High Risk Work Licence - Concrete Placing Boom (PB) exam-day guide
High Risk Work Licence - Concrete Placing Boom (PB) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original current ID the provider specified when you booked (commonly a passport or driver licence). Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a digital copy is allowed; do not rely on a phone image unless the provider confirms it.
Assessment booking confirmation and paperwork
Bring your booking confirmation, any enrolment or pre-assessment forms the provider sent, and your Unique Student Identifier or equivalent if the provider requires it. Check the confirmation email for a list of anything else they ask you to bring.
Safety boots and PPE
Wear or bring steel-capped boots and the high-visibility clothing, hard hat, gloves and eye protection the provider requires. Confirm with the provider exactly what PPE they supply and what you must bring yourself.
Language, literacy and numeracy requirements
If you needed any support or adjustments for reading, calculations or communication, confirm with the provider in advance how these are handled on assessment day. Do not assume adjustments carry over automatically from training.
Readiness and fitness for assessment
Arrive rested and free of alcohol and drugs. If you have an injury, illness or medication that could affect safe operation, tell the assessor before the practical starts; confirm with the provider how this is handled.
Know the plan for the day
Re-read the provider's joining instructions: arrival time, site address, parking, sign-in point, expected duration and what happens if you are late. Confirm with the provider whether lateness means rescheduling.
Travel and timing buffer
Plan to arrive with time to spare before the nominated start. Allow for traffic, parking and site induction. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time that still permits assessment.
Revisit the pre-start and shut-down sequence
Be ready to demonstrate a full pre-start inspection and safe shutdown without prompts. Practise the sequence you were trained in and confirm with the provider which machine and configuration will be used on the day.
Rehearse communication and hand signals
Practise clear two-way communication with the spotter or dogger, including agreed hand and radio signals and the emergency stop signal. Confirm with the provider who fills the spotter role during assessment.
Rehearse setup, positioning and stabilisation
Be able to explain and demonstrate boom setup, outrigger or stabiliser deployment, ground condition checks and exclusion zones. Confirm with the provider the site layout and equipment you will be assessed on.
Emergency procedures
Know the emergency shutdown, lowering and isolation steps and how to respond to a burst hose, contact with services or an unstable setup. Confirm with the provider how emergency scenarios are assessed.
Questions before the day
Write down anything unclear about equipment, site, PPE, timing or scoring and ask the provider before the assessment. needs_review: assessment-day logistics vary by provider and site, so verify all specifics directly with your provider.
Plan the day
Re-read your training notes and the operator manual for the boom type you will use. Walk through the pre-start inspection, setup, operation and shutdown sequences aloud, and list any steps you are unsure of. Confirm with the provider the arrival time, site address, PPE requirements and equipment to be used, and check whether any pre-assessment paperwork must be completed beforehand.
Check your ID is current and undamaged, gather your booking confirmation and required forms, and prepare your PPE including boots, high-visibility clothing, hard hat, gloves and eye protection. Confirm with the provider what they supply and what you must bring. Plan your route and a realistic departure time with a buffer.
Do a final light revision of the highest-risk areas: ground conditions and stabiliser setup, exclusion zones, communication with the spotter, load and reach limits, and emergency procedures. Avoid cramming late into the night; sleep is part of being fit for a practical assessment.
Lay out everything you need by the door: ID, confirmation, forms, PPE and any food, water and medication for the day. Check the weather forecast and site access details. Confirm with the provider if you have any last questions about timing or what to expect.
Eat properly, avoid alcohol, and take medication as prescribed if it does not affect safe operation; tell the assessor if anything could affect your performance. Leave with a buffer so you arrive early, and allow time for sign-in and any site induction.
Sign in as directed, present your ID and paperwork, and attend any briefing or induction. Listen carefully to the assessor's instructions, ask clarifying questions before starting, and confirm where you must not walk, stand or park.
Work through each task in the order the assessor sets out. Complete a full pre-start inspection, set up and stabilise the machine correctly, maintain exclusion zones, communicate clearly and operate within the machine's limits. Verbalise your checks where appropriate and never rush a step to save time.
If you make an error, stop safely, acknowledge it and correct it calmly rather than improvising. If you do not understand an instruction, ask. If the assessor stops the task, follow their direction immediately and completely.
Complete any shutdown and housekeeping required, return equipment as directed, and ask the assessor or provider how and when results will be issued. Confirm with the provider the process for any reassessment or feedback.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo identification the provider requires and present it at sign-in. If you cannot produce acceptable ID, you may not be able to be assessed; confirm with the provider in advance which documents are accepted.
Follow all site safety rules, inductions and assessor directions at all times. Wear the required PPE, stay within marked areas and keep clear of the machine except when you are directed to operate it.
The assessment is individual work. Do not accept coaching, prompting or assistance from anyone other than the assessor. If someone tries to help, tell the assessor.
Ask questions before a task begins if instructions are unclear, but do not ask the assessor for the answer or for step-by-step guidance during the task. The assessor is evaluating your competence, not teaching.
Declare any alcohol, drug, medication, illness or injury that could affect safe operation before the practical starts. Never operate machinery under the influence of anything that impairs you.
If you need a break, ask the assessor. Confirm with the provider how breaks affect timing, and whether leaving the assessment area without permission affects your result.
Scoring is based on the criteria in the assessment instrument, and some errors may be treated as critical and end the assessment. Ask the provider before the day how critical errors are handled and what feedback you will receive.
Mobile phones and recording devices are commonly restricted during assessment. Confirm with the provider where they must be stored and whether any photography or recording is permitted on site.