In April 2006, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council issued the revised National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work. This national standard now includes forklift trucks and order picker trucks. Among other things, the standard requires forklift operators and order picker operators to have a state or territory issued operator's license with photograph. The operator must be able to produce the license upon request of the licensing authority or the Commonwealth regulating agency. An employer cannot allow a person to operate a forklift or order picker truck without a valid license. The license must be renewed every five years. Although the standard is currently advisory in nature, states and territories can enact legislation to make the requirements mandatory
If a state or territory adopts this standard, the Australian Government, Department of Education, Science, and Training would become the lead agency for controlling basic forklift training within that Australian state or territory and any Registered Training Organization (RTO) would have to meet the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Standards for Registered Training Organizations.
The assessment criteria and units of competency for the new standard, as far as I know, are still in process but will most likely be similar to those in the current loadshifting standard.
I have read opinions on this subject from the governmental Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) sector and the Vocational Education & Training (VET) sector. I have not found many opinions from the private sector.
I am interested in the opinions of the operators, trainers, and employers who will be impacted by this new Australian standard should it be adopted.
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To download a synopsis of the new Australian standard Google: OHS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS APRIL 2006
To download the new Australian standard Google: NATIONAL STANDARD FOR LICENSING PERSONS PERFORMING HIGH RISK WORK APRIL 2006 or click on the OHS Legal Obligation page new standard link.
It is my understanding that it would be the operator's responsibility (cost, time, travel, etc.) to obtain the training, assessment, and licensing for the forklift or order picker truck. The employer is not responsible in this area. If the employer doesn't assist the employee in these areas, however, the employer may find a shortage of qualified operators for his/her operations (especially in these times of worker shortages in the Australian transport industry trades).
An employer would not be allowed to have a person operate a forklift or order picker truck without a valid license. The license training, however, would only cover basic minimal operational safety of the forklift or order picker. The revised standard would still require the employer to provide additional training/information/instruction. It would not require that this additional training/information/instruction be given by a registered training organization (RTO).
"Responsibilities of Other Persons, 9.2 - To Ensure performance beyond the minimum competencies required for licensing, the person who engages or employs persons licensed to perform high risk work must provide such licence holders with additional training, instruction and information on the equipment operation, hazards, risks and control measures relevant to their workplace."
Do Australian forklift and order picker truck operators or employers understand the implications of this consensus standard should it be adopted by their state or territory?
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