LICENSING SYSTEM

The national system for High Risk Work licensing

The following information is current as at 01 July 2010 and provides details on:

• National Licensing for High Risk Equipment

• Logbook System for High Risk Equipment Licences

On 01 September 2009 a new national system came into force for the training and qualification (licensing) of persons to operate specified plant and equipment. Although some States and Territories have a later implementation date. NSW implemented the new system on 01 Sep. The NSW system currently has two defined licensing streams:

• High Risk Activities
• Loadshifting Equipment

High Risk Equipment Licences

Training and assessment for High Risk Activities currently delivered by Riverina Plant Operators School includes:

• Operation of Cranes
• Operation of Elevated Work Platforms (11m or higher)
• Operation of Forklifts
• Dogging

The regulations for high risk work licences specifies that applicants must be enrolled in a formal course of training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). The governing authority for this training is the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

A mandatory Formative knowledge and practical assessment will be conducted by the RTO's trainer/assessor. On successful completion of the Formative assessment, the applicant will be put forward to complete a mandatory Summative Assessment conducted by the RTO's Workcover NSW Accredited Assessor for the licence class. The Summative Assessment consists of both knowledge and practical skills.

On successful completion of the Summative Assessment, the RTO will issue the participant with a Statement of Attainment for the applicable National Unit of Competency. On receipt of the required application from the applicant, WorkCover NSW will issue a photo licence for the equipment class, which will be recognised by all states and territories.

It is important to understand that, under the system for High Risk Work activities, regardless of any prior experience gained through informal workplace training, or formal training with an RTO (or a partnered training school), applicants will no longer be able to "just do the assessment". Before an applicant can be assessed for a WorkCover licence they must comply with the following:

• Be enrolled with an RTO for a course of training for the equipment class,

• Provide sufficient evidence of training, eg. formal training with an RTO (or RTO partnered training provider), or training under the logbook system (see below),

• Be formatively assessed (pre-assessed) by the RTO (or RTO partnered training organisation) and demmed 'satisfactory' to be summatively assessed by the RTO's Accredited WorkCover Assessor,
   
• Provide evidence of successful completion of a Formative Assessment (conducted by an RTO or partnered training organisation), to the RTO's Accredited WorkCover Assessor.
   
• Provide 100 points of identification (as specified by WorkCover NSW) on the day of the WorkCover licence.

Logbook System for High Risk Equipment Licences

The regulations for High Risk Activities also apply to trainees/employees operating plant/equipment in the workplace under a logbook and the following rules will apply (extract from WorkCover information sheet):

• Trainees/employees may continue to work under a logbook system, however, this MUST be incorporated into structured training under the supervision of a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). The RTO will provide a logbook once the candidate has enrolled in a course of training. The RTO will assess the candidates skills and determine when they are ready to be assessed for their licence and make arrangements for a WorkCover Accredited Assessor to do so.

Under the logbook system the RTO will be responsible for ensuring that a Formative Assessment (pre-assessment) has been successfully completed before a candidate can be summatively (licence) assessed by the RTO's Accredited WorkCover Assessor.

Effectively, an employee is not permitted to operate high risk category plant/equipment in the workplace unless they hold either a current licence issued by WorkCover NSW (or equivalent State or Territory OHS regulatory body), or is formally enrolled with a Registered Training Organisation for the relevant Unit(s) of Competency to complete learning in the workplace under the logbook system. A Logbook issued by WorkCover NSW can not be used for high risk activities, learners MUST use a logbook issued by the RTO at the time of enrolment.

General

WorkCover NSW will be the Regulatory authority in all matters relating to an employers duty of care to ensure that employees have received the necessary training to work in a safe manner and hold the required licence for the equipment they operate.

WorkCover will also undertake joint activities with ASQA in relation to processes for managing complaints, and the auditing of Registered Training Organisations and their associated trainers and assessors.