This unit develops a participant’s skills and knowledge required to monitor the systems and methods of surface mining in Coal mining.

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory or technical specialist roles.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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 documentation, policies and procedures

implements the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient monitoring of systems and methods of surface coal mining including:

analysing hazards and risks, and implementing control measures

accessing and analysing archival and historical mine management information related to the mine and failure mode of mine structures

interpreting and monitoring the application of design criteria for strata management

identifying and evaluating geological and geotechnical information

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the monitoring of systems and methods of surface coal mining that meets all of the required outcomes including:

complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures

providing leadership and direction to the team by communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions

providing clear and timely instruction and supervision to those involved in monitoring of the mining systems and methods

communicating clearly and concisely with others to resolve coordination requirements prior to commencing and during work activities

demonstrates completion of applying and monitoring systems and methods of surface coal mining that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

implementing measures for strata spoil and dump failures

implementing control methods for virgin and induced stress

implementing stockpile control measures

assessing outcomes to make reasoned recommendations and writing reports

interpreting and assessing surface and groundwater information

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of monitoring systems and methods of surface coal mining through:

the considerations for monitoring systems and methods of surface coal mining

interpreting visual signs of stress, including mining induced stress, adverse joining, fault orientation, spoil characteristics

stable structure control and maintenance of excavation

geology, hydrogeological, strata and strata gas characteristics

basic mining engineering principles

monitoring systems and methodologies

audit methodologies

audit inspection, communication and reporting methodologies

awareness of mine site historical information

implementation of plant, equipment and tools maintenance requirements and procedures

mining induced stress, vertical and horizontal stress tectonics

mining structure failure modes

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 (Surface)