Introduction

Experts in the field of plant construction are professionals in assessment and provision of Plant, in terms of engineering and construction, refers to any machinery, equipment, and apparatus used in industry. It usually includes any heavy machinery and equipment used during construction. Plant construction has become an important issue in Australia as the country engages in  considerable engineering projects such as Westconnex, Sydney Metro Northwest, high profile stadiums and hospitals, Elizabeth Quay, Melbourne Docklands, Brisbane Airport, Barangaroo NSW, Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek, and South Australia’s Solar River Project.

At the smaller scale, there may be some blurred lines between what is considered plant and tools, such as power tools and diesel generators, etc. At the larger scale, plant can refer to equipment the size of buildings such as giant earth movers used in mining and borers used for tunnelling railway lines and freeways.

Plants are generally re-useable for more than one project, and can be purchased new, used, hired, leased or custom built to specifications. In all cases, it will be need to be serviced by engineers, and often adapted to specific projects by specialist plant construction engineers.

When planning the use of plant, there are a wide range of issues that need to be considered:

  • Public and worker health & safety, accident prevention
  • Lead times and continuity of use
  • Power and fuel & oil
  • Storage and theft, especially in remote areas
  • Insurance
  • Possible breakdowns, repairs, serving by engineers, and maintenance contracts
  • Standards and regulations
  • Nuisance (noise, vibration, dust, emissions, operating hours, etc)
  • Logistics, access, segregation and traffic diversions.

Health and safety is important in the deployment and operation of plant on site, particularly in relation to cranes, mobile plant and vehicles. There are a number of regulations that must be adhered to and there is a wide range of guidance available from Worksafe Australia. Typical types of plant:

  • Bitumen mixing and laying plant for road construction
  • Earth-moving equipment such as bulldozers, graders, and excavators
  • Cherry pickers

Professionals in the field of plant construction have the provided capacity to comment on the efficacy of certain plants. This may prove extremely useful in assessing the efficacy of plant operation, particularly as it relates to property damage, injury of persons, or faulty provision of services. This technical knowledge may prove itself to be integral evidence in a matter.

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts working in the field of plant construction are essential in cases of engineering accidents and failures. They are able to provide expert opinion on a variety of issues including:

  • Was the plant fit-for-purpose i.e. designed and constructed appropriately?
  • Was the plant defective?
  • Was it operated within guidelines and regulations?
  • Was there negligence in the operation of the plant?
  • Was there a failure in the management of the plant?

By answering these questions, experts may provide a more substantiated claim to matters relating to negligence, injury, malpractice, or property damage.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

  • The need for a view or inspection of a location
  • The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
  • Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
  • Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype
Relevant Articles Renewables industry blasts ‘unacceptable’ Australian energy market rules it says will prolong coal plants

This article discusses the interplay between construction plants which operate within the 'new energy market' and those within established markets between 'coal' and 'mining'. These plants demonstrate a dichotomous relationship between creating a future of sustainability, whilst also protecting consumers from high prices and reliability risks.

Household power bills could jump if ageing power plants are paid to remain open, report warns

This article demonstrates how power plant maintenance and construction within traditional coal and gas plants may lead to higher power bills with time. These costs would far exceed the impact of the carbon price on power bills.

Major 200MW + battery solar farm approved in outback South Australia

One of the largest photovoltaic solar farms in the Southern Hemisphere has been approved to be built in South Australia. Work is expected to begin on the Solar River Project in early 2019 with completion of the 220MW PV array and 120MWh lithium-ion battery in Stage 1 planned for the end of that year.

Relevant Cases Londsdale Investments Pty Ltd -v- Om (Manganese) LTD [No 3] [2012] WASC 185

The case considered whether a design engineer of a mineral processing plant owed a duty of care in the designing process and whether he should have investigated the characteristics of the ore to be processed.

GEORGE STREET STEEL PTY LTD (ACN 008 179 708) v WILSON PASTORAL INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD (ACN 167 284 399) & ORS [2019] SADC 11 (8 February 2019)

This matter relates to a breach of contract, which requires two engineers to comment on whether deficiencies existed in the construction of the plant in question.

Related Blog Articles

A sample of our experts in Engineering - Plant construction

Below are short profiles of a few experts with expertise in this field. Please contact our office to discuss your specific requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget. Expert Experts are experts in finding the right expert for your needs and you pay no more to use Expert Experts than if you searched and found the expert yourself.

Contact us at answers@expertexperts.com.au or give us a call 1300 72 66 55

Expert Experts sources experts in all disciplines for lawyers, insurers, government and industry across Australia

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