High Risk Licence Update - Changes to conditions of assessment

High Risk Licence Update - Changes to conditions of assessment

11/04/2019

There have been some ongoing communications regarding changes to high-risk work conditions/standards by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Specifically, this related to the requirement for nominal hours of training to be completed prior to a candidate being able to sit a practical high-risk licence assessment.

The below update helps to clarify this situation moving forward for our clients, trainer assessors, and candidates alike.

Changes to conditions of assessment – high-risk work

As of 19 January 2016, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland released new conditions associated with the assessment of high-risk work licences. The material change we are bringing to your attention is that there is no longer a requirement to have completed mandatory nominal hours post the relevant training commencing.

This brings Queensland into line with the majority of all other states in Australia and we believe that this is a good step forward in focussing high-risk work training and assessment towards competency and experience as opposed to nominal hours.

In terms of specific conditions that are now in play prior to a practical assessment being conducted, the following conditions must be met:

- The candidate has completed all training in accordance with the relevant unit of competency delivered by an RTO; and

- The candidate has obtained practical experience under the supervision of a suitably licensed person and can successfully demonstrate the necessary transferable skills; and

- The candidate has achieved a standard of skill whereby they are ready to undertake the mandated assessment.

For more information regarding conditions associated with the assessment of high-risk work licenses, please feel free to click on the following link with condition 25 being the relevant provision

(https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/82563/conditions-accreditation-for-assessor.pdf)

What does this mean for you?

While not negating the need to gather evidence, what this change means is that all evidence associated with that discipline/activity can now be taken into account both prior to and post the training commencing.

Accreditations (HRW, RII, etc), verifications or competency, training record books, supervisor confirmations, etc. can all be collated and used as a means to provide support for a candidate to move from training to practical assessment. The question of meeting a standard of skill then becomes a discussion between the client, training organisation and the trainer assessor.

In the case of “green” candidates, the logbook/training record approach remains a valid and on the whole recommended form of evidence gathering and we have standard template documents that can assist you when a candidate has no experience and is effectively starting from scratch.

How can we help?

In line with any request for high-risk work training/assessments, we will work with you to determine the most efficient and effective method of conducting and completing the training. With reference to the current environment, we understand the pressures and limitations associated with commitments to training. What this could mean in terms of training moving forward includes the following:

- The decreased time frame for training and assessing (when taking into account previous requirements associated with nominal hours)

- Greater flexibility regarding delivery of the training

- Competency focussed as opposed to regulation focussed outcomes

- Decrease operational impact on your business

WorkSafe Connect Updates

At WorkSafe Connect we have been in the process of building and growing our team of trainer assessors. We have had a number of new members join the WorkSafe Connect team over the last few months and have been working towards revised high-risk work/RII proposals and options.

For further information regarding what high-risk training WorkSafe Connect can offer, please click on the following link http://www.worksafeconnect.com/high-risk-work-licenses

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