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Volume 7, Wednesday September 22, 2010
Farmer
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National licensing system
New high risk work laws O
By Millie Thomas
n September 1, a change was brought upon all industrial employees across Australia. Licensing for machinery such as an EWP (Elevated Work Platform) or a forklift now have to be consistent right across Australia (no matter where in Australia it is issued), and if you have held your ticket since 1995 or before, you have 12 months to renew it, or it will become invalid. Transitions for the years following 1995 will occur over a five year plan. “The new system will continue the current requirements for people to hold a qualification for the operation of plant such as a forklift, crane, hoist, elevating work platform or pressure equipment and for people who perform scaffolding, dogging or rigging work” said SafeWork SA Executive Director, Michele Patterson. “The new licensing arrangements are very similar to the existing system including the need to be trained and assessed as competent by a SafeWork SA Registered Assessor,” said Ms Patterson.
“The introduction of a new national licensing system for high risk work brings SA into line with other states and territories and the new licence will eventually replace all existing certificates or tickets for those classes of work covered by the regulations. People holding a valid certificate of competency for the specified classes will not need to be re-tested but they will be required to convert their current certificates or ‘tickets’, to the new national licence over time,” she said. Local HSE Coordinator, Alex Thomas said that the new found consistency across the nation will help to provide accountability. “The new high risk work laws that have recently been introduced to legislation mark the beginning of a new era of universal consistency in the application of an effective licensing, training and competency program across all industries. Over time, this will hopefully create a benchmark for a significant improvement in the quality and integrity of licensed operators utilising high risk plant and equipment – hence allowing employers to rest assured that operators haven’t obtained their licenses ‘out of a Weetbix Box’, so to speak,” she said.
ABOVE: Local HSE Coordinator, Alex Thomas said that the new found consistency across the nation will help to provide accountability. “Given the transient nature of the workforce here at Olympic Dam in regards to shut downs and so on, the new high risk licensing system will also assist in mitigating issues pertaining to the mobilisation of employees from interstate – where beforehand, contingencies may have arisen in South Australian legislation not recognising other licenses and/or tickets from other states. “Although this change in legislation has been a long time coming, its effectiveness will inadvertently voice the need to further standardise other regulations nationwide,” she said. Tickets issued before 3 April 1995 will expire on 1 September 2011. Those tickets issued after 3 April 1995 will be phased out over the following four years. Further information about the new licensing system is available online at www.safework.sa.gov.au