You may ask why you need a high-risk work license. Simply put, if you want to work in hazardous environments and for the operation of certain types of heavy equipment, the licensing of workers makes sure that qualified workers are performing high-risk works, ensuring the safety and health of workers and other people in the workplace. You need such a license if you intend to operate cranes, forklifts, hoists, boilers, steam turbines, boom-type elevating work platforms, reciprocating steam engines, pressure equipment, and reach stackers and work in scaffolding, dogging, and rigging projects. Any HRW license is valid for five years and you can work in any Australian territory or state.
How to get a high-risk work licence?
Offering reliable, flexible, and easy-to-access courses, we as one of the greatest registered training organizations have gathered numerous professional trainers and specialists for every license. Here, you will learn how to work with different machines and equipment, conduct routine checks on a machine, safely plan the work and safely shut down and secure equipment after operations. Then, the candidate will be assessed by a registered WorkSafe assessor. After passing the national assessment instrument, you will be granted the license for high-risk works. You can work with this license for five years, having to renew it after this time like a driver’s license.
Choosing a reputable training provider matters just as much as choosing the right license class. A quality provider will combine classroom theory with genuine hands-on practice on real equipment, give you enough time to build confidence before assessment day, and make sure your trainers are themselves experienced operators rather than just qualified instructors. This is what separates a candidate who merely passes an exam from one who is genuinely job-ready on day one.
Eligibility
An eligible license holder must:
- be 18 years or older
- have completed an appropriate class of high-risk work in a reputable center
- have been assessed as competent by a credited assessor
- have basic English knowledge
Assessment
After completing your training, an official assessor would assess your competency. Credited assessors have to be affiliated with registered training organizations (RTOs).
During your assessment, you will take a theory (written) exam and a practical test. If you pass the assessment, you will receive a Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA) and a tax invoice that are valid for 60 days from the date of issue. It’s important to submit your license application to the relevant regulator within this 60-day window, as an expired NSA generally means you will need to be reassessed before you can apply.
Working in another state or territory
All high-risk work licenses are valid across Australia. So you don’t have to worry if you want to work in a different state or territory from where your license was granted. This national recognition is part of the harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) framework, meaning a licence issued by one state’s regulator is automatically recognised by every other state and territory regulator, giving you the freedom to chase work wherever the projects are.
What could an employer expect from HRW licence training?
According to a recent review by the Training Accreditation Council, employers tend to work with workers who have taken high-risk work licenses from reputable centers. The reason is that they have been enough trained and are qualified to work in high-risk situations.
About a person who holds an HRW, a registered training organization (RTO) confirms that the person:
- has accomplished the required unit of competency (UoC)
- has been assessed as competent by a registered WorkSafe assessor
Thus, possession of a High-risk work license means that the worker has the skills and experience for specific workplace tasks or more complicated high-risk works. For employers, hiring licensed operators also reduces liability, lowers the risk of workplace incidents, and demonstrates due diligence under WHS legislation.
Renewing your licence
If your license is expired, you cannot perform any high-risk work. Within 12 months after the expiry date, you must renew your license. Otherwise, you will have to take training and assessment again to get another license. It’s worth marking your renewal date well in advance, since operating with an expired licence can result in fines for both the worker and the employer, and re-sitting the full course and assessment is far more time-consuming than a straightforward renewal.
Digital high-risk work licences are now available
We have now added digital high-risk work licenses for those customers preferring a digital version to improve our customer service. The service provides convenience and makes compliance with legislation easier. A digital licence means you always have proof of your qualification on your phone, ready to show a site supervisor without needing to carry a physical card.
Available digital trade licences:
- Digital white card
- Digital individual contractor license
- Digital qualified supervisor certificate
- Digital tradesperson certificate
High-risk work courses
High-risk work includes working with cranes, forklifts, hoists, boilers, steam turbines, boom-type elevating work platforms, reciprocating steam engines, pressure equipment, and reach stackers, and working in scaffolding, dogging, and rigging projects.
Dogging (DG) Licence
Dogging work means the application of slinging techniques to move a load (considering load center of gravity, size, weight, and shape and checking lifting gear like chains, slings, hooks, ropes, and cables) or the directing of a crane or hoist operator in the movement of a load when the load is out of his/her sight.
Dogging is one of the most in-demand tickets on construction sites because almost every crane lift requires a qualified dogger to guide the operator and inspect the rigging gear beforehand. A dogging licence is also a common stepping stone toward a rigging licence, since the two trades overlap closely on most job sites. If you want a deeper look at what the scope of work actually covers on a day-to-day basis and why sites consider it such a critical safety role, our guide on what a dogging licence covers and why it’s crucial for a safe worksite breaks it down in detail.
Rigging Licence
Using mechanical load shifting equipment and associated gear to place, move, transport, position, lift and pull a load is known as rigging works. A rigging license is required if you want to perform any of these works in a construction area. We offer two learning options, basic and intermediate rigging license, to maximize the safety and flexibility of our rigging license courses. You can choose any of these two courses that meet your needs.
Many workers choose to complete their dogging and rigging tickets together, since the skill sets are complementary and doing so opens up a much wider range of roles on high-rise, infrastructure, and industrial projects. If you’re weighing up which combination suits your career path, or want to understand how the basic and intermediate levels build on each other, take a look at our dogging and rigging basic level guide for a clear breakdown.
