This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to implement the outburst 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 outburst management plan including:

operating hand held monitoring equipment

accessing and interpreting data from monitoring systems and equipment

accessing, interpreting and applying design criteria for outburst management systems and devices

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

interpreting and applying mathematical and scientific theorems/laws related to outburst

performing outburst planning mathematical calculations

interpreting computer spreadsheets and outburst modelling/simulations

works with others to undertake and complete the implementation of the outburst 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 roles and responsibilities in accordance with outburst mining management plan

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

interpreting outburst training requirement

demonstrates completion of implementing the outburst 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

conducting audit and review processes

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the following when implementing the outburst management plan through:

legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for outburst management plan implementation for:

developing requirements and processes for outburst mining management plan

applying risk assessment and management processes

identifying and managing environmental issues, hazards and risks

systems of mining including:

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

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

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, physical property testing, caving characteristics, windblast, outburst, gas content and over and underlying strata

mining structure failure modes

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

geology, lithology and strata gas characteristics

exploration techniques

ground support systems

audit methodologies

geotechnical engineering

excavation engineering

tunnel engineering and shaft sinking

rock mechanics

mine surveying

mining of coal deposits

thermodynamics

impact of differing geological and geotechnical features and conditions on outburst including:

faults, dykes, intrusions and strata deformities

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

the effects of coal seam characteristics on outburst

systems and techniques including:

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

portable monitoring equipment, types, uses/limitations

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

the use of simulation techniques and applications relevant to outburst

computer-based systems for outburst analysis

outburst indicators and ratios

methods of control of outburst

processes and techniques for determining alarms and trigger points/levels

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)