• CFMEU and suppliers meet after accidents
• New certificate of compliance and checklist now required

 Download Checklist

From 1 October 2011, a new Manufacturer’s Certificate of Compliance and Checklist is required for the delivery to site of precast concrete panels.

The completed certificate and checklist must be provided to the crane crew prior to panels being unloaded on site. It must also be signed off by a management representative of the panel manufacturer (i.e. supervisor or higher). Consistent with the current Victorian standard and national code, the erection design engineer must also provide the rigging diagrams and any relevant technical information to the builder for the panel lift.

From October 1, panels not complying with the Code/Standard and the new checklist standards will not be unloaded on site.

Following recent accidents involving failure of panel lifter inserts, the CFMEU, precast manufacturers and their component suppliers determined that the new certificate should apply from 1 October. However, it was agreed that a three month transition period apply to allow already manufactured panels and components to work their way through the industry.

Accordingly, boxes 2 and 3 on the checklist may not be ticked off due to the use of old stock or the panel being poured prior to the adoption of the new system. However, from 1 January 2012 all three boxes on the certificate need to be ticked to ensure compliance with the Victorian Standard and National Code of Practice.

In exceptional circumstances where an older panel that doesn’t fully comply with the new requirements is to be sent to a site, the supplier will need to consult the CFMEU and, if appropriate, seek an exemption.

For more information speak to your OHS rep or call the CFMEU Safety Unit on 9341 3444.

Common precast panel problems include

	1. Use of incorrect lifting inserts. Inserts in the 10 tonne panel that fell on the Charnley Vale site (above) should have been the longer ‘hairpin’ type.
	2. Lifting inserts not pinned correctly.  Also, inserts should have two holes to allow a hanger bar to be inserted. This is an example of correct pinning of a lifting insert.
	3. Inserts not marked with the correct information: The insert manufacturer’s symbol or name The lifting capacity of the insert The insert length

 4. Often, the technical information (including rigging diagrams) is not being provided to the builder or crane crew prior to the panels being unloaded on site.