Werribee Steel

About Werribee Steel:

Werribee Steel is a local family business established in 1967 and has established itself as one of Werribee’s leading steel fabricators and suppliers in the western suburbs. In 2004 it was extended and renovated, to keep up with the increasing demand of steel fabrication in the western suburbs.

Werribee Steel OHS:

Werribee Steel is governed by the OHS Act of 2004 and work closely with WorkSafe Victoria to ensure they are compliant. 

Before Employment Commences

All employees going through an OHS course before they start their employment at Werribee Steel. In addition to the OHS course, employees must sign an OHS document, which then goes onto their file. To work on-site, management must have access to any medical documentation and emergency contacts in case of an accident. Before their first shift, all staff go through a basic walkthrough of the factory so management can identify equipment, work stations and materials. 

Throughout Employment

It is the management's responsibility to provide training on OHS practices. Management conducts regular OHS training sessions to update and remind their staff of OHS practices and procedures. The staff wear PPE (personal protective equipment) which is all supplied by Werribee Steel. 

Communicating OHS Procedures

Given the size of the company, management communicates OHS procedures using  one or more of the following methods:

• Besides induction meetings and annual training sessions, Werribee Steel has different signs around the place to inform employees of dangers. These include, ‘Forklifts in use',  ‘Hazchem', ‘overhead cranes in use’ and ‘Keep Clear’. However, it is up to the individual that he/she is responsible for the safe use of the equipment and follows all rules. 

• Safe work method statements (SWMS) document is used to keep employees to keep up to date with current OHS practices and regulations. Werribee Steel uses the SWMS form generated by WorkSafe.

• OHS updates are sent via email and discussed at team meetings. 

Reporting a Hazard:

Once an employee sees a hazard and it is raised with the person in charge or the foreman. The foreman shuts that section down until they can come up with a solution to the problem. Robert Cannizzaro (CEO) or the shop foreman implement control measures and update staff. These safety methods are always the first thing they do, they assess every hazard individually and try to find a way to either eliminate it or minimize the impact.  The shop foreman is responsible for monitoring any new hazards and risks. This process of sharing the OHS risks is very effective because it gets reported to management straight away who then try and find a way to minimize or get rid of the risk completely. When they shut down their site, they are actually losing money. So the quicker they find a way to make it safer the better it is for them. 

COVID

With Covid-19 in place, all business needs to have a Covid safe plan with their company. Werribee Steel has the 1.5 metre rule in place, face masks must be worn, lunch is to be split into 2 shifts, hand sanitiser is located at certain spots in the building and only one customer at a time in the office.

OHS Responsibilities:

Owner: 

• To provide and maintain a safe working environment for all employees

• Provide employees with the necessary tools, equipment and training for the job they are performing

• Provide suitable facilities for the employees

• Making sure the files are put away safely and correctly 

• provide suitable facilities for welfare at any workplace they manage or control

• give the employees the necessary information, instruction, training or supervision to enable them to do their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health. 

• ensure the safe use, handling, storage or transport of plant or substances 

• ensure that the conduct of your business does not endanger other people

• consult employees on matters that may directly affect their health, safety and welfare

• keep information and records relating to health and safety of your employees

• give your employees information about workplace health and safety in appropriate languages 

• monitor your employees' health (example: provide hearing tests if they are exposed to high level noises)

Manager:

• To ensure safe work practices and conditions for employees

• To conduct and work safe training they think is needed for the employees

• Making decisions about health and safety that may affect other employees

• To carry out workplace inspections if they think it should be done

• To make changes to machinery, which they think is unsafe

• To make changes to anything on the shop floor which they think could put themselves and their employees at risk

Employees:

• To take care of their own health and safety 

• To cooperate with what the employers says or enforces such as new covid rules or OHS regulations and requirements

• To not put other employees at risk

• To have the required training for the job 

• To have the correct knowledge of what they are doing 

• To wear the correct PPE at all times

• To bring the correct PPE if it is taken home with them 

Reception:

• For covid purposed they should have either a check in sheet which as the name, number and time that they were there, or they can have a QR code

• Taking calls from the public and meeting their demands 

• To document and organise all OHS documents and incident reports

• To pass on to the high managers or bosses the new covid guideline given to them or new OHS rules that go through admin

Visitors:

• To take care of their own health and safety 

• To obey and respect any rules or guidelines the company have in place on their property 

• To not put any visitor or worker at risk

Werribee Steel Employment Opportunities: 

Werribee Steel are currently looking for people in these areas, delivery driver and stock control. 

In order to get a job at Werribee Steel, you will need to have completed or enrolled in a four-year TAFE course of civil engineering. You will also need a minimum of a year ten pass in order to work at Werribee Steel. They also take on work experience students, to give them an idea of the trade. 

The steel industry has a very strong future growth, due to a lot of factories and big buildings and high rises being built. Due to the high demand of all those buildings there are not a lot of steel businesses to work with, so it is always the same businesses getting all of the work. That is why the future growth if very strong. 

Employee entitlements, workplace agreements:

Werribee steel falls under the award (MA000020). Structural steel workers get paid an average of $2,100 per week. Full time workers need work an average of 49 hours per week. Level three tradesperson in metals and engineering construction sector earn an hourly rate of $25.72. They also get superannuation which is where a small part of you pay gets taken away and put in separately, where when you retire you get all that money that got put away. , annual leave where they get their normal rates, parental leave and community service leave. 

Overtime:

Overtime- Monday to Friday- first 2 hours earn $38.58 an hour. 

Overtime Monday to Friday - after 2 hours earn $51.44 an hour. 

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - first 2 hours earn $38.58 an hour. 

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - after 2 hours earn $51.44 an hour. 

Overtime - Saturday - after 12 noon earn $51.44 an hour still.

Meal Breaks:

At Werribee Steel, the workers work from 6:30am to 10am then get a twenty-minute paid break. They then get back to from 10am to 12:30pm which then they will get a thirty-minute paid break until 1pm. From that they will finish at around 3pm to 4pm. 

Qualifications:

                    Owner:

To be an owner you need to have the right qualifications for your trade such as attending TAFE for the four years of your specific trade. You will also need to know the basics of finance and OHS, sales and customer relationships and people management.  

                     Foremen:

As a foreman you need an advanced diploma of building and construction and the relevant TAFE course of your industry such as civil engineering.

                    Tradesman:

To be a tradesman you will need to have completed or enrolled in a four-year TAFE course of civil engineering. You will also need a minimum of a year ten pass.

                     Receptionist:

You do not need any qualifications to be a receptionist however your employers expects certain things such as. Organizational skills, attention to detail, good multitasker, excellent communication sills, courteous and strong customer service skills. 

                     Drafters/drawers: 

To be a drafter/drawer you will need to complete a Certificate IV in Engineering. If you want to draw building specification you will need a Certificate IV in building design drafting. 

Apprentice Wages:

1st year

weekly pay: $552.47

hourly pay rate: $14.54

overtime - Monday to Friday - first 2 hours: $21.81

overtime Monday to Friday - after 2 hours: $29.08

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - first 2 hours: $21.81

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - after 2 hours: $29.08

Saturday After Good Friday: $36.35

Sunday: $29.08

Public Holiday: $36.35

Working during a meal break: $29.08

Less than 10 hour break between shifts: $29.08

2nd year

weekly pay: $727.99

hourly pay rate: $19.16

overtime - Monday to Friday - first 2 hours: $28.74

overtime Monday to Friday - after 2 hours: $38.32

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - first 2 hours: $28.74

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - after 2 hours: $38.32

Saturday After Good Friday: $47.90

Sunday: $38.32

Public Holiday: $47.90

Working during a meal break: $38.32

Less than 10 hour break between shifts: $38.32 

3rd year

weekly pay: $859.03

hourly pay rate: $22.62

overtime - Monday to Friday - first 2 hours: $33.93

overtime Monday to Friday - after 2 hours: $45.24

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - first 2 hours: $33.93

Overtime - Saturday before 12 noon - after 2 hours: $45.24

Saturday After Good Friday: $56.55

Sunday: $45.24

Public Holiday: $56.55

Working during a meal break: $45.24

Less than 10 hour break between shifts: $45.24

Work Environment:

Foreman: 

• Manage supplies, materials and equipment

• Coordinate essential personnel on-site for the project

• Plan, direct and budget construction of structures

• Read and interpret blueprints and drawing of the project 

• Adhere to safety regulations

• Produce employee and project schedules

• Manage and monitor members attendance and work

• overseeing the standard and progress of subcontractors work

• arrange building inspections by local authorities 

• ensuring adherence to building legislation and standards of performance, quality, cost and safety 

Drafters/drawers:

• preparing reports, site plans, working drawings, specification and cost estimates for land development

• inspecting construction work in progress to ensure compliance with plans specifications and quality standards

• preparing project documentation, including sketches and scale drawings

• providing information regarding designs, materials and estimated building times

Owner:

• Looks over the whole business

• Pays workers and expenses that come along with the business

• Looking after staff and management 

• Financial management 

• Sales and marketing 

• Purchasing of new machines 

• Maintenance of home site  

Tradesmen:

• Prepares, fabricates and welds metal constrictions and components of the job

• Work off projects and blueprint using a variety of tools and machiney to make metal parts or to assemble components

•  work in assembling concrete walls to new buildings being built

Receptionist: 

• Take calls from the public 

• Do any filing or paperwork for the managers or the boss

• Book in appointments for managers

• Organise projects and let the manager know when they come in

• Let bosses know if there are any changes to new regulations 

• Serves visitors by greeting them when they walk in

• Notifies boss or manager when someone that has come to see them comes in

• Informs visitors by answering or referring inquiries