DG Exam at a Glance

DG Study Tips

• Create a structured study schedule at least 4-6 weeks before your DG exam date.
• Focus on understanding core concepts rather than memorising answers for the Dogging High Risk Work Licence.
• Use our free practice tests to identify weak areas and track your progress over time.
• Review the official DG exam syllabus to ensure complete topic coverage.
• Take timed practice sessions to build your exam pace and reduce test-day anxiety.

According to Australian state and territory work health and safety regulators issue the High Risk Work Licence, class DG (Dogging): S, “Book in a theory and practical assessment with your RTO. Bookings for assessments need to be made at least three business days in advance and conducted by an accredited assessor.”^[2]

Worked examples: how to reason through DG questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What record retention period applies to Lifting Plan Development documents under WHS Regulations?

1. No retention required
2. Typically 5 years, or 30 years for health monitoring and asbestos records
3. 1 month
4. Until the end of the project

Answer: B. Typically 5 years, or 30 years for health monitoring and asbestos records

Explanation:

The correct answer is that records are typically kept for 5 years, with 30 years for health monitoring and asbestos records. WHS regulations set minimum retention periods so that an incident, claim or audit can be checked against what was planned and recorded at the time.

Having no retention requirement is wrong because regulators expect documents to be producible on request. Keeping records for only a month is wrong because it is far shorter than the periods the regulations set. Keeping them until the end of the project is wrong because the retention clock is set by the type of record, not by when a job finishes. Some claims and illnesses only appear long after the work is done.

The rule to remember: retention depends on the record type, and longer periods apply where harm can appear years later. Check your own state's regulation for the exact requirement.

Example 2

Question: How should Hazard Assessment for Lifting incidents be reported in an Australian workplace?

1. Ignore minor incidents
2. Report immediately to the supervisor, with notifiable incidents reported to the regulator
3. Wait until the weekly meeting
4. Post on social media

Answer: B. Report immediately to the supervisor, with notifiable incidents reported to the regulator

Explanation:

The correct answer is to report immediately to the supervisor, with notifiable incidents also reported to the regulator. Early reporting lets the site make the area safe, preserve evidence and meet its legal duties before anything else goes wrong.

Ignoring minor incidents is wrong because near misses and small events often show the hazard that causes a serious injury later. Waiting until the weekly meeting is wrong because a delay can leave other workers exposed and may break the duty to notify the regulator straight away. Posting on social media is wrong because it is not a reporting channel, can spread inaccurate details, and may interfere with an investigation.

The rule to remember: report promptly through the proper channel, tell your supervisor at once, and know that serious incidents carry a separate duty to notify the regulator. Your RTO and regulator define which incidents count as notifiable.

Example 3

Question: What is the first step in a Rigging Hardware Inspection risk assessment?

1. Implement controls
2. Identify all hazards associated with ${subjectName}
3. Write the final report
4. Buy new equipment

Answer: B. Identify all hazards associated with ${subjectName}

Explanation:

The correct answer is to identify all hazards associated with the equipment being inspected. A risk assessment is a sequence, and identifying hazards comes before everything else because you cannot judge or control a risk you have not found.

Implementing controls is wrong as a starting step because you would be choosing fixes without knowing what they need to address. Writing the final report is wrong because the report records the outcome and can only come after the hazards have been found, assessed and controlled. Buying new equipment is wrong because it is a possible control, not a starting point, and it may be unnecessary once the real hazards are known.

The rule to remember: identify the hazards, assess the risk, choose controls, then review and record. When a question asks what comes first, look for the option that finds the problem rather than fixes it.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material from your regulator and your RTO, because that sets what the theory and practical assessment cover in your state or territory. Use our sets to find the gaps in what you have read, not to memorise answers.

1. Take a short mixed set first, such as the free DG practice test, to see which topics feel weak.
2. Work through the weak topics one at a time. For equipment, try sling types and selection, shackles and fittings and rigging hardware inspection.
3. For planning and judgement, use load assessment and weight estimation, load charts, lifting plan development and hazard assessment for lifting.
4. For communication and site control, practise crane signals and communication, tag line usage and exclusion zones and barricading.
5. Finish with emergency procedures and WHS legislation for lifting.

When you get a question wrong, read the explanation, then find the matching section in your training notes. Retake the set a few days later. Before the assessment, confirm booking details and what to bring with your RTO.

Ready to Pass the DG?

Join thousands of candidates who have used our free practice tests to prepare for the Dogging High Risk Work Licence. Start practising today and build the confidence you need to succeed.

For more in-depth preparation strategies, read our G1 Test Ontario — covering exam format, scoring, and proven study techniques.

Sources & last verified

1. Australian state and territory work health and safety regulators issue the High Risk Work Licence, class DG (Dogging): S — validity, eligibility, registration deadline (official source). “Your licence expires after 5 years and must be renewed if you want to continue high risk work.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 28, 2026.
2. worksafe.qld.gov.au — delivery (official source). “Book in a theory and practical assessment with your RTO. Bookings for assessments need to be made at least three business days in advance and…” Verified Oct 21, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.