Key holders don’t want to be overwhelmed with several systems. That is why introducing electronic key cabinets with integration to security or human resource systems is very beneficial. To prevent being disappointed with unrealistic integration promises, it is wise to be apprehensive when told that a reliable key management system third-party API can be built on-the-fly, without foreseeing the time […]
Safety and Training
New bushfire protection tech trialled in VIC
Annabelle Powell Disaster Management, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Safety and Training 0New technology is being trialled in the Macedon Ranges which aims to boost bushfire protection by adding safety measures to the powerline network. Electricity distributor Powercor has installed a pilot device near Woodend to test the technology called Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) Broken Conductor, which aims to instantly detect a broken powerline and cut electricity before the line hits […]
VIC program decreasing powerline bushfire risk
Lauren DeLorenzo Electricity, News, Powerlines, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0An independent report has found that Victoria’s Powerline Bushfire Safety Program has hugely reduced the risk of bushfires in the state. Aurecon’s Powerline Bushfire Safety Program Benefits Realisation Report found the program has resulted in a 44.1 per cent reduction in powerline bushfire risk across the state. Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said that the […]
AER launches new vulnerability strategy for consultation
Utility Journalist News, Retail, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has launched a new vulnerability strategy for consultation, aiming to improve the experiences of consumers who are especially vulnerable to financial hardship, as energy debt figures increase across the country. Concerns that some consumers may not be able to access the energy they need, due to financial hardship or vulnerability, formed the basis of the […]
Essential Energy’s new digital and training safety initiatives
Katie Livingston Asset management, Digital Utilities, Disaster Management, Features, Safety and Training 0Essential Energy’s field crew take a leading role driving innovation, efficiency, and safety outcomes within the business. Recently, two new initiatives have been delivered that are paying dividends for employees right across the organisation. Digitising safety assessments Safety is Essential Energy’s number one priority. As the business has evolved over the years and decades, so have its safety procedures. Recently, […]
Inspiring confidence and improving process safety
Katie Livingston Asset management, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0LineVu is a video-based system designed to detect contamination in high pressure gas systems, enable alarm notifications, and allow live video access to both office-based and field-based engineers. By providing better data to base operational decisions regarding process safety and efficiency on, the system improves accountability of gas suppliers to gas network systems and can boost production in gas treatment […]
Industrial reverse osmosis
Katie Livingston Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Reverse osmosis (RO) is widely applied to remove salts and other substances from process water. Bacterial growth on RO membranes can greatly reduce the efficiency of this process, so large amounts of chemicals (known as biocides) are dosed in the water, to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. Many biocides are oxidizers, and contact with RO membranes should be avoided. For […]
The invisible threat you can now see
Katie Livingston Electricity, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0Tired of spending too much time detecting partial discharge? Engineered to locate partial discharge (PD), corona discharge, and gas and vacuum leaks, the Fluke ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager is the device you need. The Fluke ii910 acoustic imaging camera’s groundbreaking technology makes it a cost-efficient, safe, effective, and comfortable tool for teams who inspect and maintain power distribution and industrial […]
Delivering the Kinley Estate outfall sewer
Katie Livingston Projects, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Fulton Hogan’s outfall sewer project in Melbourne’s Kinley Estate overcame several challenges in ground conditions and traffic flow disruption thanks to Pezzimenti Trenchless’ laser guided microtunnelling techniques. Open cut was not an option for this project due to possible disruption to traffic and residents. The project required full traffic flow during microtunnelling, including residents having access to their properties, and […]
Organisations needed to deliver First Nations metering program
Utility Journalist News, Projects, Safety and Training, Spotlight, Sustainability, Water 0The NSW Government is looking for organisations to submit a proposal to deliver a First Nations metering traineeship program. The $1 million program is funded through the Federal Government’s $12.5 million northern Murray-Darling Basin package, aimed at boosting metering and telemetry in the area. Manager Aboriginal Policy Engagement at the Department of Planning Industry and Environment (DPIE) Water, Bradley Delaney, […]
What are the safety benefits of microtunnelling compared to other pipeline installation methods?
