks to reduce the load, e.g. shared lift of heavy object
• Correct use of tools and body positioning, e.g. limit reaching and conduct tasks close to your bodies core/center of gravity

Are you suffering similar injuries time and time again? If you have encountered several wrist strains or back sprains, do a mental inventory of your daily tasks at work. A common repetitive action could be causing your body to move incorrectly, causing the sprain to reoccur again (and again, and again!) Uncovering work patterns that are causing your injury can help you to modify them for the future—and therefore, minimize your risk!

Suggestions for immediate treatment of acute sprains or strains include:

• Stop your activity.
• Rest the injured area.
• Put icepacks on the area for 20 minutes every 2 hours, separated from the skin by wet toweling.
• Compress or bandage the injured site firmly, extending the wrapping from below to above.
• Elevate (raise) the injured area above heart height whenever practical.
• Avoid heat, alcohol, running and massage of the affected area in the first 72 hours after the injury, as this can increase swelling.
• If symptoms get worse in the first 24 hours, see your doctor for further medical investigation.

If you have any queries or need assistance in ensuring you are meeting your obligations under legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact our WHS Advisor on (08) 8348 1243 or email us at safety@peer.com.au.

Growing demand for its training and apprenticeship programs, and expansion into mining and defence, has led PEER to appoint Brian Rungie to the new position of General Manager- Training.

Mr Rungie has an extensive background in vocational education leadership- including as Executive Director of Education at TAFE SA – and will oversee the delivery of training within PEER.

PEER is South Australia’s leading training and assessment organisation for plumbing, electronics, electrical, data communications and refrigeration trades, and Mr Rungie said he was attracted by the non-profit organisation’s energy and strong reputation.

“Having worked in vocational education and training for many years, I was excited when walking through the PEER training workshops and saw the pride the trainers had in their apprentices and their training practice,” Mr Rungie said.

“PEER already has a strong industry reputation for its innovative training practices and quality apprentices, and I am looking forward to doing my part to support the growth in apprentices and trainees across South Australia.”

Mr Rungie said PEER’S strengths included its flexible programs, safety-focussed mindset and technology that allowed apprentices and their employers to track their progress together.

“The flexible training model enables apprentices to work at their own speed with trainers supporting them along the way.”

He said the organisation was growing as more employers took advantage of government incentives to employ apprentices, and he saw opportunity to further develop PEER’s VET (Vocational Educational Training) programs in schools.

“My role as General Manager of Training is a new one and I feel lucky to be involved with the organisation at such an exciting time of growth,” Mr Rungie said.

PEER CEO Peter Nolan described Brian as one of the nation’s top vocational educational training executives.

“Brian’s experience and knowledge of best practice and innovation will support PEER’S continued drive to find innovative solutions to the training and employment of the next generation of tradespeople in South Australia,” Mr Nolan said.

Brian Rungie began his career in hospitality in the 1990s, before moving into hotel management, then became a lecturer and program director for Le Cordon Bleu. He went on to strategic management roles, including a 16-year stint with TAFE SA, and project management for Fusco Constructions.

He holds several qualifications in education, business and project management, including a Master of Education Research from the University of Adelaide.

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Long-serving State MP Paul Caica has been appointed Chair of the Board at PEER, South Australia’s leading training and assessment organisation for trades.

Mr Caica retired from parliament in 2018 after a 16-year career in which he held several high-profile ministerial portfolios including that of Employment, Training and Further Education.

He says he was attracted to the PEER role because of the non-profit organisation’s strong industry reputation, skilled staff and potential for growth.

“Being a former Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, I knew of PEER and my son actually did an apprenticeship with them in plumbing,” Mr Caica says.

“PEER has excellent credentials- we have been recognised with many awards and were a national finalist in the 2020 Australian Training Awards for Small Training Provider of the Year.

“I’m impressed not only with PEER’S board and executive, but by all of the staff- they are highly professional.

“To me, PEER is synonymous with innovation- for example it uses tailored teaching techniques to suit individual students’ learning styles so that everyone can experience success.”

Mr Caica believes PEER has the potential to expand interstate and is keen assist the board in achieving its vision to be Australia’s leading learning organisation.

“We are well known in South Australia, but I would like to see us continue to innovate and extend our reach beyond our borders- our objective should be to become significant in Australia.”

Mr Caica sees vocational training as an economic imperative for the state which also directly impacts people’s lives.

“You’re training people for life-long careers in vocations that they choose, giving them careers for life – it’s critical,” he says.

PEER CEO Peter Nolan says Mr Caica’s appointment is a significant gain for PEER.

“As the former Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PEER board, as we expand into mining and defence.” Mr Nolan says.

“His vast contacts, insights and big picture thinking will help drive our growth strategy, adding further breadth and depth to the current PEER board.”

Electric shocks may also lead to other injuries, including falls from ladders, scaffolds or other elevated work platforms. Other injuries or illnesses may include muscle spasms, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, collapse and unconsciousness and in the worst case death.

Management of Risk

Businesses have an obligation to manage risks to health and safety associated with electrical risks at the workplace in accordance with the WHS Regulations. The WHS Regulations also include specific requirements for managing electrical risks, many of which are covered in the SA Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace 2020. General risk management methodology includes the following key steps;

Consult with workers and others to;
• Identify Hazards
• Manage Risk using the hierarchy of controls
• Maintain the control measures
• Review the effectiveness of control measures

Isolation

To ensure electrical equipment or circuits remain de-energised while working, the electrical equipment or circuits should be effectively isolated from all relevant sources of electricity supply. This may be done using opening switches, removing fuses or links, opening circuit breakers or removing circuit connections.

The steps for effective isolation include;
• Isolation of the equipment or apparatus,
• Securing the isolation,
• Tagging,
• Testing, and
• Re-testing as necessary.

For example, if the person carrying out the work temporarily leaves the immediate area, or is to start work on a different part of the isolation, tests must be carried out on their return or before commencing work to ensure that the electrical equipment being worked on is still not energised to safeguard against inadvertent reconnection by another person.

Electric shocks are classified as a “Dangerous incidents” and must be notified to SafeWork SA and the Office of the Technical Regulator by the PCBU responsible for the workplace.

If you have any queries or need assistance in ensuring you are meeting your obligations under legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact our WHS Advisor on (08) 8348 1243 or email us at safety@peer.com.au.