Different types of rigging licences:
- Basic rigging (RB) licence involves:
- movement of plant and equipment
- steel erection
- hoists (including mast climbing hoists)
- placement of precast concrete
- safety nets and static lines
- perimeter safety screens and shutters
- cantilevered crane loading platforms
- Intermediate rigging (RI) licence involves:
- cranes, conveyors, dredges, and excavators
- tilt slabs
- hoists with jibs and self-climbing hoists
- demolition
- dual lifts
- gin poles and shear legs
- flying foxes and cableways
- guyed derricks and structures
- suspended and fabricated hung scaffolds
Elevating Work Platform (over 11 Meters) Licence
Elevating work platforms (EWPs) are designed to transport equipment and people by a hinged, telescopic, articulated device, or a combination of them, from base support. Elevating work platforms might be a hazard for people at the site if it is not used, stored, or maintained cautiously. To prevent incidents, instructions and limitations of the equipment must be followed, considering multiple factors such as lifting capacity, condition of the surface, materials shape and volume, weather, obstructions, and employees near the equipment. That is why you need an HRW license before working with elevating work Platforms. Through the course, you will be trained on how to perform safe elevating operations, and learn the safe methods to operate, secure, set up, and shut down the elevating work platform.
After obtaining the license, you will be qualified to operate elevated work platforms in a wide range of industries including mining, construction, building, and more. If you’re not yet sure whether you need the under-11-metre or the over-11-metre ticket, or you’d like to complete both in one go and save on training time and cost, our guide to the EWP over/under 11 metres combo package walks you through exactly what each licence covers and how the combined course works.
Forklift Licence
Forklift trucks are used in many industries and construction sites now, but you need an HRW license to drive them. During the course, you get familiar with the machine’s functions and operation, getting able to manage all the possible risks. You will learn healthy and safe manners through videos and also live demonstrations to do your work as a professional. The training course is a mixture of practical and theoretical components, provided by experienced, professional, and certified trainers. After obtaining the license, you will soon find a job in this field.
A forklift licence is one of the most versatile tickets you can hold, since forklifts are used across warehousing, logistics, retail distribution, manufacturing, and construction. If you’re curious about exactly where a forklift ticket can take your career and which industries are hiring the most, check out our roundup of the top 7 jobs you can get with a forklift licence in Australia.
Crane licences
Cranes are today used in many construction areas and industries to transport and move heavy loads. Holding any crane license makes you qualified to work in a variety of industries such as construction sites, mines, maritime ports, manufacturing plants, and so much more. We have several crane licenses for different crane classes and machines. All the courses contain practical and theoretical components, giving you sufficient knowledge and experience to work in high-risk areas. Through the course, you will develop your skills, learn safe methods to operate a crane, do site planning, conduct pre-operational checks, and set up and shut down the crane.
We offer different Crane licences such as:
- C6 Slewing Mobile Crane
- C1 Slewing Mobile Crane
- Non-Slewing Crane
- Vehicle Loading Crane
- Bridge or Gantry Crane
- Tower Crane
- C0 Slewing Mobile Crane
- Bridge Crane CB Class
Slewing Mobile Cranes (C0, C1, C6)
A slewing mobile crane is a mobile crane that incorporates a boom jib and is capable of being slewed.
There are three classes of slewing mobile cranes with different capacities:
- up to 60 tons (C6)
- up to 100 tons (C1)
- over 100 tons (C0)
Non-Slewing Crane
Non-slewing crane is a mobile crane that cannot be slewed, including an articulated mobile crane and a locomotive crane. However, they do not include vehicle tow trucks.
Vehicle Loading Crane
This type of crane is a crane that is mounted on a vehicle to load and unload that vehicle.
Bridge or Gantry Crane
Bridge or gantry cranes are mounted inside of the building in which they operate. So they are great for warehouse-type factories. In addition, they are so popular to be used in areas that are often crowded and every inch of space is valuable.
Tower Crane
A tower crane is a type of crane which is equipped with chains and a hoist rope. They are used to lift, lower, transport, and move heavy loads or bulk construction materials.
Why choose Safety Australia Training?
With so many training providers on the market, it’s worth knowing what actually sets a good one apart. Look for a centre that offers small class sizes so trainers can give individual attention, flexible scheduling including weekend and evening sessions, well-maintained equipment that reflects what you’ll actually use on-site, and transparent pricing with no hidden assessment fees. A provider that supports you after the course, whether through refresher advice or help understanding renewal requirements, is also a strong sign of genuine commitment to your long-term career rather than just getting you through the door.
Summary
A high-risk work (HRW) licence is required to operate high-risk projects like rigging or dogging or work with some machinery such as forklift trucks, elevated work platforms, and different types of cranes. Safety Australia Training Group offers high-quality HRW courses to provide the candidates with the skills and knowledge to safely perform the projects and/or safely work with the mentioned machines. All courses contain practical and theoretical components, making you ready to perform any kind of high-risk work in different industries.
Please note that high-risk work licences are only valid for five years and need to get renewed after this time like a driver’s licence.