Lauren Cella Ask an Expert, Civil Construction, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Trenchless technology 0It goes without saying that safety is a key concern on any construction site, and lots of work goes into mitigating safety risks and ensuring workers get back home safely at the end of the day. However, not all construction methods are equal in terms of safety, with some methods and machines designed to be inherently safer than others, and […]
Wonder dog sniffs out hard to spot weeds
Utility Journalist Company news, Maintenance, News, People and appointments, Projects, Safety and Training, Sustainability 0Melbourne Water’s Waterways and Catchment Operations has welcomed a new furry member to the team, who has a special talent for sniffing out a troublesome weed. Raasay is a young border collie with a unique skill set – trained to smell out Spartina anglica – an invasive grass that grows in tidal estuaries and is notoriously hard to spot. The […]
QLD energy trainees utilise VR simulators
Imogen Hartmann Asset management, Company news, Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Electricity, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0Energy Queensland’s Technical Training and Apprentices team, alongside the Digital Division, are developing virtual reality (VR) training simulators to provide Ergon Energy and Energex trainees with a safe training environment. Technical Training Business Manager, Stewart MacDonald, and Digital Enablement Specialist, Noeneel Sharma, from the Digital Division have already developed a Polarity VR Training Simulator and are about to deploy their […]
United Energy rolls out Early Fault Detection tech
Imogen Hartmann Asset management, Company news, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0United Energy has rolled out a suite of advanced technology along the Mornington Peninsula, designed to flag potential network faults early and thereby improve power reliability and safety. Crews have installed 22 Early Fault Detection (EFD) devices across parts of the high voltage network in Rosebud and Dromana to protect some of the most bushfire-prone parts of the Peninsula. The […]
No two days are the same for a tradesperson. While immediate work challenges can be unpredictable, the need for efficiency and safety remain paramount, whether you are a technician in the field or managing projects across job sites. While working alongside tradespeople, Milwaukee Tool discovered the biggest issues impacting Australia’s utilities industry and engineered a product range to help overcome […]
How to find the right relief water and wastewater operators for your assets
Journalist Asset management, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0When it comes to maintaining your water assets, reliable, experienced and trained staff are essential to maintaining good operations. But when your staff need time off, sourcing relief operators can be a difficult task. That’s where Simmonds & Bristow come in – the integrated water specialists helping regional, remote and small communities across Australia and the South Pacific make good […]
Melbourne Water collaborates on world-first electrical safety training simulator
Imogen Hartmann Digital Utilities, News, Projects, Safety and Training, Water 0In a world first, Melbourne Water and Deakin University’s CADET Virtual Reality Training and Simulation Research Lab are working together to develop an electrical safety training simulator. The research project has received financial support from the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC), which invests Commonwealth funds in industry-led manufacturing research and development. The collaboration will produce an industry-ready immersive system […]
United Energy rolls outs $1.7 million power safety program in Victoria
Imogen Hartmann Asset management, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training, Water 0Electricity distributor United Energy is rolling out a $1.7 million program to reduce fire risks and boost power reliability by incorporating new technology into parts of the electricity network. United Energy has started replacing 5.1km of high-voltage powerlines with covered conductor technology across the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, with 2.9km set to be complete by Christmas 2020. The conductors cover […]
Innovations in workplace health and safety win COVID-19 times
Journalist COVID-19, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 02020 has been a year of challenges and change, particularly when it comes to workplace health and safety. “Business as usual” simply doesn’t exist anymore and there aren’t many, if any, industries that haven’t been impacted by COVID-19. As such, the way businesses operate is changing immensely and business owners are learning to adapt their business practices. When it comes […]
$25.6 million Busselton drain upgrade for flood mitigation
Imogen Hartmann Dams, News, Projects, Safety and Training, Stormwater, Water 0Construction has begun on the $25.6 million Vasse Diversion Drain upgrade in Busselton, Western Australia, which will improve flood mitigation for the town during significant rainfall events. Water Corporation’s upgrade includes widening 5.5km of the drain and reconstructing dam structures to increase the drain’s capacity and improve the structural integrity of the banks, which were originally constructed in the 1920s. […]
