ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify, analyse and evaluate potential sources, causes, hazards and effects associated with mine inrush

1.1. Identify the potential sources and effects of inrushes

1.2. Analyse and evaluate mine site historical information for indications of inrush potential

1.3. Identify, analyse and evaluate geological and physical conditions that contribute to inrush potential

1.4. Identify, analyse and evaluate inrush hazards and risks

1.5. Identify, analyse and evaluate the effects of inrush on mine operations and personnel

2. Identify, analyse and evaluate potential inrush controls

2.1. Identify, analyse and evaluate potential inrush controls

2.2. Identify, analyse and evaluate inrush controls to deal with matters identified from the review of historical information

2.3. Identify, analyse and evaluate inrush controls to deal with geological and physical conditions which may contribute to inrush

2.4. Identify, analyse, evaluate and confirm the validity of mine plans and associated records

2.5. Identify, analyse and evaluate the methods, purposes and capabilities of mine monitoring systems with regard to inrush

3. Design and develop inrush management systems

3.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the work activity

3.2. Design and develop inrush controls for addressing inrush hazards for the inrush management system

3.3. Determine personnel safety measures and techniques into the inrush management system

3.4. Design and/or incorporate services and infrastructure protection measures into the inrush management system

3.5. Design and develop mine monitoring requirements relating to inrush

3.6. Integrate the system elements to complete the inrush management system design

4. Establish the inrush management plan

4.1. Develop and establish inrush hazard identification, analysis and reporting procedures

4.2. Establish actions and procedures required in response to inrush indicators

4.3. Develop permit-to-mine procedures in accordance with legislative and site requirements

4.4. Establish personnel safety measures and techniques

4.5. Establish services and infrastructure protection measures to minimise damage caused by inrush

4.6. Establish the monitoring, recording and reporting procedures

4.7. Establish emergency response and evacuation plans

4.8. Establish training requirements for the inrush management plan

5. Plan and prepare for the implementation of the inrush management plan

5.1. Identify and interpret the legislative and site requirements related to the inrush management plan

5.2. Access, interpret and clarify the inrush management plan

5.3. Identify, clarify and communicate to all personnel roles and responsibilities, as specified in the inrush management plan

5.4. Identify, forecast, obtain and allocate/schedule resources required for the implementation of the inrush management plan

5.5. Implement the inrush management plan training program

5.6. Encourage, receive, review and, where appropriate, implement suggestions and recommendations for changes to inrush management plan implementation procedures

6. Establish the process to audit and review the effectiveness of the inrush management plan

6.1. Audit the inrush management system in accordance with legislative and site requirements

6.2. Audit mine monitoring systems in accordance with legislative and site requirements

6.3. Audit inrush hazard identification, monitoring and response procedures in accordance with legislative and site requirements

6.4. Audit recording plans and procedures in accordance with legislative and site requirements

6.5. Audit inrush training plan for currency, relevance and compliance with the requirements of the inrush management system

6.6. Establish procedures for response to instances of non-compliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes the ability to carry out the following, as required to establish and maintain the inrush management plan:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for establishing and maintaining the inrush management plan

access, interpret and apply technical information

access and analyse archival and historical water storage and inrush information related to the mine

interpret and apply mathematical and scientific theorems/laws related to inrush

perform inrush planning mathematical calculations

assess the risks and consequences of inrush

develop procedures appropriate to mine operations for prevention of inrush

access and apply design criteria for inrush management systems

interpret computer spreadsheets and inrush modelling/simulations

conduct enquiries / investigations and prepare reports

communicate effectively in the workplace

access data from monitoring equipment

operate hand held monitoring equipment

establish inrush training requirement

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to establish and maintain the inrush management plan:

legislative and site requirements for mining structures, including mine plans, ventilation, gas monitoring, strata support and safety management plans

mine planning and design

the systems of mining including tunnels, drifts, stone drivage, shaft sinking, pillar extraction, partial extraction, punch mining and fault drivage

stress analysis, including mining induced stress and topography

sedimentology subsistence, water bearing strata, permeability of seam and strata, hydrology, hydrogeology, physical property testing, caving characteristics, outburst, over and underlying strata

