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VOC's
VOC's Verification Of Competency
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VOC - what is it?
Under the new Workplace Health and Safety Legislation Employers or Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), must take reasonable and practical steps to ensure the competency of their staff for the work they perform and the safe operation of workplace plant and equipment.
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It is therefore, a legal requirement to ensure sufficient information, instruction and training and supervision of workers performing the task that can be maintained for operators experience and knowledge remain current and up to date.
For example, Ahmad works in a warehouse and drives a forklift for the business 1,2,3. Ahmad has been driving forklifts since he left school in 1995. Although Ahmad appears to be a safe and experienced operator, when he passed his forklift test in 1995 the exam and theory questions were very different to what they are today, and as Ahmad hasn't undertaken any refresher training he is unaware of the changes to legislation for a whole raft of policies and procedures that have occurred in the workplace since. This can potentially leave both Ahmad and his employer exposed should Ahmad be involved in a workplace incident on his forklift and has to testify in court.​
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Enter the VOC process, with a VOC assessment comprising of theory questions, some rudimentary calculations relevant to the task, and a practical demonstration by the worker actually performing the task. The worker is 'challenged' to provide evidence that they can conduct the work as expected and we can identify any shortcomings or 'gaps' in a workers knowledge or skills and provide the necessary training to bring them up to date with current policies and procedures. This becomes 'evidence' that they have maintained currency in their skills and are competent to complete the task.
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This helps in a court of law should Ahmad or his employer be called upon as reasonable and practical steps to ensure competency have been met and can be shown in the form of a VOC. It protects both parties from appearing like reckless 'cowboys'.
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How long is it valid?
That is site dependant and each PCBU has to make their own policy regarding how often a person should be VOC'd.
For instance, some large construction companies will require a VOC every two years which will cover that person for all of their sites. Other companies we have worked with demand a VOC on every piece of equipment on each individual site, regardless of when the last VOC took place.
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It's really up to the PCBU to have their own policy in place...
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VOC - what we offer:
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We can conduct VOC's on your site with your equipment for various types of machinery including - Elevating Work Platforms (EWP's), Forklifts, Telehandlers, Electric Pallet Trucks (Walkie Stackers), Civil plant Operations much more, contact for details.
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On successful completion the candidate and PCBU will receive a VOC Certificate Hard copy paper or additional fee with a card posted to them.