Staples

What is a hazardous substance? 

What do you do to ensure safety when using the products in your work vehicle?

Do you understand the hazardous side of items you carry and the 

harm that may occur when exposed to them over time? Are they correctly labelled?  

What if there is a spill?

Do I have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

Do I have an Emergency Plan?

These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself. We deal with hazardous substances every day in our job, from the diesel you put in your tractor to the staple gun gas you use. Most contractors carry approximately 6 hazardous substances to work. (You just went out to count, didn’t you?)

Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 

General Requirements

• You must manage the risks caused by hazardous substances in the workplace 
• You must keep an inventory of all hazardous substances used, handled, manufactured or stored in your workplace. This includes hazardous waste.
• You need a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous substance supplied to your workplace. The SDS (or a condensed version of its key information, such as a product safety card) needs to be accessible to everyone who could be exposed to the substance in your workplace. 
• Every container of hazardous substances in your workplace needs to be labelled. This includes containers of hazardous substances you produce in your workplace and hazardous substances you remove from their original containers.
• Every hazardous substance in your workplace needs to be properly packaged. This includes hazardous substances in their original containers and hazardous substances that you repackage in your workplace.
• Some substances and locations have new signage requirements. You need to maintain your signs and keep them up to date.
• There are additional items on the emergency response plan to: cover any emergency that could happen in your workplace, list any training needed by people with responsibilities in an emergency and provide an inventory and a site plan.
• Fire extinguishers must be clearly visible and readily accessible and have a rating of at least 30B.
• Ensure every worker who handles hazardous substances receives the information, training, instruction and supervision that they need.

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act is there to protect:

• The environment.
• The health and safety of communities and people.
• To control, manage and prevent adverse effect of the hazardous substance and new organism.

Under the Act a Hazardous Substance is any substance that may exceed levels defined in the regulation for: 

• Flammability
• Corrosiveness
• Chronic or acute toxicity
• Eco toxicity
• Explosive 
• Integration with air or water to cause a hazard/risks substance

Compliance

To comply with the Act persons shall.

• Store chemicals or hazard substance appropriately in correct containers and facilities.
• Have current Safety Data Sheets available (SDS) for any chemicals or hazardous substances  on site.
• Have a register that is updated regularly for current and held Hazardous substances on site.
• List approximate quantities of Hazardous Substances on site.
• Have in place an emergency procedure for Hazardous substances accidents or incidents.
• Have an approved handler if so required to use and manage Hazardous substances used.
• Have approved PPE equipment – glasses, respirator, gloves, overalls and hazard/risk control (spill kit), and fire extinguisher.
• Approved method of discard or disposal.

Safety Data Sheet 

The SDS for items carried in your vehicle should be no more than five years old and be held in the front door or pocket of the driver’s seat. It should contain valuable information about storage, transportation, and medical advice what harm the product can have.

You can use the online calculator from https://www.hazardoussubstances.govt.nz/calculator  to get valuable information. The register should outline what you use and carry and be kept in an easily accessible place. You can update and it will tell you the controls required.

Have you ever actually read one to see the information it holds? 

You may change the way you use the product or swap it out for a more friendly one if you did.

Have you got the right signage? 

Signage is important to communicate what substance and how much of it you are carrying. The contents and quantities must be labelled on the container. The information is not only labelling the content but also in the event of an accident, it gives emergency services an idea of what they may be dealing with, and how to respond to a spill or fire 

NEVER store any substance in a drink type bottle. Many children have died from ingesting hazardous substances thinking it was water. Substandard labelling and storage can also lead to an incorrect substance being used, causing an explosion. 

List of HSNO Classification Codes

These are the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act classification codes. 

• Physical Hazards (Classes 1-5)
• Health Hazards (Classes 6-8)
• Environmental Hazards (Classes 9)

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES REGISTER EXAMPLE Location: Utility box Signed: DR                Date 1/2/23                    Review Date 1/2/24 QTY = Quantity                SDS = Safety Data Sheet              PPE = Personal Protective Equipment

Product Name Solid Liquid Gas QTY Kg / L held  Size of container  SDS held Y / N Location & special storage requirement PPE req Y / N HSNO approval number and name of group, standard UN class and packing group  HSNO classification (if available) Aegis Super Tractor Oil Universal Liquid 60 20 Y  Store in a well-ventilated place away from ignition sources and strong oxidizing agents Y Approval Number: HSR002605  6.4A Paslode – Stockade Fuel Cells Liquefied Gas 2 .50 Y Extremely flammable gas. Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated. Keep away from heat / sparks / open flames / hot surfaces. Protect from sunlight. Store in a well-ventilated place. Y Lubricants (Low Hazard) Group Standard 2006  2.1.1A

Site Plans

 

You may need a site plan depending on the job you’re doing. 

Your emergency response plan needs to include a site plan. Make sure the plan is accurate and drawn to scale so that 

 

anyone who needs to use it can identify the distances involved and any other relevant information about the location.

