This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to apply and monitor the inrush 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 completion of inrush management plan application and monitoring including:

reading, interpreting, communicating and applying technical information

operating hand held monitoring equipment

accessing and interpreting data from monitoring systems and equipment

accessing and interpreting design criteria for inrush prevention/management systems and devices

interpreting computer spreadsheets and inrush modeling/ simulations

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

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing audit reports

identifying training needs, and preparing and implementing training plans

works effectively with others to plan, prepare and conduct the application and monitoring of the inrush 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 inrush management plan that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

applying inrush controls such as:

controls that eliminate the hazard by removing the damaging energy, e.g. drainage including pumping and ventilation

controls that reduce the magnitude of the hazard (less water, less pressure etc), e.g. drainage, including pumping and ventilation

controls that reduce the likelihood of the event through engineering or hard barriers, e.g. seals

controls that reduce the likelihood of the event through procedural or soft barriers, e.g. establishment of inrush control zones, protective drilling

controls that reduce the likelihood of the event through warnings, e.g. action levels associated with increased water make

applying monitoring systems such as:

continuous and/or periodic monitoring

portable (hand held) monitoring

core samples

visual observation

geological mapping

borehole pressure readings

identifying and controlling inrush hazards such as:

continuous and/or periodic monitoring

portable (hand held) monitoring

core samples

visual observation

geological mapping

borehole pressure readings

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

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

planning and design of mines and mining structures including: mine plans, ventilation, gas monitoring, strata support and safety management plans

developing the requirements and processes of the inrush management plan

applying risk assessment and management processes

identifying and managing environmental issues, hazards and risks

conducting audit and review processes and techniques

identifying the systems of mining including:

tunnels, drifts, stone drivage, shaft sinking, pillar extraction, partial extraction, punch mining and fault drivage

identifying systems of work including: bord and pillar, place changing, longwall, highwall, auger mining, pillar extension, partial extension and punch mining

identifying factors affecting stability of mining structures including:

stress analysis: including mining induced stress and topography

sedimentology: including subsidence, water bearing strata, permeability of seam and strata, hydrology, hydrogeology, physical property testing, caving characteristics, over and underlying strata

mining structure failure modes

identifying mining and general engineering principles relevant to the behaviour of excavations in rock including:

ground support systems

audit methodologies

geotechnical engineering

excavation engineering

tunnel engineering and shaft sinking

rock mechanics

mine surveying

mining of coal deposits

thermodynamics

identifying the impact of differing geological features and conditions of potential inrush including:

the effects of coal seam characteristics on inrushes

faults, dykes, intrusions and strata deformities

identifying and using monitoring systems and techniques including:

fixed monitoring systems: types, uses / limitations, design criteria, specifications and design processes

portable monitoring equipment: types, uses/limitations

processes and techniques for determining alarms and trigger points/levels

methods of control of inrush

inrush control zones

identifying and 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)