This unit is appropriate for those working in management or technical specialist roles, within:
Coal mining
Extractive industries
Metalliferous mining
Not applicable.
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Identify and evaluate the criteria | 1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to establishing and maintaining blasting systems 1.2. Identify blasting methods and options from an analysis of all relevant technical, environmental and operational and financial information 1.3. Identify the requirements for blasting materials against mine requirements 1.4. Identify the requirements for, and purpose of blasting equipment and supporting infrastructure in accordance with mine design and system of mining 1.5. Assess potential sites/routes for blasting and supporting infrastructure by visit, and locate and confirm on mine plan |
2. Establish a system for blasting | 2.1. Establish procedures to identify hazards and analyse, evaluate and manage risks associated with blasting 2.2. Develop operational procedures for blasting, covering methods, materials, equipment and infrastructure from site and legislative requirements and incorporate into site documentation 2.3. Establish recording and reporting procedures for blasting information 2.4. Develop safe blasting procedures, including design management, for the site to comply with company and statutory/legal requirements 2.5. Establish monitoring procedures for blasting 2.6. Develop and establish procedures for reviewing and modifying work processes 2.7. Develop blasting system as an integral component of the OHS management system of the mine |
3. Establish the support arrangements | 3.1. Identify and establish appropriate magazine/storage facilities from an analysis of all relevant statutory, technical and management information 3.2. Identify and establish appropriate transportation and handling methods for explosives from an analysis of all relevant statutory, technical, operational and financial information 3.3. Develop maintenance procedures for blasting equipment and infrastructure systems from statutory and site requirements, and incorporate into site documentation 3.4. Establish a program, including systems and procedures, to satisfy blasting and shotfiring training requirements |
4. Establish systems for audit and review | 4.1. Establish procedures to evaluate and confirm the blasting system compliance with statutory and site requirements 4.2. Identify and assess future blasting and supporting infrastructure system requirements and incorporate into planning processes 4.3. Establish procedures to confirm the currency and compliance of blasting equipment and infrastructure maintenance and safety standards 4.4. Establish procedures for incorporating feedback into the audit and review process 4.5. Establish procedures to confirm the currency, relevance and compliance of the blasting training program against identified requirements 4.6. Establish procedures for response to instances of non-compliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit 4.7. Audit emergency response and evacuation plans and procedures for compliance with legislative and site requirements |
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 establish and maintain a blasting system: apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures access and use mine-site information and recording systems apply blasting operations analyse and review techniques apply information analysis techniques apply brainstorming to collect maximum information apply fault-tree or equivalent type of risk analysis apply human, financial and physical resource coordinate procedures apply delegation of responsibility and tasks apply action plans develop procedures apply systems and equipment evaluation procedures facilitate groups to work together apply hazards and assess risk identification procedures apply procedures for identifying or establishing mine-site facilities for blasting management apply effective decision making apply magazines and contents management requirements and procedures apply projects and tasks manage procedures participate as a team member read and interpret mine plans apply report write techniques |
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 establish and maintain a blasting system: blast design criteria blast monitoring techniques blast timings blasting operations characteristics and applications of blasting products charging techniques computer applications customer/client relations delays and their application document control systems drilling plant and equipment environmental management explosives disposal procedures explosives inventory control requirements explosives procurement procedures control of explosives explosives storage and magazine requirements explosives transport and handling requirements mine products and services misfire management techniques negotiation techniques quality systems risk management: principles, strategies and applications safety and health requirements statutory requirements and controls surveying team management techniques |
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 establishing and maintaining blasting systems implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient establishment and maintenance of blasting systems the identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required to meet the required outcomes the identification of viable program options and the selection of programs that best meet the required outcomes working with others to undertake and complete the establishing and maintenance of blasting systems consistent and timely establishing and maintenance of blasting systems |
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 a civil works 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 identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required identification of viable options and the selection of options that best meet the required outcomes consistently achieving the required outcomes first hand testimonial and documentary evidence of the candidate's: working with others to establish and maintain blasting systems consistent and timely gaining of approval of blasting systems provision of clear, timely required support and advice on the implementation of blasting systems |
Guidance information for assessment | Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues. |
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. | |
Relevant compliance documentation may include: | legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures manufacturer's guidelines and specifications Australian standards code of practice Employment and workplace relations legislation Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation |
Hazard is: | a source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss |
Risk is: | the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. It is measured in terms of consequences and likelihood |
Management is responsible for: | blasting schedules in compliance and accordance with statutory/legal regulations that are in place site conditions that may vary and may require differing methods of safe initiation (weather, winds, storms etc) geological factors influencing blast design, initiation systems and environmental compliance geographic location of site in relation to neighbours who may be affected by consequence of blast or blast design alternate explosives types and availability that may affect or influence blast design delay designs and ignition sources blasting licences, competencies and permits laser profiling bore hole tracking interpreting and communicating information pursuing optimum performance in blasting operations monitoring/videoing blasting practice for safety and other considerations monitoring processes for noise and vibration processes for minimising fly rock statutory/legal compliance may include: Australian Standard Australian Explosives Manufacturers Safety Committee Code of Good Practice: Precursors for Explosives Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road & Rail (Australian Explosives Code) common law dangerous goods development of training policies/programs to aid compliance environmental explosives industrial relations local government minerals and extractive industry licensing navigation planning and assessment safety and health trade practices waterways weights and measures workers compensation/WorkCover |
Monitoring of activities may include: | review of written reports performance appraisal auditing procedures |
Planning processes may include: | interpreting and communicating information business/performance plans location tender specifications communication liaison/public relations resources statutory/legal/organisational requirements and control resource parameters technical standards established by industry and/or enterprise legal issues/processes planning approvals surveying monitoring |
Audit is: | 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's policy and objectives |
Blasting
Refer to Unit Sector(s).
Not applicable.
This unit contains employability skills.
Refer to Unit Descriptor.