The plan could show, depending on the nature of your operation, the following items:

• a north point
• all hazardous substance locations and tanks or processing equipment for hazardous substances
• all buildings, entry and exit points to buildings, and any stairs or lifts
• the location of the fire alarm panel on your building
• the main electrical switchboard
• the main structures, roads, and landmarks on your site
• access points for emergency vehicles and any barriers or height limitations for vehicles entering the site
• the location of the nearest water supply, such as tanks or hydrants
• if you have water tanks on site, the size of the tanks
• if the nearest hydrant is not visible on the plan, place an arrow on the plan (where the plan shows the road outside your site) to indicate its direction
• the emergency evacuation meeting points
• access and shut-off points for gas, water and electricity mains
• any major electrical transformers, generators, or other potentially hazardous plant
• shut-off valves for any piped gas or chemical processing systems
• any specialised fire safety systems, such as mist or drencher systems
• the location or direction of any high-risk neighbours such as:
  • schools or public meeting places
  • retirement homes or hospitals
  • petrol stations or neighbours that store large volumes of chemicals.

Other useful information to include on your site plan:

• drains, marking the direction of flow, and any storm water grates on your site or on the road outside it
• the location of spill kits, first aid kits, fire extinguishers and any other emergency equipment
• the location of your SDS, inventory, and of the site plan.
• Attach a copy of your site plan to your job documents

Have you got your spill plan items and card ready to go and do your staff know what to do?

Hazardous Substances Training Worksheet

Training to handle substances is vital, ensure you learn about the substances you use and what safe handling looks like: 

Training Topic	Yes/No	Comments/ Assistance required
Is the employee aware of the harm that can be caused from each hazardous substance they use at work?
Does the worker Know which substance are incompatible and need to be stored separately?
Does the worker understand how to do the jobs required that involve hazardous substances?
Does the employee understand what control measures are in place at the workplace to reduce exposure and keep safe and healthy?
Does the employee know where the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) are kept, understand how to use them, and have access to them?
Is the employee aware of how to safely store, use or dispose of each substance they use?
Does the employee understand the pictogram symbols on hazardous substances containers?
Has the employee been provided with the correct safety equipment and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?
Has the employee been trained to use the safety equipment and PPE?
Does PPE fit correctly and is it in good repair?
Has the employee been trained to use the first aid equipment to deal with splashes and other incidents?
Does the employee know what to do in an emergency involving the substances they use?
Does the employee understand the importance of asking their supervisor questions if they are unsure about how to safely use or store a hazardous substance?

Personal Protective Equipment 

PPE for handling substances: Gloves, Eye protection, Respirator, and Protective clothing. 

Look at what you carry and see if you have the right items. Most importantly, use them!

How many of you wear a glove when pouring fuels? Did you know a lot of diesel handling makes your beer go flat? (Is it an old wives tail or will you try this out next time you’re holding the beer glass?) There are many more rules to comply with so ensure you check out what is required from the items on the back of your Ute to the shed stored ones or the tanker trailer you tow.

You are responsible to ensure all things safety about this area. Look for guides at WorkSafe to help grow your knowledge or ask a friend they may know a specialist that could help

Keep safe out there teams.  

Article supplied by RuralSafe

www.ruralsafe.co.nz

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Business coach Daniel Fitzpatrick from Next Level Tradie looks at how you can use Key Performance Indicators to stay in control.

There’s never been a more important time to use KPIs. Because doing business is hard right now. Material and wage costs are increasing. Construction costs for new homes have risen by 9.6% over the last 12 months according to RNZ.

Disruption of schedules, jobs being shifted around all the time, downturn in the market in areas, a shortage of good staff, your existing team having more time off, and expecting more leniency.

All these things add pressure to your profits, cashflow, and day-to-day running of the business. 

KPIs give you the ability to keep a firm handle on all important aspects of your business. Without having to be involved in every detail. 

Truth is, tracking your performance numbers and your progress is the only way to make sure all your hard work will be worth it. 

Let’s jump in:

1. Use KPIs to make difficult conversations with staff easier

Ever had a team member who wasn’t performing, had a bad attitude, or was making too many mistakes? It’s easy for these issues to get kicked down the road. But the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. 

The best thing about KPIs is… It’s not personal. It’s just about what the business needs to be successful. When standards have been set, everyone knows what’s expected. And it’s clear if they are meeting the mark – or not.

For example, I once worked with a building company that needed more jobs. The sales rep was not getting the results. It was awkward, there were lots of excuses and the owners were almost resigned to accepting poor performance even though it was hurting their business.

We worked together on putting KPIs in place. Suddenly it was much easier to have those sales conversations. Combined with the right support, the focus shifted to meeting targets. Tracking how many new enquiries this week, how many quotes completed, followed up.

Conversion rates increased from 22% to 35% which everyone was happy about – including the rep who was on commission.

2. Use KPI’s to get staff into an accountability mindset – and fix underperforming

How to get your team to perform at their best? It’s one of the hardest things about being in business. Unfortunately, if you don’t provide the right structure and direction, even your star players won’t be able to deliver.

Does your team know if they are winning or losing each week? Is their definition of success the same as yours? Developing KPIs with your team will get everyone on the same page.

The trick is: KPIs only work if your team owns them. 

To get buy-in it’s most effective to get your staff to come up with their own performance goals. 

A drainlayer I have been working with recently had a lot of issues in his team of 7. Jobs were taking too long, gear was being forgotten, a lack of accountability when things went wrong.

He’d tried motivating them before without success so was skeptical about KPIs. But he brought it up at the next team meeting and gave each guy the responsibility of coming up with their own KPIs (with a little guidance). 

KPIs ranged from the apprentice turning up on time through to the foremen committing to finishing jobs on schedule. Results were starting to happen. Then one day he overheard his guys comparing their individual targets and how they were going to go about achieving them. That was when he knew it was really working.

