The Work Health and Safety Act requires employee information, training, and instruction. Its goal is to protect them from risks that may arise from their work, affecting their health and safety. Section 274 mentions Codes of Practice approved after a consultation between the governments, local territories, unions, and employer organisations. Its authorised code for construction work requires general induction training for any person who will carry out a job in this industry. Read further to find the 10 reasons why the law requires completion of this course, which will give you a white card.
Law Compliance
The Commonwealth and local territories regulate Safework’s national policies on workers’ health, safety, and compensation. Completing general construction induction training (white card) before carrying out work is one of the law’s regulations. Re-enrollment for the course is also required for those who will do construction work again after 2 years of break.
Preparation for Inspection
The code requires construction workers to keep their white cards available for inspection. Those awaiting an application decision may present their general induction training certification instead.
Avoid Penalty
State and local territories penalise those not following the white card course compliance. For instance, South Australia’s legislation outlines the following maximum penalties:
- $6,000 for individuals
- $30,000 for a corporation
Other local authorities may have different amounts of penalties.
Requirement for a White Card Course Refresher
The code states that a worker must undergo another white card course if he has stopped doing construction work for the past 2 years.
To Gain Basic Knowledge of Construction Work
The code states that one of the purposes of completing a white card course is for the employees to understand the basics of construction work. The national register’s mapping of the current CPCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry details what enrollees will learn about their job. One of these is the roles, duties, and responsibilities of the duty holders.
Learn How to Identify and Control the Hazards Onsite
A white card course includes a discussion on identifying construction hazards and implementing control measures. Both of these are important for a proper risk assessment.
Understand the Principles of Risk Management
Construction sites may need a risk assessment, as the code outlines. A white card course contains the knowledge evidence for construction workers to understand the basic principles of risk management:
- Identifying hazard
- Assessing risks
- Consulting and reporting
- Controlling hazard
- Reviewing control measures
The code explains that risk assessment may help identify control measures to implement on construction sites.
Learn the Purpose of Construction Forms
The code states that a review of construction forms is required if there is a change in control measures. A white card course helps students understand the following conditions used in risk assessment and work safety:
- Job safety analyses (JSAs)
- Safe work method statements (SWMS)
- Safety data sheets (SDS)
The code provides a template for these forms.
Explain the Meaning of Safety Signs and Symbols
The code states a need for a health and safety communication process. One method to achieve it is the identification and explanation of safety signs and symbols as outlined in the mapping for the current white card course.Â
Identify the Procedures to do When there is an Incident or Emergency
As part of Safework’s policy for health and safety, construction workers need to identify the following:
- The procedures to do when there is an incident or emergency
- Access to first aid
- The different types and uses of fire safety equipment
A white card course covers all of the above.
Where to Enroll in a White Card Course?
In compliance and fulfilment of the 10 reasons to take a white card course, you may enroll in a Registered Training Organisation as the code states. One is Accredited Short Courses (
RTO NO 21903) that has a training location in the following sites:
- Melbourne
- Laverton
- Sydney
- Liverpool
- Parramatta
The organisation’s website offers online booking for the current white card course code CPCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry. Its regular training costs $140 for 6 hours, excluding the pre-registration and lunch break. Accredited Short Courses (
RTO NO 21903) helps thousands of Australians yearly fulfil the reasons for completing the general construction induction training.
Conclusion
The 10 reasons to take a white card course include law compliance and the workers’ health and safety. The law requires completion and re-enrollment in the course to ensure that the workers acquire knowledge about their work. A white card course also covers details on the hazards, risks, construction forms, safety signs and symbols. It also includes procedures to do when there is an incident onsite. There are inspections onsite to check if construction workers have their white cards, and a penalty is fined for those who do not comply.
