Warning on fake high-risk work licences

WorkSafe WA has issued a warning to check high-risk work licences after being alerted to altered and created copies of the documents.

“We’ve recently been made aware that some high-risk work licences are being electronically scanned and altered to include additional classes of high-risk work, and the altered copies then sent as email attachments to prospective employers,” said WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch. 

“High-risk work licences are only issued to workers who have been appropriately trained and have the skills to perform high-risk work safely and competently.”

These licences apply to anyone engaged in work considered to be ‘high risk’, including scaffolding, dogging and rigging work and the operation of cranes, hoists, pressure equipment and forklifts.

“Our advice to employers or anyone in control of a workplace is to satisfy yourself that anyone you are thinking of employing for high-risk work has the experience they claim to have.

“Always sight the original high-risk work licence card - don’t be satisfied with an emailed or texted scan or photo of the licence.

“Anyone who has concerns about a high-risk work licence can verify the details using the WorkSafe licence and registration search located on the Department of Commerce website.

“Finally, it’s important to note that the cases of fraud in relation to high-risk work licences we have discovered have been referred to WA Police.”