Under the occupational health and safety laws, employers have an obligation to ensure their staff have “÷current competency’; verification of competency (VOC) is a way to measure existing skill an individual has and pinpoint where further training is needed.
Once a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) VOC assessment has been undertaken on an applicant, their skill levels will be understood and additional training can then be discussed to up-skill the applicant to be a safer and more productive employee.
Currently a driller can try for his or her Drilling Operations (including HDD) certificate II (assistant), III (Driller), IV (Drilling Supervisor).
These have been available for several years.
The VOC compiled by Trenchless Advisor has been reviewed by Dial Before You Dig NSW/ACT (both Otre Moussa and Dominic Puiu) who have given their endorsement for the VOC.
HDD manufactures Vermeer Australia and Ditch Witch have also given their support for the VOC and can see the benefits with introducing this into the industry.
The people who will be assessing applicants will be qualified in HDD operations and certified as Trainers and Assessors.