High-risk work licences fraud alert
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has received reports of people presenting high-risk work (HRW) licence cards with false information, including high‑risk work classes they are not authorised to hold.
Recent examples include the licence card being altered with the printed classes removed and additional prescribed classes superimposed, and a scanned version of the licence being presented as part of a job application.
With the growth in use of artificial intelligence and other advancements in cameras and scanner technology, it is timely to remind businesses to be alert to potential licence fraud and be diligent when checking current and prospective employees’ HRW licence credentials.
Even though a scan and/or photocopy of documents is a useful guide, the information should be verified against the physical licence card and the issuing regulator’s HRW licence register.
WHSQ has also been alerted to statements of attainment issued by registered training organisations being modified to show the name of a different recipient. It is recommended that businesses require prospective employees to share their vocational and educational training transcripts digitally.
WHSQ treats these matters seriously and acts on reports regarding suspected HRW licence fraud, with eight matters referred to the Queensland Police Service for further investigation under section 271 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Four of the eight matters resulted in 11 charges.
It is illegal and unsafe to perform high risk work without a valid licence and penalties can include fines and criminal records.