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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan and prepare to conduct surface shotfiring operations
   • Access, interpret and apply shotfiring documentation and ensure the work activity is compliant
   • Obtain, confirm and apply shotfiring requirements and work instructions before proceeding
   • Identify, manage and report all potential hazards, risks and environmental issues
   • Select and wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the work activities
   • Obtain and interpret emergency procedures and be prepared for fire/accident/emergency
   • Coordinate vehicle, equipment and personnel support requirements
   • Arrange and/or ensure survey of blast area is complete and reported to appropriate personnel and records are maintained
   • Access, interpret and apply geological data and weather conditions required to complete the work
   • Carry out calculations to enable pattern design, loading and tying in of shots
   • Identify and confirm the explosives and accessories required for the work
2. Supervise the store and transport explosives and accessories
   • Ensure explosives and accessories are safely and correctly stored
   • Ensure inventory control systems are accurately and correctly maintained
   • Ensure explosives and accessories are transported to blast area and segregate correctly
   • Ensure that explosives are not left unattended
   • Identify and dispose of any deteriorated or out of date explosives and accessories correctly
3. Prepare for charging
   • Secure shot area in accordance with procedures and blast plan
   • Establish and communicate access routes to shot area for authorised persons and vehicle
   • Identify hole locations and any non-conforming conditions in preparation for charging
   • Establish stemming stockpile and accessories on shot site
4. Charge holes
   • Supervise blast personnel during loading operations
   • Prime and charge holes in accordance with the blast plan
   • Ensure blast holes are charged in accordance with loading plan and identify non-conforming conditions
   • Ensure blast holes are stemmed in accordance with blast plan
   • Test equipment and accessories
   • Maintain records
   • Conduct blast monitoring
5. Conduct the blast
   • Carry out pre blasting procedures and establish exclusion zone
   • Carry out tying in, in accordance with the blast plan
   • Supervise all personnel within the blast area during tie-in and initiation
   • Initiate the blast appropriately
   • Carry out and record activities in accordance with the blast plan
6. Complete post blast activities
   • Carry out post blast inspection
   • Deal with misfires
   • Declare area safe for re-entry
   • Carry out post-blast coordination
   • Dispose of damaged, deteriorated and surplus explosives and detonators
   • Complete reports
7. Carry out equipment maintenance
   • Carry out inspection and required maintenance after shotfiring operations
   • Maintain maintenance records
8. Plan and prepare to conduct surface shotfiring operations
   • Access, interpret and apply shotfiring documentation and ensure the work activity is compliant
   • Obtain, confirm and apply shotfiring requirements and work instructions before proceeding
   • Identify, manage and report all potential hazards, risks and environmental issues
   • Select and wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the work activities
   • Obtain and interpret emergency procedures and be prepared for fire/accident/emergency
   • Coordinate vehicle, equipment and personnel support requirements
   • Arrange and/or ensure survey of blast area is complete and reported to appropriate personnel and records are maintained
   • Access, interpret and apply geological data and weather conditions required to complete the work
   • Carry out calculations to enable pattern design, loading and tying in of shots
   • Identify and confirm the explosives and accessories required for the work
9. Supervise the store and transport explosives and accessories
   • Ensure explosives and accessories are safely and correctly stored
   • Ensure inventory control systems are accurately and correctly maintained
   • Ensure explosives and accessories are transported to blast area and segregate correctly
   • Ensure that explosives are not left unattended
   • Identify and dispose of any deteriorated or out of date explosives and accessories correctly
10. Prepare for charging
    • Secure shot area in accordance with procedures and blast plan
    • Establish and communicate access routes to shot area for authorised persons and vehicle
    • Identify hole locations and any non-conforming conditions in preparation for charging
    • Establish stemming stockpile and accessories on shot site
11. Charge holes
    • Supervise blast personnel during loading operations
    • Prime and charge holes in accordance with the blast plan
    • Ensure blast holes are charged in accordance with loading plan and identify non-conforming conditions
    • Ensure blast holes are stemmed in accordance with blast plan
    • Test equipment and accessories
    • Maintain records
    • Conduct blast monitoring
12. Conduct the blast
    • Carry out pre blasting procedures and establish exclusion zone
    • Carry out tying in, in accordance with the blast plan
    • Supervise all personnel within the blast area during tie-in and initiation
    • Initiate the blast appropriately
    • Carry out and record activities in accordance with the blast plan
13. Complete post blast activities
    • Carry out post blast inspection
    • Deal with misfires
    • Declare area safe for re-entry
    • Carry out post-blast coordination
    • Dispose of damaged, deteriorated and surplus explosives and detonators
    • Complete reports
14. Carry out equipment maintenance
    • Carry out inspection and required maintenance after shotfiring operations
    • Maintain maintenance records

Performance Evidence

Evidence is required to be collected that demonstrates a candidate’s competency in this unit. Evidence must be relevant to the roles within this sector’s work operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria of this unit and include evidence that the candidate:

locates and applies relevant documentation, policies and procedures

demonstrates completion of conducting surface shotfiring operations that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

planning and preparing for shotfiring

supervising the storage and transport of explosives and accessories

preparing for charging and charge holes

conducting the blast

completing post-blast activities

carrying out equipment maintenance

completing required documentation

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in conducting surface shotfiring operations:

Australian standards and code of practice

site and equipment safety procedures

environmental requirements, including vibration, noise, dust and chemicals

site environmental requirements and constraints

types, physical and technical characteristics, uses and limitations of explosives and protection measures associated with their use

planning processes

equipment characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations

analysis of site geological and survey data

selection of appropriate explosives to meet site/ground conditions

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