ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for entry to area to be assessed

1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the assessing of ground conditions

1.2. Determine and confirm ground areas to be inspected and assessed

1.3. Obtain information on ground condition of each area to provide an initial assessment

1.4. Arrange communications methods with other workers

1.5. Select personal protective equipment appropriate for work activities

1.6. Select and obtain appropriate supportequipment for ground assessment

1.7. Identify, address and report potential hazards

1.8. Ensure that adequate ventilation is flowing into the work area,

1.9. Safely secure working area with barricades or advice to others working in or near the working site

1.10. Ensure that area to be assessed is adequately illuminated

2. Inspect and assess ground conditions

2.1. Conduct visual inspection of work area to identify adverse conditions which could affect ground stability and safetyWhere area is assessed as being stable, use appropriate equipment/techniques to confirm ground stability and remove loose material before continuing to next area, or commencing work

2.2. Where area cannot be made safe or ground is assessed as unstable, barricade and install warning signs

2.3. Continuously assess ground conditions during work activities

3. Record and report ground conditions

3.1. Record ground condition assessment results and action taken

3.2. Report ground conditions and action taken to relevant personnel for follow-up action

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to assess ground conditions:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

access, interpret and apply technical and safety information

communicate with and coordinate activities with others

apply plant and equipment records keeping requirements

apply environmental compliance requirements

apply isolation procedures

apply scale/bar down procedures

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to assess ground conditions:

basic geology

types of ground which are assessed

unsafe ground conditions

site preparation procedures

washing down procedures and equipment

ground inspection and assessment procedures

communication procedures and methods

worksite security methods and equipment

site recording and reporting systems

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 assessing of ground conditions

implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient assessment of ground conditions

working with others to assess ground conditions and meet all of the required outcomes

consistent timely completion of assessment of ground conditions that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes

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.

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.

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

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

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

consistently achieving the required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete the assessment of ground conditions

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, organisation and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

codes of practice

Employment and Workplace Relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Type of ground to be assessed may include:

Decline

ore drive/ ore body

footwall and quartz margin

hanging wall

limestone, quartz, shale, sulphide materials

major shears or faulting

damp blocky areas (lubricated)

unravelling blocky ground

competent blocky ground

bedding angle of rock as presents itself in openings

different types of ground support

'bellies' and 'undercuts'

different mineral or rock contacts

ground with poor support or bearing capabilities

washouts

Information may be obtained from:

cross-shift workers

supervisors

survey reports

training courses

site-specific information

industry-based electronic information such as stability monitoring systems

site-based geotechnical experts

Communications may include:

hand signals

direct communication

verbal

mine level plans

notice boards

Personal protective equipment may include:

gloves to be worn when barring

sleeves to be rolled down

safety lanyard if working near edge or in a man-platform

Support equipment for ground assessment may include:

danger barricades and signage

serviceable, effective spot light for high headings

jumbo lights

lights on loader with platform

hoses with tails

water services and manifolds

torch or stope light for additional lighting

in high headings or openings, a loader with man-platform and lights on

ancillary equipment

Potential hazards may be from crushing by rock falls, and may be caused by:

commencing scaling work from unsafe or unsupported ground

other people approaching the work area and being allowed to enter un-scaled area

rock as it falls or slides down a scaling bar

barring down directly above self

large spans of unsupported laminated material that falls

having insecure footing and a 'bad' retreat

not reading shears/ block joints and faults correctly to identify rock that can move

not sounding and testing ground where different mineralisation and rock types meet

non-bonding of rock types

advancing into un-scaled areas without scaling the area first (having a quick look)

failing to recognize that dust falling indicates large rocks moving that may fall

shattering rock as it falls from the roof or face

Adverse conditions may include:

fresh rock falls

bellies and undercuts

cracks and fissures

discontinuities

floor heave

three or more discontinuities or cracks with opposite dips (crack angle running into rock) which may form a wedge, block or slab, which is not bolted or otherwise supported

water seeping out of discontinuities that were previously dry

stope pillars that are higher than they are wide

signs of stress such as material that has flaked off walls and pillars

rock bolt plates that have been flattened or are 'doming' in, instead of out (plates that are beginning to turn 'inside out')

where the plate is split or the nut has pulled through the plate

straps that are under tension bowing out under obvious load

evidence that the rock bolt is taking load

rock bolts, plates and straps, which have corroded

timbers which are splitting, bending or have failing headboards

concrete reinforcement that is cracking, flaking or fallen

Appropriate equipment/techniques to confirm ground stability may include:

varying length scaling bars fitted with centre rubber for rock deflection

manual scaling

hydro scaling

mechanical scaling, for example using an excavator or similar fit-for-purpose machine