Your Local Plumbing and Drainage

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Contact details: info@yourlocalplumbinig.com.au, 1800 962224.

Business Summary:

Your Local Plumbing & Drainage (YLPD)are a company based in Werribee 3030. They have over 10 years experience in the plumbing industry and have managed to maintain a rating of 4.8 stars on Google. The Manager of this business has 4 full time fully qualified plumbers employed that work hard 7 days a week. YLPD expert emergency maintenance team are available 24 Hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This business ensures general plumbing maintenance and preventive plumbing services. Some of the services that they provide include Emergency Plumbing, Blocked-drains, Hot Water, Tap Installations, Leak Detection, Burst Pipes, Gas Fitting, Heating, and Cooling, Roofing, Bathroom Renovations, Kitchen Renovations, Laundry Renovations, Pipe Relining, Leaking Taps and Showers. YLPD provides their services for the Western Melbourne Region.

Job Opportunities:

·        Owner

·        Plumbers

Owner

The owner of the YLPD holds a Cert IV in Plumbing, and Construction and Induction card and First-Aid level 2.

The owner provides the overall direction of the business. He is ultimately responsible for setting objectives, strategies, policies and programs.

Job Longevity  

The owner has operated the business for over 10 years. Most business owners stay in the position for an average of 8.5 years. The owner is a full-time worker who works an average of 40 hours plus overtime. The number of people employed as business owners has declined over the last 5 years and will continue to do so.

Duties:

·        Purchasing equipment and arranging maintenance.

·        Book jobs.

·        Arrange quotes

·        Delegate jobs to staff and evaluate performance

·        Hold training for new staff

·        Supervise new employees

·        Prepare, or arrange for the preparation of, reports, budgets and forecasts for tax purposes.

·        Select and approve the selection of senior staff

·        Ensure the business complies with Fair work laws, OHS requirements and other relevant legislations

Entitlements

Leave

All employees other than casuals get paid on annual leave. Full time and part time get paid 4 weeks of annual leave based on their hours of work. Part time workers receive pro-rata annual leave.

Meal break

the owner of the business is given 20 minutes of paid meal break a day.

Allowances

tool allowances, uniform allowances, business car,

Leave: All employees other than casuals get paid on annual leave. Full time and part time get paid 4 weeks of annual leave based on their hours of work. Part time workers receive pro-rata annual leave.

Penalty rates

is given pay and a half on:

·        weekends

·        public holidays

·        overtime

·        late nights shift or

·        early morning shifts.

Superannuation

Under the superannuation guarantee, employers must pay superannuation contribution of 9.5% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings if When

 an employee is paid $450 or more before tax in a month and is:

Over 18 years or under 18 years and works over 30 hours a week.

Leave

All employees other than casuals get paid on annual leave. Full time and part time get paid 4 weeks of annual leave based on their hours of work. Part time workers receive pro-rata annual leave.

Pay during severe weather & stand down

paid normal rates when weather condition is stable enough to work in.

Plumbers

To be employed by YLPD, you are required to complete a 4-year plumbing apprenticeship. This apprenticeship includes a combination of 4 years of schooling in addition to on-the-job training. It also requires you to sit your journeyman exams at the end of your fourth year.

Qualifications:

Cert IV in Plumbing, and Construction and Induction card

Job Longevity:

The plumbers at YLPD have been working there for 10+ years, the average plumber stays in the trade for 30+ years. The plumbers that work at YLPD are all full-time workers who work an average of 40 hours a week plus overtime. In 2020 there were estimated 98,000 plumbers, that number has stayed around the same the past 5 years, it is expected to grow majorly over the next 5 years.

Duties:

·        setting out and installing hot and cold-water systems and associated equipment

·        installing water-based fire protections systems, including fire hydrants, hose reels and sprinkler systems

·        fabricating and installing soil and waste stacks

·        installing sewerage and effluent pumping equipment and disposal systems

·        stalling below-ground drainage systems and associated ground support systems

·        installing gas appliances, flues and pressure regulating devices

·        fabricating and installing metal roofing, rainwater goods and flashings

·        take care of equipment

·        set out to jobs given by owner

·        plumbing:

Entitlement

This business falls under the plumbing and fire sprinklers award [MA000036]. Agreements are as per EBA which is an agreement between the employer and employee outlining their wages, working conditions, career structure, allowances and entitlements.

 Meal break

A meal break is a longer period of uninterrupted rest that allows the employee to eat a meal.

Plumbers at YLPD are allowed 20 minutes of paid meal break.

Superannuation

Superannuation is money put aside by your employer over your working life for you to live on when you retire from work.

Under the superannuation guarantee, employers must pay superannuation contribution of 9.5% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings if

When an employee is paid $450 or more before tax in a month and is:

Over 18 years or under 18 years and works over 30 hours a week.

Overtime

When an employee Is working extra time beyond their ordinary time.

Full time plumbers usually work 40 hours a week on average, the plumbers at YLPD are 24/7 emergency plumbing which means they work hours of overtime each week. When working overtime the employees are on double pay rates.

