This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to design, develop and maintain pillar system and ground control 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 designing, developing and maintaining pillar systems and ground control including:

installing secondary support devices

operating communications systems

operating extraction plant and machinery

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the designing, developing and maintenance of pillar systems and ground control that meets all of the required outcomes including:

communicating clearly and concisely with others to confirm instructions

organising and prioritising work activities

demonstrates completion of designing and maintaining pillar system and ground control that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

determining the appropriate pillar type and configuration

identifying and applying the appropriate design parameters for the location

identifying and assessing the effects of adjacent mines

identifying and assessing the characteristics and properties of the location

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in designing, developing and maintaining pillar systems and ground control through:

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

determining pillar configuration

assessment of mine ground conditions

pillar design and layout

dust suppression

pillar extraction

working underground

communication systems

emergency response

environmental issues

accessing, interpreting and applying information on hazards affecting pillar design and development

accessing, interpreting and applying secondary support methods and installation techniques

accessing, interpreting and applying characteristics and properties of roofs

being prepared for fire/accident/emergency

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)