This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to plan small mine operations in Metalliferous Mining (Small Mines).

This unit is appropriate for those working in operational 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 applicable legislation, documentation, policies and procedures

implements the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of planning small mine operations including:

identifying geology associated with ore-bearing ground, & assessing mine ground conditions

maintaining log book and records

designing and documenting procedures

designing systems for environmental constraints

designing disposal systems for environmentally sensitive fluids and materials

applying design and planning principles and methods

applying operational safety requirements to mine planning

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the planning of small mine operations that meets all of the required outcomes including:

consulting with stakeholders to develop the mine safety management plan

demonstrates completion of planning small mine operations that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

identifying the scope of and conducting inspection of access shaft

identifying and establishing location of a second means of access

planning the mining sequence throughout the life of the mine to determine the location of ventilation shafts or drill holes

designing and planning the mine workings

designing and planning the handling of waste material stored on the surface of the mine

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in planning small mine operations through:

accessing, interpreting and applying legislative, organization and site requirements and procedures for:

emergency response

work, health and safety

environmental issues

materials handling and transport

hazardous materials handling

assessment of mine ground conditions

identifying hazards affecting pillar design and development

operating hoisting systems

accessing, interpreting and applying;

geology associated with ore-bearing ground

shaft design requirements and parameters

mine layout principles and design parameters

design criteria for planning mine operation

principles of ventilation and air flow

surface installations and equipment

pillar configuration/pillar design and layout

characteristics and properties of roofs

pillar extraction methods and safety requirements

mine safety management planning

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.

Metalliferous Mining (Small Mines)