Critical Aspects of Evidence

The evidence required to demonstrate this competency must be relevant to mine site operations. In addition to satisfying the requirements of all elements, performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, evidence must include demonstration of:

knowledge of procedures, requirements and instructions to conduct local risk assessment appropriate to a mine site, and;

implementation of appropriate procedures and techniques for the efficient and effective conduct local risk assessment appropriate to a mine site, while complying with site safety, environmental, quality and communication requirements. This will include:

identifying hazards

assessing risk and identifying unacceptable risk

identifying, analysing and implementing risk treatments

completing records and reports

Required Knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit to the standards of performance required in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. Assessment requires evidence of the ability to identify and explain the purpose of:

risk management processes and methods, including: identifying hazards, assessing risks, determining acceptability of risks, identifying controls

mine site risk management procedures

mine site safety systems information

mine site communication, reporting and recording procedures

Required Skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit. Assessment needs to obtain evidence of the ability to:

proactively identify hazards

take action in response to risks

Assessment and Interdependence of Units

This unit may be assessed with other relevant units forming a cohesive work function, according to specific mine site requirements.

Resource Implications

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a mine site work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular mine sites may differ due to mine site conditions, equipment availability, equipment/plant types and different contexts.

Consistency in Performance

To ensure consistency of performance, this unit may be assessed over a period of time and a range of work and site conditions. Local site factors will influence the breadth of evidence required to demonstrate the competency.

Context for Assessment

This unit should be assessed in the work environment where possible. Some assessment events may be conducted under simulated conditions where issues of safety and/or environmental damage are limiting factors.

All assessments must be valid, reliable, fair, flexible and sufficient evidence should be accumulated to demonstrate the required competence.

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.

Methods of Assessment

Appropriate methods of assessment fro this unit will usually include:

observation of processes and procedures

oral and/or written questioning on required knowledge and skills

testimony from supervisors, colleagues, clients and/or other appropriate persons

simulation and/or scenario analysis

Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a period of time and/or in a number of locations, any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, clients or other appropriate persons.

Questioning should be undertaken in such a manner as is appropriate to the language and literacy levels of the candidate and to the requirements of the unit of competency.

The following range of variables is subject to site-specific operations, but is not limited to the following details. Site procedures, regulations and occupational health and safety and other relevant legislation apply to all elements and performance criteria.

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.(AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management)

Hazard is defined as:

a source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss. (AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management)

Risk treatment is defined as:

selection and implementation of appropriate options for dealing with risk. (AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management)

Hazards may include:

equipment

methods/plans

people

the work environment

Consequence is defined as:

the outcome of an event expressed qualitatively or quantitatively, being a loss, injury, disadvantage or gain. There may be a range of possible outcomes associated with an event (AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management).

Frequency is defined as:

a measure of the rate of occurrence of an event expressed as the number of occurrences of an event in a given time. (AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management)

Likelihood is used as:

a qualitative description of probability and frequency.(AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management)

Probability is defined as:

the likelihood of a specific outcome, measured by the ratio of specific events or outcomes to the total number of possible events or outcomes. Probability is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, with 0 indicating an impossible event or outcome and 1 indicating an event or outcome is certain.(AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management)

Criteria for the acceptability/unacceptability of the risk must be determined by the organisation's internal policy, goals and/ or objectives in reference to relevant legislation.

Risk treatment options may include:

eliminating the hazard

substitution

engineering controls

administrative controls (procedures, etc.)

personal protective equipment

Records and reports may include:

hazard reporting forms

supervisor/deputy's/OCE reports

incident reports

near-miss reports

shift reports

The required outcomes described in this Unit of Competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Qualification Summary for the qualification in which this Unit of Competency is packaged will assist in identifying employability skill requirements.