Remember to only measure your staff on stuff they have influence over!

3. Don’t overcomplicate your KPIs – only use the ones you really need

I’m a fan of Xero and job-tracking software. I’ll tell you what though. All of those complicated reports aren’t going to help you much. 

KPIs are most effective when they are kept simple.  In each part of your business you should only have a few key things to focus on. 

For example, if you want to improve cashflow, then the main KPI to watch is how much cash you have in the bank after all bills are paid. 

The numbers you’re tracking must be identifiable. So you can use them to make smarter decisions. If not, what’s the point?

When I work with tradies to improve their profits, I put all their most important KPIs into one dashboard. Then it only takes around 20-30 minutes a month to see how we’re tracking. And gives them laser focus on where to concentrate to get the best results. 

This dashboard is a quick check. All the numbers are in one place. The last thing you need is to be hunting out info all the time!

One company I’ve been working with for the last 8 months has gone from significant losses to now making 10k-20k every single month. This success is mainly down to using the dashboard. Consistency is key.

4. Never base your KPIs off what others are doing 

A word of caution: Don’t look at what others are doing and think you should be doing the same. And definitely don’t measure success by how big your team is compared to theirs. Take it from me: A bigger team does not automatically mean a bigger profit. 

KPIs will vary depending on what stage you are at in your business. 

When deciding your sales target this will depend on where your break-even point is, your gross margins, and how much money you want to make for the year. It’s individual to you and always will be. 

If you’re a builder you won’t be getting the same margins as an electrician. If you complete high-end work your margins should also be higher than others in the same industry. It’s important to get crystal clear on where your margin should be specifically for your business. 

Wouldn’t you rather base your pricing and margins off concrete numbers that are right for you and your overheads. So you know that you’re making money on every job and know exactly where you’re winning and losing? 

5. Use KPIs to avoid expensive mistakes

By now you’ll have realised that not having really solid KPIs is costing you more than you thought. Lost margins, lost profitability, lost focus.

Knowing exactly what you are aiming for will help you avoid mistakes (or at least see things in time to make adjustments when needed).

You can avoid pricing incorrectly (usually this happens if you don’t know where your target margin should be) and avoid leaking profits by tracking jobs well throughout.

You can avoid booking too many jobs (if you haven’t worked out exactly how much work is optimal for your team). This also means no burning out your team (and reputation) with too much work and crazy deadlines.

You can avoid constantly not having money in the bank when you need it and sleepless nights with cashflow worries because you haven’t created a cash buffer or know what that should be.

These mistakes all cost you time, stress, and money. 

Bottom line?

Running a business without tracking your performance is like being the captain of a ship in the dark of night during a storm. Trying to avoid the rocks. Without a lighthouse to guide the way.  

 

Article written by Daniel Fitzpatrick
Next Level Tradie
www.nextleveltradie.co.nz

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Moving on from stays, NZFC committee member and competition judge Wayne Newdick runs you through how he does tie backs. 

In summary, a breast plate is used for 2 or 3 reasons as opposed to a stay.

(1) The deflection in the fence is so slight a stay is not required

(2) The stay may interfere with or limit access for stock or vehicles

(3) There is no room and practically impossible to use a stay or conventional breast plate.

The method I am going to explain, I have used for over 15 years using various types of cables and wire.

I now use an 8mm galvanized rod which I make with eyes at each end.

One bit of advice I would give: If you are unsure when to use a stay or breast plate I always measure the deflection early on the fence construction, this is done by simply measuring 4mtrs past the angle in a straight line of the fence then measure back to the actual line (Figure 1).

• 2 feet between the lines with a 2.1 angle and half a 1.8 half round will hold in all but wet ground.
• 3-4 feet will hold in good ground.
• To go beyond 4ft both angle and breast plate should be increased in size and length.
• I would not go past 6ft with this method as there is simply too much loading.

Tie back

There are situations when you have little choice – especially on tracks where a conventional breast plate or stay will not work.

The method that I have found very successful is a tie back under the ground. A brief explanation as to how it works: 

A 1.8 post driven into the ground, 1.6mtrs in most soil types will require 1-2 tonnes to lift out, but 500kg applied horizontally to the top would move, bend or even break the post.

My method simply uses vertical lift (i.e.) 1-2 tonne and convert this to horizontal pull.

Photo 1: shows tie back in place and 450mm of half round in place and 1.8 Q2

Photo 2: is a look from above

Photo 3: is everything dug in place

Photo 4: shows the way this works. The 1.8 must be angled and the top leant to the angle

Photo 5: post driven down to the bottom of the mast

Photo 6: I use this device to drive the post up to 500mm underground.

Photo 7: this shows a gate type staple driven in 200 from the top.

Photo 8: this shows the top of the 1.8 driven 300-400mm below the ground.

I simply keep driving until I get 50-70mm of layback on the angle.

Summary

• If the ground is soft simply increase the size of the 1.8 to 2.4-2.7 and the half round to 900 or so, angle 2.1-2.4 etc.
• This system can be done with 4mm or 4.5mm wire or stainless with a minimum of two wraps and crimped (use two crimps because of the stock loading).
• Don’t drive the angle with layback because this is obtained with relative ease when driving the tie back.
• This system requires minimal digging, takes advantage of a postdriver and holds better than a conventional breastplate.
• Give this a go you may be surprised.

