High risk work licences

The process to apply for a high risk work licence has changed. This page explains what a high risk work licence is, the eligibility requirements, how to enrol for a high risk work licence assessment and how to apply.

On this page

Key information

  • Work that has a high risk of injury or death is called high risk work.
  • There are 29 different classes of high risk work.
  • You must have a licence to complete this work. You can apply to have multiple high risk work classes on your licence.
  • Your licence expires after 5 years and must be renewed if you want to continue high risk work.
  • Visit the public register Verify NSW to check your NSW high risk work licence holder information.

When a high risk work licence is needed

Generally, in Australia, you need a high risk work licence to do any high risk work (HRW) that is residential, commercial or industrial, regardless of the cost or size of the work.

HRW includes operating specified machinery, erecting scaffolding, and undertaking dogging or rigging work.

You are not required to have a high risk work licence if the work is:

  • being completed while training towards getting a high risk work licence, and
  • under the supervision of a person who has a high risk work licence.

To do HRW you must have the correct skills, qualifications and experience so the work you do is safe.

Direct supervision

Your manager or employer must ensure you have direct supervision while you are carrying out HRW.

You must show your supervisor your high risk work licence with the relevant class or classes before you start the work.

However, you do not need a supervisor if it is impractical or unnecessary to directly supervise the task you are doing, and the reduced supervision does not place you or anyone else at risk of harm.

Classes

You need your licence to include the relevant class for every class of work you do, and you can add classes to your licence at different times.

Learn more about the different licence classes below:

Forklift licences

There are 2 classes of forklift work:

Forklift truck (LF)

This licence class allows you to operate a forklift truck, equipped with a mast and an elevating load carriage with a pair of fork arms or other attachment. This licence class is not for an order picking forklift truck.

Order-picking forklift truck (LO)

This licence class allows you to operate an order picking forklift truck where the operator's controls are incorporated and elevate with the load carriage/lifting media.

Telehandlers

If a telehandler is fitted with forks or a bucket, a high risk work licence is not required. However, the business (or employer or other person conducting a business or undertaking) has a duty of care to ensure workers have appropriate training to operate a telehandler.

Related information

Visit Safe Work Australia for information about:

Hoist licences

There are 3 classes of hoist work:

Boom-type elevating work platform (WP)

This licence class allows you to operate a telescoping device, hinged device, or articulated device (or any combination of these) used to support a platform on which personnel, equipment and materials may be elevated to perform work and where the boom length is 11 metres or more.

The length of the boom can be measured in two ways. Use the longest meausurement of the following:

  • vertical distance from the surface supporting the boom-type elevating work platform to the floor, with the platform extended to its maximum height
  • horizontal distance from the centre point of the boom's rotation to the outer edge of the platform, with the platform extended to its maximum distance.

Telehandlers

A boom-type elevating work platform high risk work licence is required when operating a telehandler fitted with a personnel box with operating controls in the box and the boom length is 11 metres or more.

Materials hoist (HM)

With this licence class you are only allowed to hoist goods or materials. You cannot hoist personnel. The hoist’s car, bucket or platform is cantilevered from, and travels up and down externally to, a face of the support structure.

Personnel and material hoists (HP)

This licence class allows you to operate a hoist in which personnel, goods and/or materials may be hoisted, and which comprises a car, structure, machinery or other equipment associated with the hoist, and which may be either a cantilever hoist, a tower hoist, or a multiple winch operation.

Dogging and rigging licences

Dogging (DG)

This licence class allows you to carry out work involving the application of slinging techniques to sling a load (including the selection and inspection of lifting gear) and/or the directing of a crane/hoist operator in the movement of a load when the load is out of the operator’s view.

You must hold the dogging class before you can progress to the rigging classes.

Rigging

Rigging work is the use of mechanical loadshifting equipment (and associated gear) to move, place or secure a load using plant, equipment or members of a building or structures to ensure the stability of those members, or the setting up or dismantling of cranes or hoists.

There are 3 classes of rigging work.

Basic rigging (RB)

This class includes dogging work and allows you to carry out rigging work involving:

  • movement of plant and equipment
  • structural steel erection
  • hoists (including mast climbing hoists)
  • precast concrete members of a structure
  • safety nets and static lines
  • perimeter safety screens and shutters
  • cantilevered crane loading platforms

Excludes additional rigging work included under Intermediate and Advanced rigging.

Intermediate rigging (RI)

This class allows you to carry out all basic rigging work plus rigging involving:

  • cranes, conveyors, dredges and excavators
  • tilt slabs
  • hoists with jibs and self-climbing hoists
  • demolition of structures or plant
  • dual lifts

Excludes rigging work involving equipment listed below under Advanced rigging.

