Application
This unit is appropriate for those working in operational, service and maintenance roles, in underground mines, within:
Coal mining
Metalliferous mining
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Assess incident scene and plan rescue strategy | 1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to providing aided rescue to endangered personnel in underground mines 1.2. Obtain and interpret incident information and data to determine the hazards involved in the rescue operation, including mine monitoring data and trends 1.3. Determine the locations of endangered mine worker(s) and the best route and method to travel to that location 1.4. Determine the best location for a fresh air base 1.5. Establish communication with emergency control personnel and fresh air base 1.6. Test and check emergency equipment 1.7. Test the mine atmosphere and determine if it is an irrespirable atmosphere 1.8. Obtain the personal protective equipment (PPE) and breathing apparatus as determined by the incident management team 1.9. Assess the situation to select the safest, most effective, extrication method from entrapment 1.10. Assess threats/dangers to mine worker and rescuer 1.11. Communicate effectively with emergency control personnel 1.12. Locate and access emergency breathing apparatus caches 1.13. Identify the need for, and organise additional rescue resources and equipment 1.14. With reference to the mine plan, identify escape route and alternative escape route from the incident scene to fresh air base 1.15. Confirm the rescue strategy as determined by the incident management team |
2. Extricate and evacuate to fresh air | 2.1. Isolate mine services when required, and secure incident site for safe entry 2.2. Assess physical and emotional conditions of mine workers and administer emergency First Aid and provide support where necessary 2.3. Don and test the breathing apparatus to manufacturer's guidelines 2.4. Extricate mine worker from entrapment according to the agreed plan 2.5. Evacuate from incident scene, following escape strategy, by the established or alternative escape route 2.6. Follow determined route of travel at optimum rate of travel 2.7. Continuously monitor the mine atmosphere and mine environmental conditions 2.8. Evaluate the need for, and locate and retreat to a place of safety/build barricade to protect personnel from adverse conditions if necessary 2.9. Maintain communication with emergency control and fresh air base personnel to advise of progress and receive support information/instruction 2.10. Monitor physical and emotional condition of mine worker(s) and other rescue team members and provide support 2.11. Monitor air/oxygen usage and adjust rate of travel where necessary 2.12. Ensure efficient changeover/refill of self rescuer/breathing apparatus within determined operational timeframes |
3. Carry out post-incident requirements | 3.1. Provide details of rescue to relevant personnel in accordance to legislation and site requirements 3.2. Evaluate the need for, and refer mine worker(s) and self for voluntary counselling |
Required Skills
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 provide aided rescue to endangered personnel: apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures obtain and interpret incident information and data apply risk management processes and techniques inspect, put on and use breathing apparatus interpret and respond to adverse environmental conditions read mine plans and orientate and navigate in mine use communication systems identify alternative escape routes access and use self escape equipment work as a team member communicate effectively observe and report mine conditions access, interpret and apply data from monitoring systems and equipment operate hand held monitoring equipment observe hygiene requirements |
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 provide aided rescue to endangered personnel: legislative and site requirements for rescue operations risk management and assessment types and causes of incidents in underground mines key indicators of mine incidents relevant geological and survey data effects of hot and humid atmospheres location and distribution of caches trigger points to initiate emergency response to alarms barricades and barricading methods location and purpose of a place of safety orientation and navigation in mines evacuation resources and equipment guidance systems and markers mine emergency plans implications of lack of visibility escape routes and alternative escape routes types of adverse environmental conditions such as smoke, visibility, dust, water basic ventilation systems types and effects of mine gases emotional conditions experienced by mine workers emergency First Aid travel speeds signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses isolation of mine energy sources monitoring systems communication systems |
Evidence Required
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 providing aided rescue to endangered personnel implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of aided rescue of endangered personnel working with others to undertake and complete the aided rescue of endangered personnel that meets all of the required outcomes consistent timely completion of procedures for providing aided rescue to endangered personnel that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes |
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 requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes consistently achieving the required outcomes first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's: working with others to provide aided rescue to endangered personnel |
Guidance information for assessment | Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues. |
Range Statement
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 |
Incidents may include: | major accident or fatality underground explosion or fire ignition rock burst/outburst spontaneous combustion environmental incidents |
Causes of incidents may include: | explosion fire roof fall strata inrush irrespirable atmosphere Hazchem explosives vehicle accidents wall collapse wind blast rupture to gas drainage lines disruption to ventilation hot and humid atmosphere |
Communications may include: | radio telephone telemetry verbal written computers runners DAC PED signals |
Irrespirable atmosphere is considered: | an atmosphere which is unsafe for a person to breathe as a result of either oxygen depletion or the presence of: toxic fumes gases contaminants |
Rescue resources and equipment may include: | vehicles/ transport competent personnel breathing equipment safety/emergency equipment atmosphere monitoring equipment hydraulic and pneumatic rescue equipment rope equipment mining equipment incident-specific equipment such as body bags specialised equipment from external sources monitoring and analysis equipment refuge/change-over stations inertisation plant emergency communication equipment First Aid/resuscitation equipment |
Physical conditions of a mineworker may include: | heat-related illness injuries from slips/trips/falls respiratory problems physical exhaustion nausea gas poisoning excessive oxygen use |
Emotional conditions of a mineworker may include: | panic fright stress distress claustrophobia anxiety indecision impaired judgement |
Mine environmental conditions may include: | temperature humidity noise gas levels dust and air-borne contaminants condition of roof and sides water/mud drive conditions reduced visibility |
Self rescuer/breathing apparatus may include: | self-contained closed oxygen breathing apparatus, including chemically produced oxygen self-contained open circuit compressed air breathing apparatus self-contained oxygen based self rescuer |
Sectors
Emergency Response and Rescue
Competency Field
Refer to Unit Sector(s).
Co-Requisites
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor.