Verification of Competency
This has also deprived the industry of any form of recgonition for the skills personnel currently have working within a HDD operation. For many contractors it has meant an unlevel playing field when submitting a tender or similar to a client as no independent confirmation of employee competency has been available. Most other areas in construction have the ability to seek a Verification of Competency to acknowledge a persons skills.
Verification of Competency (VOC) is a method of assessment that assists employers to meet OHS requirements and ensure staff are competent to operate HDD equipment or perform a task.
Assessing for Verification of Competency enables businesses to confirm that their employees or contractors are competent in their skills and use of equipment. A VOC is commonly used in many industries for pre-employment checks, contractual arrangements or site requirements.
Working with a range of asset owners who require the inclusion of HDD to build their networks, Trenchless Advisor has developed a formal process that has allowed for flexibility in meeting the clients needs whilst maintaining a high standard of assessment.
There has been available for some time now the ability for HDD personnel to achieve a certification in Drilling Operations or Trenchless incorporating the module Assist Horizontal Diretional Drilling or Conduct Horizontal Directional Drilling though this has been seen by many as time consuming, expensive, difficult due to the complexity of the written requirements and in some clients eyes not a true indication of the individuals skill level.
A qualification is obtained via a written assessment and through Recognised Prior Learning or Recognised Current Competency which may not always include an actual onsite assessment of the persons skill level or, if it does, it is extremely basic and doesn’t cover all areas of HDD.
If HDD personnel do wish to undertake and obtain a qualification in HDD then achieving a VOC can be seen as a true RPL/RCC making the qualification a true and correct one.
As all HDD personnel will acknowledge, a variety of skills are required to successfully complete a HDD project. These areas of skill include Drilling (machine operations), Tracking (tracking and steering of the drillhead) as well as Drill Fluids (mixing of correct and appropriate drilling additives).
A variety of other skills surounding these main skills also needs to be understood and correctly undertaken including general and site specific safety. A VOC undertaken by Trenchless Advisor involves assessors who are qualified in both HDD and Training and Assessing.
A summary of the assessment will also be sent to the contractor or applicant detailing the areas where they could improve their skills but up-skilling thus making them a more effective and productive employee. All up-skilling can be arranged by Trenchless Advisor personnel at a later date.
Benefits of Obtaining a VOC
- Skills quality verification
- Assesses individual skills within a HDD operation
- VOC certification can be used as evidence in gaining RCC for other drilling operation certifications
- Compiled for the HDD industry by industry experts
- Beneficial to clients, contractors and individuals
- Assessments in-line with industry standards
Ever since its inception back in the 1990’s, Horizontal Directional Drilling in Australia has been an unregulated industry. This means anybody could operate a HDD machine without any formal training or expertise.
This has also deprived the industry of any form of recgonition for the skills personnel currently have working within a HDD operation. For many contractors it has meant an unlevel playing field when submitting a tender or similar to a client as no independent confirmation of employee competency has been available. Most other areas in construction have the ability to seek a Verification of Competency to acknowledge a persons skills.
Verification of Competency (VOC) is a method of assessment that assists employers to meet OHS requirements and ensure staff are competent to operate HDD equipment or perform a task.
Assessing for Verification of Competency enables businesses to confirm that their employees or contractors are competent in their skills and use of equipment. A VOC is commonly used in many industries for pre-employment checks, contractual arrangements or site requirements.
Working with a range of asset owners who require the inclusion of HDD to build their networks, Trenchless Advisor has developed a formal process that has allowed for flexibility in meeting the clients needs whilst maintaining a high standard of assessment.
There has been available for some time now the ability for HDD personnel to achieve a certification in Drilling Operations or Trenchless incorporating the module Assist Horizontal Diretional Drilling or Conduct Horizontal Directional Drilling though this has been seen by many as time consuming, expensive, difficult due to the complexity of the written requirements and in some clients eyes not a true indication of the individuals skill level.
The difference between obtaining a VOC for HDD operations and a qualification in Drilling Operations/Trenchless is that a VOC is a specific onsite assessment acknowledging the skills observed by each applicant.
A qualification is obtained via a written assessment and through Recognised Prior Learning or Recognised Current Competency which may not always include an actual onsite assessment of the persons skill level or, if it does, it is extremely basic and doesnt cover all areas of HDD.
If HDD personnel do wish to undertake and obtain a qualification in HDD then achieving a VOC can be seen as a true RPL/RCC making the qualification a true and correct one.
As all HDD personnel will acknowledge, a variety of skills are required to successfully complete a HDD project. These areas of skill include Drilling (machine operations), Tracking (tracking and steering of the drillhead) as well as Drill Fluids (mixing of correct and approriate drilling additives).
A variety of other skills surounding these main skills also needs to be understood and correctly undertaken including general and site specific safety.
If you are to be assessed for a VOC in HDD operations or even achieve a qualification, you must ensure a qualified and certified HDD person is conducting the assessments or qualification review. They should also hold a Training and Assessing qualification and be under the workings of an RTO (Recognise Training Organisation)
A VOC underatakn by Trenchless Advisor involves assessors who are qualified in both HDD and Training and Assessing. The VOC is also undertaken in conjunction with an RTO, the Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee, who oversee and audit all asessments. There is also a Training in HDD operations achievement which allows people entering the HDD industry to have some sort of recognition and then the ability to move to an area of skill at a later date.
A summary of the assessment will also be sent to the contractor or applicant detailing the areas where they could improve their skills but up-skilling thus making them a more effective and productive employee. All up-skilling can be arranged by Trenchless Advisor personnel at a later date.
Benefits of Obtaining a VOC
- Skills quality verification
- Assesses individual skills within a HDD operation
- VOC certification can be used as evidence in gaining RCC for other drilling operation certifications
- Compiled for the HDD industry by industry experts
- Beneficial to clients, contractors and individuals
- Assessments in-line with industry standards