Edition 67, May 2009

Licence exemptions in ACT

On 9 April 2009, the ACT WorkCover Chief Executive approved four exemptions under the Occupational Health and Safety (Certification of Plant Users and Operators) Regulation 2000 (Regulation 2000).

These exemptions affect �work assist vehicles� (also known as �WAVE trucks�), pedestrian forklift trucks, pallet trucks and elevating work platforms which incorporate a mast-type boom (known as �single man lifts�).

These exemptions do not waive or reduce the employer�s obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 to provide employees with the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to enable them to perform their work in a manner that is safe and without risk to their health.

The employer must develop a safe method of work which has regard to any risk assessment developed or approved by the manufacturer in respect of the operation of the plant.

As a result of the exemptions, a certificate of competency or high risk work licence for the Order Picking Forklift Truck (LO) class is no longer required in the ACT to operate a work assist vehicle. Similarly a certificate of competency or high risk work licence in the Fork Lift Truck (LF) class is no longer required in the ACT to operate a pedestrian-operated forklift truck, a pedestrian-operated pallet truck, or a pallet truck which is capable of providing a maximum lift not exceeding 225 millimetres.

The exemptions for the operation of pedestrian forklift trucks and pallet trucks were issued in order to bring the certification requirements of the ACT into line with those of other jurisdictions.

In regards to the operation of an elevating work platform with a mast-type boom, a certificate of competency or high risk work licence in the Order Picking Forklift Truck (LO) class will not be required in the ACT.

This exemption does not change the requirement in the ACT to hold a certificate of competency or high risk work licence in the Boom-Type Elevating Work Platform (WP) class to operate any elevating work platform which meets the definition of a �boom-type elevating work platform� under Section 1.8 of Schedule 1 of Regulation 2000.

For more information on these exemptions visit www.ors.act.gov.au/workcover/WebPages/Plant/certificate_classes.htm (scroll to the bottom of the page)

This page was generated on 26 August, 2009