Bridge Inspections

By the end of the applicable workshop pathway, participants will be able to:

1. Recognise common bridge and culvert forms, identify their principal components and apply consistent inspection terminology.

2. Explain the purpose of Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 inspections and how inspection evidence supports asset-management decisions.

3. Plan and undertake bridge inspections safely by identifying field hazards, applying risk controls and using appropriate documentation and equipment.

4. Recognise and record common defects affecting concrete, steel, timber, masonry and other structural elements.

5. Conduct a methodical Level 1 inspection, identify road-user safety and maintenance issues, and complete a clear routine inspection report.

6. Conduct a detailed Level 2 inspection, assess visible components, assign condition ratings and compile a defensible photographic record.

7. Use inspection findings to identify maintenance, monitoring and repair needs and recognise when specialist Level 3 investigation may be required.

Course Endorsements

NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshops support professional development and road-authority recognition across several Australian jurisdictions.

Victoria

NTRO’s Level 2 workshop provides a pathway towards prequalification for the Department of Transport and Planning Victoria’s Bridge Inspection – Level 2 (BI2) category.

Participants must also satisfy the department’s applicable experience, competency and prequalification requirements.

View the Victorian BI2 prequalification requirements.

South Australia

NTRO Bridge Inspection Level 2 Accreditation training is strongly recommended in the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s Professional and Technical Services Framework – Prequalification No. 17C811 guidelines.

View DIT’s current prequalification information.

Northern Territory

NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshop is endorsed by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to provide Level 1 bridge inspection training in the Northern Territory.

View the Northern Territory Level 1 inspection information.

NTRO continues to pursue recognition from other road authorities across Australia.

Knowledge Transfer Accreditation

Nationally recognised training with RudTek

In partnership with RudTek (RTO 31953), NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshop offers a pathway to nationally recognised training in the vocational education and training sector.

The workshop may provide the underpinning knowledge required to align with units of competency from the Certificate IV in Civil Construction Supervision and other civil construction qualifications.

Participants who select the accreditation pathway attend the workshop and complete formal assessments during and after the training. This evidence may contribute towards achieving the following units of competency through RudTek:

• RIICSG405E: Carry out inspections of civil structures

• RIIIMG301E: Maintain site records

• RIIRIS301E: Apply risk management processes

Workshop attendance alone does not result in accreditation. Participants must complete RudTek’s applicable assessment requirements satisfactorily to achieve a competency outcome.

Accreditation Assessment Information

Start date

The post-course assessment pathway begins the day after the workshop.

Duration and submission requirements

• All assessment tasks must be submitted and assessed within six months of completing the classroom training.

• The six-month period includes the time required to complete any assessment resubmissions.

• Participants should allow approximately 30 hours to complete the assignment.

• NTRO and RudTek guide and support participants towards a satisfactory assessment outcome.

• Up to three assignment resubmissions are supported within the standard assessment process.

• Further resubmissions may incur an additional charge to cover assessment costs.

Extensions

• Participants may apply for an assessment extension before the extension-request cut-off date stated in their course correspondence.

• An approved extension costs $250 excluding GST for each extension requested.

• Extension requests will not be considered more than 12 months after the classroom training.

Important Prequalification Information

Completing the workshop or accreditation pathway does not automatically authorise a participant to conduct or lead inspections for every road authority.

Many authorities require additional experience, internal training, competency evidence or formal prequalification before allowing an inspector to lead Level 2 inspections. Participants should consult the relevant governing body to determine the requirements applying in their jurisdiction.

Prerequisites

Participants require a basic knowledge of bridges, culverts and their components. The supplied self-paced augmented-reality training provides this foundation before the face-to-face workshop.

Participants progressing to Level 2 must complete the Level 1 component and attend all three workshop days.

Additional eligibility or experience requirements may apply to the RudTek accreditation pathway and individual road-authority prequalification schemes.

