The System Says They're Trained — But No One Actually Knows

A recent report out of Australia revealed that more than 750 individuals in the trades and construction sector were issued credentials without confirmed training. A network of individuals impersonated licensed training providers, and the resulting credentials were used to secure official licenses.

Only 63 licenses have been cancelled. The rest remain active. The individuals are still on the job.

This isn’t an enforcement success — it’s a case study in regulatory disconnect.

Everyone Points Somewhere Else

Workplace authorizations were given with no assurance that the training had been completed by the right people. And when that’s revealed?

• Regulators point at employers and say it’s their job to ensure workers are trained.
• Employers point at training organizations and credentialing bodies, saying they’re the experts and training standards are their responsibility.
• And workers? They reasonably assume that if something were truly wrong, the regulator, employer, or safety association would step in and make it known — clearly and meaningfully.

But that rarely happens.

So what do we get instead? Administrative checkboxes. Self-attestation. Credentials that look official but may have no verified substance behind them. It’s all done in the name of compliance — with little regard for actual capability.

What’s the Harm?

Some might ask: what's the problem? These processes are simple. They only cost time and money.

But the true cost shows up when someone gets hurt or killed.

That’s when everyone scrambles to call it an accident.

They blame the worker. The supervisor. The culture.

But here’s the truth: awareness of risk changes behavior.

If someone hasn’t been properly trained, they can't be expected to recognize or respond to the hazards. That’s not just their failure — it’s a failure of the system that certified them as ready.

Credentialing Without Controls

This isn’t just an Australian issue. Across the U.S. and beyond:

• Crane operator exams have been invalidated due to compromised processes.
• Elevator repair certifications were issued with little to no identity checks.
• Technology and teaching credentials are granted with minimal oversight.

In nearly every case, the problem was revealed by a tip — not by the issuing body or regulator. And in nearly every case, the provider continued operating, issuing new credentials as though nothing had happened.

This is what happens when verification, validation, and consequences are optional.

What Needs to Change

We don't need more policies. We need systems that:

• Confirm who is being trained and how.
• Ensure that credentials represent actual, verified learning.
• Act quickly and transparently when that process fails.

Until then, we’re not protecting anyone. We’re just documenting the illusion of safety — and crossing our fingers that no one gets hurt.

Because when they do, we can’t call it an accident.

We have to call it what it is: preventable.