Advanced rigging (RA)

This class allows you to carry out all intermediate rigging work plus rigging that involves:

  • gin poles and shear legs
  • flying foxes and cableways
  • guyed derricks and structures
  • suspended and fabricated hung scaffolds.
Crane and reach stacker licences

There are 12 crane classes and one reach stacker class. These classes allow you to carry out work involving:

See the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 for more detail on the different crane and reach stacker classes.

Non slewing mobile cranes

Non slewing mobile cranes greater than 3 t capacity (CN) and which incorporate a boom or jib that cannot be slewed.

They include:

  • articulated type mobile cranes
  • locomotive cranes
  • non-slewing telehandlers (over three tonnes capacity, fitted with a boom and/or jib with a hoist rope and/or hook block).

Note: Does not include vehicle tow trucks.

Slewing mobile cranes

Slewing mobile cranes incorporate a boom or jib that is capable of being slewed.

Note: Does not include front end loaders, backhoes, excavators and other earthmoving equipment when configured for crane operation.

There are four classes of slewing mobile cranes, each with a different capacity:

  • up to 20 t (C2) - incorporating CN and CV classes
  • up to 60 t (C6) - incorporating C2, CN and CV classes
  • up to 100 t (C1) - incorporating C6, C2, CN and CV classes
  • over 100 t (C0) - incorporating C1, C6, C2, CN and CV classes

Telehandler

If a slewing telehandler is fitted with a boom and/or jib with a hoist rope and/or hook block, a C2, C6, C1 or C0 high risk work licence is required, dependent on the telehandler's rated capacity.

Vehicle loading cranes

Vehicle loading cranes with a capacity of 10 mt or more (CV) are mounted on a vehicle to move a load onto or from the vehicle, including the application of load estimation and slinging techniques to move a load.

A CV licence holder can operate a vehicle loading crane and conduct the full range of slewing operations without holding a slewing mobile crane licence, so long as the:

  • equipment is suitable for the task
  • equipment is used within its operating parameters
  • operator has been adequately trained.

Reach stackers

Reach stackers greater than 3 t capacity (RS) are mobile stackers that incorporate an attachment for lifting, moving and travelling with a shipping container, but does not include a portainer crane.

Derrick cranes (CD)

Derrick cranes (CD) are slewing strut-boom cranes, with their booms pivoted at the base of a mast, which are:

  • either guyed (guy-derrick) or held by backstays (stiff-legged derrick), and
  • capable of luffing under load.

Portal boom cranes (CP)

Portal boom cranes (CP) are boom or jib cranes mounted on a portal frame that is supported on runways along which the crane travels.

Bridge and gantry cranes (CB)

Bridge and gantry cranes (CB) are a bridge crane or gantry crane that is:

  • controlled from a permanent cabin or control station on the crane, or
  • remote controlled with more than three powered operations (hoist, raise and lower equals one operation), and
  • including the application of load estimation and slinging techniques to move a load.

Tower cranes (CT)

Tower cranes (CT) are a jib or boom crane mounted on a tower structure, demountable or permanent, including both horizontal and luffing jib types.

Self-erecting tower cranes (CS)

Self-erecting tower cranes (CS) are where:

  • the tower structure and boom/jib elements are not disassembled into component sections
  • they can be transported between sites as a complete unit, with the erection and dismantling processes an inherent part of the crane's function.

Concrete-placing booms (PB)

Concrete-placing booms (PB) are knuckle type articulated booms, capable of power operated slewing and luffing to place concrete by pumping it through a pipeline attached to or forming part of the boom of the crane. Includes both vehicle and satellite mounted units.

Scaffolding licences

Scaffolding work is the erection, alteration or dismantling of a temporary structure erected to support a platform from which a person or object could fall more than 4 metres from the platform or the structure.

There are 3 classes of scaffolding work:

Basic scaffolding (SB)

This licence class allows you to carry out scaffolding work involving:

  • modular or prefabricated scaffolds
  • cantilevered materials hoists with a maximum working load of 500 kg
  • ropes and gin wheels
  • safety nets and static lines, and
  • bracket scaffolds (tank and formwork)

Excludes additional scaffolding work included under Intermediate and Advanced scaffolding.

Intermediate scaffolding (SI)

This licence class allows you to carry out all basic scaffolding work plus scaffolding work involving:

  • cantilevered crane loading platforms
  • cantilevered and spurred scaffolds
  • barrow ramps and sloping platforms
  • perimeter safety screens and shutters
  • mast climbers
  • tube and coupler scaffolds (including tube and coupler covered ways and gantries)

Excludes additional scaffolding work included under Advanced scaffolding.

