High Risk Work Licensing

The National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work (National Licensing Standard) has replaced the National Occupational Health and Safety Certification Standard for Users and Operators of Industrial Equipment [NOHSC:1006(2001)].

The National Licensing Standard commenced in Western Australia across non-mining industries on 1 October 2007. A “Certificate of Competency” previously issued under the National Certification Standard has been replaced by a “Licence” under the National Licensing Standard.

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On 21 July 2009, the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (WA) were amended to phase in the National Licensing Standard for the mining industry.

Examples of high risk work requiring a person to hold a licence to perform that task include:

• Scaffolding - basic, intermediate and advanced
• Rigging work- dogging; basic, intermediate and advanced rigging
• Crane and hoist operation – tower; self-erecting tower; derrick; portal boom; bridge and gantry; vehicle loading; non slewing mobile; slewing; materials hoist; personnel and materials hoist; boom-type elevating work platform; vehicle-mounted concrete placing boom
• Forklift operation – forklift trucks; order-picking forklift trucks (this is a new class of licence)
• Pressure equipment operation - basic, intermediate and advanced boiler operation; turbine operation; reciprocating steam engine operation.
  

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The amendments provide for the following transitional periods for the mining industry:

• Surface – a period of 12 months grace applies from 22 July 2009 to 22 July 2010 in which to obtain a licence for high risk work
• Underground– a period of two years will apply from 22 July 2009 to 22 July 2011 in which to obtain a licence for high risk work.

Note: the transitional periods in place for converting OHS Certification Australia cards or Western Australian ‘State’ Certificates of Competency also apply to the mining industry.

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The definitions of “high risk work” and “high risk work licence” for the mining industry have the same meanings as those given under regulation 6.1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996. However, there are important legislative differences that are relevant to high risk work licensing in the WA mining industry.

Work activities still subject to specific requirements under the mining legislation are those for hoists and winding engines, and practical trials for competency involving certain plant.

Hoists

Competency to operate a hoist (defined as a single undivided drum winding engine driven by a motor or engine having a capacity not exceeding 25 kW) will continue to be determined by the manager of a mine following testing by the manager or some other competent person. No certification is required, but the details of the testing and the name of the individual operator must be entered in the mine record book.

Winding engines

Winder drivers will continue to be certificated by the Board of Examiners and require the written authorisation of the mine manager.

Certain plant

Similar to the current arrangement, the manager of the mine will retain responsibility for authorising or finding persons competent for operating or driving plant that is not defined under National Licensing Standard or under the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.

This is particularly relevant in the underground mining environment, where high risk work is often undertaken using plant that may not be included under the National Licensing Standard, and requires the operator or driver to be trained and found to be competent by the mine manager through a practical trial.

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There is no requirement for a record book entry for licensed people coming on site to undertake high risk work covered by the licensing regime.

However, for high risk work not covered by a licence issued by a recognised authority, the site will be required to provide training. A record book entry is required once the person has been authorised or found to be competent by or on behalf of the manager to undertake the high risk work.

Record book entry

• Name of the person
• Date on which the person was authorised or found to be competent
• If the person undertook a test or practical trial, the date on which the test or trial was undertaken and the name and signature of the person who carried out the test or trial.

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Licences are issued under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 and continue to be the responsibility of the WorkSafe Division of the Department of Commerce.

Further information and access to licence application forms (including applicable fees) are available from WorkSafe.

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