Earthmoving or particular crane occupational classes

You no longer need to hold an earthmoving or particular crane (EPC) certificate to operate the following types of equipment, under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act):

While a certificate is no longer required the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) with management or control of the plant must ensure:

• operators receive adequate information, training, instruction and supervision
• operators are competent
• appropriate use of equipment to minimise any risks to health and safety.

If you operate any of this equipment you have a duty to take reasonable care for both your own and your own health and safety and that of others. You must comply with any reasonable instruction and follow any reasonable policy or procedure relating to health and safety at the workplace.

Information, training and instruction

Where a certificate is no longer required for EPC activities, the PCBU has a primary duty of care duty under the Act to ensure that workers are trained and competent to do this work safely.

You must give information, training, instruction or supervision to people who will use the plant. This must be done before the plant is used in your workplace.

You should include information on the types of hazards and risks the plant may pose to the person when they are carrying out these activities.

You may support this information with safe work procedures that include:

• the correct use of guarding and other control measures
• how to safely access and operate the plant
• who may use an item of plant (e.g. only authorised or licensed operators)
• how to inspect, shut-down, clean, repair and maintain the plant
• traffic rules, rights of way, clearances and no-go areas for mobile plant
• emergency procedures.

Training can be formal or informal, or a combination of both.

Formal training includes completing a nationally recognised course delivered by a registered training organisation for a specific type of plant, or training at an industry training school.

Informal training includes on-the-job training delivered or supervised by a competent person, or in-house job-specific training that involves the plant and associated hazards.

Training programs should be practical and 'hands on' and suit the needs of workers (e.g. literacy levels, work experience and specific skills required for safe use of the plant).

Supervision of load-shifting plant

A competent person should always directly supervise a person who is inexperienced using load-shifting plant. Direct supervision means you should:

• direct, demonstrate, monitoring and check the person's work in a way that is appropriate to their level of competency
• ensure they can respond in an emergency situation.

To determine the level of supervision an operator requires, you should take into account:

• their experience and competency
• the risks associated with the tasks
• conditions on the worksite.

You can reduce the level of supervision as the person's competency and experience increases, as long as it does not place the supervisor or any other person at risk.

Operator's competency

While a certificate is no longer required to operate an excavator, including operating it in crane mode, as the PCBU with management or control of the plant, you must ensure that operators are competent to use the equipment.

When you determine an operator's competency you can use the following evidence:

• a certificate issued under the repealed Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008
• a statement of attainment in a previous Queensland Unit of Competency (e.g. Operate a excavator - OHSCER205A)
• a statement of attainment in the current National Unit of Competency Conduct civil construction excavator operations
• a statement of attainment in the National Unit of Competency Conduct civil construction excavator operations (superseded)
• on-the-job training by an experienced and competent person which can be verified by logbooks or previous employer references
• you can also provide structured in-house training to operators if resources are available at a workplace.

You should keep evidence of competency on file as a record in the event of an incident.

Units of competency for operators of load-shifting equipment

We recognise the following units of competency for operators of load-shifting equipment:

Note: Superseded units may still provide evidence of competency when combined with other supporting evidence.

Operating Earthmoving or Particular Crane (EPC) machinery in Crane Mode

While a certificate is no longer required to operate an earth moving or particular crane (EPC) occupational class of machinery, including operating it in crane mode, the PCBU with the management or control of the plant must ensure that operators are competent to use the equipment.

You should keep the evidence of the competency on the file as a record in the event of an incident.

If EPC machinery is used in crane mode to move a load you may require a dogging HRW licence.

There are limited circumstances where a person without a high risk work dogging (DG) licence can safely sling a load.

A competent person is able to sling a load, without holding a dogging HRW licence (or rigging) when there is no judgement required for slinging techniques or the suitability and the condition of lifting gear because the following factors are predetermined:

• the weight of the load (or within a weight range) to be lifted is predetermined by a competent person (e.g. may be marked on the load)
• selection of the sling and slinging techniques for the load is predetermined by a competent person
• the condition of lifting gear is predetermined by a competent person
• the lifting points are predetermined by a competent person and marked on the load
• the load is lifted within the view of the operator at all times
• standard lifting procedures have been documented and signed-off by a dogger, rigger or a competent person.

A person with a high risk work dogging (DG) licence must be used if these circumstances are not met.

EPC licences issued prior to July 2008

Operators who hold tickets for EPC classes should retain this as evidence of having undertaken training and assessment in the operation of the particular plant.

You must still have a HRW licence to operate of forklift trucks and order-picking forklift.

Apply for a high risk work licence.