ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan and prepare for conducting continuous flight auger drilling

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

1.2. Obtain, confirm and apply work instructions for the allocated task

1.3. Identify, manage and report all potential hazards

1.4. Resolve coordination requirements with others at the site prior to commencing and during work activities

1.5. Take steps to protect the environment and record any environmental incidents

2. Operate continuous flight auger drill

2.1. Collar borehole, start hole, maintain hole alignment, take corrective action for deflections

2.2. Make up appropriate drill string

2.3. Handle additional augers, inserting them in the drill string

2.4. Apply rotation, feed and holdback so that flights are substantially full for the soil being drilled at any given depth

2.5. Interpret flow from the flights and other factors to determine conditions at the bit

2.6. Describe and log, or record, description of the soils being excavated

2.7. Make, break auger string and drive head connections safely

2.8. Deploy and recover associated sampling equipment, obtain samples, bag, label and record samples

2.9. Maintain a clear hole and a clear bottom and deploy tools for cleaning hole bottom at completed depth and/or prior to sampling tool deployment

2.10. Interpret and/or calculate actual depth at any point during drilling, interpret depth of strata changes and identify fill depth in any bore

2.11. Select appropriate strategies for recovery of dropped augers

2.12. Recover drill string using winch and/or head/kelly and disassemble drill string

2.13. Select bits for formation being drilled

2.14. Select appropriate augering method for situation

2.15. Maintain spoil removal from hole collar with appropriate safety protocols and constantly maintain safe working conditions

2.16. Abandon, cover and/or secure bores to ensure safety of others and crew

2.17. Communicate effectively with crew, clients and management

2.18. Prepare and submit paperwork for daily activities including bore logs where appropriate

2.19. Ensure appropriate personal protective equipment and work clothing for the task is worn

3. Maintain equipment

3.1. Monitor external wear in drill string, rotate string elements to ensure even wear

3.2. Interchange drill bits and/or drill bit elements to maintain free cutting ability

3.3. Check all string and equipment elements for wear and proper function

3.4. Replace worn elements in string, bits and equipment and recycle 'out of specification' equipment for repair or redundancy

3.5. Apply lubrication as appropriate

3.6. Maintain good housekeeping on site and for equipment in storage

3.7. Keep auger equipment clean

4. Respond to problems

4.1. Identify possible operational problems in equipment or process

4.2. Identify symptoms of problems needing remedial action

4.3. Determine possible fault causes

4.4. Rectify problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility

4.5. Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred

4.6. Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person

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 conduct continuous flight auger drilling:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for conducting of continuous flight auger drilling

apply occupational health and safety requirement and procedures

interpret geological maps, bore logs, diagrams, plans and instructions used for recording and prediction

apply procedure to operate the rig carrier to position and move between holes

apply rig stabilisation and levelling procedures

identify components in various auger techniques and sizes

apply equipment assembly, inspection and servicing procedures

apply rig operating functions and controls with safety

apply grout mixing techniques and placement methods

apply test hole grouting and abandonment requirements and procedures

apply water levels recording requirements

use a calculator to calculate hole volume

apply mechanical and manual handling safety procedures

apply pressure cleaning devices procedures to decontaminate augers and equipment

apply 'wireline' deployment and recovery techniques for sampling equipment

apply, record and report on standard penetration test method

apply deployment and recovery procedures of drilling and sampling systems using hollow augers as casing and recovery techniques for hollow auger inner rods and plug bits

use tape measures

apply conversion between metric and imperial units

calculate using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

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 conduct continuous flight auger drilling:

OHS responsibilities

site hazards identification, assessment and control measures requirements and procedures

environmental protection measures and aspects

equipment and spares identification and characteristics

equipment technical capabilities, system limitations, gauge readings and their interpretation

soil sampling techniques, deployment methods and record keeping

operational maintenance procedures for rig and equipment including pre-start checks

basic geological formations likely to be encountered and their properties

use of water, mud and foam injection for jet auger drilling

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 conducting of continuous flight auger drilling

implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of continuous flight auger drilling

working with others to undertake and complete the continuous flight auger drilling tasks that meets all of the required outcomes

consistent timely completion of continuous flight auger drilling tasks 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 continuous flight auger drilling tasks

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

code of practice

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Work instructions may come from:

briefings, handovers, plans and work orders and may be written or verbal, formal or informal and may include:

nature and scope of tasks

specifications

quality of finished works

achievement targets

operational conditions

obtaining of permits required

site layout

out of bounds areas

worksite inspection requirements

lighting conditions

plant or equipment defects

hazards and potential hazards

coordination requirements or issues

contamination control requirements

environmental control requirements

barricade and signage requirements

Coordination requirements may include

drill team

other equipment operators

maintenance personnel

supervisors

worksite personnel

Hazards may include:

release of gases from formation or samples obtained

spread of contaminants as a result of drilling or cleaning processes

change in the chemistry of contaminants as a result of drilling and recovery of the samples

working in proximity to drilling rig

use of high pressure air for drilling operations

entanglement in rotating pipes

string makeup and breakout hazards

drilling equipment and down-hole tools will depend on the air drilling method being used

Personal protective equipment includes:

steel-capped boots and hardhat

gloves

dust mask

eye and hearing protection

general protective and reflective clothing

Equipment includes:

solid flight augers including hex coupled augers, hex pins, D clips, screw taper thread (jet augers) and thread lube

hollow flight augers including overshot deployment of sampling tools, various manufacturer's tooling, taper screw threads and dog coupled reversible hollow augers, older hollow auger systems using parallel wall threads and plug bits deployed on inner rods

sampling systems including SPT hammers and split spoons

auger recovery tools, auger retaining plate, lifting sockets and hoisting plugs

O rings and flush hole plug spares for dog couples reversible hollow augers, circlip pliers

Operational problems may include:

straighten holes and starting straight holes

encountering excessive water

sand blowback with hollow augers in wet unconsolidated formations

cork screwing effect when hold back not set properly

rotating too fast so that flights are not properly filled

cross contamination of samples when using solid flight augers

balancing bit cutting action with hole clearing action

recovering samples in wet conditions

OHS issues relating to rotating plant including catching long hair, loose clothing, finger injuries, safety with lifting and carrying