This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to apply and monitor the gas management plan in Coal mining.

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory or technical specialist roles

Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and Industry sectors. Relevant information must be sourced prior to application of the unit.

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 the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application and monitoring of gas management plan including:

reading, interpreting, communicating and applying technical information

operating hand held monitoring equipment

accessing, evaluating and applying data from monitoring systems and equipment

collecting, collating, evaluating and reporting gas data

applying and interpreting mathematical and scientific theorems/laws related to gas management

accessing and interpreting archival and historical gas information related to the mine

conducting investigations and preparing reports

identifying training needs, and preparing and implementing training plans

works effectively with others to plan, prepare and apply the gas management plan that meets all of the required outcomes including:

organising work activities to meet all task requirements

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

complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures

resolving coordination requirements throughout work activities

demonstrates completion of applying and monitoring the gas management plan that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

application of systems for mine gases such as seam gases or gases from introduced sources:

methane

carbon dioxide

oxides of nitrogen

hydrogen

carbon monoxide

sulphur dioxide

hydrogen sulphide

hydrocarbons

combinations

oxygen

nitrogen

application of alarm (also known as trigger level) systems and action plans such as:

gas concentration/make/ratios

spontaneous combustion (physical and gaseous)

combustion indicators

condition monitoring for fans (vibration/temperature/current/failures)

ventilation devices

monitoring hardware

virgin gas content of the coal seam

application of gas management devices and methods such as:

gas drainage

infusion

scrubbers

automatic gas detectors

tube bundle systems

de-gassing device on auxiliary fans

gas monitoring systems

inertisation systems

monitoring devices, including:

barograph

tube bundle

real time telemetry

portable (hand held) monitoring

bag samples

gas chromatography

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of applying and monitoring the gas management plan through:

accessing, interpreting and applying legislative, organization and site requirements and procedures for:

developing the requirements and processes of the gas management plan

applying risk assessment and management processes

monitoring and maintaining ventilation, including air quality, air quantity, maximum/minimum values, control and distribution, flammable gas limits, ventilation fan, gas monitoring inspections and recording/reporting

identifying and managing environmental issues, hazards and risks

conducting audit and review processes and techniques

identifying training systems

the impact of mining techniques and mine and panel layout on panel gas management

the impact of coal characteristics and coal seam gradients on mine gas management

the impact of differing geological features and conditions on gas management, including:

faults, dykes, intrusions and strata deformities

strata geology including: coal seam gradient, moisture content, friability, the porous features of the coal seam, stresses and intrusions, and its impact on gas drainage

core sampling techniques

in-seam drilling techniques

impacts of intersecting holes and hole design

the methods of panel gas management and their application/limitations, including:

forcing and exhausting, homotropal and antitropal (and in conjunction with these, the use of goaf bleed or back return), auxiliary fans, coursed ventilation (narrow side/wide side), recirculation, machine mounted scrubber systems, ducted systems, compressed air venturis and bleeders

components/factors to be considered in the gas management plan including:

mine gases: the types and their characteristics, sources, physiological effects and methods of detection

mine fires: the types, sources of ignition, possible impacts on gas management

mine explosions: the types, ignition sources and possible effects on gas management

gas make characteristics

pressure changes: causes and the impacts on gas management

heat/humidity: the sources and factors which may impact on gas management

the impact of water on ventilation

outburst indicators

inertisation techniques

the general effects of velocity pressure, duct and stopping leakage

using equipment, monitoring systems and techniques including:

mine fans: fan types, applications and limitations

gas control devices: the types, purposes, design criteria and specifications, distribution/placement criteria and limitations

fixed gas monitoring systems: types, uses and limitations

portable monitoring equipment: types, uses and limitations

computer-based systems used for mine gas analysis

gas surveys: the types, frequency and method for conducting, including pressure/quantity/temperature and gas

ventilation surveys: the types, frequency and method for conducting, including pressure/temperature/gas

alarms and trigger points/levels: types, characteristics, purposes and responses

mine and goaf ventilation systems

the general purpose and application of sling psychrometer, anemometer, velometer

applying ventilation theory, including

gas laws, including Charles and Boyle

natural ventilation

Coward’s Triangle

Graham’s Ratio

Ellicott’s Triangle

gas make

air quantity measurement

control device leakage

duct leakage

applying emergency response and evacuation/disaster planning processes and techniques

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 must be assessed in the context of this sector’s work environment; 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:

*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 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.

Coal mining (Underground)