Safety training

Swinburne TAFE's Centre for New Manufacturing (CNM) is addressing a training gap in the complex area of machine control system safety compliance, providing vital support for engineers, managers and technical staff.

Engineers, technical staff and even operators who design, install and maintain manufacturing equipment are playing a key role in ensuring that automated machines meet a myriad of safety requirements.

To support them in this role, Swinburne TAFE's Centre for New Manufacturing, in collaboration with Higher Education's Electrical Engineering department and with support from Pilz Safe Automation, launched a study of the skills gaps in the engineering industry.

The aim was to develop training programs that would initially include practical workshops and eventually incorporate design safety subjects into undergraduate and diploma courses.

The report's findings were presented at the annual Safety in Action Conference held in Melbourne.

First on the agenda for the centre is a series of information sessions and training workshops, which they plan to conduct nationally. As well as providing training, the CNM will act as a resource centre, informing people in the industry about the latest developments in automation safety techniques and legislative requirements, as well as offering practical support.

Swinburne engineering students will potentially benefit, as the CNM's research findings make their way into the curriculum for robotics/mechatronics engineering in the Higher Education and TAFE divisions.