Frequently asked questions
High risk work licenses
Demolition
Asbestos
Registration of Plant Design and Item of Plant
1. How does the HRW licence work?
A photographic licence is issued to people who are assessed as being competent to hold the High Risk Work licence (HRW licence), subject to identification checks and verification of age. You must be at least 18 years of age before you can be issued with an HRW licence.
An HRW licence will only be valid for the class(es) of high risk work endorsed on the HRW licence. New classes can be added to the HRW licence, allowing licence holders to work in multiple occupations on a single licence. The licence will allow you to perform this work in any state or territory of Australia.
An HRW licence is issued for a period of five (5) years starting on the date of issue of the first HRW licence class endorsed on the licence. All states and territories will recognise and enforce suspensions and cancellations made in other states and territories.
2. Are Certificates of competency still valid?
Your WorkSafe issued certificate of competency will require conversion to an HRW licence depending upon the issue date which appears on your O.H.S. Certification Australia card or your Western Australian 'State' Certificate of Competency.
The table below identifies the dates when certificates are required to have been converted to an HRW licence.
| Date of issue of the O.H.S. Certification Australia card and Western Australian 'State' Certificate of Competency | Date that certificate must be converted |
| Western Australian 'State' Certificates of Competency issued prior to 1 July 1994 and O.H.S. Certification Australia cards issued from 1 July 1994 to 31 December 1995 | Expired on 30 September 2008. Please contact WorkSafe for more information |
| Between 1 January 1996 - 31 December 1998 | Expired on 30 June 2009. Please contact WorkSafe for more information |
| Between 1 January 1999 - 31 December 2001 | 30 June 2010 |
| Between 1 January 2002 - 31 December 2004 | 30 June 2011 |
| Between 1 January 2005 - 30 September 2007 | 30 June 2012 |
3. Can people with a relevant licence continue to supervise people who do not have a licence while doing high risk work?
No, unless the person is enrolled in a training course through an RTO leading to an HRW licence in the relevant class of high risk work.
People who do not hold an HRW licence or are not undergoing the appropriate training are no longer able to do high risk work, even under the supervision of a person who holds a relevant licence.
Demolition
1. Is a licence required for all demolition work?
It is an offence to do any of the work described as class 1, class 2 or class 3 demolition work unless licensed to do the work.
“class 1” , in relation to demolition work, means demolition work of any of the following kinds-
- work comprising the total demolition of a building or structure that is 10 metres or more in height when measured from the lowest ground level of the building or structure to the highest part of the building or structure;
- work
- comprising the partial demolition of a building or structure that is 10 metres or more in height when measured from the lowest ground level of the building or structure to the highest part of the building or structure; and
- affecting the structural integrity of the building or structure;
- work
- comprising the total or partial demolition of a building or structure; and
- involving the use of load shifting equipment on a suspended
floor; - work comprising the total or partial demolition of pre-tensioned or post-tensioned structural components of a building or structure;
- work comprising the total or partial demolition of a building or structure containing precast concrete elements erected by the tilt-up method of construction;
- work involving the removal of key structural members of a building or structure so that the whole or a part of the building or structure collapses;
- work done to a building or structure involving explosives;
- work comprising the demolition or partial demolition of a building or structure that involves the use of a tower crane or any crane with a safe working load greater than 100 tonnes;
- work involving the removal of an area of brittle or fragile roofing material in excess of 200m2 from a building or structure if any part of the area to be removed is 10 metres or more above the lowest ground level of the building or structure;
“class 2” , in relation to demolition work, means demolition work comprising the total or partial demolition of a building or structure that is less than 10 metres in height when measured from the lowest ground level of the building or structure to the highest part of the building or structure but does not include -
- the total or partial demolition of a single storey dwelling; or
- work of a kind referred to in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) of
the definition of “class 1”;
“class 3”, in relation to demolition work, means work comprising the removal of –
- more than 200m2 of brittle or fragile roofing material from a building or a structure;
“licensed person”, in relation to class 1, class 2 or class 3 demolition work, means a person who has been issued with a licence that allows that person to do that class of demolition work.
