What Is A White Card In Construction?
What Is A White Card In Construction?
A white card (or general construction induction card) is essential for all people who wish to work in the construction industry, including site managers, supervisors, surveyors, laborers, and tradespeople.
The white card ensures that these workers have been trained in safety on a building site and understand the laws and regulations related to construction areas.
Obtaining a white card typically requires attending an accredited training course that covers general workplace health and safety topics such as hazard identification, basics of risk management, hazard control, and incident reporting procedures.
What Does A White Card Include?
A White Card signifies that the holder has successfully completed a General Construction Induction course, which is a mandatory requirement for anyone looking to work in the construction industry.
This is formerly known as the Blue Card, Red Card, or Green Card course depending on which state you are located in.
The card provides evidence that you have been adequately trained on important safety topics and understand how to protect yourself and others from workplace hazards. It also contains your name and photo so employers can quickly identify who holds valid qualifications.
How Long Does A Construction White Card Last?
A construction White Card typically has no definitive expiry date and remains valid as long as the holder is continuously employed in the construction industry.
The card will need to be renewed if the cardholder leaves the industry, but upon re-entry into the workplace, they may obtain a new card.
This requirement is mandated by each state; however, it is always best practice for workers to renew their cards every three years for added convenience and improved accuracy of data.
It is important to bear in mind that not all states accept each other’s cards and so getting a new one when relocating to a different state may be necessary anyway.
How Long Does It Take To Do A White Card?
It usually takes 3 days to complete a White Card course. The course is designed to teach and provide knowledge on construction safety and addresses issues related to safety regulations, hazard identification, risk control measures, general safety principles, and communication skills.
It also includes an assessment of the student’s understanding of the content which will ensure they can apply the information and demonstrate their competence in the workplace.
After successful completion of the course, students are awarded a nationally recognized Statement of Attainment for “CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry” which must be renewed every 5 years.
What Is The Minimum Age For A White Card?
The minimum age to obtain a White Card is 14 years old and there are no pre-requisites required to complete this course.
A copy of the student’s driver’s license or other approved photo identification will be required at the time of sitting the course in order to ensure that they meet the minimum age requirement.
What Type Of License Is A White Card?
A White Card is a general construction induction training card that is issued by the RTO (Registered Training Organisation) upon successful completion of the unit.
It must be kept on one’s person at all times when one is on-site, and it is essential to make note of the RTO’s details and keep a copy of the card for future reference in your records.