WorkSafe has issued a warning to check High Risk Work Licences after being alerted to altered and created copies of the documents.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said today WorkSafe had recently been alerted that the licences were being altered to include additional classes of high risk work for which the owner had not been trained.

“We’ve recently been made aware that some High Risk Work Licences are being electronically scanned and altered to include additional classes of high risk work, and the altered copies then sent as email attachments to prospective employers,” Mr McCulloch said.

“High Risk Work Licences are only issued to workers who have been appropriately trained and have the skills to perform high risk work safely and competently.

“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, pressure equipment and forklifts.

“Our advice to employers or anyone in control of a workplace is to satisfy yourself that anyone you are thinking of employing for high risk work has the experience they claim to have.

“Always sight the original High Risk Work Licence card – don’t be satisfied with an emailed or texted scan or photo of the licence.

“Anyone who has concerns about a High Risk Work Licence can verify the details using the WorkSafe licence and registration search located on the Department of Commerce website.

“Finally, it’s important to note that the cases of fraud in relation to High Risk Work Licences we have discovered have been referred to WA Police.”

Further information can be obtained by :

• telephoning WorkSafe on 1300 307877;
• using the licence search facility for high risk work; and
• information on checking High Risk Work Licences

Media contact: Caroline De Vaney 6251 2363 or 0408 927563 (media enquiries only)

caroline.devaney@commerce.wa.gov.au

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