This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems. It includes implementing processes to investigate the nature and cause of incidents and emergencies, plans to manage postincident actions and audit and review mechanisms.

It applies to those working in management roles. They generally perform complex, nonroutine tasks involving strategic and planning activities and are responsible for establishing and maintaining operational systems and plans.

Licensing, legislative and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories and industry sectors. Users must check requirements with relevant body before applying the unit.

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

establish and maintain underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems on at least two occasions, including:

establishing processes to investigate nature and cause of emergency/incident

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, including relevant systems and procedures

developing review mechanisms from internal and external sources

establishing plans to manage post-incident actions.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures

implement procedures and techniques for establishing and maintaining mine emergency preparedness and response systems, including:

assessing and prioritising implementation processes

analysing hazards and risks relevant to the establishment and maintenance of the mine emergency preparedness and response systems

maintaining standards for establishment and maintenance of the mine emergency preparedness and response systems

providing clear and timely instruction and supervision to those involved in the mine emergency preparedness and response systems

identifying training needs of individuals involved in the mine emergency preparedness and response systems and confirming training plans are established according to site requirements

work with and lead others to establish and maintain underground coal mine 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 communication systems to convey all activities and outcomes for coal mine emergency preparedness and response to others in a clear and concise manner.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

key legislation required to establish and maintain underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems

key procedures and documentation required to establish and maintain underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response systems, including:

audit and review processes and techniques

call-out procedures

debriefing processes

decision making processes

media policies and procedures

site emergency plans

structure of emergency procedures guidelines

worksite closure procedures and legislative implications

emergency response and evacuation planning processes, systems and techniques, including:

escape strategies and technologies

equipment requirements for different types of emergencies

guidance systems and markers

trigger points to initiate emergency response to alarms

location and record of personnel underground

intervention and control techniques for incidents and emergencies, including:

heating

fires

explosions

outburst

inrush

techniques for identifying individual training needs and reviewing underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response training plans

mine environmental risks and controls

roles of key external agencies

structure, role and responsibilities of the incident control

types of adverse environmental conditions, hazards and incidents on mine sites, including:

classification of types of incidents

effects of hot and humid atmospheres

commercial and social considerations and decisions relevant to emergency preparedness and response systems

emotional effects of emergencies on rescuers, site personnel, families and communities

techniques for leading and coordinating work activities with others.

Mandatory conditions for assessment of this unit are stipulated below. The assessment must:

include access to:

underground coal mine emergency preparedness and response plan

be conducted in a safe environment; and,

be assessed in the context of this sector's work environment; and,

be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures and processes directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances.

Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated work 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.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must be able to clearly demonstrate current and relevant industry knowledge and experience to satisfy the mandatory regulatory standards as set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/Australian Quality Training Framework mandatory requirements for assessors current at the time of assessment and any relevant licensing and certification requirements. This includes:

vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed

current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided

current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning that informs their training and assessment

formal relevant qualifications in training and assessment

having knowledge of and/or experience using the latest techniques and processes

possessing the required level of RII training product knowledge

having an understanding and knowledge of legislation and regulations relevant to the industry and to employment and workplaces

demonstrating the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence outlined in this unit of competency, and

the minimum years of current** work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below in an industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit.

It is also acceptable for the appropriately qualified assessor to work with an industry expert to conduct assessment together and for the industry expert to be involved in the assessment judgement. The industry expert must have current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided. This means the industry subject matter expert must demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed:

*Guidance on simulated environments has been stipulated in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide located on VETNet.

**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 a minimum number of site assessments as determined by the relevant industry sector, across various locations.

*** While a unit of competency does not have an AQF level, where a unit is being delivered outside of a qualification the first numeric character in the unit code should be considered as the AQF indicator level for assessment purposes.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Coal mining (underground)