The short answer
In Queensland, a high risk work licence is required to operate a boom-type elevating work platform (EWP) with a boom length of 11 m or more (schedule 3, table 3.1, item 21 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)). Scissor lifts do not appear in schedule 3, so the Regulation has no licence class for them. That does not make them low risk. The business’s duties to manage risk, and to provide information, training, instruction and supervision, still apply to every EWP.
| Machine | High risk work licence under the Regulation? | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Boom-type EWP, boom length 11 m or more | Yes. A licence to operate a boom-type EWP (boom length 11 m or more) | Sections 81 and 85, plus the general duties below |
| Boom-type EWP, boom length under 11 m | No licence class in schedule 3 | General duties below |
| Scissor lift | No licence class in schedule 3 | General duties below |
What counts as a boom-type EWP?
The Regulation defines a boom-type EWP as 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. Boom lifts and cherry pickers fit that description. A scissor lift raises its platform vertically and has no boom.
The licence rule depends on boom length, and schedule 3 says how to measure it. The length of the boom is the greater of:
- the vertical distance from the surface supporting the EWP to the floor of the platform, with the platform extended to its maximum height; or
- the 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.
Use the manufacturer’s figures for those two measurements rather than a rough estimate. If the greater of the two is 11 m or more, the licence rule applies.
What the licence rule requires
- The operator needs the licence. A person must not carry out a class of high risk work unless they hold a high risk work licence for that class (section 81). Schedule 4 sets out the qualifications required for a licence.
- The business must see written evidence. A business at a workplace must not direct or allow a worker to do high risk work that needs a licence unless it sees written evidence from the worker that they hold the relevant licence (section 85(1), maximum 36 penalty units). Under section 43(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) it is also an offence to direct or allow a worker to do work that needs authorisation without it (maximum 200 penalty units).
- Trainees. A person is not required to be licensed if the work is carried out in the course of training towards a certification needed for the licence, under the supervision of a licensed person (section 82(1)). The business must see written evidence of that training (section 85(2)). Section 82 has other limited exceptions as well, so read it for your situation. The Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021 describes the same arrangement for boom-type EWPs of 11 m or more.
Some hirers, sites and principal contractors also ask for evidence of EWP training, such as an industry card. That is a site or contract rule. Unlike the boom-type EWP licence in schedule 3, it is not a requirement of the Regulation.
Scissor lifts and smaller booms: what still applies
No licence class does not mean no rules. Schedule 5 of the Regulation, which lists the plant whose design must be registered, includes boom-type EWPs and specifically excludes an EWP that is a scissor lift or a vertically moving platform. That is a different rule from the licence, but it shows the Regulation treats the two kinds of machine differently. For both, these duties apply:
- Information, training, instruction and supervision. A business must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any information, training, instruction or supervision necessary to protect people from risks from the work is provided (section 19(3)(f) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)). Under section 39 of the Regulation, information, training and instruction must be suitable and adequate for the work, the risks at the time and the control measures in place, and, so far as is reasonably practicable, readily understandable to the person receiving it (maximum 60 penalty units).
- Managing plant risks. A person with management or control of plant at a workplace must manage risks to health and safety (section 203).
- Proper use. The person in control must take all reasonable steps to ensure plant is used only for the purpose it was designed for, unless they have determined that the proposed use does not increase the risk, which means having a competent person assess it (section 206).
- Maintenance and inspection. Maintenance, inspection and, if necessary, testing must be done by a competent person, in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations if there are any (section 213, maximum 36 penalty units).
- Falls. The business must manage the risk of a fall (section 78). Work that involves the risk of a fall must be done on the ground or on a solid construction so far as is reasonably practicable. If the risk cannot be eliminated, the business must minimise it using a fall prevention device if reasonably practicable, then a work positioning system, then a fall arrest system (section 79).
The Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021 (a Queensland approved code) covers EWPs directly. It names the main hazards as contact with electric lines, overturning, falling from the platform and crushing when the platform is raised or moved sideways. It suggests training workers in the safe operating procedures for the particular brand and type of EWP, fall arrest equipment and emergency rescue, using the EWP on a solid level surface unless it is designed for rough terrain, and checking the ground for penetrations or obstructions. For boom lifts and cherry pickers where other fall controls are not reasonably practicable, it says workers should wear a properly anchored harness attached to the designated anchor point. The code is guidance, not law, but it can be used as evidence.
Overhead power lines
Electrical safety is dealt with mainly under the Electrical Safety Act and Regulation, and the WHS Act does not apply to the extent the Electrical Safety Act applies (schedule 1, section 4(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)). Section 13 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld) requires a business to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no person, plant or thing at the workplace comes within an unsafe distance of an overhead electric line (maximum 60 penalty units). The exclusion zones are set out in schedule 2 of that Regulation. If it is not reasonably practicable to keep that distance, section 13(2) requires a risk assessment and control measures consistent with it and with any requirements of the electricity entity responsible for the line. An EWP is often used close to overhead lines, so check where they are before you set up.
When an EWP job needs a SWMS
High risk construction work is construction work that, among other things, involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 m (section 291(a)), or is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services (section 291(k)). Section 291 applies only to construction work, which covers work such as the construction, repair, maintenance or refurbishment of a structure (section 289). If your EWP job is construction work and a person on the platform could fall more than 2 m, paragraph (a) is likely to apply. Not every EWP job is construction work, so check sections 289 and 291 against the job itself. Before high risk construction work commences, a safe work method statement must be prepared (section 299(1)). A SWMS must identify the high risk construction work, state the hazards and risks, describe the control measures, and describe how they are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed (section 299(2)). See our guide to high risk construction work in Queensland.
What your EWP SWMS should cover
Section 299(2) sets what a SWMS must contain. Here is what a sound EWP SWMS usually puts under those headings:
- Who operates it. The licence for a boom of 11 m or more (and who has seen the evidence), and the training and supervision for everyone else, including the machine’s type and brand.
- Machine selection and condition. The right machine for the surface and the job, a pre-start check, and the maintenance and inspection records.
- Ground and weather. Level, firm ground with no holes, drains or penetrations; wind limits from the manufacturer; indoor-only machines kept out of the weather.
- Overhead and nearby services. Power lines identified, exclusion zones respected, and the asset owner’s requirements followed.
- Fall protection and rescue. Platform gates and rails kept closed, harness and anchor point use where required, and a rescue plan that includes a trained ground person and emergency lowering.
- People and plant around the base. Barricades or exclusion zones, traffic control, and a spotter where needed.
- Crush points. Overhead obstructions, structures and the controls while the platform is raised or moved.
- Loads and tools. The platform’s rated load and how tools and materials are lifted without dropping objects.
- Stopping work. If the work is not being carried out as the SWMS says, it must stop immediately or as soon as it is safe to do so, and resume only in accordance with the SWMS (section 300).
Our Elevated Work Platform SWMS and Boom Lift SWMS set these out as editable documents, and the Working at Heights SWMS covers the wider fall risks. The Work at Heights Policy and Procedure Template sets the business rules, and the free Employee Training Register helps you keep a record of who has been trained and shown the licence or training evidence. You can browse more in our working at heights templates.
For related reading, see 8 Steps to Fall Protection and Prevention, How to Stay Safe When Working Near Mobile Equipment, and, for another class that needs a licence, refresher training for tower crane operators.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law or talk to WorkSafe Queensland for your situation.
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