Originally published by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety
Safe Work Australia recently issued a call for feedback on six proposals aimed at improving the high-risk work licensing framework for cranes.
The proposals are based on a discussion paper which outlines potential changes including:
- Organising licences by function rather than lifting capacity
- Practical experience for crane operators
- Introducing new licences for telehandlers, piling rigs and straddle carriers
- Structural changes to align training to specific skills and crane functions, including by Incorporating some existing licences into other licence categories
- A prerequisite training course for anyone operating cranes on a vessel over water, and
- Improving the rigging licence framework to correct incongruities and reflect contemporary work practices and equipment.
Under the second proposal, the discussion paper noted that a key theme of feedback received during public consultation was the need for crane operators to gain more practical experience operating a crane before being granted a licence.
“Currently, the licensing framework does not require any operator experience outside of the initial training course and assessment of competency. These requirements are at odds with the objectives of crane licensing, which are to ensure that operators have the skills and experience to operate a crane safely,” the discussion paper said.
Under the fourth proposal, the paper noted that crane licence training courses are generally designed to provide a new trainee operator with all the information they need to operate a crane safely. However, many crane operators will ultimately hold more than one crane licence, and these operators will often need to repeat the same content again and again as they are trained for new licences.
“This may not always be a bad thing. Repetition can help in reinforcing key safety messages. However, consistent feedback to Safe Work Australia has emphasised that the best way to improve operator competency is through a focus on more practical experience,” it said.
“There is an opportunity to improve crane licensing overall by ‘scaffolding’ content across crane licence courses, which would be of particular benefit to multiple licence holders.”
‘Scaffolding’ is a term used in education, whereby simpler, foundation content is introduced to the learner first, with more complex content introduced later, and the paper noted that this approach recognises prior learning and reduces repetition, while ensuring that the training and practical experience operators receive is directly targeted at the competency they need to develop to work safely.
Under the fifth proposal, the discussion paper noted that operating cranes on vessels involves unique WHS risks.
“The movement of a ship on water can significantly impact the movement of a crane, requiring specialist training for operators. Equipment can also degrade faster in marine environments due to saltwater spray,” the paper said.
The current crane licensing framework does not address these issues, and it said that some stakeholders have noted there is considerable confusion about whether licences are required when operating a crane on board a vessel.
To provide greater certainty to industry and crane operators, the paper proposes a prerequisite training course for any crane operation on a vessel. “This would apply not just at ports, but on any vessel (including inland waterways). The operator would need to have completed this course, and also hold the relevant HRW licence appropriate for the type of crane being used,” the paper said.
Safe Work Australia said submissions are welcome from all stakeholders with an interest in the high-risk work licensing framework for cranes, and submissions can be made via Safe Work Australia’s consultation hub until Wednesday 31 July 2024.
