Assessor Resource
PMAOPS460A
Monitor and operate tailings management facilities
Assessment tool
Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024
This unit applies to a person who has the responsibility for deposition of tailings from early stage metalliferous beneficiation processes and monitoring and operating tailings management facilities for the duration of a facility’s life. The work may involve assessing risks associated with a tailings management facility, operating equipment to deposit tailings in the tailings management facility, taking measurements and making observations on the integrity of the facility, and taking actions to prevent or ameliorate adverse environmental outcomes from the tailings management facility. The type of people to whom this unit may apply include (but are not limited to):
environmental officer
process worker
operator
inspection and monitoring officer.
This unit applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.
Where sampling and testing is part of this job, MSAPMSUP292A Sample and test materials and product may also be relevant.
Where operating a vehicle is part of the job, PMASUP236B Operate vehicles in the field may also be relevant
This unit requires a detailed knowledge about the characteristics of the tailings (particularly as they occur in regard to the facility being managed), the design of the tailings management facility, methods of tailings disposal and deposition and associated equipment, water balance issues and environmental risks. Understanding of related processes and plant that produces tailings would be beneficial.
This unit has been written with a focus on early stage metal beneficiation processes in mind, particularly in regard to processes associated with aluminium, iron, gold, copper, tin, sliver, lead and zinc. Tailings management facilities may have deposited material suspended in varying levels of water ranging from slurry (e.g. ‘red mud’), through high slump pastes (e.g. filter cake) to low slump pastes, but the focus has been on sub-aerial deposition (not subaqueous or sea deposition). While not specifically considered, the unit should also be applicable to other types of waste that might be deposited in a tailings management facility, including overburden and possibly slag or other solid waste products from later metalliferous processes with appropriate contextualisation.
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge needed to monitor tailings disposal sites, identify and manage risks (business and environmental), and respond to threats to tailings site integrity.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)