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

mining structure failure modes

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

audit methodologies

site document control requirements

mine mapping of inrush zones, related geology and features

the impact of differing geological features and conditions on inrush zones, including faults, dykes, intrusions and strata deformities

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

portable monitoring equipment, types, uses/limitations

the use of simulation techniques and applications relevant to inrush

use of computer-based systems for real time monitoring

mine inrush management plan development requirements and processes

processes and techniques for determining alarms and trigger points/levels

audit and review processes and techniques

emergency response and evacuation procedures

the effects of coal seam characteristics on inrush

methods of control of inrush

types of inrush control zones

risk management procedures

applicable mine rescue procedures

roles and responsibilities in accordance with inrush management plan

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for establishing and maintaining the inrush management plan

implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

the identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required to meet the required outcomes

the identification of viable options and the selection of inrush management techniques that best meet the required outcomes

working with others to undertake and complete the establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

consistent successful establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge to apply in undertaking of the establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes

identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required to meet the required outcomes

identification of viable options and the selection of inrush management techniques that best meet the required outcomes

consistent achievement of required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete the establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

provision of clear and timely required support and advice on the establishment and maintenance of the inrush management plan

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant compliance documentation may include:

legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Hazard is defined as: a source of potential harm or a situation with a potential to cause loss (definition from AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management).

Risk is defined as: the chance of something happening that will have an impact upon objectives. It is measured in terms of consequences and likelihood (definition from AS/NZS 4360:1999 Risk Management).

Mine site historical information may include:

sedimentology aspects of the mine site relating to subsidence

previous inrushes

gas content and composition

roof and floor technical data

over and underlying strata

water bearing strata

permeability of seam and strata

hydrology

physical property testing results

caving characteristics

ground stress behaviour

mine plans

Inrush may be defined as:

water or other fluid material, or any material that flows when wet; or

flammable or noxious gas

which may put the mine or persons at the mine at risk

Inrush control zones are those areas of heightened awareness, necessitating specialised mining, monitoring and assessment techniques e.g. protective drilling.

Inrush controls may include:

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

Systems of work may include:

drilling operations

bord and pillar

place changing

long wall

high wall

auger mining

pillar extraction

partial extraction

punch mining

shaft sinking and drifting

Geological and physical conditions may include:

rank

petrology

moisture

particle size

seam gas

pyrites

seam thickness

multi seams

seam dip

depth of cover

cleat

friability

intrusions

Monitoring may include:

continuous and/or periodic monitoring

portable (hand held) monitoring

core samples

visual observation

geological mapping

borehole pressure readings

Inrush hazards and potential sources may include:

subsidence or failure of barriers and dam walls

strata failure

gas content and composition

abnormal rainfall events

over and underlying strata

water bearing strata

any peat, moss, sand, gravel, silt, or other material that flows when wet which may exist on or near a mine

any coal peat, moss, sand, gravel, silt, or other material that may flow from a bin or storage facility/structure

permeability of seam and strata

physical properties

caving characteristics

faults

intrusions

surface sources

tidal waters

oceans

surface creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes

surface impoundments or reservoirs

abandoned mines

workings of adjacent current mines

existing workings of the mine

other non-mining underground openings

shafts

wells

pipelines

tunnels

Personnel safety measures may include:

remote control mining

limitation of numbers

training

physical barriers, e.g. drilling through stuffing box

emergency equipment e.g. oxygen self rescuers

personal protective equipment (PPE)

Legislative, and Site Requirements may include:

legislation and regulations

relevant Australian standards

management plans

manager's rules

OHS policy

code of practice

dams safety committee publications

manufacturer's instructions

safe working or job procedures (or equivalent)

Inrush management system establish criteria and procedures for maintaining a safe environment including:

hazard identification and quantification

risk assessment

authority and responsibility

controls established to managed identified risks

reporting and communication requirements

document control

audit and review

procedures for mine inrush monitoring

mine plan

action plans

response plans

emergency procedures

individual group responsibilities

training and education procedures

Inrush prevention system must be established in accordance with the NSW Coal Mines (Underground) Regulation 1999 - Division 8, Clause 40 Implementation of an inrush prevention system.

Audit is defined as: a systematic examination against defined criteria to determine whether activities and related results conform to planned arrangement, and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve the organisation's policy and objectives (AS/NZS 4804: 2001).