High risk work licences now required on mines

From 1 January 2016, any person operating or using a forklift truck or order picking forklift truck at a mine must hold the relevant high risk work licence.

According to the Department of Industry, Resources and Energy, high risk work licences for operating forklift trucks did not apply to mining or coal workplaces under the previous OHS Regulation 2001 requirements (clause 264B OHS Regulation 2001).

This continued as a transitional arrangement during the introduction of the WHS Regulation (clause 22(12) Schedule 18B WHS Regulation 2011) and held until 31 December 2015 by an exemption issued by SafeWork NSW.

The department, however, has stated this exemption will not be continued and has expired.

This was addressed in the discussion paper on the Draft Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulation 2014 (April 2014).

SafeWork NSW issues high risk work licences. To apply, go to www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-registrations/licences/high-risk-work-licences.