No photo, no expiry, no licence for NSW high-risk workers

Are you one of the thousands of NSW workers who hold a high-risk work licence? If so, take a good look at your current licence, because changes are coming into effect that mean you might have to renew before 31 December this year.

To meet national standards, a number of older high-risk work licences will require conversion and renewal before 31 December 2012. This includes licences issued before 1996, licences issued between 1996 and 2004 without an expiry date, and licences issued with an expiry date but not renewed within 12 months of expiring.

Issued by WorkCover NSW, high-risk work licences are required for those who perform specific plant and equipment operation activities as part of their duties. These activities can include:

• operating forklifts
• scaffolding
• rigging
• dogging
• operating cranes, including tower, mobile, vehicle loading, bridge and gantry cranes
• operating hoists, including personnel and materials hoists, elevated work platforms and concrete placing booms
• operating pressure equipment such as boilers, turbines and steam engines

Why you need to change

Since the introduction of the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work in 2006, all Australian states and territories have been making transitional arrangements for pre-1996 state certificates and national certificates issued from 1996 to 2004 to convert to the current five-year national high-risk work photo licence.

While some states have concluded their conversion programs, the remaining jurisdictions are in the final stages. NSW will conclude on 31 December 2012, meaning that after this date all WorkCover issued licences will be recognised across all state and territory borders. As of 2013: no photo, no valid expiry, no licence.

Is your licence valid?

If you received your licence before 1996, if it doesn’t have an expiry date or if it has expired, it will be cancelled after the 31 December cut-off. An easy way to tell if your licence is affected is to first check whether it includes a photo. Any licences without photographic identification will also be void after this date. Second, check its expiry. If it does not have a date or it has expired, it will also be void after this date if you have not refreshed and renewed.

Failure to convert and renew your WorkCover NSW issued pre-1996, 1996-2004 or expired licence to a new high-risk work licence before 31 December means your licence will be cancelled and you will be required to undergo training by a registered training organisation and assessment by an accredited assessor before you can apply for a new high-risk work licence.

How to renew

If you currently hold a licence affected by these changes, contact WorkCover on 13 10 50 or email ls@workcover.nsw.gov.au and provide information on the card that you hold. You will be sent a renewal pack that can be lodged at any participating Australia Post Bank@Post outlet on or before 31 December 2012. The application form, a passport-sized photo, proof of identity and a $60 fee will be required to make the lodgement. A new five-year photo licence that is recognised nationwide will then be issued to you.

If you do not receive your renewal pack or have changed address since obtaining your licence, you will need to contact WorkCover to make an application to convert, renew and arrange for a replacement prior to the 31 December deadline. Remember that after 31 December: no photo, no valid expiry, no licence.