Various types of scaffolding has been assisting people in construction for thousands of years. While these temporary support platforms have been effective in assisting people complete projects on time and on budget, there are still a myriad of safety concerns which need to be considered to reduce the risk of injuries to workers. Today, the construction industry is the third most hazardous industry in Australia due to the nature of working at heights. Clearly, any miscalculations can be disastrous so it's critical that the design and installation of scaffolding equipment is properly planned and executed. A vast range of tasks are performed by construction workers who are qualified in scaffolding. From assembling scaffolding, laying the flooring on each level, to inspections and maintenance and installing guardrails, qualified scaffolders bear a lot of responsibilities and are accountable for numerous workplace health and safety procedures. As a result, ensuring the safety of workers is the leading priority for qualified scaffolders, and to give you some insight into what it takes to become qualified, here is what you’ll need to do. Qualifications Individuals that wish to undertake scaffolding work where people or objects can fall over four metres in height must hold a 'High Risk Work Licence for Scaffolding'. Despite this, even when working on platforms that are less than four metres in height, every construction company has a responsibility to make sure that all workplace health and safety standards are being strictly followed. This includes providing all workers of a construction site with information, instructions, training, and supervision to ensure that scaffolding is safely erected, dismantled, altered, and maintained. How to get a High Risk Work Licence for Scaffolding There are three classes of High Risk Work Licences that scaffolders can attain: Scaffolding Basic, Scaffolding Intermediate, and Scaffolding Advanced. The following details the kind of work a scaffolder can carry out once securing each of these licences. Scaffolding Basic
Scaffolding Intermediate In conjunction with all the work that falls under Scaffolding Basic:
Scaffolding Advanced Along with all the work that falls under Scaffolding Basic and Scaffolding Intermediate:
In order to receive your Scaffolding Intermediate qualifications, you will need to complete the Scaffolding Basic training. Furthermore, both Scaffolding Basic and Scaffolding Intermediate certification needs to be completed before enrolling in the Scaffolding Advanced certification. When you have successfully carried out the relevant training and are deemed to be proficient, you have 60 days to lodge your paperwork with the relevant Government authority to receive your High Risk Work Licence. You also are required to pay a fee of approximately $70. Your High Risk Work Licence is valid for five years from the date you pass your examination. All qualified scaffolders must hold their licence (with licence class and expiry date) whenever they are conducting any scaffolding work. Once your licence has expired, you'll need to talk to the relevant Government organisation in your state to renew it. Although you obtain your High Risk Work Licence through your state's relevant body, all High Risk Work Licences are nationally recognised across Australia. Interested in acquiring your licence? Like any profession, to become a successful scaffolder you need to have certain skills and traits. For example, scaffolding is physically demanding work, so a degree of strength, fitness, and endurance is required to be able to undertake the work competently. In addition, a good understanding of the risks associated with working from heights and working with tools, chemicals, and heavy objects is required. Generally, a fantastic awareness of health and safety is required coupled with high attention to detail. If you're interested in speaking with a scaffolding professional before tackling your High Risk Work Licence for Scaffolding, talk with the experts at Uni-Span by calling 1300 882 825.
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Uni-SPANUni-Span can provide for all of your formwork and scaffolding needs, for any project big or small. We can service tunnel, slab and bridge formwork requirements across various locations. If you’re looking for scaffold sales Gold Coast, Sydney, Brisbane or other locations, contact Uni-Span today. Archives
March 2019
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