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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan and prepare to conduct electronic blasting 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 ensure assessment of blast area is complete, records are maintained and reported to appropriate personnel
   • Access, interpret and apply geological data required to complete the work
   • Carry out calculations to enable pattern design, loading and tying in of shots as per manufacturer specifications
   • Identify and confirm the explosives and accessories required for the work
   • Identify and manage the condition of electronic blasting system equipment required for charging and firing the blast
2. Supervise the storage and transport of explosives and accessories
   • Ensure explosives and accessories are safely and correctly stored
   • Ensure inventory control systems are accurately and correctly maintained
   • Ensure firing keys and/or codes are kept secure
   • 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   • Identify and dispose of any deteriorated or out of date explosives and accessories correctly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 site for authorised persons and vehicles
   • Identify blasthole locations and any non-conforming conditions in preparation for charging
   • Establish stemming stockpile (if appropriate) and accessories on shot site
4. Charge and stem blastholes
   • Supervise blast personnel during charging operations
   • Prime and charge blastholes in accordance with the blast plan and any non-conforming conditions
   • Ensure blastholes are stemmed in accordance with the blast plan
   • Inspect equipment and accessories used for charging
   • Maintain records
5. Conduct tie-in of the electronic blasting system
   • Obtain and confirm electronic timing plan
   • Conduct scanning/logging/tagging of detonators
   • Connect to the harness/busline
   • Test for leakage
   • Diagnose and fault-find errors
   • Check system communications
6. Conduct the blast
   • Carry out pre blasting procedures and establish exclusion zone
   • Supervise all personnel during initiation
   • Conduct final system checks
   • Initiate the blast safely
   • Carry out and record activities in accordance with the blast plan
7. Complete post blast activities
   • Carry out post blast inspection
   • Deal with any identified misfires
   • Declare area safe for re-entry
   • Complete reports
8. Carry out equipment maintenance
   • Carry out equipment inspection, care and maintenance after shotfiring operations
   • Maintain maintenance records
9. Plan and prepare to conduct electronic blasting 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 ensure assessment of blast area is complete, records are maintained and reported to appropriate personnel
   • Access, interpret and apply geological data required to complete the work
   • Carry out calculations to enable pattern design, loading and tying in of shots as per manufacturer specifications
   • Identify and confirm the explosives and accessories required for the work
   • Identify and manage the condition of electronic blasting system equipment required for charging and firing the blast
10. Supervise the storage and transport of explosives and accessories
    • Ensure explosives and accessories are safely and correctly stored
    • Ensure inventory control systems are accurately and correctly maintained
    • Ensure firing keys and/or codes are kept secure
    • 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
11. Prepare for charging
    • Secure shot area in accordance with procedures and blast plan
    • Establish and communicate access routes to shot site for authorised persons and vehicles
    • Identify blasthole locations and any non-conforming conditions in preparation for charging
    • Establish stemming stockpile (if appropriate) and accessories on shot site
12. Charge and stem blastholes
    • Supervise blast personnel during charging operations
    • Prime and charge blastholes in accordance with the blast plan and any non-conforming conditions
    • Ensure blastholes are stemmed in accordance with the blast plan
    • Inspect equipment and accessories used for charging
    • Maintain records
13. Conduct tie-in of the electronic blasting system
    • Obtain and confirm electronic timing plan
    • Conduct scanning/logging/tagging of detonators
    • Connect to the harness/busline
    • Test for leakage
    • Diagnose and fault-find errors
    • Check system communications
14. Conduct the blast
    • Carry out pre blasting procedures and establish exclusion zone
    • Supervise all personnel during initiation
    • Conduct final system checks
    • Initiate the blast safely
    • Carry out and record activities in accordance with the blast plan
15. Complete post blast activities
    • Carry out post blast inspection
    • Deal with any identified misfires
    • Declare area safe for re-entry
    • Complete reports
16. Carry out equipment maintenance
    • Carry out equipment inspection, care and 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

works effectively with others to undertake and complete conducting electronic blasting operations that meet all of the required outcomes including:

complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures

communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions

communicating clearly and concisely with others to resolve coordination requirements prior to commencing and during work activities

conducting pre-blast briefings

demonstrates consistent timely completion of blasts using electronic blasting systems that safely, effectively and efficiently meet the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

inspecting blast bench for hazards

transporting and supervising explosives and accessories

preparingand securing the shot area

unpacking, checking, laying out and priming blastholes according to the blast plan

charging blastholes, stemming blastholes and testing detonators using specialist equipment

identifying the blasting position, considering communication method

identifying and solving any errors or non-conforming conditions, communicating and escalating issues with responsible personnel

identifying potential misfires

programming and initiating the blast

conducting post-blast inspection, addressing misfires and communicating with team for safe re-entry

returning surplus explosives and detonators

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the following when conducting blasts using electronic blasting systems:

Australian Standards and Codes of Practice

site and equipment safety policies, procedures, legislative requirements and reporting requirements

site risk management processes and their applications

site specific management such as:

traffic management

road closures

rail closures

power-line shut-downs

site security management

magazine keeping rules and regulations

shotfiring terminology

interpreting blast plans

planning processes

analysis of site geological and survey data

selection of appropriate explosives to meet site/ground conditions

environmental requirements including: ground vibration; airblast; dust; fumes; wind speed and direction; chemicals

the operating specifications of the specific electronic blasting systems being used, including:

common errors

equipment characteristics

technical capabilities and their applications

system limits

fault-finding and diagnosis of faults

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