Licences & Tickets for Hired Plant in WA: What You Actually Need
The short version, machine by machine
| Machine | Legal minimum (WA) | What commercial sites usually ask |
|---|---|---|
| Excavator | No HRWL. Trained & competent | VOC / earthmoving ticket |
| Bobcat / positrack | No HRWL. Trained & competent | VOC / skid steer ticket |
| Forklift (our Clark GTS33D) | LF high-risk work licence | LF licence + site induction |
| Scissor lift <11m | No HRWL. Trained & competent | EWP "yellow card" |
| Tipper / Hiab truck | Driver's licence class for the vehicle (HR) | Licence + VOC for crane ops |
| Plant trailer ≤4.5t GVM | Standard C-class car licence | Adequate tow vehicle rating |
Legal minimum vs site reality
National HRWL reform removed licence requirements for most earthmoving plant decades ago. Competence is the legal test. But on any commercial or civil site, the principal contractor sets the bar, and that bar is almost always a VOC or nationally recognised ticket plus a site induction. Home jobs on your own property are where genuine self-operation happens.
The forklift is the exception everyone trips on: an LF high-risk work licence is non-negotiable, on any site, including your own yard, no exceptions, we will ask to sight it.
Our part
Every PSG machine goes out serviced and documented, and we'll walk you through controls at pickup. What we can't supply is your competence. If you've never run the machine, a wet hire operator for the tricky day is cheaper than the damage. Rules change and sites differ: confirm current requirements with WorkSafe WA and your site supervisor.