Putting an operator on an EWP without the right credential is a compliance risk that sits squarely with the person managing the fleet. Australia distinguishes between machines an industry training card covers and boom-type machines that require a formal high risk work licence, and the line between them turns on the machine. This guide explains that distinction as something a fleet manager needs to verify — EWP Australia does not provide operator training, so the right people to arrange it are a registered training organisation (RTO) or the industry association.
Two credentials, one important distinction
There are two credentials that commonly come up for EWP operators in Australia, and they are not interchangeable. One is an industry-recognised training card; the other is a statutory high risk work licence. Which one an operator needs depends on the type and reach of the machine they are operating.
For a fleet manager the practical task is straightforward once the distinction is clear: match the credential to the machine, and verify it before the operator works.
The Yellow Card
The Yellow Card is an industry-recognised operator training card administered through the Elevating Work Platform Association (EWPA). It is widely accepted across industry as evidence of operator training for the classes of EWP that fall below the high risk work licence threshold.
It is industry recognition of training rather than a statutory licence, and it is the EWPA and accredited trainers — not EWP Australia — who administer and issue it.
It is commonly associated with:
- Scissor lifts.
- Vertical lifts.
- Boom-type EWPs with a boom length under 11 metres.
The WP high risk work licence
Where a boom-type EWP has a boom length of 11 metres or more, the operator needs the WP class High Risk Work Licence. This is a statutory licence, not an industry card, and the 11-metre boom length is the widely published threshold that determines when it applies.
The distinction is a common trap: an operator perfectly credentialed for a smaller boom or a scissor lift is not thereby licensed for an 11-metre-plus boom. The machine dictates the requirement, so a fleet running a mix of equipment will often need operators to hold different credentials for different machines.
What fleet managers need to verify
Before an operator uses a machine, confirm:
- The boom length and type of the specific machine, which determines whether a Yellow Card or a WP licence is required.
- That the operator holds the correct credential for that machine — a Yellow Card for the relevant classes, or a current WP high risk work licence for 11-metre-plus booms.
- That the credential is current and genuinely held by the operator in front of you.
- That your records capture who is credentialed for which machines across the fleet.
Where to arrange training
EWP Australia does not deliver operator training or issue credentials. Operators seeking a Yellow Card should approach the EWPA or an accredited trainer, and those needing a WP high risk work licence should approach a registered training organisation that delivers the relevant unit. Because credential requirements and the details around them are set by the relevant authorities and can change, confirm the current position with the RTO or the EWPA directly. What EWP Australia can help with is the machines themselves — keeping the equipment your credentialed operators use compliant and inspected. For questions on machine compliance or inspections, call 0416 689 689.
This guide is general information prepared by EWP Australia and is grounded in publicly available Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia material. It is not a substitute for the current published edition of the relevant standard or for site-specific engineering advice. Always work from the current standard and consult a competent person for your specific equipment and application.