2013 The Year in Review

December again and 2013 is rapidly coming to an end. 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 canapés to launch 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.

Following on from this success, R2A will be hosting another event on Thursday, 6th February 2014 from 3pm to 5pm. Richard will launch the 2104 update of the R2A Text. R2A has concluded that the risk and liability world is changing so fast at the moment that, until further notice, the text will be updated annually at least.

Matters of interest include:

• The introduction of the Rail Safety National Law, which is complimentary but subordinate to the model WHS legislation.
• The expected approval in the new year of the Engineers Australia Safety Case Guideline (3 Edition). This specifically rejects the Risk Management Standard (AS 31000) hazard based approach as being able to positively demonstrate due diligence for high consequence – low frequency events. This has startling consequences.
• Why SFAIRP (so far as is reasonably practicable) can never legally equal ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable).
• The logical limitations of Monte Carlo simulation for demonstrating project due diligence

Richard will also outline the outlook for 2014. We expect a lively discussion so please pencil in the date and join us on the 6th February.

Richard and I continue to work with the Risk Engineering Society (he’s been made an Honorary Member) to develop the third edition of the Safety Case Guideline. Now at the penultimate draft stage, it is expected that these will be reviewed by legal counsel and approved by the National Committee in the next couple of months.

In October we welcomed Stacey Daniel to our team. I would like to thank her for her contributions over the last couple of months and look forward to continuing to work with her in 2014.

We were also privileged to work with many clients throughout the year. Here are a few of the interesting projects completed in 2013.

INTERESTING PROJECTS

Hazardous Trees Review, Department of Environment and Primary Industry – A precautionary gap analysis of the current controls in place for hazardous trees in relation to crews and vehicles, especially during fire fighting operations.

Safety Due Diligence Review, Rockhampton Girls Grammar School – A review consistent with the provisions of the Queensland Work Health and Safety Act (2011).

LNG ship arrival / departure review, Gladstone Port Corporation – A review to ensure all reasonable practicable precautions are in place for all credible, critical safety issues associated with the movement of LNG ships through the Port of Gladstone to Curtis Island.

E Class Tram Safety & Operations Review, Yarra Trams – A safety and operations review for the new E Class trams to form part of Yarra Trams’ submission to Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) for their Accrediation Variation Application (AVA) to type test the new tram on the network.

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.

CONFERENCES

Richard presented at the following conferences in 2013 and has availability for similar opportunities in 2014. Drop Richard a line if you have an event coming up. (richard.robinson@r2a.com.au)

• Asset Management in Melbourne
• Earthing, Lightning & Surge Protection in Brisbane
• Electrical Regulatory Compliance Forum
• Australian Marine Pilots Institute Spring Workshop

R2A’s paper on SFAIRP vs. ALARP has also been accepted for the 2014 CORE Conference.

MEDIA

Richard had two articles published in 2013:

• Implications of the WHS Act relating to protection and earthing (Australasian Power Technologies Publication)
• Legal implications for designers under the Engineers Australia Safety Case Guidelines (Industrial Electrix magazine)

MARKETING ACTIVITIES

Our marketing program continued in 2013 with the following highlights –

Project Insights White PaperSafety Due Diligence White PaperOperation Due Diligence White PaperThis blog!

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.

In partnership with Engineering Education Australia, we a piloted a 2-day How to Engineer Due Diligence Workshop in Melbourne. This workshop is aimed at aspiring directors and senior managers of essential service organisations. This partnership will continue in 2014. Workshop dates and locations are: Melbourne on 5th and 6th March 2014, Brisbane on the 20th and 21st May 2014, Perth on the 12th and 13th August 2014 and Sydney on 14th and 15th October 2014. Further details can be found at https://www.r2a.com.au/education/r2a-short-courses.html.