ASI News

In a significant development for Australia’s steel industry, Steelwork Compliance Australia—an independent certifying body administered by the ASI—has launched certification services for AS/NZS ISO 3834.

ASI welcomed 1,462 attendees at ASI events, webinars and seminars throughout the year. A total of 524 people downloaded eLearning courses. Activities included: Webinars Forensic Engineering Failure Investigations of Steel Structures for Legal Proceedings by forensic engineer Dr David Tawfik. More than 200 people tuned in to hear common non-compliances encountered for fabricated structural steelwork and the resulting legal obligations for builders, engineers and fabricators.   Slabs, Footings and Tiedowns for Sheds. Jointly presented by Scott Munter and Eric Lume from the Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia and Dr Jessey Lee from the Australian Engineered Fasteners and Anchors Council. It attracted more than 100 registrants.   Ascertaining the Compliance of Structural Steel and Fabricated Steelwork presented by Dr Peter Key. The seminar attracted more than 50 registrants and covered the content in the current Technote TN015 on structural steel and the new Technote TN018 on structural...

ASI has a strong focus on promoting steel as a career path. In 2024-20225, this included:  Developing online resources to attract and educate young people regarding career pathways, qualifications and emerging roles in the steel industry.   Partnering with members attending school careers expos to educate careers advisers, parents and students.   Interviewing five Icon Metal employees about their careers in steel for educational videos on the ASI website. The videos built awareness for school students interested in a career in steel.   Meeting with Illawarra and Shoalhaven Workplace Learning (ISWLP) to explore work experience for high school students. Twelve local businesses were approached by the ASI to host students, with two taking up the offer.   Meeting with the Department of Education NSW (Regional Industry Education Partnerships Programs) and other relevant bodies (Manufacturing Skills Queensland, Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance) to discuss issues like barriers to apprenticeships...

2024-2025 saw the ASI provide input to government and receive advice on a range of issues including:  welding fumes, regulation of hexavalent chromium, building collapses and crane licencing. Of key interest to ASI fabricator members and circulated to them for use as collateral when tendering for work was a WorkSafe Victoria safety alert warning of the need to have proper quality assurance systems in place to determine reliability of imported steelwork. Not ensuring the imported steelwork meets Australian Standards may result in catastrophic structural collapse, the safety alert warns. For details, see: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/imported-structural-steelwork.  ASI also played a key role in crane safety after accepting an invitation by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to represent it on the Safe Work Australia Crane Licence Review Working Group. As part of that project, ASI distributed and collated a survey on improving crane licensing under the model work health...