Telehandler fees in Victoria slammed as “unreasonable”

Costs are adding up for farmers who are required to obtain a non-slewing crane license to operate a telehandler in Victoria.

Under review: WorkSafe says it is currently examining if telehandler licensing requirements meet the needs of the agricultural industry.

VICTORIAN farmers who are required to obtain a non-slew­ing crane licence to operate some telehandlers are being slapped with an extra fee on top of hefty training costs.

As of May 1, requirements were amplified for Victorian farmers who need a non-slew­ing crane licence to operate a telehandler above three tonnes — with the operator also needing a licence to perform dogging.

The requirements mean the processing fee required to obtain high risk licences has doubled for farmers.

The combined fee for the non-slewing crane licence paired with the dogging licence costs $133.20 for each operator.

An industry worker who wished to remain anonymous labelled the double fee as “unreasonable” for something that is not required anywhere else in the country.

Industry representatives have also called for the licence to be amended to ensure it is more farmer-specific.

Robert Pickles, of Pickles Hay Contracting in central Victoria, said about 80 per cent of farmers, not just hay contractors, used a telehandler, with most over a three-tonne capacity in the area.

“I would be happy to do safety training, but I can’t afford to put all workers through it — the costs are too massive,” Mr Pickles said.

He said the licence needed to be more farmer specific and not take growers to the city to work on “concrete piles”.

A WorkSafe spokesman told The Weekly Times it was “currently examining if telehandler licensing requirements meet the needs of the agricultural industry”.

“Telehandlers of more than three tonne load capacity are large, technical pieces of machinery that require specialist knowledge to operate safely, no matter the working environment,” the spokesman said.

WorkSafe said it routinely reviewed licensing regulations for heavy machinery to ensure they met the needs of industries. It said training prerequisites were the domain of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.

MORE: VICTORIA’S TELEHANDLER LICENSE “NOT FIT FOR INDUSTRY”

FARMERS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN CRANE LICENCE TO OPERATE TELEHANDLER