Advanced scaffolding (SA)

This licence class allows you to carry out all intermediate scaffolding work plus scaffolding involving:

  • cantilevered hoists
  • hung scaffolds, including scaffolds hanging from tubes, wire ropes or chains
  • suspended scaffolds
Pressure equipment licences

There are 4 classes of work involving pressure equipment:

Reciprocating steam engine (ES)

This licence class allows you to operate and use a reciprocating steam engine containing a piston of 250 mm or more in diameter, including expanding (steam) reciprocating engines.

Turbine operation (TO)

This licence class allows you to operate and use a steam turbine that has an output of 500 kW or more, and:

  • is multi-wheeled, or
  • is capable of a speed greater than 3600 rpm, or
  • has attached condensers, or
  • has a multi-stage heat extraction process.

Standard boiler (BS)

This licence class allows you to operate a standard boiler with a single fuel source that does not have a pre-heater, superheater or economiser attached.

Advanced boiler (BA)

This licence class allows you to operate a boiler, including a standard boiler, which may have one or more of the following:

  • multiple fuel sources
  • pre-heater
  • superheater
  • economiser.
 

Eligibility

Who can apply

To apply for a high risk work licence, you must:

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • have completed training in the relevant class or classes with a registered training organisation (RTO)
  • have been assessed as competent in the relevant classes by a SafeWork NSW accredited assessor working for the registered training organisation where you were trained
  • be able to speak English well enough to carry out HRW safely with other people.

You can also renew your licence.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply for a high risk work licence unless you have completed the relevant training and been assessed as competent.

How to apply

After you complete your training, you will need to:

  1. Apply online for an assessment enrolment number.
  2. Complete the assessment with a SafeWork Accredited Assessor (your RTO will provide the assessment details).
  3. Apply online for your high risk work licence.

See below for details on each step.

Apply online for an assessment enrolment number

You must apply online for an enrolment assessment number before you attend a high risk work licence assessment. You will need:

To apply online you should:

  1. Apply for your assessment enrolment number. If you do not have an account, you must create one.
  2. Follow the prompts to complete the application.
  3. Your application will be submitted, you will receive an email with your assessment enrolment number and next steps.

After you have your assessment enrolment number

After you have your assessment enrolment number, you must:

  1. Attend your high risk work assessment (contact your RTO who will provide the specific details)
  2. Bring photo identification (PDF, 83.18 KB) to present to the SafeWork NSW assessor at the time of your high risk work assessment
  3. Bring your assessment enrolment number to your assessment.

Apply for a new licence or class

You must apply within 60 days from the date of issue of your Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA).

  1. Once you have successfully completed your assessment, you will get an email containing your NSA and a link to apply online.
  2. Click on the link in the email to open the application form.
  3. You will be prompted to log into your MyServiceNSW account (this will be the same account you used to enrol).
  4. Complete the online form.
  5. Make your payment when prompted (view the cost in the fee schedule).
  6. Review your details and submit the application.

For assistance visit Service NSW or call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

What happens next

SafeWork NSW will:

  1. Review your application and contact you by email if we need more information to process your application
  2. Request for you to have your photo taken (new applications only) by attending a Service NSW Centre
    • If this is a new application, you will receive an email advising you to visit a Service NSW Centre to have your photo taken.
    • Make sure to bring the attached letter (from your email) and one form of photo ID.
  3. Add your details to the Verify NSW public register
  4. Mail your photo licence to you.

Learn about unsuccessful applicants.

Further information

  • You can present your NSA (valid for 60 days from assessment) or digital high risk work licence while waiting for your printed card to arrive. You can follow the same training and assessment process to add a new class of work to your existing HRW licence.
  • Under the NSW  Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, high risk work requires a licence. Always carry your high risk work licence with you when you're at work.
  • Once your licence has been issued, you can access it digitally through the Service NSW app.

There are laws you must follow to ensure your safety, the safety of the community and to meet the requirements of your licence.

High risk workers and their employers in NSW must follow the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulation 2017.

Licence expiry

High risk work licences last for 5 years but any classes you add later will expire at the same time as your licence. For example, if you get a licence in 2022 it expires in 2027. If you add a class in 2023, both the licence and the new class will expire in 2027.

Renew a licence

You need to renew your high risk work licence before it expires. You can’t do HRW with an expired licence.

We will email and/or send you a text message about 60 days before your licence expires to remind you to renew.

You must have maintained competency in all the classes you select to renew. If you do not select a class, it will be removed from your licence.

You can renew your licence up to 12 months after it expires if you want to carry out the HRW again.

If you don’t renew your licence within 12 months of expiry you will have to redo the training with a registered training organisation, be reassessed as competent by an accredited assessor and submit a new application.

