In a recent joint operation, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and the Queensland Police Service have launched a serious crackdown on forged High Risk Work (HRW) licences.
Authorities have identified an alarming number of fake licences being used across construction sites, warehouses, and transport yards, putting not just compliance at risk, but lives too.
What Happened?
As reported in the June 2025 eSAFE newsletter, the joint operation uncovered a number of individuals working with counterfeit HRW licences across multiple industries. Some of these licences looked legitimate, but failed verification checks, raising major safety red flags.
If you’re employing someone to operate a forklift, enter confined spaces, or work at heights, it’s your responsibility to ensure their qualifications are valid and current. Trusting the plastic alone isn’t enough anymore.
Why This Matters
Fake licences not only breach safety laws, they put your workers and your business at risk. Employers can be held liable if an unqualified person is operating machinery or working in a high-risk environment, and that can lead to serious legal, financial, and safety consequences.
How to Protect Your Business
Verify every licence. Don’t rely on the card alone. Cross-check it with the official register.
Use the HRW Licence Verification Tool provided by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland: https://fswqap.worksafe.qld.
This tool lets you search by name or licence number to confirm if someone holds a valid HRW licence in Queensland.
At FMS Training, we take compliance seriously. We deliver accredited training with nationally recognised outcomes, so you and your team can work confidently and safely.
Got questions about verifying licences or booking accredited training? Give us a bell on 1300 699 150 or check out our current courses at www.fms.edu.au.
The FMS Training Team