Written by Wayne Newdick
Wayne Newdick is a notable top fencer, widely recognised in the industry for his high standards and ingenuity.

Published in the Training & Events Feature in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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In the fourth instalment of our Retaining Walls feature, Nick Liefting takes us through the complexities of Cantilever wall specifications.

In this article I would like to portray the specifications for Cantilever walls – showing:

• Height
• Embedment
• Surcharge
• Pole size
• Footing size
• Spacing
• Railing thickness

Designs are based on firm clay material of 100KPa, with Poles to be founded in undisturbed or certified fill.

There are other factors that will alter the said specifications, e.g.:

• Toe slope
• Ground strength

I have given specifications going well beyond the non-consented height of up to 1.50m.  This is for a very good reason – I have often been asked for an indicative price for walls higher than 1.50m, so the client knows whether to pursue the job or has some idea of how much funding is required.

Fill

It is common to excavate for retaining walls, however, there are times when filling is required, due to undulations, or there may be a dip along the line.  Filling is carried out and then track rolled in to give a nice smooth line.  It must be mentioned here, that track rolled fill is not engineered/certified fill, which has been compacted with a sheepsfoot roller and tested.  So, the wall specifications must be calculated disregarding the fill depth.

Another handy piece of advice, is when a retaining wall that is, for example, 1.80m high, what is commonly done at the face of the wall is to build the ground up by 300mm creating, in effect, a toe slope.

A common area that is overlooked, or more so, misunderstood is the wall specifications when there is a toe slope involved.  With walls up to 1.50m high not requiring consent (unless surcharged), we (the contractor) become the designer.  I have seen some disasters in this area to the expense of complete wall replacement.

Toe Slope

We recently took over a job from a contractor and one of his walls (with a toe slope) had moved forward off plumb. (See diagram)

My simple instructions on how to calculate with toe slope in mind:

1. Toe Slope at 1:1
2. Visible retained height 1.20m
3. 1.0m added retained height due to toe slope. This can increase or decrease as the toe slope changes.
4. Effective retained height 2.20m
5. Embedment as per table of specifications for 2.20m retaining.Equals 2.0m plus 1.0m (c) = 3.0m
6. Footing diameter 500mm as per specifications for 2.20m retaining
7. Pole – The size of the pole is 150 SED which is for 1.20m retaining as per specs.

The strength, in this case, is the added concrete encasement (C) whereby, the pole is acting as the reinforcement.

Retaining Wall Summary for Bored Concrete Foundations at 1.2m Pole Centres

Retaining Wall Summary for Driven Timber Poles at 0.9m Centres 

 

Article provided by: 

Nick Liefting 

Nick Liefting Contractors Ltd

nlcontractors.co.nz

Published in the Training & Events Feature in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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Read the other articles here:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7

The New Zealand Government announced in February that the adult minimum wage would increase to $22.70 per hour from 1 April 2023. 

This is an increase of $1.50 per hour from the current hourly rate of $21.20 and aligns with the 7.2% rate of Consumer Price Index Inflation in the year ended December 2022. 

The upcoming minimum wage increase only legally applies to the minimum rate of pay – there’s no requirement that every single employee receives a $1.50 wage increase.

However, you may have some workers who are already earning $22.70 an hour.  These employees will fall into the minimum pay rate bracket following the increase on 1 April. Despite there being no legal requirement to provide a pay rise here, this can raise issues about how more adept employees are paid compared to less qualified or experienced workers.

For example, an employee already earning $22.70, who suddenly makes the same income as a less skilled colleague, may feel resentful or frustrated that your company isn’t recognising their seniority or capability. Employees in this situation may be keen to negotiate a pay increase to maintain the relative pay difference.

In determining a strategy for managing pay relativity, it’s essential to manage affordability, properly understand workforce expectations, and manage them proactively.

Again, there’s no legal obligation to increase the pay rate for anyone earning at least $22.70 an hour already. But, with an eye on employee morale and workplace dynamics, you could consider the following if pay relativity comes up:

• Increasing an employee’s $22.70 an hour wage by $1.50 an hour (to maintain the relative difference between their salaries and the minimum wage).
• Increase an employee’s rate by an amount that keeps a differential rate and is reflective of individual ability and performance. You’d need to substantiate this increase through a performance review.
• If remuneration increases are not affordable for your business at this time, are there other non-cash benefits you can offer your more experienced workers, such as mentoring or training and development opportunities?

All minimum pay changes must appear in the next pay slip after 1 April 2023. It’s possible to delay the increase; for example, if the administrative load makes it impossible to meet the deadline. But you’d still be required to backpay affected employees to 1 April as soon as possible. You should proactively communicate this to your staff if you find yourself in this situation.

As an employer, you’ll need to keep up to date with the latest minimum pay changes and pay all your employees at least the minimum wage. This year’s pay increases may introduce significantly greater wage costs to your business. In this case, you may also want to think about pricing strategies and budget forecasting to account for your higher wage and holiday pay obligations.  

Adult Minimum Wage $22.70 per hour	This wage is the most commonly used by Kiwi businesses and applies to all employees who are 16 years of age or older, provided they do not qualify for the starting out or training wages.
Starting-Out Wage $18.16 per hour	Workers aged 16-19 who are entering the workforce for the first time. this only applies to 16 and 17 year olds during the first 6 months of their employment. Or 18 or 19 year olds who have been on a benefit for 6 months or more prior to their employment and only for their first 6 months of continuous employment following them being on a benefit it also applies to 16 – 19 year olds if they are doing at least 40 credits in a training programme just like the training minimum wage
Training Minimum Wage $18.16 Per Hour	This category of wage applies to employees aged 20 years or over who are completing recognised/accepted industry training involving at least 60 credits in order to become qualified.

