This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct special roadway operations in coal mining. It includes forming and profiling roadways, headings and facelines.

It applies to those working in supervisory or technical specialist roles. They generally perform a broad range of operational activities in their area of responsibility and are responsible for monitoring a safe work environment.

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:

conduct special roadway operations on at least two occasions, including:

forming or profiling roadways or headings or facelines

confirming work requirements details, including:

nature and scope of task

achievement targets

locations

headings and required survey information

working and geological conditions

ventilation conditions

equipment and plant allocation, including any defects

hazards and potential hazards

coordination requirements and issues.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures and confirm work activity is compliant

implement requirements, procedures and techniques for conducting special roadway operations, including:

operating plant and equipment efficiently in special and difficult conditions

interpreting and applying survey data

interpreting and applying technical information and plans

predicting likely changes in roadway/faceline conditions and geology

work effectively with others to plan, prepare and conduct special roadway operations in a manner that meets required outcomes, including:

organising work activities to meet task requirements

communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions

complying with reporting requirements and procedures

determining coordination requirements throughout work activities.

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 conduct special roadway operations

key procedures and documentation required to conduct special roadway operations, including:

site operational procedures

support rules

geological features of special conditions, including:

faults

dykes

intrusions

high stress zones

techniques for confirming work requirements details, including:

nature and scope of task

achievement targets

locations

headings and required survey information

working and geological conditions

ventilation conditions

equipment and plant allocation, including any defects

hazards and potential hazards

coordination requirements and issues

impacts of changing conditions on equipment, plant and mining operations

techniques for conducting, supporting and ventilating special roadway operations, including forming and profiling:

roadways

headlines

facelines

types, characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations of equipment required for special roadway operations, including:

continuous miners

shuttle cars

drills

explosives

shearers

road headers

ramcars

inspection and fault finding techniques for machines and equipment relating to coal mining roadway operations

principles, processes and techniques for emergency response, evacuation and disaster planning

techniques for communicating and coordinating work activities with others.

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

include access to:

personal protective equipment

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