Seqwater launches updated public safety app
Imogen Hartmann Company news, Digital Utilities, News, Safety and Training, Stakeholder Engagement, Water 0Seqwater has launched an improved version of its free public safety app ahead of South East Queensland’s summer storm season to keep residents up to date on water supply and recreation news. The Seqwater app, originally launched in November 2016, provides users with important safety information about dam releases, lake closure alerts and water supply levels across the authority’s 26 […]
Safety first: robot enables next-generation asset inspections
Charlotte Pordage Condition Assessment, Features, Maintenance, Pipelines, Safety and Training, Water 0Water Corporation maintains two underground pipeline tunnels in the Perth Hills – the 5.6km Canning Tunnel and the 3.9km Wungong Dam Tunnel. Inspecting these rock-lined tunnels is an important task that historically has been undertaken by work crews, but robotic vehicles are helping reduce the safety risks for workers. An assessment involves various tests and samples or remedial work when […]
Utility company counts on Senstar to address regulations and meet security goals
Journalist Asset management, Electricity, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0Intrusions at electrical utilities can have serious consequences including service interruptions, equipment damage, copper theft, and fatalities. Multiple layers of security at the perimeter can provide multiple means to detect intrusions, provide context, and respond appropriately. Learn why a major electrical utility company turned to Senstar to meet its physical security goals. To reduce the vulnerability of electrical infrastructure, governments […]
RS Components level up safety range with Blundstone Boots
Journalist Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial 0Having the correct footwear is crucial to the wearer’s well-being and comfort when working in dynamic environments, not just for accident prevention but also in maximising protection. A foot injury can be debilitating and create difficulty when performing a job which is why the leading distributors in industrial components and safety equipment, RS Components, are working with iconic Australian company, […]
Mornington Peninsula powerlines undergrounded for bushfire safety
Imogen Hartmann Asset management, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training 0Electricity distributor United Energy has completed a project to underground powerlines as part of a $265,000 investment to improve safety and reliability in one of the highest risk bushfire areas along the Mornington Peninsula. Specialist crews moved almost 600m of high voltage lines underground along Valley Views Lane in Main Ridge. At the site, there are at least 55 large […]
Optimising field operations with rugged mobility solutions
Charlotte Pordage Condition Assessment, Digital Utilities, Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Telecommunications 0Digital technologies have created new opportunities for integrating advanced data and analytics into workflows, giving utility field crews the ability to stay connected, and capture, assess and share critical data while on the job. The harsh environments that these crews operate in are unfriendly to electronic equipment, highlighting the need for rugged mobility devices that can hold up in any […]
How the water sector has made strides in work health and safety through COVID-19
Journalist Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water 0The COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly changed the way we live, placing stress on the psychological wellbeing of many. As Australian communities begin to control the spread of the virus, there has been a call to shift the focus from ‘flattening the pandemic curve’ to ‘flattening the mental health curve.’ In light of National Safe Work Month during October, Australia’s and […]
Join your peers at the Water Industry Safety Event
Journalist Safety and Training, Sponsored Editorial, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) is hosting its annual Water Industry Safety Event (WISE) for 2020 with a twist – this year it will be held online using the interactive virtual water platform. This year’s WISE event will be held on 28 October as part of the Virtual Water –- a 3D virtual environment featuring video-streaming keynotes […]
At Programmed, our value of diversity, inclusion and equality is about taking practical steps to embed sustainable change. We are committed to diversity, with a focus on generational and cultural change to increase the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, provide opportunities to people with disabilities, and improve gender balance. Programmed understands that a balanced workforce includes a diversity […]
Essential Energy launches Look Up and Live app across network
Imogen Hartmann Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Safety and Training 0Essential Energy has launched the digital mapping app, Look Up and Live, across its network to improve safety for anyone working around or near the utility’s overhead infrastructure. Look Up and Live has made free overhead powerline locations and imagery available to the public online, via an interactive geospatial map. The app provides the ability to search locations in real […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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