 

Published in Business, Health & Safety, Environment in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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All the financial experts are talking about that dreaded word ‘recession’. 

I am no economist, but I’ve been around long enough to recognise that we are heading into difficult times. Between supply shortages, rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and an unstable housing market. 

So how do you protect your business and come through this in good shape?

Before we dive into that it’s important to get some perspective first. Recessions will crop up eventually, a boom is always followed by a bust, spring always follows winter, they are both parts of the economic cycle. 

Trades will always be needed in any part of the cycle, but in a recession there will obviously be less demand. However, the top 20% will always have enough work even when it’s quiet.

So how do you make sure you’re in the top 20%?

Here are 7 things you should know, and be working into your plan now, to be in that top 20%. 

So let’s get started:

1. Downturns weed out the crop

I was talking with a seasoned tradie about this the other day. His strategy: “Don’t waste a good recession.”

Sure, it’s harder to get work when times are slow. However, everyone is in the same boat.

Your competitors who are doing a poor job, pricing too cheap, taking the quick buck and burning their reputation? These types of competitors will disappear and we are now seeing early signs of this. 

Ultimately leaving more room for you.

The top tradies always have work. In any industry, the best are always in demand, regardless of what the market is doing.

Now is the perfect chance for you to get better, more efficient, become leaner and more resilient. Systemise your operations. Sharpen yourself up for the next phase.

When things bounce back, you’ll be ready to dominate, and have less competition.

2. Those who are slow to react are the worst hit

Listen up, because this one is important: You MUST be proactive with decision-making.

Watch the numbers closely. Look for the early signs so you’re not surprised.

Don’t rely on your backlog of work. Make sure you are doing all you can to keep the work flowing in.

If your efforts aren’t reflecting, and you need to cut overheads and possibly staff, as painful as it is, do it early. Not after you haemorrhage a heap of cash first.

Identify options ahead of time. Have a Plan B for all scenarios. Such as a higher overdraft facility or cash buffer in the bank.

3. Some of your customers will go broke

Have you ever been stung by a large bad debt? Most tradies have. That’s in the good times. It’s likely to happen much more in a downturn.

I often see tradies rely too much on one or two big clients. It’s risky. As a rule of thumb your biggest client ideally wouldn’t be more than 30%-40% of your business.

Assess now: If your biggest client disappeared, would you still be ok? We’ve all seen bigger companies fold and little guys get hurt.

Don’t let it happen to you: Make sure you aren’t carrying late payers, and have solid terms of trade.

4. Never stop marketing

Why should you market if you have more work than you can handle? In a downturn, things can change quickly.

Assess: Is your work coming from just one source currently? It’s not a good idea to rely on only one stream to feed you jobs through.

What if your biggest customer had their work dry up? Or went broke, and you had to deal with the receiver who didn’t want to pay you?

What if they changed owners? Or their project manager (that dishes out the work) decided he was going to use your competition instead? This can happen (and does).

Especially if word of mouth is the only way you get leads, build a larger number of sources. There are so many different and effective ways for tradies to market their services. Then even if some dry up, you will still have other streams of work.

In slow times, you can also diversify (into other types of jobs you can make money on). As well as specialising in what you are really good at. Do both! Spread your risk.

5. Cut the fat

I mean, this is something you should be doing at least once a year anyway.

I have recently taken all my clients through this. A smaller client of mine saved $17,000 from just a few tweaks. Not bad for a few hours of work.

Cash is king, and you want as much of it available as you can. Reduce overheads. Work on becoming more efficient.

Reduce debt as much as possible. In a recession, banks tighten up lending and overdrafts. Be aware of interest rate trends and your ability to pay back current debt.

6. Under-pricing leads to problems later

On some jobs, to keep the work, you might have to sharpen your pencil. Be. Very. Careful!

Don’t make the mistake of assuming if you have steady work, all will be okay. You must know at exactly what point the job is not worth doing.

In hard times, lots of tradies will do anything to get (or keep) the work. They are the ones that get into trouble first.

Know your margins. Quote too cheap and you will feel it down the line with tight cashflow and higher debt. That’s not sustainable.

There are better ways to win work and keep your margins strong. Even when things are quiet. Even when competitors are under-cutting you.

7. The strongest asset in your business is you

Have you noticed that some people always seem to get ahead no matter how big the obstacles are? 

In sport, the best teams don’t always have the best players, but they consistently win anyway. The difference is superior coaching, strategy and mindset. 

It is the same in business, the business is always a reflection of the owner. 

So what are you doing to prepare mentally going into this new season?

Who is your mentor you can talk with on those hard days when it seems everything is falling apart? What books are you reading? What new strategies are you working on to improve? 

The more you grow the better your business will perform.

One of the things that I love doing with clients is celebrating their successes or looking back with them and comparing where they are now to where they started.

The theme is always the same, the things they struggled with in the beginning they now have sorted. They slayed the dragon and recognised how to beat the next one. Every challenge is slightly different but as they start getting small wins, they accumulate and it’s not long before the battle is also won. .

You can’t control the environment, the economy, or that crazy client that is not happy no matter what you do. 

