Licences and authorisations
Licence holders, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and offshore workers who are engaging in regulated offshore activities under the OEI Act framework, may need a licence, authorisation or registration prior to commencing their activities.
Accordion: High-risk work
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Applying for a new licence
A person must not carry out high-risk work unless they hold a licence for that class of work. Once you have completed the associated training, you may apply to the OIR for a high-risk work licence if you are undertaking work in the nature of regulated offshore activities in the Commonwealth offshore area.
The main types of work activities requiring a high-risk work licence for the offshore environment includes:
- scaffolding work
- dogging and rigging work
- crane and hoist operation
- forklift operation
- pressure equipment operation.
All applicants are encouraged to read the Licensing high-risk work guideline prior to making an application.
Applications for high risk-work licences can be made via our application portal.
The OIR will endeavour to assess licence applications as soon as practicable. If an application does not contain sufficient information to enable the OIR to decide whether to grant the licence, the OIR will may ask the applicant to provide additional information.
Documents you may require
You will need to provide these documents as part of your application:
- personal identification documents (such as a copy of your current Australian driver's licence or Australian passport)
- legible copies of your Statement of Attainment for each class of licence that you are applying for (less than 60 days from date of issue)
- a recent passport-style, electronic photo of yourself*
* Your photo must be:
- a colour photo
- from the shoulders up
- looking at the camera with a neutral expression
- against a white background
- a clear, sharp and focused image with no shadows or glare
- no more than 1MB in file size.
An application for renewal of a high-risk work licence may be made within 12 months of the expiry on that licence, or if the person satisfies the OIR that exceptional circumstances within any longer period allowed by the OIR.
Applications for high-risk work licences can be made via our application portal.
The OIR may suspend or cancel a high-risk work licence if they are satisfied one or more of the following has occurred:
- The licence holder has failed to take reasonable care to carry out high-risk work safety and competently.
- The licence holder has failed to comply with a condition of the licence.
- The licence holder has failed to obtain a reassessment of competency.
- The licence holder gave information that was misleading or failed to give information that should have been given in the application or request.
- The licence was granted or renewed based on a certification that was obtained in a false or misleading manner.
If the OIR suspends or cancels a high-risk work licence, the OIR may be disqualify the licence holder from applying for a further licence of the same type or another licence which require similar work.
The OIR may also vary the conditions of the licence by imposing different or additional conditions.
FAQs
There is no statutory timeframe for grating a licence however, the OIR will endeavour to process licence applications as soon as practicable.
If an application does not contain sufficient information to enable the OIR to decide whether or not to grant the licence, the OIR will may ask the applicant to provide additional information. If the applicant does not provide the additional information within the specified timeframe, the application will be considered withdrawn.
If the OIR does not decide within 120 days after receiving the application, or after receiving the additional information requested, the OIR is taken to have refused to grant the licence.
The OIR strongly recommends applicants review the Licensing high-risk work guideline prior to applying to avoid delays.
Please see our Policy – Regulatory fees and levies for a cost breakdown per application type. Please note application fees are non-refundable. If an application is withdrawn by the applicant, or the application is refused by the OIR, the application fee will not be refunded.
We accept credit card payments from all major credit cards. You will need to pay for your application as part of the online application process.
Yes, the OIR will issue a tax invoice via email once the payment has been received.
The OIR will notify applicants via email once a decision has been made to grant or refuse a licence application.
If more information is required, the OIR will contact you directly via your email or contact number provided.
Yes. Licence holders may add a new class of high-risk work to their existing licence through successful application to the OIR.
A fee is payable upon application. Please see our Policy – Regulatory fees and levies for current licensing fees.
Adding a class to your high-risk work licence does not alter or extend the licence expiry date.
The requirement to verify your identity is to protect your application information. The OIR needs to be certain that you are who you say you are.
The OIR has engaged a third-party information management provider to ensure that all personal application details are held securely and in accordance with privacy requirements.
We accept the following file types: PDF, JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) or PNG (.png) format.
Please note there is a 1MB file size limit.
Accordion: Asbestos removal work
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A PCBU must ensure that all asbestos removal work is carried out by a licensed asbestos removalist.
There are two classes of asbestos removal licences:
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Class A – Asbestos removal licences for the removal of friable asbestos-containing material.
Friable asbestos is any material that contains asbestos and is in the form of a powder or can be easily crumbled or reduced to a powder when dry. It might be used as an insulation lagging material on vessels and in electrical equipment.
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Class B – Asbestos removal licences for the removal of non-friable or bonded asbestos.
Non-friable asbestos containing material would include sheeting or panelling which is bonded together.
Questions related to asbestos removal licences may be submitted to offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au
A person must not carry out any of the following activities unless they hold an asbestos assessor licence:
- Air monitoring during Class A asbestos removal work,
- Clearance inspections for Class A asbestos removal work, and
- Issuing clearance certificates in relation to Class A asbestos removal work.
Questions related to asbestos removal licences may be submitted to offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au
Accordion: Construction induction training
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Workers must have a valid construction induction training card before they begin construction work.
We encourage workers to obtain their construction induction training card from their training provider.
Questions related to construction induction training cards may be submitted to: offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au
Accordion: Prohibited and restricted carcinogens
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A PCBU must not use, handle or store, or direct a worker to use, handle or store, a prohibited carcinogen unless:
- The prohibited carcinogen is used, handled or stored for genuine research or analysis and
- The regulator has authorised the use, handling or storage or the prohibited carcinogen.
A PCBU must not use handle or store, or direct a worker to user, handle or store a restricted carcinogen unless the OIR has authorised the use, handling or storage of that carcinogen.
For a full list of prohibited and restricted carcinogens, see Schedule 10 of the WHS Regulations.
Questions related to prohibited and restricted carcinogenic authorisations may be submitted to: offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au
Accordion: Demolition work
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The OIR must be notified when there will be:
- demolition of a structure or part of a structure that is load bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure, that is at least six metres in height
- demolition work involving load shifting machinery on a suspended floor, or
- demolition work involving explosives.
A licence holder or person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must notify the OIR of demolition work at least five days before the demolition work commences.
How to notify
Submit the form to inform us of demolition work by emailing offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au.
Recognition of licences issues by other WHS regulators
The OIR recognises high-risk work licences that have been issued by corresponding WHS regulators across Australia, such as Comcare, WorkSafe WA and WorkSafe Victoria.
Holders of licences in another jurisdiction should have their licences available for inspection by an OEI Inspector if requested.
Licence holders who wish to work outside the OIR's jurisdiction will need to contact the relevant corresponding WHS regulator to determine if a high-risk work licence issued by the OIR will be recognised in that jurisdiction.
Additional information
For questions regarding other WHS licenses and authorisations under the OEI Act framework please contact offshorerenewables@oir.gov.au.