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1300 82 92 95 | 03 9796 4400
Job Outlook website www.joboutlook.gov.au is an Australian Government website that analysis the past and current year employment data to determine future job prospects for various positions in different industries. In this article we will discuss some useful job prospects data relating to crane, hoist and lift operators, published by joboutlook.gov.au.
Overall, job prospects for Crain, Hoist and Lift operators are very good with quality score of 8 out of 10. For those looking for jobs in this industry may consider the proportion of 97.5% full-time jobsa plus point in terms of job security when everyone is worried about economic turmoils worldwide. However, with average 44.3 weekly work hours compared to the average of 41.3 for all occupations, earnings are above average (but there may be a comparatively less time left for footy). In terms of the downside, unemployment rate is comparatively high with around 5% unemployment rate.
The jobs are available across various industries including warehouse, postal, transport, construction, manufacturing and mining. The mix of industries having opportunity for you is favourable in terms of employment growth prospects, specifically, with the current mining boom in place.
Over the five years to November 2010, employment for Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators increased by 11.8% which is comparatively less against the overall average of 13.1%. However, future employment growth over the next five year is projected slightly higher at 2.3% compared to average 2.1% for all other occupations
In terms of Gender and Age profiles, around 1.2% of workers are female in this occupation compared to 45.6% for all other occupations. The median operator age is 41 years with around 44% workers are aged 45 years and over.
Here are some facts re historical employment levels in this occupation:
In this article we will discuss requirement relating to Fall Arrest Harness, one of the most important safety measures when working at heights. With elevated work platforms, operator works at heights and as such there is a risk of fall associated with this. Wearing a harness is not only the safety measure but it is also a requirement set by law. As EWPAA suggests, various OH&S law requirements and the best practice is to ensure that each person on a boom type EWP platform or basket wears a fall-arrest harness with leg and shoulder straps and energy-absorbing lanyard attached to an approved anchor point in the platform.
Furthermore, elevated work platform operators are required to inspect their fall arrest harness before use as harness is prone to damage by burns, chemicals etc. They are also required to inspect the buckles and hooks to ensure that the fall arrest harness is safely and correctly fitted. Under the operator’s Duty of Care act, it is required that operator replaces or repairs harness with bent hooks, welding holes in the webbing, paint damaged area, single action hooks and lanyards with no energy absorbers.
It is recommended that that a relevant warning sign is present in EWP basket to advise each person on the platform to wear a fall-arrest harness with leg and shoulder straps and an energy absorbing lanyard attached to an approved anchor point in the platform.
EWPAA discourages the practice of permanently attaching fall-arrest harnesses and lanyards to the approved anchor point. Such permanent attachment of the harness makes it difficult to implement a correct inspection process. Also, attaching the harness permanently means it is unnecessarily exposed to all weather conditions even when EWP is not in use. This may result in inefficient and unsafe work practices.
Fall-arrest harness requirement rule applies to all boom type EWPs, however, fall-arrest harnesses are not required on other types of EWPs such as scissor lifts and vertical personnel lifts, unless a risk assessment indicates that they should be worn for risk control purposes, in which case the policy for boom type elevated work platforms will apply.
Boom lifts are platform enabled devices that can be easily raised and lowered. The lift user can stands on the platform to easily work at heights. This makes boom lifts a very important device for various professional who require to work at heights. As such, there are different types of boom lifts for various usage types.
Among all lifts, Scissor lift is one of the most common lifts. These boom lifts are called ‘scissor’ lifts because of the scissor action associated with raising the enclosed platform to a height. The lift involves two sections that move slowly in an arc to the level needed to reach the height. The telephone and electricity companies that require reaching wires at height are using these boom lifts for decades.
Another example of a widely used boom lift is ‘Arial lift’. These lifts work in a manner similar to an elevator. Arial lifts can be seen being used at construction sites to move workers up and down the sides of multi-level construction sites.
It is difficult to associate a specific boom lift type by industry. Each industry can require multiple applications of the boom lift and answer of suitability totally varies task by task. So the nature of the work is a key here. Before choosing a boom lift it is important to ask questions such as, is there a requirement to work in tight places? Where will be place lifts – on level ground or on a rough terrain?
Since there are various boom lifts build to handle different types of work, understanding the nature of the work and the area where work is to be performed can help you choose the lift that is right for your job. The right, situation fit lift always mean a better safety smiley :)
Yes, as long as you have "BL" marked on the yellow card, and the boom has a platform height of less than 11 metres. Remember, just having a licence or training doesn't mean you have to operate the equipment, if you don't feel comfortable at any stage of the boom lifts operation you have the legal right to refuse to use the equipment and ask for further training.
Yes, the assessor will issue you a temporary licence that is valid for 60 days from the date of issue, the plastic yellow card will be sent to you in the mail and will arrive within that 60 day period.
The card never expires, although it is a Worksafe requirement that all personnel must have regular refresher training to keep their skills up to date for any equipment they are required to use, the frequency of the refresher training is left up to the employer and employee's discretion. In the event of an accident the employer and employee must be able to provide documented evidence that regular training has taken place.
Although you do not require a Worksafe "High Risk" licence to operate a scissor lift, the first thing Worksafe will ask you for if you are found operating a scissor lift or worse still have an accident is "where is your proof of training". The EWPA "Yellow Card" documents that you have completed a training course relevant to the equipment you are operating