WorkSafe has issued a warning to licensing assessors and industry in general after a Perth assessor had most High Risk Work Licence assessor classes cancelled for not properly assessing license applicants.

The assessor was registered to assess 18 classes of high-risk work, but 17 of these were cancelled after a WorkSafe investigation found the assessor was not properly assessing workers.

The classes of work included dogging and rigging, scaffolding, cranes, hoists, forklifts and elevating work platforms. The assessor can now only assess for a tower crane licence, but has not completed any assessments in this class since the other classes were cancelled.

More than 40 licence holders have been contacted and are now required to be reassessed as they may not have demonstrated that they can do the work in a safe and proper manner.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh today warned assessors that it was likely they would be found out if they did not conduct assessments properly.

“This latest case has led me to warn other assessors that WorkSafe has increased compliance activities in the licensing area, and it is even more likely they will be caught if they’re not meeting licensing conditions,” Mr Kavanagh said.

“The potential repercussions of inadequate assessments are serious – from the loss of the assessor’s livelihood to a significant number of workers who have been granted licences when they have not demonstrated that they can safely do the work, which can endanger lives.

“We are working with other agencies – namely the Training Accreditation Council (TAC) in WA and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) nationally – to ensure that workers receive appropriate training for High Risk Work Licences.

“This case should also serve as a reminder that employers all have a duty of care under workplace safety legislation to provide workers with site-specific and machinery-specific training for each and every job.”

Media Contact: Caroline De Vaney, 6251 2363 or 0408 927563 (media queries only).

caroline.devaney@demirs.wa.gov.au

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