Is A License Required To Operate Earthmoving Equipment QLD?

 If you're launching a construction job in Queensland, you might well be wondering whether you need a licence to operate the particular earthmoving equipment you need for the job. You've come to the right place - we've put together this helpful blog with everything you need to know about heavy machinery licences and when they're required.

Do I Need A Licence?

Simply put - no. The 2011 Work Health and Safety Act eliminated the need for operators to have a certificate when using earthmoving equipment and other heavy machinery, including:
 

• Front-end loaders and front-end loader backhoes
• Remote-control cranes
  
• Excavators
  
• Scrapers
  
• Road rollers
  
• Grades
  
• Skid steer loaders
  
• Bulldozers  

You will need a high-risk work (HRW) licence to use a forklift truck and order-picking forklift, and to carry out various operations with scaffolding or cranes.

Is There Anything I Do Need?

You might think that because you don't need a certificate, the pressure's off. In fact, if you're a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and managing or controlling a plant, it's up to you to ensure:
 

• Your operators are sufficiently informed, trained, instructed and supervised 
  
• Your operators are competent
  
• Equipment is used appropriately to minimise risks
   
  

Any operator must take care of their own health and safety and the safety of others, while also complying with instructions, policies and procedures relevant to health and safety while at work.

What Can I Do To Prepare To Use Earthmoving Equipment?

Adequate training is also important and can be a mixture of formal and informal methods. You might complete a nationally-recognised course offered by a registered training organisation, or train with a particular school. You may also undergo on-the-job instruction supervised by a competent operator, or job-specific training altering you to the hazards.
 
If you choose to undertake formal training, you'll be pleased to know there are many courses on offer to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to operate earthmoving equipment successfully. These courses don't just keep you and your workmates safe on-site, they can also improve your job prospects. As PCBUs regard such training favourably, you'll boost your chances of employment.

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