But how you react will have the biggest effect on the outcome. Now is the time to get prepared and get the tools to deal with whatever happens next.

Let’s sum up.

We can’t stop the recession. But we can prepare wisely.

Carving out time for strategic thinking is key. Because when the economy changes, your approach must also change.

Remember, in a recession, there are always opportunities. But most are too busy scrambling or freaking out, to see them.

Trying to do this on your own won’t work. So build stronger connections with your network, your staff, customers, suppliers, and bank. You are going to need them.

A recession will absolutely affect your business. At times you won’t have all the answers, that’s normal. So make sure you also have a mentor (someone who understands business) to talk to regularly, and work through the issues.

If you already have a mentor – great.

If you need one, then it’s time we had a chat.  

 

Article supplied by Daniel Fitzpatrick
www.nextleveltradie.co.nz/nextstep

Published in the Business, Health & Safety, Environment Feature in WIRED Issue 67 / December 2022 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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Well believe it, Summer is coming and if the weather patterns are anything to go by to date, our very wet winter may mean a very hot dry summer. 

Heat is a silent killer in the workplace and on the job site, preparing for the heat starts before the workday begins

I’ve even noticed a little sun burn about the odd warm day. While the sun is a welcome sight after a terribly wet winter for some it comes with danger also.

Fencing Contractors are out in the elements and usually the heat of the day gets to you at some stage. So how are you protecting your team and yourself from this environmental risk?

Why protect yourself and team? 

It’s good business to make sure the team can work safely and talk about how this can be achieved when it’s getting hot. 

Productivity can be greatly reduced in the heat of the day so talk about early starts and coming back later when cool.

Fatigue can be a danger that comes from excess heat exposure also, what’s your plan to manage this?

Melanomas

Due to the nature of the work increased chances of Melanoma due to the sun exposure is high for New Zealand. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and the fourth most common cancer in New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world – each year approximately 2,500 people are diagnosed with the condition and over 300 die from it.
Melanomas can occur at any stage in life, though it is rare for melanomas to occur in children and teenagers. The chances of developing a melanoma increase with age. You should regularly get a skin check or mole mapping to monitor any changes in your skin. Always be aware of the signs to look for – early detection may save your life. 

Heat is a silent killer in the workplace and on the job site, preparing for the heat starts before the workday begins.

Staying hydrated with water, not too many energy drinks that doesn’t help with rehydration. Wearing the right clothing can go a long way in protecting workers from heat stress. However, you may need to change the times you work as temperatures peak. A long lunch may be required.

The Importance of Clothing

Clothing and personal protection equipment (PPE) play a major role in minimising heat related illness on the job site. Many workers adapt to the hazards or discomfort of the work by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, but this can make cooling difficult. 

PPE can trap heat and become the risk, even when the equipment is designed for hot weather use. It may be necessary to use more workers on shorter shifts to give everyone more breaks from wearing PPE as they rotate in and out of the work area.

Some manufacturers are designing clothing such as cooling vests that hold ice packs to alleviate the heat. 

Employer Protective Measures

Employers need to make sure that their workers can keep hydrated easily and can protect their skin from UV radiation damage. There are a range of protective measures as follows:

• If possible, plan outdoor work in sunny weather to limit duration and intensity of employee exposure to direct sunlight (11am to 3pm sun rays are most intense)
• Limit duration of exposure, if possible, when UV index is high (3 or above), do indoor work if possible
• Provide shade if possible, or if that is not possible, there should be shade for breaks
• Give information to employees about dangers of sun exposure
• Ensure workers have easy access to safe drinking water. Workers should have enough time to hydrate – as the outdoor temperature rises the frequency of water breaks should go up
• Inform employees about the Sun Smart code
• Educate and encourage employees to self-check skin for signs of skin cancer
• Check UV index, if 3 or above greater risk www.met.ie/uv-index
• Ensure breaks are taken out of direct sunlight
• Encourage employees to cover up, keep clothing on with sleeves down, collars up and wear clothing with high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), 15 or more, wear wide-brimmed hat
• Ensure employees do not strip off clothing when it is sunny
• Provide sunscreen, SPF of at least 30+ with a high UVA protection and water resistance. Reapply regularly. Check your sunscreen is correct for the required use and is supported by the Cancer foundation – some aren’t as good as you think.
• Provide sunglasses, wraparound are the best.

Sun Smart Code

Please make it easy for workers to follow the SunSmart code messages – 5 Ss:

• Slip on clothing that covers your skin, such as long sleeves, collared t-shirts.
• Slop on sunscreen on exposed areas. Use sunscreen SPF minimum 30 or higher. Apply 20 minutes before going outside and re-apply every two hours – more often if perspiring.
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat.
• Seek shade – especially if outdoors between 11am and 3pm when UV rays are at their strongest. If possible, schedule outdoor work before 11am or after 3pm.
• Slide on wrap around sunglasses to protect your eyes

Symptoms and first aid treatment options

Below shows symptoms and treatment options for common heat-related illnesses. If you notice signs of heat-related illness or injury in yourself or a workmate, stop work and tell your supervisor.

