What Businesses in Perth Should Know.

In Western Australia, operating a forklift truck for work requires a current High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL) issued by WorkSafe WA. For employers, that card is only the starting point. Real compliance means the licence class matches the machine, the licence is current, and the operator is actually safe to use that forklift on your site.

This is where businesses come unstuck. They check the card, file the copy, and assume the risk is covered. It is not. A licence proves someone has passed a class of training. It does not prove the forklift suits the space, the ramps, the load, or the way the site runs. If any of that is wrong, you still have a problem.

LF vs LO: The Class Must Match the Machine

Treating “forklift” like one catch-all category is an easy way to create a compliance problem. In WA, the class matters because different machines fall under different licence types.

Licence Class	Industrial Equipment Types	Operational Coverage
Class LF	Counterbalance forklift trucks, standard reach trucks, and high-reach warehouse machinery.	General forklift operation in warehouses, transport yards, and industrial sites. The operator stays at ground level while the load is elevated.
Class LO	Order-picking forklift trucks and specialised turret trucks.	Machines designed for high-density stock-picking where the operator is elevated vertically with the cabin and the controls.

If your team is running an order picker on an LF ticket, the business is non-compliant. Check the physical machine against the licence class before anyone turns a key.

WorkSafe WA Licence Rules That Matter in Practice

A high-risk work licence runs for five years. The problems usually start around new applicants and renewals, not the licence term itself.

For New Licences: The 60-Day Rule

WorkSafe WA allows an applicant to perform high-risk work for up to 60 days from the date they are issued a Notice of Assessment (NOA) by their assessor. This only applies if the formal licence application is successfully received by WorkSafe within that same 60-day window. If the application is refused or withdrawn, the operator must stop all high-risk work immediately.

For Renewals: The 12-Month Limit

• Lodged Before Expiry: If the renewal application is submitted online before expiry, the operator can keep working while WorkSafe processes the new card.
• Lapsed Under 12 Months: If the card expires first, the operator must stop driving immediately. They can still renew online within 12 months, but they are legally grounded until the renewal is officially processed and granted.
• Lapsed Over 12 Months: The licence is completely dead. The operator cannot simply renew. They must go back through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), log training hours, and pass the full practical assessment from scratch.

Are Interstate Licences Valid in WA?

Yes. High-risk work licences are recognized across all Australian states and territories.

However, that does not get employers off the hook under the WA Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2020. A valid interstate card tells you the person passed the test. It does not tell you they understand your site, your traffic flow, your blind spots, your ramps, or your machine setup. On-site induction and machine familiarisation still matter.

The Pre-Start Compliance Check

Before anyone starts a shift, check the basics properly:

• Licence Verification: Confirm the card is current and shows the correct class marker, LF or LO.
• Site Induction: Make sure the operator understands pedestrian exclusion zones and designated traffic paths.
• Machine Fitment: Check the forklift’s turning circle, mast height, and load capacity suit the physical warehouse space.
• Daily Logbook: Make sure daily pre-start maintenance checks on hydraulics, tyres, steering, and chains are signed off.

A valid licence does not make a faulty forklift safe. It does not make an oversized machine right for a narrow aisle either. Split licensing, machine fit, and maintenance into separate conversations and the cracks will show up sooner or later.

Need Help With the Machine Side of the Equation?

Compass Forklifts helps Perth businesses sort the practical side of material handling with forklift sales, short and long-term hire, and ongoing fleet servicing. If your operators are licensed but the forklifts are wrong for the space, or maintenance is starting to create risk on site, we can help you clean that up.