“licence” means a licence issued under regulation 3.116(2), that is, a person who satisfies the WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner that he or she is able to do that class of demolition work in a safe and proper manner.
2. What obligations are there in relation to a demolition license?
The WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner must be notified at least 5 working days before any class 1, class 2 or class 3 demolition work is intended to begin.
A copy of the notification form must be kept at the demolition site whilst the work is being done. A copy of Australian Standard 2601 and a copy of the workplan required by the Regulations must also be kept at the site.
Asbestos
Restricted asbestos licence
1. When will the new restricted asbestos licensing scheme commence?
The new restricted asbestos removal licensing scheme will commence on 1 June 2010.
From that date, people or businesses involved in removing more than 10 square metres of bonded (non-friable) asbestos in a workplace must be licenced by WorkSafe. WorkSafe will commence issuing licenses from 1 March 2010.
The current Asbestos Removal Licence will become an Unrestricted Asbestos Removal Licence and the conditions of that licence will not change and it will be valid for three years instead of two.
2. How will the new restricted asbestos licences affect current Demolition Licence holders?
After 1 June 2010, everyone holding a current Demolition Licence will be deemed to hold a Restricted Asbestos Removal Licence which will allow demolition licence holders to remove more than 10 square metres of bonded asbestos. The deemed Restricted Asbestos Removal Licence will expire the date the demolition licence expires and an application will need to be made for a renewal of a Restricted Asbestos Removal Licence.
3. If the Restricted Asbestos Licence holder is not an individual person, is everyone who works for that entity required to hold a Restricted Asbestos Licence?
No. If the licence holder is a business entity, the license holder must nominate at least one person who has the training and experience to properly supervise and manage non-friable asbestos work. This person does not necessarily have to hold a Restricted Asbestos Licence, but must have appropriate training and experience.
4. Must the licence holder be on site at all times?
No. If the licence holder is not on site, they must nominate at least one person who has the training and experience to properly supervise and manage non-friable asbestos work.
5. What documentation must be kept on site?
The licence holder must ensure that a copy of the licence and the Codes of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos, 2nd edition [NOHSC:2002 (2005)] and Management and Control of Asbestos in Workplaces [NOHSC:2018 (2005)] are on site and can be produced upon request by WorkSafe. Also, a Safe Work Method Statement eg asbestos removal control plan is required as per regulation 3.143, and must also be produced.
Registration of Plant Design and Item of Plant
1. What is the difference between design registration and individual registration?
Design registration applies to a concept; any number of individual items can be manufactured to the same design. Individual registration applies to a specific item; each item requires registration.
2. If I alter an item of plant do I have to re-register it?
An alteration is defined in Regulation 4.1 as a change which may affect safety or health, but does not include routine maintenance, repairs or replacement. Regulation 4.14 states that if an item of plant has been individually registered and it is altered, then it must be re-registered.
3. What sort of plant requires design registration?
Schedule 4.1 of the regulations specifies the kinds of plant requiring registration of the design.
4. Who is responsible for design registration?
Regulation 4.2 places the responsibility for ensuring specified types of plant are design registered on the manufacturer, importer or supplier.
5. Who is a Design Verifier?
A design verifier is defined in Regulation 4.1 as someone who is competent to verify that a design complies with the relevant Standards and legislative requirements. Essentially this means someone who has sufficient training, qualifications or experience in the field of plant design. In addition, Regulation 4.4 specifies that the design verifier must be independent of the designer, and must not have had any involvement in the design.
6. What sort of plant requires individual registration?
Schedule 4.2 specifies the kinds of plant requiring individual registration.
7. Who is responsible for individual registration?
Regulation 4.14 places the responsibility for ensuring specified types of plant are individually registered on the employer, main contractor, self-employed person, person having control of the workplace, or person having control of access to the workplace.
8. Who is a competent person?
A competent person is defined in Regulation 1.3 as a person who has acquired through training, qualification, experience or a combination of those things, the necessary knowledge and skills required to inspect individual items of plant declare them safe for use prior to registration.
9. Does WorkSafe accept plant registration from other states?
WorkSafe accepts both design registration and individual registrations from any Commonwealth, State or Territory Authority with responsibility for plant safety.