Delivery Format

• Self-paced augmented-reality preparation

• Expert-led face-to-face classroom training

• Realistic defect-identification case studies

• Practical inspection and reporting exercises

• Guided field inspections of real structures

• Level 1 and Level 2 pathway options

• Optional formal assessment and accreditation through RudTek

Continuing Professional Development

• Level 1 workshop: 12 CPD hours

• Levels 1 and 2 workshop: 24 CPD hours

• Levels 1 and 2 and accreditation pathway: 54 CPD hours across the complete pathway

‍

• The role of bridge inspection in asset management

• Bridge, culvert and structural terminology

• Common bridge types and configurations

• Principal structural components

• Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 inspections

• Inspection planning and preparation

• Field hazards and risk controls

• Inspection documentation and personal protective equipment

• Systematic inspection methods

• Road-user safety and maintenance issues

• Concrete defects and deterioration

• Steel defects and corrosion

• Timber deterioration and inspection

• Masonry and other structural materials

• Bearings, joints, decks, barriers and drainage

• Waterway, scour and environmental considerations

• Damage caused by impacts and extreme events

• Component grouping

• The four-state condition-rating system

• Photographic records

• Level 1 inspection reports

• Level 2 condition reports

• Maintenance and monitoring recommendations

• Repair and further-investigation requirements

• Guided inspections of real structures

• Case studies and reporting exercises

‍

The workshop is designed for people who undertake, support, supervise or use the results of bridge and civil-structure inspections, including:

• Bridge inspectors

• Engineers and engineering technicians

• Structural and civil engineering professionals

• Road-authority personnel

• Local-government asset managers

• Infrastructure asset owners

• Maintenance and works supervisors

• Contractors and consultants

• Civil construction supervisors

• Professionals responsible for bridge condition, maintenance or renewal decisions

‍

Course Endorsements

NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshops support professional development and road-authority recognition across several Australian jurisdictions.

Victoria

NTRO’s Level 2 workshop provides a pathway towards prequalification for the Department of Transport and Planning Victoria’s Bridge Inspection – Level 2 (BI2) category.

Participants must also satisfy the department’s applicable experience, competency and prequalification requirements.

View the Victorian BI2 prequalification requirements.

South Australia

NTRO Bridge Inspection Level 2 Accreditation training is strongly recommended in the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s Professional and Technical Services Framework – Prequalification No. 17C811 guidelines.

View DIT’s current prequalification information.

Northern Territory

NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshop is endorsed by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to provide Level 1 bridge inspection training in the Northern Territory.

View the Northern Territory Level 1 inspection information.

NTRO continues to pursue recognition from other road authorities across Australia.

Knowledge Transfer Accreditation

Nationally recognised training with RudTek

In partnership with RudTek (RTO 31953), NTRO’s Bridge Inspection Workshop offers a pathway to nationally recognised training in the vocational education and training sector.

The workshop may provide the underpinning knowledge required to align with units of competency from the Certificate IV in Civil Construction Supervision and other civil construction qualifications.

Participants who select the accreditation pathway attend the workshop and complete formal assessments during and after the training. This evidence may contribute towards achieving the following units of competency through RudTek:

• RIICSG405E: Carry out inspections of civil structures ‍
• RIIIMG301E: Maintain site records ‍
• RIIRIS301E: Apply risk management processes

Workshop attendance alone does not result in accreditation. Participants must complete RudTek’s applicable assessment requirements satisfactorily to achieve a competency outcome.

Accreditation Assessment Information

Start date

The post-course assessment pathway begins the day after the workshop.

Duration and submission requirements

• All assessment tasks must be submitted and assessed within three months of completing the classroom training.
• The three-month period includes the time required to complete any assessment resubmissions.
• Participants should allow approximately 30 hours to complete the assignment.
• NTRO and RudTek guide and support participants towards a satisfactory assessment outcome.
• Up to three assignment resubmissions are supported within the standard assessment process.
• Further resubmissions may incur an additional charge to cover assessment costs.

Extensions

• Participants may apply for an assessment extension before the extension-request cut-off date stated in their course correspondence.
• An approved extension costs $250 excluding GST for each extension requested.
• Extension requests will not be considered more than 12 months after the classroom training.

Important Prequalification Information

Completing the workshop or accreditation pathway does not automatically authorise a participant to conduct or lead inspections for every road authority.

Many authorities require additional experience, internal training, competency evidence or formal prequalification before allowing an inspector to lead Level 2 inspections. Participants should consult the relevant governing body to determine the requirements applying in their jurisdiction.

Prerequisites

Participants require a basic knowledge of bridges, culverts and their components. The supplied self-paced augmented-reality training provides this foundation before the face-to-face workshop.

Participants progressing to Level 2 must complete the Level 1 component and attend all three workshop days.

Additional eligibility or experience requirements may apply to the RudTek accreditation pathway and individual road-authority prequalification schemes.

Delivery Format

• Self-paced augmented-reality preparation
• Expert-led face-to-face classroom training
• Realistic defect-identification case studies
• Practical inspection and reporting exercises
• Guided field inspections of real structures
• Level 1 and Level 2 pathway options
• Optional formal assessment and accreditation through RudTek