The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for the applying and monitoring the systems and methods of surface coal mining

implementation of appropriate procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application and monitoring the systems and methods of surface coal mining

working with others to plan, prepare and conduct systems and methods of surface coal mining

provision of clear and timely instruction and supervision by the individual of those involved in surface coal mining

evidence of the consistent successful applying and monitoring of systems and methods of surface coal mining

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of the required outcomes

consistently achieving the required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to plan, prepare, apply and monitor the systems and methods of surface coal mining

provision of clear and timely instruction and supervision by the individual of those involved in the conduct of the systems and methods of surface coal mining

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to apply and monitor systems and methods of surface mining in coal mining operations:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

access, interpret and apply technical information

apply operations planning procedures

access and analyse archival and historical strata management information related to the mine and failure mode of mine structures

interpret and monitor the application of design criteria for strata management

communicate effectively in the work place

apply operational procedures relating to strata management

conduct and report on audits and inspections

identify and evaluate geological and geotechnical information

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to apply and monitor systems and methods of surface mining in coal mining operations:

legislative and statutory requirements for mining structures , including mine plans, mining methods and safety management plans

the systems of mining

interpret visual signs of stress , including mining induced stress, adverse joining, fault orientation, spoil characteristics

sedimentology , including subsidence, water bearing strata, permeability of seam and strata, hydrology, physical property testing, over and underlying strata

mining systems of work

stable structure control and maintenance of excavation

geology, hydrogeological, strata and strata gas characteristics

coal seam characteristics which may include rank, petrology, moisture, cleat, coal hardness, seam gas, friability, pyrites, depositional factors such as seam formation, seam thickness, multiple and rider seams, fault folding, seam dip and depth of cover

basic mechanical, electrical and pressurised fluid safety

mining engineering principles

audit inspection, communication and reporting methodologies

job safety analysis

mine site historical information

people management

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Interpret is defined as:

the understanding needed by the person within their job role

Relevant compliance documentation

may include:

legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

codes of practice

Employment and Workplace Relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Mining systemsand methods may include:

highwall mining

pre strip

inter burden removal

spoil pits

stockpiles, dumps and safety berms

development of coal pits, roads and ramps

the use of various mining equipment , including draglines, truck and shovel, excavators, bucketwheel, scraper, high wall miners, augers and drills

mining areas which contain heating

coal face protection from blasting

reclamation from spoil dumps

dragline benching

the sequences involved in the development of the mining process as specified in the mine design

Standard operating procedures (SOP's) are:

also known as safe working procedures, safe operating procedures and standard working procedures

Risk is defined as:

the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. It is measured in terms of consequences and likelihood

Mining structures may include:

excavations

high walls

low walls

benches

dumps

haul roads

Stable mining structure controls may

include:

roads

strength of coal and underlying/overlying strata

stress regimes

strata characteristics

water ingression

systems of mining

direction of mining

Stress includes, but is not limited to:

horizontal and vertical tectonic induced stress

mining induced stress

Audit is defined as:

a systematic examination against defined criteria to determine whether activities and related results conform to planned arrangement, and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve the organisation policy and objectives

Hazard is defined as:

a source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss