Edition 89, June-July 2011

High Risk Work assessment instruments update

Safe Work Australia have advised that work continues on finalisingHRWinstruments assessment instruments for high risk work

The draft Model WHS Regulations contain a schedule of high risk work that reflects the current National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work, with the exception of:

  • an extension of vehicle mounted concrete placing booms to cover all concrete placing booms (i.e. vehicle mounted and static), and
  • the inclusion of a new class covering reachstackers.

In addition, after further consultation and public comment, the high risk work classes for boilers are to be reduced from three classes to two - basic and advanced.

The Units of Competency and Assessment Instruments for these new or revised classes of high risk work have yet to be developed. It is expected that there will be some transitional arrangements established, possibly for a period of up to 2 years, before they come into operation.

Units of competency and assessment instruments for the reciprocating steam engines and turbine classes of high risk work have been developed through extensive consultation with industry with the assistance of the ElectroComms and Energy Utilities Industry Skills Council Ltd (EE-Oz Training Standards). The Units are in the process of being approved by Safe Work Australia and placed on NTIS. The assessment instruments are expected to be available to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in late 2011.

The assessment instruments currently used in the licensing of high risk work for the other existing classes are also being moderated. It is expected that this process will be finalised in the coming months, with revised assessment instruments then distributed to State and Territory Work Health and Safety regulators for release.

In addition, it is anticipated that prior to the full assessment instruments being available, revised draft resource requirements (for some classes) will be distributed to State and Territory Workplace Health and Safety regulators for use by RTOs.

The Safe Work Australia website will be regularly updated with details on the assessment instrument moderation and the availability of draft resource requirements.

Information on the assessment instruments is available here -http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/SafetyInYourWorkplace/TrainingSkillsAndLicensing/
Licensingandcertification/Pages/ModerationofHighRiskWorkAssessmentInstruments.aspx

Additionally, the link to the high risk work page on the Safe Work Australia website will be updated shortly and is located at: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/SafetyInYourWorkplace/TrainingSkillsAndLicensing/Licensingandcertification/
Pages/ModerationofHighRiskWorkAssessmentInstruments.aspx

This page was generated on 27 July, 2011