Who Needs a Commercial Operator’s Licence?

Any entity applying chemicals with powered machinery allowed under the ACDC Act of 1966 should have a valid commercial operator’s licence. These include (but are limited to) the locations described below:

• Parks and gardens
• Local government buildings
• Sewage works
• Agricultural land that you work on as an employee or a contractor
• State parks, zoos, and national parks
• Swimming pools
• Hospitals and nursing homes
• Weed or pest hotspots
• Mining and gas operations
• Sports club maintenance and land care
• Schools and other educational institutions

The EPA is quite strict with the application of the ACDC Act. It is illegal to disperse a chemical agent on someone else’s land without the proper licence, even if they permit you to do the same. This violation can incur a fine of up to AUD 5,000. Thus, if you wish to work in this sector, you should probably get your commercial operator’s licence.

What Does Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control (ACDC) Entail?

Since the early 1960s, the Australian government has been concerned with the massive amounts of fertilisers and pesticides that farmers would spray over their land. Some farms, especially in Queensland, were so enormous that crop dusting using aeroplanes became common. While it was suitable for the crops, its overuse posed a significant threat to the native flora and fauna.

In 1966, the Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control (ACDC) Act came into effect. It appointed a board that created a list of hazardous substances used in agriculture practices. Over time, it included other industries, too. The law prohibits anyone from spraying potentially toxic chemicals without a valid licence. You can issue it for 1 or 3 years. You can even get an unrestricted variant if you keep a clean record.

The ACDC board periodically makes adjustments to the Act. These can include relieving the licence requirements for specific regions, amending the substance list, or modifying the chemical safety training courses to suit the evolving scenario.

How To Apply for an ACDC Licence

Before you get into that, it is crucial to understand that the commercial operator’s licence applies to individuals and companies in the same capacity.

Factors that Affect Your Licence Requirements

The government does not issue the same commercial licence to everyone. Your licence requirements may depend upon the following factors:

• 
  The machinery and distribution equipment in use
• Whether the area where the chemicals disperse have been declared hazardous
• The quantities of chemicals dispersed on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
• If the area is regulated or non-regulated under state laws
• Whether the applicant has not had their previous licence suspended in QLD or any other state as part of a disciplinary action

Your licence requirements may also differ for certain chemicals not part of the ACDC approved chemical list. Also, the licence approval is subject to tenure. It might be easier to get a 1-year licence, but a 3-year licence saves you about 50% in application fees.

Chemical Safety Training Course

Before commencing the application process, it is imperative to clear the chemical safety training course pertaining to the licence type. The Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control certification requires that you complete the following subjects as part of the curriculum:

• AHCCHM304 (Transport and store chemicals)
• AHCCHM307 (Preparing and applying chemicals to control weeds, pests, and diseases)

The safety course includes theoretical and practical components for the basic knowledge of equipment and the chemical handling involved in the field. It is edited annually by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to reflect the country's changing environmental conditions and legal ramifications.

The duration of the course may vary according to the individual. Although, in most cases, it should not take more than a couple of days. You can submit the final test online, and the agency delivers the certification over email almost instantaneously.

Application Process

Depending on your preference, you can choose to apply for an ACDC licence either at your local QGAP centre or online through the official Queensland government website. The application process is straightforward, yet you should always keep your chemical safety certification handy. You can apply for any of the four options available for the commercial operator's licence:

• Commercial operator's licence for the ground distribution of herbicides
• Pilot chemical rating licence for the aerial distribution of agricultural chemicals
• Ground distribution contractor licence
• Aerial distribution contractor licence

Each licence has the exact specifications and allowances mentioned during the application process.

To apply for the licence online,

1. Visit the official Queensland Government website https://forms.business.gov.au/aba/landing.htm?formCode=DAF-ACA
2. Click on the Open New Form option.
3. A blank form shall be displayed on the screen. You can choose to apply as an individual or a corporation. Both have separate steps and prerequisites.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions and submit all the relevant details.
5. Digitally accept the final declaration and confirm your details for the application.
6. Make the required payment online and save the receipt on your computer/smartphone.

To apply for the licence offline, you can go to your nearest Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office. The agent there can provide you with the application form and guide you through the process. While such centres have a printer you can use to submit a hard copy of the required documents, it is best to carry two sets before visiting the QGAP centre.

Receiving Your Commercial Operator’s Licence

You should receive your commercial operator's licence either through the mail (if you applied offline) or on your email account (if you used the web). If you clear all the criteria, it should take no more than three weeks. Still, there can be times when a discrepancy arises, and your application gets rejected.

It helps to stay calm in that instant. Go over all the required paperwork again and examine whether there was something you missed. If required, you may need to retake the chemical safety certification course. Ensure a gap of at least a month before applying for the licence again.

Renewing Your Commercial Operator’s Licence

When your commercial operator's licence expires, you will receive a notification on your registered email ID 60 days before the expiry date. You can use your chemical licence number to renew your licence online from the same Queensland government website.

If you don't have your registered licence number, you can search for it via the chemical application licence register. It only takes a short while to renew your licence for another 12 months or three years, as per your preference. If your licence expires, you have no choice but to apply for a fresh one.

Why You Should Have an ACDC Licence

Whether you are an employee or working as a contractor, you are subject to prosecution by the ACDC Act. With a commercial operator's licence, you enjoy the benefits mentioned below:

• 
  Improve your chances of employability 
• Improved your perception of environmental care
• Develop skills to maintain workplace safety 
• Gain the requisite knowledge to apply herbicides and pesticides correctly
• Education on identifying weeds along with safely preparing and applying chemicals
• Using integrated pest management methods to determine the best control method
• Hazard and risk management around sensitive industries, such as mining, volatile material transportation, and pesticide distribution

Multiple licences within your organisation enable you to expand your enterprise. You can recruit more people for entry-level jobs or diversify into other industries that require your capabilities.

Licencing for Landowners Working on Neighbouring Properties

While farmers and primary producers do not need a licence to perform ground distribution on lands they own, the same does not apply to ground distribution on a neighbour's property. You may also require a ground distribution contractor's licence, depending on the circumstances. Even if you use someone else's property with their consent to store hazardous chemicals under the ACDC list, you must possess a commercial operator's licence.

What Benefits Can Countryco Chemical Safety Training Deliver?

Not all industries have similar requirements, and many deal differently with the chemicals in question. It can be a problem of approval as many ACDC regulations restrict issuing licences favouring environmental and agricultural stability. With Countryco., you get the best training experience to quickly get your commercial operator's licence and a course tailor-made to your industry's specifications.

We can create interactive sessions and drills anywhere within QLD and NSW. You can consult our team, who can guide you in designing the perfect chemical safety course for your firm. We hold sessions in-person or via video conferences, whichever you find more convenient. With over 28 years of experience in the field, we can maximise your chance of approval for the commercial operator's licence. Contact us today.