If you submit your renewal application before your licence expires, you can keep working as normal until you receive your renewal confirmation.

How to renew online

To be eligible to renew:

  • you must have already been issued a HRW licence
  • your licence is not more than 12 months past its expiry date.

What you need

  • a MyServiceNSW Account
    • you can create one when you start your application
    • you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, or passport)
  • your licence number (if you have more than one high risk work licence, please contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50
  • your HRW renewal number - you will find this in your renewal notification
  • your fee payment.

How to renew

  1. Visit the Service NSW Renew a high risk work licence page
  2. Select the ‘Renew online’ button. It will take you to the Service NSW online application form
  3. Log in or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
  4. Follow the prompts to renew your HRW licence.
  5. Your fee will be calculated at the end of the online application.
  6. You'll receive a confirmation email after you submit your renewal application.

Your application will take around 5 minutes to complete.

If you need help applying online visit Service NSW or call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

If you are unable to renew your licence online, call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 to talk about your renewal options.

What happens next

SafeWork NSW will:

  1. Review your renewal application and contact you by email if we need more information to process your application
  2. Email you a confirmation with your licence details if your application is successful
  3. Add your details to the public register Verify NSW.
  4. Mail your photo licence card to you.

Interstate renewal licence transfer

Your high risk work licence must be issued by the state or territory you usually live in.

If you have permanently moved to NSW from another Australian state or territory, you will need to transfer your high risk work licence to NSW. A high risk work licence can be transferred from, or into, NSW if the licence is current or within 12 months of expiry.

If your licence expired more than 12 months ago, you must redo the training with a registered training organisation. You must be reassessed as competent by an accredited assessor and submit a new application.

You must always keep your high risk work licence available for inspection by SafeWork NSW.

To transfer your licence to NSW, you will need:

Complete the interstate transfer form.

Note: you cannot obtain a refund if you complete the form incorrectly, so make sure you are eligible.

If you need assistance with the form, call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

What happens next

SafeWork NSW will:

  • check your licence details with the issuing authority
  • contact you by email if we need more information to process your application
  • add your details to the Verify NSW public register
  • mail your licence card to you.

Lost, stolen or destroyed licences

If your licence has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can order and pay for a replacement online as long as your details match those on your licence. If your contact details have changed, you must complete the Update contact details form before you replace your licence online.

The replacement licence will be sent to your postal address.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a replacement you must have already been issued a high risk work licence.

What you need

  • your existing high risk work licence number
  • credit or debit card to pay the replacement fee.

How to apply

  1. Complete the High risk work replacement application form.
  2. Follow the prompts to apply for a replacement licence.

If you are unable to complete the online form call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

Visit Service NSW if you need help applying online.

Change of details

You must tell us within 14 days if your name, address or other details change.

You can change some of your details including phone number, email and address using the update your contact details form (for high risk work licences only).

Please note that change of email, phone and address for Traffic Control Training Licence  (TCT) and General Construction Induction Training Card (CIC) can be completed online.

What you need

To change your address or contact details online, you will need your high risk work licence number.

  1. Select 'Start'.
  2. Follow the prompts to update your details.

If you’re registering a change of name, complete Change of details application form and submit required documents:

  • certified copy of the marriage certificate issued by a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia, or
  • certified copy of the change of name certificate issued by a Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages in Australia.

If you are unable to complete the online form call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

Further information

To find your high risk work licence number and details, visit Verify NSW.

Once your new card arrives, you must return your old card within 7 days. You can post it to:

Safework Licensing 
SafeWork NSW 
Locked Bag 2906 
Lisarow NSW 2252

Training requirements

To work in high-risk areas, you need to complete your training with a registered training organisation. Find a list of SafeWork approved RTOs.

You must have been assessed as competent by a SafeWork NSW accredited assessor working for the registered training organisation.

The assessor must assess your skills and knowledge under realistic workplace conditions.

Find a registered training organisation (RTO) that offers training in the classes you need.

Latest updates

Digital high risk work licence

The digital high risk work licence is an added option for customers who prefer a digital version. It does not replace your plastic card.

You must always keep your plastic card available for inspection by SafeWork NSW.

Download the Service NSW app to get your digital high risk work licence.

Go to the Service NSW website to find out how to add your licence or call 13 77 88.

The NSW Government is working to digitise trade licences with the aim of improving customer service, providing convenience and making compliance with legislation easier. Other digital trade licences and credentials now available are the:

Contact us

Need help applying?

If you need help with your application or have a question, call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

Unsuccessful applications

You can apply for a review. A review involves a different SafeWork officer, who was not involved in the original decision on your application.

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