High Risk Work Licences Suspended in SA

SafeWork SA recently suspended the High Risk Work Licences of three individuals after two separate incidents involving the unsafe operation of a mobile crane.

In the first incident, the crane operator used the crane’s hook to transport a rigger from one level to another, sometimes called “riding the hook.”

The second incident saw the crane operator lift a load exceeding the crane’s lifting capacity after manually overriding the safety limit switch, causing the crane to overturn.

Following SafeWork SA investigations into both incidents, the High Risk Work Licences for all individuals were suspended for three months.

The individuals whose licences were suspended will also be required to undertake competency reassessments before their licences can be re-issued.

During the three-month suspension it is also considered an offence to undertake any work classified as high-risk.

SafeWork SA put out the following safety reminder:

“SafeWork SA reminds High Risk Work licence holders that their licences have been issued on the basis they have been assessed and deemed competent to undertake the class of work safely. They have a duty to ensure their actions do not put themselves or others at risk of injury or harm whilst undertaking work activities.”

Individuals must obtain High Risk Work Licences prior to commencing any work deemed to be high risk.

Remember that a High Risk Work license is required for any of the following work activities:

  • Crane and hoist operation
  • Dogging and rigging work
  • Forklift operation
  • Pressure equipment operation
  • Scaffolding work.

Builders (or Principal Contractors) are required to check and record the licence details, when a contractor performs any of these tasks on their work site, and keep the records for at least one year after work is complete.

At the same time, SafeWork SA can suspend or cancel any High Risk Work Licence and suspend or disqualify the licence holder if that holder has failed to take reasonable care to carry out their high risk work safely and competently.

Read more here.

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