Condition	Symptoms	Treatment
Heat rash	Small, red, itchy bumps on skin	Move to a cooler, less humid environment Keep the affected skin dry
Heat cramps	Muscular pains and spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs See a doctor or nurse if you: have a heart condition, or are on a low-sodium diet	Drink water or electrolyte replacement solutions. Rest in a cool environment and do not return to strenuous activity until a few hours after the cramps have ended. See a doctor or nurse if cramps do not go away within one hour
Heat Exhaustion	Heavy sweating Paleness Muscle cramps Tiredness/weakness Dizziness Vomiting Headache Fast and weak pulse Shallow breathing	Stop work immediately. Move to a cool place, out of the sun and away from any other heat sources. Drink water or electrolyte replacement solutions. Take action to cool down (remove clothes, sponge with cold water, apply wet towels). See a doctor or nurse if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.
Heat Stroke – high body temperature (39.4°C+)	Confusion Disorientation Unconsciousness Red hot dry skin (no sweating) Throbbing headache Nausea Rapid, strong pulse	Call 111 – for immediate medical assistance. Then: move to a cool place with circulating air remove or loosen unnecessary clothing cool down – for example, by:  splashing room temperature water on skin, or sponging skin using a fan to direct a gentle airflow over your body applying cold packs or wrapped ice to your neck, groin, and armpits Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until body temperature drops below 38.5°C If fully conscious, sit up and drink cool, but not cold, fluid, such as water or an electrolyte solution

 Look for guidelines about health and the sunshine at: www.healthify.nz/hauora-wellbeing/s/sun-safety-topics

There are numerous resources available on sun safety and Melanoma. Get familiar with this summer time risk and do what you can to mitigate the damage that may occur.

MOST IMPORTANT: TALK TO THE TEAM BEFORE IT’S UPON YOU.
And then go swimming. Nothing like a quick dip in the water trough!

Don’t let heat stress become a silent danger on your work site. With a generous supply of water, a steady source of electrolytes, and a place to get out of the heat, work can safely continue through the summer.

Keep safe out there and keep checking you’re all ok.   

Article supplied by Deb and team
RuralSafe
www.ruralsafe.co.nz 

Published in the Business, Health & Safety, Environment Feature in WIRED Issue 67 / December 2022 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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In our new WIRED feature, NZFC committee member and competition judge Wayne Newdick shares his tips and tricks on the fundamentals of fence construction. First up, the Diagonal Stay Assembly.

This is probably the most important part of fence construction and this method might be a bit controversial but this is how I do it. I’ve fitted 90-odd of these in the past 2 weeks. 

What to use

• 2.4 Rnd 125-135 being ideal for strainer assemblies
• ¼ Rnd are suitable if selected for size. 125 plus face and check for knots.
• 1.8 ¼ Rnds are fine for most angles 2.4 only for sharp angles.
• Block half of a 1.8 No 1 half Rnd 200mm face is sufficient in most soil types 1200mm or so for softer ground don’t forget to ram behind the block.

Method

• Cut the stay standing in front of the stay, all cuts should be the same length 250 -300mm.
  I use a small block plane 200mm long to dress and remove most of the saw marks.

Fitting

• Put the stay in place, height being approx half way between the ground and the top of the strainer between the wires closer to the upper wire.
• Scribe around the stay and mark the block with a spade at the same time.
• I always allow 20 – 30mm to be cut off the end of the stay.
• Remove stay and dig block trench, place block in then cut stay trench.

Mortice

• I always use a saw here. Simply cut below the top horizontal line and below the bottom line 20mm in.
• I then use a thin chisel to cut the vertical lines and simply use the claw of my hammer to flick the wood out. Quick and easy and safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fitting the stay to the block

• Put the stay in the mortice and lay on the block, check for plumb, cut the end off the stay to the desired length, at the same time cut a small nick underneath the stay and small flat on top of the stay. (45deg)
• At this stage I use the back of my spade driving it into the block just behind the stay and simply lever it into place. I don’t use a rammer.
• This method is quick and powerful but does require a strong spade.

 

 

 

 

 

Summary

• Don’t be afraid to use a good ¼ Round stay
• Don’t be shy of using a saw on the horizontal cuts for the mortice
• 1.8 post is fine for angles

Written by Wayne Newdick 

Wayne Newdick is a notable top fencer, widely recognised in the industry for his high standards and ingenuity.

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In our third instalment of our focus on retaining walls, Nick Liefting takes us through the complexities of Cantilever walls.

This type of wall, in simple terms, is one that has a bending moment at ground level, and is commonly a piled wall. Piles can be:

• Timber Pole, round or square
• Steel I beams or U beams
• Cast-in-situ concrete
• Precast concrete

This is the quickest wall to construct and is generally the most cost effective, however, to qualify for a cantilever wall, it must have firm ground to drill into, to the required depth for the respective wall heights.

Timber Pole

The most common are round poles, which come as a SED or Unilog. The SED has a small end diameter which is placed above ground. The Unilog is a pole spun to a uniform diameter over the pole’s length. A Unilog has the added advantage of not having to look for a straight face to place against for the railing and they look very smart in the completed job. 

Square posts are used, however, the ‘off the shelf square posts’ are limited to the retained height. 

125 x 125 posts are readily available as they are classed as house piles complete with H5 treatment and are good to retain up to 900mm height at 1.20m pole spacing.

100 x 100 posts are also readily available as they are generally used for fence posts. The issue here is they are fence posts and have a H4 treatment which is certainly okay for a fence post, but a retaining wall? – I’ll let you be the judge on that one. We have replaced many paling fences where the posts have rotted at ground level generally after 25 to 30 years. A fence is easy to replace, but a retaining wall is a much bigger task and yes, we have done that also.

