2014 The Year in Review
It’s hard to believe that 2014 is coming to a close and 2015 is almost here. As part of our end of year wrap up, here are some of the highlights that we would like to share with you.
The year started with drinks and canapes to launch the updated version of the 9th edition of the R2A text, Risk & Reliability: Engineering Due Diligence. The event was well attended by industry colleagues and provided an overview of the general state of affairs in industry.
Richard and I will host a similar event on 10th February 2015 to launch the 10th edition of the text. The 10th edition will include a new chapter on Sustainability Due Diligence as well as expansion of our Project Due Diligence and Safety Due Diligence chapters.
We would love to see you there so pencil the date into your diaries.
Richard and I continued to work with the Risk Engineering Society to develop the third edition of the Safety Case Guideline in 2014 which was officially launched at the 2014 Engineers Australia Convention in Melbourne in November. The guideline considers how a safety case argument can be used as a tool to positively demonstrate safety due diligence consistent with the requirements of the model WHS legislation.
We were privileged to work with many clients throughout the year. Here are a few of the interesting projects completed during the year.
INTERESTING PROJECTS
Project Due Diligence Process, Port of Melbourne Corporation. A project due diligence process was developed for Gates 2 and 4 of all PoMC projects. This was then applied to two projects which were written up as case studies.
Monash Medical Centre Power Supply Operations Due Diligence Review, Waterman AHW. The process tested for the catastrophic, low likelihood events (outliers) before it optimised for operational availability.
Safety Due Diligence Review. An assessment of the health and safety risks associated with the taxi and hire car industry in Victoria was completed.
High Energy Assets Due Diligence Review, Melbourne Water. A safety due diligence review was completed on Melbourne Water’s high energy assets especially in relation to the high and low voltage upgrade options at Eastern Treatment Plant’s Influent Pumping Station (IPS).
Z class tram life extension review. Public Transport Victoria and Yarra Trams. A due diligence review was completed for the Z3 Class Tram fleets for a 15 year life extension period to ensure all credible critical issues had been identified and preliminary cost estimates developed.
Port Jackson and Port Botany Pilotage SMS Review. Being on the bridge of a cruise ship on a fine day coming out of Sydney Harbour is a joy to envied. The case study of this review has been included in the 10th edition of the R2A text.
E class trams project due diligence review. Public Transport Victoria. R2A continue to be the independent due diligence advisors for the procurement of the 50 new low floor trams for the Melbourne tram system. A case study was developed for presentation at the Engineers Australia Mastering Complex Projects conference in Melbourne and is included in the 10th edition of the R2A text.
CONFERENCES
Richard presented at a number of conferences and seminars in 2014 and has availability for similar opportunities in 2015. Drop Richard a line if you have an event coming up.
- Construction Risk Management Summit in Melbourne
- CORE 2014 in Adelaide
- Statewide Mutual Risk Management Conference in Sydney
- EA NSW Regional Convention in Wollongong
- Electrical Maintenance and Safety National Forum in Brisbane
- Society if Fire Protection Engineers Conference on the Gold Coast
- Mastering Complex Projects Conference in Melbourne
MEDIA
R2A were featured in a number of publications in 2014:
- Near Enough Not Safe Enough (Engineers Australia Magazine. Safety feature article. January 2014)
- Engineers Australia Safety Case Guidelines due to be released (Sourceable. January 2014.
- Operations Due Diligence (Australian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engineering Vol 11 No.1)
- Tough times ahead for the Construction Sector (Sourceable. April 2014)
- Rise of the Precautionary Approach (Engineers Australia Magazine. Executive Engineer feature. May 2014)
EDUCATION
From an education perspective Richard delivered numerous public and in house courses on Engineering Due Diligence as well as continuing to deliver the Swinburne post-graduate unit Introduction to Risk & Due Diligence.
The 2-day joint R2A/EEA engineering due diligence workshop was very successful and will continue in 2015. This workshop is aimed at aspiring directors and senior managers.