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From this page you can find out about:
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There
is a lot of misconception over the licensing rules for Wheels, Tracks and
Rollers and the following will hopefully make
things as clear as mud. An applicant for the endorsement needs to hold a
full license for a motor vehicle of an equivalent gross laden weight to
the special type vehicle that they will be driving.
This means: |
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A full class 1 License – for a
special type vehicle with a gross laden weight of no more than 4500 kg |
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A full class 2 license – for a
special type vehicle up to 15000 kg or greater than 15000 kg if it has no
more than 2 axles or is a tracked machine |
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A full class 4 license – for a
special type vehicle with a gross laden weight of more than 15000 kg and
more than 2 axles |
The assessment includes a series of written
or verbal questions followed by a practical driving test. The practical test
must be undertaken on the appropriate size machine for the class of license held
by the applicant.
However - all this will change in 2005
(probably in before the end of the year) as the changes to be introduced under the Land Transport
(Drivers Licence) Amendment Rule 2002 take effect. A copy of the rule can be
downloaded from the LTSA website: http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/consultation/driver-licensing-amendment/dl-rule-20021006.pdf
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This states under the new Schedule 3
that for Classes
1, the person may operate
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(a)
a motor vehicle (including a tractor but excluding a motorcycle) that
has a gross laden weight of 4 500 kg or less, or a combination vehicle
that has a gross combined weight of 4 500 kg or less
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(b)
a trade vehicle that has a gross laden weight of 6 000 kg or less,
provided its on-road weight does not exceed 4 500 kg
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(c)
a special-type vehicle with a gross laden weight of 18 000 kg or less |
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This in effect means that a person will be
able to operate all special type
vehicles (Wheels, Tracks, Rollers and Forklift) under 18 tonne on a full Class 1
Licence and over 18 tonne on a full Class 2 license.
This will give newer/younger members to the
industry and current members an incentive to be in possession of a full Class 1
license when the changes occur. The more enthusiastic of contractors are now
inquiring to get their people with full Class 1 licenses the appropriate
endorsements so that they are up to speed when the changes occur.
Remember under OSH legislation that
employers are to ensure that the employees are adequately trained in the safe
use of all plant and equipment that the employee is or may be required to use or
handle.
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As a requirement under the Health &
Safety In Employment Act 1992 (Section 13), it is essential for employers
to ensure that employees are adequately trained in the safe
use of all plant and equipment that the employee is or may be required to use or
handle. Companies have been prosecuted and fined for failing to train
their staff on the safe use of the companies equipment. So far more than
$500,000 has been paid out in fines under Section 13 with the average fine
being just over $4,000. |
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Benefits of Training
| Improve Safety / Prevent Injury |
| Decrease stock losses and plant damage |
| Increase Productivity |
| Reduce Downtime |
| Promote greater lift truck care |
| Satisfy legal requirements |
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13.
Training and supervision
– Every employer shall take all practicable steps to ensure that
every employee who does work of any kind, or uses plant of any kind, or
deals with a substance of any kind, in a place of work –
(a) Either – (I) Has; or (ii) Is so supervised, by a person who
has,– such knowledge and experience of similar places, and work, plant,
or substances of that kind, as to ensure that the employee’s doing the
work, using the plant, or dealing with the substance, is not likely to
cause harm to
the employee or other people; and (b)
Is adequately trained in the safe use of all plant, objects, substances,
and protective clothing and equipment that the employee is or may be
required to use or handle. |
To find out more about the driver and
operator training Land Based Training has to offer check out the links
below.
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Mynet Ltd ~
Oroua Rd ~ RD5 ~ Palmerston North ~ Manawatu ~ New Zealand. Phone enquiries can be made during office hours
on +64 (021) 528 266. Last modified: October 24, 2005 Send all questions or comments about this web site the the