What is common is low retaining wall posts being incorporated as the fence posts above, and a shorter post placed halfway between each fence/retaining post, and yes, I have also been guilty of this work.

To have a H4 post treated to H5 costs approximately 25% more and of course waiting in the dreaded queue is what we all do not like.

A 100 x 100 post is only good to retain a maximum of 600mm at 1.20m spacing. It is always good practice to check the posts re knots or defects. The added advantage of square posts is that the joining of rails is not highly important to be completely butted up. With the installation of square posts, extra care needs to be taken to avoid any twist however, if a post is already slightly warped with twist, I tend to have it in line at halfway up the post.

Marking out for a wall if it is on a boundary

It is important to establish where the boundary line is to be in relation to the proposed wall and then marked out accordingly, bearing in mind width of pole, plus railing and lean back. Once this is established and pole centres are marked, it is recommended to set up a profile each end of the proposed hole line to the required lean back. 

It is important to carry out the drilling as accurately as practical, as it makes the pole placement so much easier, which in turn makes the railing easier obviously with a straight line of poles. To achieve this, we have a guider on the ground sighting between profiles and the digger operator can eyeball plumb when parked at 90° to the proposed wall line. 

The recommended size of hole is a minimum of 75mm of concrete cover around the pole. I like to work on 100mm concrete cover as it can make lining up poles easier particularly if we have bent and long poles.

Drilling and placing poles 

Most retaining walls have an intended lean back, which is generally shown on the plans and can be any of the following:

• 1:20 = 50mm over 1.00m
• 1:10 = 100mm over 1.00m
• 3° = 50mm over 1.00m
• 6° = 100mm over 1.00m

Pole placement 

The end poles and change of direction poles are the only ones that need to be securely braced both ways. A top and bottom string line is attached and line poles proceeded to be placed. For poles up to 2.40m long, we line up to the stringlines and then lean the poles up against the front of the hole and as we concrete, then hold the pole to the stringlines. For longer poles we line up to the stringlines then place a short piece of timber between the back of the pole and the top of the hole and drive a nail into the pole once lined up and plumb.

On completion of placing concrete the poles are checked for height and lifted if necessary, and also checking the top line as movement can happen during concrete placing.

With the construction of timber retaining walls, in most cases, poles will need to be trimmed to height this is because poles come in increments of 600mm lengths. It is also good practice when placing poles to be above the intended finished height and then a stringline is attached for all to see and be in agreeance of.

It is important when trimming the tops of poles, to apply an Ensele product, which is inexpensive and available from a local DIY store, as the treatment only has gone in so far. I have seen many walls with the tops of the posts being hollowed out due to decay.

We have done walls with larger square posts up to 300mm x 300mm but these obviously have to be produced which can take time.

My preference of wall is 125 x 125 dressed posts using 200 x 50 dressed rails and capping to match. Obviously, the posts need to be taken to a joinery firm to get dressed.

Steel I Beam

These are used for two main reasons:

• Ability for higher retaining
• Aesthetics

Classification of I beam comes as size (depth of beam) and kilograms per metre, for example a 200UB/22 is 200mm deep and 22kg/m. They come in 6.0m, 9.0m 12.0m, 15.0m, and 18.0m lengths. 

When organising I beams for a retaining wall, the following needs to happen:

• Exact lengths established as it is not advisable to cut tops
• A hole drilled or gassed in each end flange, for lifting in and out of the galvanising bath, plus also for lifting into and lining up once in the ground
• Galvanising: partial dipping is acceptable as long as a minimum of 500mm is into the concrete encasement. Partial dipping costs are normally 60% of the beam weight, however, this depends on your local galvanising firm, as some don’t do it

A similar size I beam versus a timber pole

The I beam can take a higher retaining and also still looks appealing, whereby for example, a 450 SED pole at 4.0m high can look quite bulky. Once the beams are concreted in – say, immediately after the first concrete truck – it is important to lift them to the required height and carry out any ‘tweaking’ for alignment and plumb. There are times when the beam will not stay up, e.g., when using pumping concrete and a heavier beam. In this case, it is best to G clamp a timber across the flange of the beam.

Railing an I beam wall 

The rails are generally placed behind the front flange. Prior to this happening, a waterproof membrane such as Butathene is attached to the steel to stop the reaction between galvanised steel and tanalised timber. We have all seen what happens to gate gudgeons over time.

As it is not possible to attach the railing to the beam, it is imperative to have a strut/packer between the concrete and underside of the bottom rail to stop any vertical movement, plus must also be securely wedged between the two flanges.

Cast-In-Situ Concrete Piles

These are generally used for high walls with a high surcharge. The strength of the piles can be increased by the size of the reinforcing cage and diameter of the pile. When placing the reinforcing cage, plastic spacers need to be attached to maintain spacing in the hole.

For the above ground work, the formwork can be either cardboard formatube or metal fluming which can be easily removed.

Precast Concrete Piles

These are not so common due to the weight of the piles; however, we have used them. This was when they were precast – a recess was formed into the edges for precast waling to slip into. It also required our 30T excavator to lift the precast piles into the holes.

When cast-in-situ and precast piles are use, no lean back is required.  

Article provided by Nick Liefting 

Nick Liefting Contractors Ltd
nlcontractors.co.nz

Published in the Training & Events  Feature in WIRED Issue 67 / December 2022 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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Read the other articles here:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7