WorkSafe issued a reminder to workers engaged in high risk work that they need to obtain a current licence by 30 June 2011.
Due to the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work replacing National Certificates of Competency in 2007, some workers will need to have the licence by June 30 this year.
Everyone performing high risk work will require a licence by June 30 2012, but the date by which individuals need to have the licence depends upon when their Certificates of Competency were issued, according to WorkSafe.
Workers holding a WA Certificate of Competency or OHS Certification Australia Card issued between January 1 2002 and December 31 2004 will need to convert to the high risk work licence before June 30.
The remaining conversion deadline is June 30 2012 for certificates issued between January 1 2005 and September 30 2007.
Acting WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch urged people involved with high risk work to check on the issue date of their Certificates of Competency and act to replace them with the new licences as soon as possible.
“In agreeing to adopt the national licensing standard back in 2007, we acknowledged the important role high-quality training plays in helping provide workers with the skills to perform high risk work safely and competently,” Mr McCulloch said.
“These licences apply to anyone engaged in work considered to be “high risk”, including scaffolding, dogging and rigging work and the operation of cranes, hoists and pressure equipment.