High Risk Work Licences (HRWL) in Australia: 29 Classes Under WHS Regulations

Statutory basis under the model WHS Regulations

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations establish the framework for high risk work licences (HRWL) in Australia. Schedule 3 details the HRWL and the classes of high risk work they authorise. Employers have a WHS Act primary duty (s.19) to ensure work is conducted safely, and this includes ensuring workers performing high risk work are appropriately licensed.

Section 81 of the model WHS Regulations mandates that a person cannot carry out high risk work unless they possess the relevant HRWL or are undergoing training under direct supervision. Failure to comply with this requirement can lead to serious consequences, including potential Industrial manslaughter by state charges.

While Safe Work Australia provides the national framework, each state and territory administers its own HRWLs under its respective WHS or OHS Act. These licences are valid for a period of five years and are mutually recognised nationally through the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth). Applicants must meet minimum age requirements and demonstrate competency through assessment by an accredited assessor at a registered training organisation (RTO).

Scaffolding, dogging and rigging classes

Scaffolding, dogging and rigging are all High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) classes in Australia. Scaffolding licences are tiered, with Basic (SB), Intermediate (SI) and Advanced (SA) levels. These tiers reflect the increasing complexity of scaffold systems a licence holder is permitted to erect, alter or dismantle. The Code of Practice: Scaffolds and scaffolding work (Safe Work Australia) and Schedule 3 provide guidance on practical expectations for scaffolding work, which often involves Working at heights and fall protection (WHS Part 4.4).

A Dogging (DG) licence authorises a worker to perform slinging techniques, direct a crane operator, and apply load estimation when moving a load. Rigging licences are also tiered, with Basic (RB), Intermediate (RI) and Advanced (RA) levels. Advanced rigging covers specialised techniques including gin pole and shear leg rigging, flying foxes and cable ways, and falls under Plant safety under WHS Chapter 5.

Importantly, a worker performing dogging or rigging must hold the relevant licence in addition to any crane licence required for the same task. Training for these classes is delivered against national CPC or RII units of competency and assessed by a Safe Work Australia-accredited assessor.

Crane, hoist, forklift and pressure equipment classes

Crane, hoist, forklift and pressure equipment classes are high risk work licences. Crane licences are categorised by type and capacity. Slewing mobile cranes are divided into C0 (over 100 tonnes), C1 (up to 100 tonnes), C2 (up to 60 tonnes) and C6 (up to 20 tonnes). Other crane classes include Vehicle loading (CV), Non-slewing mobile (CN), Tower (CT), Self-erecting tower (CS), Derrick (CD), Portal boom (CP) and Bridge and gantry (CB). [Plant safety under WHS Chapter 5] requires employers to ensure the safe use of plant.

Hoist licences cover Materials hoist (HM) and Personnel and materials hoist (HP). Forklift classes include Forklift truck (LF) and Order-picking forklift truck (LO). A Forklift truck (LF) licence does not authorise operation of order-picking lift trucks. Pressure equipment licences are issued for Standard boiler (BB), Advanced boiler (BI), Turbine operation (TO) and Reciprocating steam engine (ES). Reach stacker (RS) covers container-handling reach stackers. [WHS primary duty (s.19)] places a responsibility on persons conducting businesses or undertakings to provide a safe working environment.

Operating plant outside the scope of the class shown on the licence is an offence. Penalties for this offence, under the model laws, can be up to $30,000 for an individual.

PCBU duties and enforcement

The primary duty of care for a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) is to ensure the health and safety of workers. This includes not directing or allowing a worker to perform high risk work unless the PCBU has verified the worker holds a valid High Risk Work Licence (HRWL). PCBUs are also obligated to maintain a register of HRWL holders working at their workplace and regularly check licence expiry dates before any high risk work commences. Workers compensation by state details the implications of non-compliance.

Trainee operators undertaking high risk work must operate under the direct supervision of a licensed person and be enrolled with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) at the time of the work. A worker’s HRWL is not automatically renewed if it has lapsed for more than 12 months; generally, a reassessment is required. WHS industrial manslaughter state comparison highlights the potential legal consequences of failing to meet these obligations.

Regulators have the authority to suspend or cancel HRWLs following serious incidents. Incidents involving plant used in high risk work are considered notifiable under section 38 of the WHS Act. While most states and territories have adopted the model WHS laws, Victoria’s OHS Act 2004 and Western Australia’s WHS Act 2020 maintain equivalent licensing frameworks.