GENERAL CONSTRUCTION WORK REQUIRING LICENSES

Some tasks undertaken in construction workplaces require the operator to hold a certificate, license or ticket which documents the operators completion and or demonstration of competence in performing specified tasks or operation of specified machinery.

These licenses, tickets and certificates include but are not limited to:

• Scaffolding
• Dogging
• Rigging
• Crane Licenses
• Load Shifting Equipment

Schedule 5 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008, details the specific requirements that cover licensing and tickets required that are relevant to construction work.

Scaffolding certificates Scaffolding is the erection, alteration or dismantling of a temporary structure, specifically erected to support platforms.

Schedule 5 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 defines scaffolding as a prescribed occupation which means that a certificate is required, to undertake any work related to this area. Certificate requirements also apply where a person or object could fall more than four metres from the scaffolding.

Dogging Work Schedule 18 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 defines a person undertaking dogger work to include:

• the application of slinging techniques including the selection and/or inspection of lifting gear
• the directing of a crane/hoist operator in the movement of a load when the load is out of the operator's view.

Slinging techniques are the exercising of judgement in relation to the suitability and condition of lifting gear, and the method of slinging, by consideration of the nature of the load, its mass and its centre of gravity.

Schedule 5 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 classifies dogging (DG) as high risk work and provides the units of competency required for dogging work.

A Guide for doggers (PDF, 3.3 MB) outlining competency based skills needed to perform doggers' duties safely, is available for anyone intending to undertake field work using doggers.

To be competent the person should be able to:

• Plan and prepare work
• Complete dogging work

Rigging Work Rigging work involves the use of mechanical load shifting equipment and associated gear to move, place or secure a load including plant, equipment or members of a building or structure and to ensure the stability of those members and for the setting up and dismantling of cranes and hoists. 

Rigging does not include any work performed by operators or drivers of mechanical loadshifting equipment, unless the work is part of the process of setting up or dismantling cranes and hoists.

Schedule 5 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 defines rigging as a prescribed occupation which means that a licence (certificate) is required, to undertake any work related to this area.

Crane Licences Schedule 5 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 lists crane operation as a prescribed occupation which means that a licence is required, to undertake any work related to this area.

Any person wishing to obtain a crane operators licence should be aware that there are eleven types that can be issued.

• Self-erecting tower cranes (CS)
• Tower crane (CT)
• Derrick crane (CD)
• Portal boom crane (CP)
• Bridge or gantry (CB)
• Vehicle loading crane (CV)
• Non-slewing mobile crane (CN)
• Slewing mobile cranes (up to 20t, up to 60t, up to 100 t, over 100t)

High risk work - crane and hoist operation Bridge or gantry crane, self-erecting tower crane, tower crane, derrick crane, portal boom crane, vehicle loading crane, non slewing mobile crane, slewing mobile crane, elevating work platform, concrete placing boom, materials hoist and materials

Load Shifting Equipment Examples of load shifting equipment includes:

• combination front-end loader and backhoe
• skid steer loader,
• excavator
• crane or personnel hoists