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

This unit is appropriate for those working in management 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 establishment and maintenance of the gas drainage management plan including:

operating hand held monitoring equipment

applying hazard and risk management processes and techniques

accessing, evaluating and applying data from monitoring systems and equipment

accessing, interpreting and applying geological reports

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

performing gas drainage planning mathematical calculations

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

interpreting computer spreadsheets and modelling / simulations

collecting, collating and evaluating gas drainage data

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

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the establishment and maintenance 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

establishing technical procedures relating to gas drainage

demonstrates completion of establishing and maintaining 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 techniques that best meet the required outcomes

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing reports establishing gas drainage training requirements, programs, systems and procedures

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing reports

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in establishing and maintaining the gas drainage management plan through:

identifying and evaluating the principles of ventilation management including mine and goaf ventilation systems

identifying and evaluating the methods of gas drainage,

identifying and evaluating the impact of gas drainage on mining techniques, mine and panel design and production output

identifying and evaluating the impact of the strata geology and coal seam characteristics on the gas drainage management plan

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

identifying and evaluating components/factors to be considered in the gas drainage management plan

selecting and using equipment, monitoring systems and techniques

selecting and applying ventilation theory

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)