High risk standard for WA

West Australian workers performing identified high risk work will need to be licensed as of 2007.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner, Nina Lyhne said that the new standard was a way of ensuring an effective licensing regime and national consistency.

"Western Australia is committed to a national approach for the licensing of high risk work, and this new standard provides exactly that," she said.

The National Licensing Standard will replace the current Certificate of Competency with a licence that is renewable every five years and covers all work currently considered to be high risk.

This includes work such as scaffolding, dogging and rigging and crane, hoist and pressure equipment operation.

A significant change for WA workers will be that forklift operators will require a licence. Currently, WorkSafe issues national Certificates of Competency for forklift operation on a non-compulsory basis.

The new licence will be required from 1 July 2007, but existing Certificates of Competency will continue to be recognised for a limited transition period while certificates are being converted.

For more information on the new standard, contact WorkSafe at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au.

9/10/06