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

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory 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 procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient implementation of the gas drainage management plan including:

planning and coordinating work to meet site/legislative requirements

operating hand held monitoring equipment

accessing, evaluating and applying design criteria for gas drainage systems and devices

collecting, collating and evaluating gas drainage data

completing gas drainage planning mathematical calculations

interpreting geological information

preparing records and reports

applying the principles of mine design

works with others to undertake and complete the implementation of the gas drainage management plan that meets all of the required outcomes including:

communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions, and convey work progress

identifying the relevant information and scope of the work necessary to meet the required outcomes

developing procedures appropriate to mine operations for management of gas drainage

identifying training needs related to the gas drainage

preparing and interpreting briefings and handover details

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

identifying viable options and selecting the gas drainage management plan elements that best meet the required outcomes

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing reports

establishing technical procedures relating to gas drainage

assessing the risks and consequences of gas drainage

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of implementing the gas drainage management plan through:

methods of gas drainage:

their applications/limitations against the mine design, mine and panel ventilation systems, systems of mining and current and future mine development

drilling options and related equipment and techniques including:

impacts of intersecting and intersected holes and hole design

gas drainage on mining techniques, mine and panel design and production output

strata geology and coal seam characteristics on the gas drainage management plan, including:

the effects of the type and quantity of gas in the coal seam

coal seam gradient, moisture content, friability, the porous features of the coal seam, stresses and intrusions

strata control systems and their effects on gas drainage

outburst mining monitoring procedures

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

pressure changes: causes, the impacts on the ventilation system, and the effects on gas drainage

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

underground water management principles and systems

the impacts of accumulation of coal dust after gas drainage has been completed

mine and goaf ventilation systems

equipment, monitoring systems and techniques including:

mine fans: fan laws, fan types, performance characteristics, configurations, applications and limitations in association with the gas drainage management plan,

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

de-gassing: methods of control – including brattice, auxiliary fans, compressed air venturis, sails, hurdles, bleeders and purging

fixed gas drainage monitoring systems: types, characteristics, uses and limitations

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

use of computer-based systems for mine environment and gas drainage systems analysis

processes and techniques for determining alarms and trigger points/levels

ventilation theory, including:

Atkinson’s equation

methods of determining frictional resistance

gas laws, including Charles and Boyle

natural ventilation pressures

gas make

leakage

determination of mine resistance curves

regulator and equivalent orifice calculation

determination of fan operating/duty points

Kirkoff’s laws

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)