11 December 2020 / Weather Alert

Weather Alert

La Niña Event Forecast

2020-2021 Summer Strong Potential for Severe Weather Events

11 December 2020

A La Niña event has been officially declared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the Australian summer of 2020-2021.

La Niña typically brings with it heavy rainfall, intense storms and the possibility of strong wind events such as cyclones. The last time Australia saw a fully-fledged La Niña was from 2010 through 2012.

This alert is issued as a reminder to begin preparations for the likelihood of these severe weather events in the coming months.

Of immediate concern is the weather event forecast from tomorrow, Saturday 12 December through Monday 14 December. Those in Northern NSW, the Gold Coast and SE QLD should be prepared for:

> strong winds of ~75 km/hr

> storms and heavy rain

> seas in excess of 6.0 metres Check the Toolbox Weather page or local BOM warnings in your location for more information.

WHAT IS LA NIÑA?

La Niña is a complex weather pattern that occurs every few years, as a result of variations in ocean temperatures in the equatorial band of the Pacific Ocean. It occurs as strong winds blow warm water at the ocean's surface away from South America, across the Pacific Ocean towards Indonesia.

RESOURCES FOR SITE

The below resources are available to assist in the preparation for and in the aftermath of severe weather events. These are also available on the Doc Library and via HammerTech.

Site Shutdown & Storm Preparation Cyclone Preparation Checklist Post Cyclone Checklist Cyclone Management Plan

More Information

Please contact Danny O’Reilly / National Health & Safety Manager

Phone 0408 920 496
Email danny.oreilly@hutchies.com.au

Other Recent Activities

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9 April / Meetings

All Company Update / April 2025

Thanks for participating in Hutchies' All Company Update.

A copy of the presentation slides is available to download below.

HB-CO-IntCom-Campaign-2025-Graphic-WHSMP-V16-1-LowRes-.jpg

31 March / Update

Work Health and Safety Management Plan / Version 16

All construction projects over $250K need a site-specific WHS Management Plan to ensure processes are in place to reduce health and safety risks.

The WHS Management Plan has been updated to align with Safe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice: Construction work.

The language has been refined to be clearer about the legal and other requirements that must be followed on site.

Actions

Projects with more than 3 months left must update the WHSMP and appendices by 30 April 2025.

Projects with less than 3 months should review the amendment register and make any relevant updates to the current plan.

Team HSE Managers

Coordinate the update of the plan and all appendix documents in consultation with the project team
Ensure proper archiving of superseded plans (2 years following project completion)

Project Manager

Ensure plans are updated within the 3 month period and approved for use

Project Teams

Update the WHS Management Plan with the Team HSE Manager
Communicate the update to subcontractors
Maintain updated hard copy of WHS Management Plan on site

Team Leaders

Where the team does not have a Team HSE Manager, the Team Leader is required to oversee this process and all updates

Further updates

The following guidance material has also been updated. A full list of amendments can be found here.

24 March / Training

Funded Spots Available for Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety

This qualification applies to individuals working in, or wishing to transition into, a work health and safety (WHS) role who provide a broad range of technical knowledge and skills and have some limited responsibility for the output of others.

The qualification applies to those working as supervisors, WHS personnel, and workers in other WHS-related roles who manage risks effectively, apply relevant WHS laws, and contribute to WHS within the workplace in known or changing contexts with established parameters.

The specific nature of this course will include contextualisation of Hutchies’ Policies, Processes, Procedures, and Systems relating to on-site hazard identification, risk assessment and hierarchy of control measures within the scope of its operations.

Units of competency for the Cert IV WHS that we will cover are:

BSBHWS412 Assist with workplace compliance with WHS Laws
BSBWHS413 Contribute to Implement & Maintenance of WHS Consultation & Participation Processes
BSBWHS414 Contribute to Risk Management
BSBWHS415 Contribute to implementing WHS Management Systems
BSBWHS416 Contribute to Workplace Incident Response
BSBWHS417 Assist with Managing WHS Implication of Return to Work
BSBWHS418 Assist with Managing WHS Compliance of Contractors
BSBWHS431 Develop Processes and Procedures for controlling Hazardous Chemicals in the workplace
BSBCMM411 Make a Presentation
BSBWRT411 Write Complex Documents

Funding is available for eligible Queensland participants via CSQ.

For course inquiries call / email Warren Belford on 0427 337 379.