Edition 69, July 2009

Explaining the new high risk licensing system

The new high risk work licensing system being introduced across Australia has significantly changed how the licensing process is undertaken.

When a new system is introduced there is always a degree of uncertainty about how the new system will operate, how it is different from the current system, and how it will affect those involved.

In April 2006, all states and territories agreed to implement the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work. The new standard covers areas including scaffolding, rigging, dogging, forklifts, and crane operations. The new standard has made fundamental changes to the way the licensing process is undertaken.

To help explain the new high risk work licensing system it is good to put it into a context that everyone is familiar with. The easiest analogy to apply is the process of getting a drivers licence.

We are all familiar with the process we went through to get our drivers licence. When we sat for our driving licence tests it didn't matter if we had been trained by mum, dad, or a professional at a driving school. How we were trained was not something the 'Transport Department' was interested in; the only thing that mattered was that we could pass the knowledge and practical test the 'Transport Department' set and assessed.

This was the same process that applied under the old high risk system. You passed the test, you got the licence.

If we use the analogy of getting a drivers licence and apply it to the new high risk licence system we see the process change so that the 'driving school' is made compulsory. The emphasis of the licensing process has shifted from the outcome of the testing to ensuring licensees have an adequate level training.

State and territory occupational health and safety (OHS) regulators are requiring registered training organisations (RTOs)to undertake training and assessment to ensure prospective licensees have the necessary underpinning skills and knowledge to support safe workpractices in high risk areas.

RTOs will be performing this role because the high risk licensing training requirements are now integrated into the vocational education and training (VET) system.

The skill requirements that need to be demonstrated to attain a high risk work licence are detailed in units of competency which are located in training packages. Under legislation, RTOs are the only groups who can deliver training package units of competency and issue nationally recognised statements of attainment.

The quality of training delivered by the RTO is guaranteed to be nationally consistent and of a high quality, because RTOs are required to meet stringent registration and operating requirements, as set out under the Australian Quality Training Framework. In addition, RTOs are subject to regular review and audit by State Training Authorities to ensure their training is delivering quality outcomes.

Under the new system, the RTO will also need to be recognised by the OH&S regulator as approved to train and assess the units of competency and issue the statement of attainments for the purpose of issuing a license. The role of the old accredited assessor will become part of the training and assessment done by the trainers and assessors linked to the RTO.

The RTO will train the prospective licensee in the practical skills and knowledge needed to ensure they are reaching the standards outlined in the unit of competency. Once the RTO is satisfied that all the standards have been met, a final test (summative assessment) will be undertaken. This final test will be based on a national 'Assessment Instrument', which has been agreed and approved by all state and territory OH&S regulators. It may also be a requirement that some on-the-job experience is demonstrated.

This final test is familiar territory. Just like the drivers licence testing process, if the knowledge and practical test are passed a licence will be issued. The only difference in the process is that there is a formal training requirement for all prospective licensees.

This change to the system has been done to ensure Australian workplaces are safer. By introducing a training requirement there will be greater certainty that the underpinning knowledge required to support the safe work practices in high risk areas are known by all licence holders.

For more information on the new high risk work licensing system visit www.licensinglinenews.com/highriskworklicensing

This article is based on an article published by James Tennant, Managing Director, Easy Guides Australia Pty Ltd. Click here to view the original article published on the Easy Guides website.

This page was generated on 09 October, 2009

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