Mobile Equipment Operator – Verification of Competency

DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager launches the CMPA Mobile Equipment Operator – Verification of Competency package.

There is considerable ambiguity amongst CMPA members as to what is required to deem a mobile equipment operator competent.
It is generally considered that operators must hold a Verification of Competency (VOC) issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

It is understood that the VOCs conducted by RTOs are not specific to the quarry environment: taking into account risks such as working under faces, working on elevated stockpiles, working close to edges, loading both road and haul trucks and so forth.

Some CMPA members have reported that they are:
• Using external RTOs to assess workers at considerable cost, and in some cases finding the workers who leave the company to seek higher wages on civil projects
• Employing operators with a VOC issued by an RTO only to find the operators do not demonstrate the required skills
• Conducting internal VOCs using a documented assessment conducted by an experienced operator who is deemed competent to do such

The Victorian OHS Regulations 2017:
• Require workers to hold High Risk Work Licences to operate some specific mobile equipment or plant such as forklifts (LF), elevated work platforms with a boom length of 11 metres or more (WP), non-slewing telehandler HRWL (Over 3 tonnes) (TV), boom mounted concrete pumps (PB), various crane configurations and so forth
• Do not provide a definition of competence or list requirements or guidance in regards to ensuring the competency of operators of mobile equipment that is not classified as High-Risk Work

Road trucks transporting materials to work sites are an essential element of the construction materials industry.
To drive a road truck with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonnes, a Victorian heavy vehicle licence being Light Rigid (LR), Medium Rigid (MR), Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC) or Multi Combination (MC) is required.

A driver may hold one of these licences but may not understand how to control the risks associated with the specific configuration of the truck, being tippers or agitators.

CMPA developed a Mobile Equipment Operator – Verification
of Competency package to assist Members. Many thanks to:

ASQ Group Pty Ltd: Provision of documents to be used as base examples, amended to align with CMPA Member and industry requirements.
Barro Group Pty Ltd and Conundrum Holdings Pty Ltd: Provision of documents to reference when writing this guideline and consultation throughout the drafting process.
WorkSafe Victoria: for their comments on the final drafting.

Contents
Introduction
Objective
Scope
Relevant Legislation
Due Diligence Requirements:
What does Reasonably Practicable mean?
The VOC Process
What is a VOC and what does it cover?
What is a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?
What is the role of an SME?
What is the role of a Buddy?
Operator Machine Induction:
Safe Work Procedure (SWP) Acknowledgement:
Maintenance Workers Machine Induction:
When are VOC assessments conducted?
Frequency of VOC Assessments:
VOC Assessment Instructions
Before Conducting the VOC:
Undertaking the VOC:
To Verify Competency:

Attachments to this Guideline
• VOC 01 – Assessment Dozer
• VOC 02 – Assessment Skid Steer
• VOC 03 – Assessment Front End Loader
• VOC 04 – Assessment Forklift
• VOC 05 – Assessment Dump Truck
• VOC 06 – Assessment Telehandler
• VOC 07 – Assessment Grader
• VOC 08 – Assessment Excavator
• VOC 09 – Assessment Raw Materials Truck
• VOC 10 – Assessment Concrete Truck
• VOC 11 – Assessment Elevated Work Platform

• VOC 12 – SME Verification Sheet
• VOC 13 SME Register
• VOC 14 – Pre VOC-Trainee Log Book
• VOC 15 – Operator Machine Induction
• VOC 16 – Maintenance Worker Machine Familiarisation

CMPA held a webinar on Thursday 12 September 2024 with 40 attendees to launch the Mobile Equipment Operator – VOC Guideline and associated documentation. A recording of the webinar is available for Members. The documents have all been uploaded to the CMPA Members webpage
(Member login required) at: https://cmpa.com.au/. A review
will be conducted after 12 months using Member feedback.
“If you would like another webinar please contact
Elizabeth.gibson@cmpavic.asn.au.com.au”

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