You’ve been engaged to work on a BHP iron ore site in Western Australia and have been told you need a verification of competency (VOC) before starting work. With your mobilisation date approaching, you need an approved provider who can complete your assessment and help you meet the relevant site requirements.
At Civil Safety (RTO 32381), we’re a BHP-approved VOC provider in WA, offering assessments for eligible high-risk work categories within our approved scope. With sessions available daily across our WA training facilities, you can arrange an assessment at a location that suits you.
Read on to learn more about BHP WAIO VOC requirements, the evidence you’ll need and how to book your assessment.
What is a BHP WAIO VOC?
BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) is an integrated system of four processing hubs and five mining hubs in the Pilbara. Your employer or BHP’s site requirements may ask you to pass a BHP WAIO VOC, which is a verification of competency assessment that confirms you can safely operate a specific machine on BHP’s WAIO sites. The assessment covers specific machines like excavators, forklifts, cranes and loaders. Your assessors will check your theory knowledge as well as how you operate the machines to confirm you meet BHP’s standards.
A VOC is an assessment designed to verify that you have the skills and knowledge to perform the relevant high-risk work safely and competently. Your assessor will evaluate your theoretical knowledge and practical skills against the applicable assessment requirements.
Important: Civil Safety is authorised to conduct BHP VOCs only for high-risk work categories within our approved scope. We cannot conduct BHP VOCs for excavators or other earthmoving equipment, as these are outside our approved scope.
Western Australian mining safety requirements also reinforce the importance of assessing worker competency. Under regulation 675BB(b) of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, relevant competency assessments are part of the requirements for workers undertaking work at mines. Employers and workers should confirm the specific requirements that apply to their roles and work activities.
Who needs a BHP WAIO VOC?
You may need a BHP WAIO VOC if your role or site requirements call for verification of your competency in an eligible high-risk work category.
This may include:
Contractors: Workers mobilising to a BHP WAIO site who must demonstrate competency before starting work.
Employees: Workers whose employers require evidence that their competency meets current site requirements.
High-risk work operators: Workers performing eligible high-risk work who need their competency verified for a particular task or category.
Supervisors and site personnel: Personnel who are required to provide evidence of competency for their assigned duties.
The requirements vary depending on your role, the work you’ll perform and BHP’s site-specific requirements. Check with your employer or site contact to confirm which assessment you need before booking.
What do you need to bring to your assessment?
Before your assessment, you must provide evidence of your existing qualifications or competency.
For Civil Safety to conduct a BHP VOC within our approved scope, you must provide the relevant High Risk Work Licence or Notice of Assessment (NOA).
Statements of Attainment (SOAs) cannot be accepted as evidence for this BHP VOC process. Make sure you have the correct documentation available before your appointment. If you’re unsure whether your licence or NOA meets the requirements, contact our team before booking.
Please also confirm the specific high-risk work category you need assessed to ensure it falls within Civil Safety’s approved scope.
What to expect at your assessment
You can get your BHP WAIO VOC in four steps:
Booking: Arrange a session at one of our WA training facilities or enquire about an onsite assessment, subject to availability and the relevant requirements.
Pre-assessment checks: Provide your relevant High Risk Work Licence or Notice of Assessment (NOA). Our team will confirm that the documentation and requested assessment category meet the requirements.
Assessment: Your assessor will evaluate your theoretical knowledge and practical competency for the relevant high-risk work category. The duration depends on the assessment requirements.
Results and verification: Your assessor will explain the outcome. If you successfully complete the assessment, you’ll receive the applicable BHP and Civil Safety VOC documentation.
A VOC is an assessment, not a training course. You’re expected to demonstrate the required competency during the assessment.
How often do you need a new VOC?
There isn’t one universal VOC expiry period that applies to every machine, task or workplace. The frequency of reassessment depends on the relevant site requirements, your employer’s procedures and the risks associated with the work.
Your employer may require another assessment following changes to equipment, work procedures or your duties, or where there are concerns about your ongoing competency.
Before relying on an existing VOC, check with your employer or site contact to confirm that it meets the current requirements for your role.
BHP WAIO costs and locations in WA
A BHP WAIO VOC starts from $295. Discounts may be available if you require more than one VOC. Contact our team for a quote based on your assessment requirements.
Civil Safety has BHP-approved trainer assessors across four WA locations, giving eligible candidates access to assessment services throughout the state.
We offer daily BHP VOC sessions at 2:00 pm at the following facilities:
Welshpool (Perth): Visit our Perth training facility.
Bunbury: Visit our Bunbury training facility.
Kalgoorlie: Contact our team to arrange your assessment at our Kalgoorlie facility.
Newman: Visit our Newman training facility.
All assessments are subject to availability, the required documentation and Civil Safety’s approved scope.
If you need an assessment at your workplace, our team can also discuss onsite arrangements, subject to the relevant requirements and availability.
Book your BHP WAIO VOC with Civil Safety
If you need a BHP WAIO VOC before mobilising to site, Civil Safety can help you arrange an assessment at one of our WA facilities.
With BHP-approved trainer assessors in Welshpool, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie and Newman, we can provide access to eligible assessments across our WA network.
Before booking, make sure you have your relevant High Risk Work Licence or Notice of Assessment (NOA) and confirm that your required high-risk work category falls within our approved scope.
Book your BHP WAIO VOC today, or contact our team if you need multiple assessments or would like to discuss onsite arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
A BHP WAIO VOC is a verification of competency assessment. It confirms you have the skills and knowledge to safely operate a specific machine or perform a high-risk task on BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore sites.
It’s an assessment with no training component. Your assessor will check that you can perform the relevant tasks safely and to the required competency standards.
You must provide your relevant High Risk Work Licence or Notice of Assessment (NOA). Civil Safety cannot accept Statements of Attainment (SOAs) as evidence for this BHP VOC process.
No. Civil Safety is authorised to conduct BHP VOCs only for high-risk work categories within our approved scope. Excavators and other earthmoving equipment are outside our approved scope.
The duration depends on the high-risk work category and the assessment requirements. Contact our team when booking to confirm the expected duration for your assessment.
Assessments start from $295. Discounts may be available if you require multiple VOCs. Contact our team for a quote.
Civil Safety offers BHP VOC sessions at Welshpool, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie and Newman, with sessions scheduled daily at 2:00 pm. All bookings are subject to availability, documentation requirements and the approved scope.
Yes. Our assessors can travel to your site to conduct machine-specific VOCs, subject to the relevant requirements and arrangements. Contact our team to arrange a date that works for your site.