Application
This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain emergency preparedness and response systems in Coal mining.
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. Establish underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems | 1.1 Identify and obtain the resources required to establish and implement the system 1.2 Design and establish the emergency preparedness plan 1.3 Design and establish an organisational structure for the management of emergency preparedness and response 1.4 Develop emergency response procedures for management of identified potential incident scenarios 1.5 Establish emergency response procedures for management of decision-making processes and decision monitoring systems 1.6 Establish emergency preparedness and response maintenance program and procedures 1.7 Review the plan with relevant stakeholders and specialists 1.8 Establish a program, including systems and procedures, to satisfy identified mine emergency preparedness and response training requirements 1.9 Establish procedures to audit and review organisation’s emergency preparedness and response compliance 1.10Establish procedures for incorporating feedback into the audit/review system |
2. Establish support systems for the underground coal mine emergency systems | 2.1 Establish systems to receive and record incident information 2.2 Establish emergency response and evacuation plans and procedures 2.3 Establish operations facilities and communication systems to support plans 2.4 Establish action planning processes to manage the emergency/incidents 2.5 Identify required personnel, equipment and resources for different classes/types of incidents 2.6 Determine and establish documentation and reporting requirements |
3. Establish post-incident management procedures | 3.1 Establish plans to manage post-incident 3.2 Establish processes to investigate nature and cause of emergency/incident 3.3 Establish processes to evaluate the effectiveness of emergency response and action plans |
4. Audit and review the underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems plan and equipment | 4.1 Audit and review effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response monitoring systems 4.2 Audit and review effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response processes, resources and equipment 4.3 Audit and review effectiveness of recording and reporting systems 4.4 Audit emergency preparedness and response training program for currency and relevance 4.5 Identify and respond promptly to instances of non-compliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit 4.6 Maintain written records, reports and policy documentation |
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 evidence that the candidate:
locates and applies relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures
implements procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient establishment and maintenance of the mine emergency preparedness and response systems including:
assesses and prioritises implementation processes
analyses hazards and risks to consider in the establishment and maintenance of the mine emergency preparedness and response systems
maintains standards for establishment and maintenance of the mine emergency preparedness and response systems
provides clear and timely instruction and supervision to those involved in the mine emergency preparedness and response systems
identifies training needs of individuals involved in the mine emergency preparedness and response systems, and prepares training plans
works with and leads others to undertake and complete the establishment and maintenance of the coal mine (underground) emergency preparedness and response systems including:
facilitating groups to work together
establishing and maintaining a range of communication techniques and aids to advise others of work activity
using written and verbal communication systems to convey all activities and outcomes for coal mine emergency preparedness and response to others in a clear and concise manner
demonstrates completion of establishing and maintaining underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:
establishing processes to investigate nature and cause of emergency/incident clearly and concisely communicating and explaining, plans and supporting information, in a form readily accessible to others
identifying, clarifying and communicating roles and responsibilities, to all personnel
implementing the allocation and installation of resources
implementing the emergency preparedness and response training program
developing review mechanisms from both internal and external sources
establishing plans to manage post-incident actions
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of establishing and maintaining emergency preparedness and response systems through:
audit and review processes and techniques
training and assessment principles
training systems
emergency response and evacuation planning processes and techniques
structure of emergency procedures guidelines
intervention and control techniques for heating, fires, explosions, outburst, or inrushes
the effects of hot and humid atmospheres
escape strategies and technology
mine environmental risks and controls
equipment requirements for different types of emergency
call-out procedures
the roles of external agencies
the structure, role and responsibilities of the Incident Control
the trigger points to initiate emergency response to alarms
understanding of guidance systems and markers
site emergency plans
the types of adverse environmental conditions
the types of hazards and incidents on a mine site
debriefing process
audit review process and techniques
classification of types of incidents
decision making processes
deployment of staff underground
economic considerations and decisions
media policies and procedures
worksite closure procedures and the legislative implications
emotional effects of emergencies on rescuers, site personnel, families and community
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 (underground)