Allowances

Allowances are extra payments made to employees who

Do certain tasks or have a certain skill that others can’

Use their own tools at work (tool allowance)

Work in risky or dangerous conditions.

- YLPD full-time workers receive uniform including PPE and Boots given to them by the company.

-  tool allowances, the expense of tools is paid off by the company.

 - Travel allowance, cost of travel is reimbursed by the company.

- all damage to equipment and clothing Is covered by the company.

Leave

All employees other than casuals get paid on annual leave. Full time and part time get paid 4 weeks of annual leave based on their hours of work. Part time workers receive pro-rata annual leave.

Skills and attributes

Some of the skills and attributes required to work at YLPD are:

·        good hand and eye coordination.

·        being able to work independently.

·        being able to work in a team.

·        good mobility.

·        knowledge on how to use plumbing equipment and technology.

·        general math skills.

·        communication.

·        customer service.

·        physical fitness.

·        Organization

Work environment

The work environments these plumbers work in can be:

·        Harsh

·        Dirty

·        Trenches

·        Pits

·        Beneath houses

·        In roof cavities

·        Confined spaces

·        Indoors

·        Outdoors

·        Poor weather

Technology

The technology used by the plumbers in this business are:

• Cameras – cameras are used to inspect broken pipes or to find blockages. They are also used to identify cracks in the pipes that can cause water leaks. 

• Excavators- these are used to resolve problems that are underground and cannot be resolved through other methods although excavators are a last resort.

• Drain relining equipment – drain relining equipment is used to reinstall and reline pipes.

 Rates & Wages

Hourly pay rate: $31.13

Weekly pay rate: $1,182.92

Saturday: first 2 hours  $46.70 per hour    

Saturday: after 2 hours $62.26 per hour    

Sunday: $62.26 per hour     

Public holiday: $77.83 per hour

Employment opportunities including work experience:

Your Local Plumbing and Drainage don’t offer many employment opportunities as they are small business. On the rare occasion that they do, they employ through a trial on a 2-week work placement and then take them on as an apprentice if they have good work ethics and a hard worker. Your local plumbing and drainage like to keep their business small and don’t employ much. Although in the past they have opened several job opportunities as fully qualified plumbers through online sites such as seek and indeed.

Management of OHS concerns:

YLPD consult with WorkSafe Victoria for their OHS requirements. WorkSafe and YLPD set their procedures and policies according to the OHS ACT 2004.   

Management of OHS concerns included but not limited to:

·        weekly training

·        risk assessments

·        Ongoing checks of first aid equipment.

·        Toolbox meetings

OHS Responsibilities

Owner:

• Deciding when a job can commence.

• Hold a toolbox meeting to provide general instruction for work associated with the job.

• Provide and make sure machinery is safe to use

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

• Provide suitable facilities for welfare at any workplace you manage and control.

• Provide correct training information and instruction to employees

• Keep workplaces that you manage and control in a safe condition, free of risks to health

Employee:

• Take care of your health and the people around you

• Cooperate with your employer about any action they take to comply with the OHS Act or Regulations.

• Don’t intentionally ignore the OHS Act or regulations

• Follow instructions

• Wear correct PPE

• Attend tool box meetings

Communicating OHS

The most effective methods of communication OHS process and procedure include:

Toolbox meeting

A toolbox meeting is a simple introduction at the start of the day before work which talks about what jobs you will be doing, OHS concerns, how to stay clear of those OHS concerns, hazards you are going to face and what you are going to do about it.

 Risk assessment

A risk assessment is used to identify the hazards in the workplace and the risks associated with the hazards. It talks about control measures to implement that will lower the chances of them occurring.

Staff meetings

A meeting to talk about how the agenda of their day, certain jobs they will do and deadlines the staff will have to meet. Management ensures that everyone is wearing correct PPE and following all required OHS procedures.

Employees must follow correct procedures when there is an incident at their workplace:

·        Take notes

·        Fill out incident reports

·        Report it through JSA (job safety analysis)

 Risk assessments at this business are effective and injuries are well prepared for and limited. Plumbers at YLPD work with water, electricity and other potentially hazardous materials/chemicals so it is imperative that they wear the correct PPE to protect themselves from these hazards.

Some of the PPE they are required to wear are:

• high vis shirts – high visibility to make sure everyone is aware of where you are.

• work pants – thick pants to prevent sharp objects from cutting your legs.

• rubber gloves – prevent cuts on the hands.

• steal cap boots – prevent stuff from falling on your feet and crushing your foot.

• Safety goggles to prevent dust and other toxic substances from getting in the eyes.

At YLPD they work with lots of large plant machinery therefore all the workers need to have the relevant tickets to operate these machines, they also frequently work in public and crowded  areas where they are required to ensure the safety of the public and the area is isolated.

Reporting an Incident

Any employer or employee at YLPD follow the below steps for reporting a critical  incident include:

1. If the situation is still dangerous or high-risk, call emergency services immediately on 000

2. Confirm if the incident is notifiable

3. Ensure the incident scene is not disturbed until a WorkSafe inspector arrives

4. Notify WorkSafe immediately by calling 13 23 60

5. Report the incident in writing within 48 hours

6. Save a copy of the incident notification form