Bluetron is your partner in workplace safety

Trained Operator Program – Elevating Work Platforms

Every State in Australia has legislation designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work, this legislation is generally referred to as  Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) or Workplace Health and Safety.  The legislation places safety duties upon all persons at work.

Employers have a safety duty to provide information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure health and safety of employees at work.

Did you know that the use of an EWP for access onto a structure is only permitted in certain circumstances.  Leaving the EWP whilst elevated is only permitted if done in accordance with the Australian Standard for EWPs (AS 2550.10-1994) – this is an example of the type of information learned and the importance of the Trained Operator Program.

There are certain types of equipment where, their operation requires a Licence or Certificate of Competency – these classes of work are known as High-risk Work.  There is only one licence in Australia covering the operation of an Elevating Work Platform (EWP) which is class WP.  A class WP licence is for Boom Type EWPs greater than 11 metres.

There is a misbelief that a WP Licence to Perform High Risk Work covers an EWP such as a scissor lift, this is not true as there is no Licence for an EWP other than a Boom Type EWP (with a boom length greater than 11 metres), it’s like saying a motorcycle licence covers riding a BMX bike on the road (there is no licence for a BMX bike).

There are, however; types of equipment that fall short of the definition for licensing and these types of equipment can only be operated if the employer can satisfy the WHS requirement for instruction, training and supervision.  Elevating work platforms are a good example of this.

The EWPA Yellow Card has now been replaced with a new training program.  The old Yellow Card (1987 – 30 June 2013) was originally designed as a Duty of Care Training Program with “toolbox” style delivery with content driven by industry to meet the requirements of workplace health and safety legislation, covering all aspects of operating a EWP safely.  The program was not linked to nationally recognised training units of competency.  The new Yellow Card training program started on 1 July 2013 for several reasons, including but not limited to:

• More content on risk management
• National high risk licensing became aligned to a nationally recognised training framework
• New program name and newly designed material
• Photo ID and specific make and model recorded
• A move from duty of care style delivery to Competency-Based training
• The need for a training program that is designed and mapped to a nationally recognised training framework that has a pathway to a Statement of Attainment
• Addition of an expiry date which requires the holder to undergo refresher training
• Ability to check the validity and currency  of a cardholder online

Bluetron is a member of the Elevating Work Platform Association of Australia (EWPA) and has a EWPA Accredited Trainer on staff.

We can provide you with Verification of Competency (VOC), refresher training and also training and assessment for the EWPA Yellow Card as follows:

Classes:

• VL – Vertical Lift
• SL – Scissor Lift
• BL – Boom Lift
• TL – Trailer Lift
• TM -Truck Mounted
• T – Transporting (This program is for drivers who transport EWPs)

The EWPA has a recommended training fee of $490.00 for the EWPA Yellow Card.