4 September 2019
Who does this notice affect?
- Personnel involved with the biosecurity inspection of sea freight containers imported into Australia i.e. stevedores, wharf/terminal operators, Approved Arrangements site operators, and other activity areas
- Engineers and structural inspectors who undertake certification and inspection of sea container inspection stands.
What has changed?
The department, in consultation with professional bodies, has reviewed the specifications for construction, certification and use of sea freight container inspection stands (the specifications previously known as standards) to ensure the requirements outlined in the document remains fit for purpose.
Following are the key changes resulting from the review;
- All engineers will be required to demonstrate a minimum of five years experience in the design and inspection of steel stands of a similar nature to sea freight container stands.
- Expansion of the engineer’s qualifications to a range of other engineering fields.
- The qualifications and experience of engineers and structural inspectors will now require assessment by Engineers Australia.
- Clarification that site operators are responsible for ensuring that the stand is used in a safe environment, and located on a suitable hardstand surface.
- Clarification that site operators are responsible for conducting a visual inspection of mobile stands after each movement to confirm no obvious faults have resulted from the move.
The department will no longer be accepting certification of sea container inspection stands from any structural inspector or qualified engineer that has not had their qualifications and relevant experience assessed by Engineers Australia.
The ‘Specifications for Sea Freight Container Inspection Stands’ is currently being finalised, and the department website will be updated accordingly.
What do site operators and certifying engineers need to do now?
Existing stands currently in use:
- Engineers Australia will need to assess the qualifications and experience of the last engineer to certify your stand.
- Follow the process listed below to have the engineer assessed.
- Evidence of the Engineers Australia assessment must be submitted to the department prior to 29 November 2019, or the stand will not be accepted for use by the department.
New stands (including stands pending assessment and/or not in use):
- The certification of new stands will need to be completed by an engineer who has been assessed by Engineers Australia.
- Follow the process listed below to have the engineer assessed for all new stands including those pending assessment by the department.
What are the updated requirements to be assessed as a Qualified Engineer or Structural Inspector?
Structural Inspectors
Structural Inspectors are not required to be an independent worker to the site/premises authorities. Structural Inspectors must have competency in steel structures. Competency can be obtained by meeting one of the following three criteria:
- successful completion of Transport and Logistics training packages: TLIB2086A (Apply awareness of structures fundamentals) and TLIB3088A (Examine Steel Structures) with 5 years’ experience in the inspection of steel structures
- welding Inspector Certificate as recognised by the Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA
- more than 15 years’ experience in the inspection or fabrication of steel structures in addition to approval by a Qualified Engineer or a Chartered Professional Engineer (structural) with a membership of Engineers Australia (CPEng).
Qualified Engineers
Requirements to become a Qualified Engineer are:
- Registered on the National Engineering Register (NER) in the Occupational Category of Professional Engineer
- A minimum of five years demonstrable experience in the design and inspection of steel stands of a similar nature to sea freight container stands.
Qualified engineers are required to:
- Have valid state certification where required
- Be an independent worker to the site/premises authorities.
Application to be a Qualified Engineer or Structural Inspector
To confirm Qualified Engineer or Structural Inspector suitability, applicants are required to contact Engineers Australia for assessment via email at seafreight@engineersaustralia.org.au.
For Qualified Engineers the application shall include:
- Up to date CV
- Contact details including email and mobile phone
- Details of similar works completed in the last five years including:
- The scope of work
- The dates when the work was undertaken
- Calculations and analysis of 3 similar structures from the past five years
- The company the engineer work for at the time
- The client for the works.
To be relevant these projects must involve the design or fabrication of steel structures similar to sea freight container stands.
For Structural Inspectors the application shall include:
- Up to date CV
- Contact details including email and mobile phone
- Copies of qualifications
- Support letter by a Qualified Engineer or a Chartered Professional Engineer if required.
A numbered letter certifying that the applicant meets the requirements for Qualified Engineer or Structural Inspector will be issued at the completion of the assessment and on payment of the fee to Engineers Australia. The letter will be issued to the applicant with a copy provided to the Department of Agriculture’s representative and if required, the employer.
Further information
See the department’s sea freight container inspection stands webpage. Note: this page will be updated with the new requirements shortly.
To contact the department about this topic email seafreightstands@aff.gov.au.
To contact Engineers Australia about the assessment process email seafreight@engineersaustralia.org.au
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/Contact-Us
Toll Free: 1300 653 113