Application
This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain a blasting system in Coal and Metalliferous mining and Extractive.
This unit is appropriate for those working in management roles.
No licensing, legislation or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Plan and prepare to establish and maintain a blasting system | 1.1 Access, interpret and apply blasting plan documentation and ensure the work activity is compliant 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 Identify, address and report potential risks, hazards and environmental issues, determine acceptable levels of risk and implement control measures 1.6 Identify and 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 Investigate, design and establish operational procedures for blasting, covering methods, materials, equipment and infrastructure 2.2 Design and establish recording and reporting procedures for blasting information 2.3 Develop and implement safe blasting procedures, including design management 2.4 Establish monitoring procedures for blasting 2.5 Develop and establish procedures for reviewing and modifying work processes 2.6 Develop blasting system as an integral component of the mine work health and safety management system |
3 Establish the support arrangements | 3.1 Identify and establish appropriate magazine/storage facilities 3.2 Identify and establish appropriate transportation and handling methods for explosives 3.3 Develop and implement maintenance procedures for blasting equipment and infrastructure systems 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 Develop and implement procedures to evaluate and confirm blasting system compliance 4.2 Identify and assess future blasting activities and infrastructure system requirements and incorporate into planning processes 4.3 Design and implement procedures to confirm the currency and compliance of blasting equipment and infrastructure maintenance and safety standards 4.4 Establish and implement procedures for incorporating feedback into the audit and review process 4.5 Establish and implement 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 |
Evidence of Performance
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 that the candidate:
locates and applies relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures
works effectively with others to undertake and complete the establishing and maintenance of blasting systems including:
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
provide team leadership
demonstrates completion of establishing and maintaining a blasting system that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:
developing and applying risk management systems
applying action plans develop procedures
developing a system for blasting
establishing a shotfiring training program
developing and implementing procedures to evaluate and confirm blasting system compliance
auditing blast system operations and outcomes
establishing procedures for response to instances of noncompliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit
preparing written report on audit outcomes
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in establishing and maintaining a blasting system:
blast design criteria
characteristics and applications of blasting products
customer/client relations
delays and their application
misfire management techniques
quality systems
team management techniques
Assessment Conditions
An assessor of this unit must satisfy the requirements of the NVR/AQTF or their successors; and Industry regulations for certification and licensing; and,
this unit is best assessed in the context of this sector’s 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 this sector’s workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills; and,
this unit must be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,
assessment may be conducted in conjunction with the assessment of other Units of Competency; and,
assessment must confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances; and,
assessors must demonstrate the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence as outlined in this Unit of Competency, and through the minimum years of current* work experience specified below in an Industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or,
where the assessor does not meet experience requirements a co-assessment or partnership arrangement must exist between the qualified assessor and an Industry subject matter expert. The Industry subject matter expert should hold the unit being assessed (or an equivalent unit) and/or demonstrate equivalence of skills and knowledge at the unit level. An Industry technical expert must also demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience specified below in the Industry sector, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed; and,
assessor and Industry subject matter expert requirements differ depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework Level (AQF) of the qualification being assessed and/or Industry Sector as follows:
Industry sector | AQF** Level | Required assessor or Industry subject matter expert experience |
Drilling, Metalliferous Mining, Coal Mining, Extractive (Quarrying) and Civil Construction | 1 | 1 Year |
2 | 2 Years | |
Drilling, Coal Mining and Extractive (Quarrying) | 3-6 | 3 Years |
Metalliferous Mining and Civil Construction | 3-6 | 5 Years |
Other sectors | Where this Unit is being assessed outside of the Resources and Infrastructure Sectors assessor and/or Industry subject matter expert experience should be in-line with industry standards for the sector in which it is being assessed and where no Industry standard is specified should comply with any relevant regulation. | |
*Assessors can demonstrate current work experience through employment within Industry in a role relevant to the outcomes of the Unit; or, for external assessors this can be demonstrated through exposure to Industry by conducting frequent site assessments across various locations.
**Where a unit is being delivered outside of a Qualification the first numeric character in the Unit code should be considered to indicate the AQF level
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit. Further information is available in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Companion Volume.
Sectors
Coal mining
Extractive industries
Metalliferous mining