Application
This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to conduct continuous flight auger drilling in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry.
This unit is appropriate for those working in operational roles.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan and prepare for continuous flight auger drilling | 1.1 Access, interpret and apply continuous flight auger drilling documentation, and ensure the work activity is compliant 1.2 Obtain, read, interpret, clarify and confirm work requirements 1.3 Identify and address potential risks, hazards and environmental issues and implement control measures 1.4 Select and wear personal protective equipment appropriate for work activities 1.5 Communicate and coordinate activities with others throughout the work activity 1.6 Obtain and interpret emergency procedures, and be prepared for fire/accident/emergency |
2. Operate continuous flight auger drill | 2.1 Carry out pre-start and start up procedures 2.2 Identify, select and apply rig operational controls 2.3 Collar borehole, start hole, maintain hole alignment, take corrective action for deflections 2.4 Make up appropriate drill string 2.5 Handle additional augers, inserting them in the drill string 2.6 Apply rotation, feed and holdback so that flights are substantially full for the soil being drilled at any given depth 2.7 Interpret flow from the flights and other factors to determine conditions at the bit 2.8 Describe and log, or record, description of the soils being excavated 2.9 Make, break auger string and drive head connections 2.10 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 2.11 Interpret and/or calculate actual depth at any point during drilling, interpret depth of strata changes and identify fill depth in any bore 2.12 Select appropriate strategies for recovery of dropped augers 2.13 Recover drill string using winch and/or head/kelly and disassemble drill string 2.14 Select bits for formation being drilled 2.15 Select appropriate augering method for situation 2.16 Maintain spoil removal from hole collar 2.17 Abandon, cover and/or secure bores 2.18 Prepare and submit paperwork for daily activities including bore logs where appropriate 2.19 Continually monitor hazards and risks, and ensure safety of self, other personnel, plant and equipment |
3. Respond to problems | 3.1 Identify possible operational problems in equipment or process 3.2 Identify symptoms of problems needing remedial action 3.3 Determine possible fault causes 3.4 Rectify problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility 3.5 Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred 3.6 Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person |
4. Complete equipment maintenance and housekeeping | 4.1 Carry out shutdown and secure equipment 4.2 Monitor external wear in drill string, rotate string elements to ensure even wear 4.3 Interchange drill bits and/or drill bit elements to maintain free cutting ability 4.4 Check all string and equipment elements for wear and proper function 4.5 Replace worn elements in string, bits and equipment and recycle ‘out of specification’ equipment for repair or redundancy 4.6 Apply lubrication as appropriate 4.7 Ensure housekeeping activities are completed 4.8 Process records |
Evidence of Performance
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 completion of continuous flight auger drilling including:
identifying and reporting all potential hazards, risks and environmental issues
interpreting geological maps, bore logs, diagrams, plans and instructions used for recording and prediction
works effectively with others to undertake and complete the continuous flight auger drilling tasks that meets all of the required outcomes including:
complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures
communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions
communicating clearly and concisely with others to resolve coordination requirements prior to commencing and during work activities
demonstrates completion of the conduction of continuous flight auger drilling that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:
collaring borehole, starting hole, maintaining hole alignment, and taking corrective action for deflections
making up appropriate drill string
handling additional augers, inserting them in the drill string
applying rotation, feed and holdback so that flights are substantially full for the soil being drilled at any given depth
interpreting flow from the flights and other factors to determine conditions at the bit
selecting appropriate strategies for recovery of dropped augers
recovering drill string using winch and/or head/kelly and disassemble drill string
abandoning, covering/securing bores to ensure safety of others and crew
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in conducting continuous flight auger drilling through:
organisation and site requirements and procedures for:
work, health and safety
environmental issues
operating drill rig
housekeeping
equipment spares and characteristics
equipment technical capabilities, system limitations, gauge readings and their interpretation
operational maintenance procedures for rig and equipment including pre-start checks
basic geological formations likely to be encountered and their properties
preparation for fire/accident/emergency
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors; 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:
Industry sector | AQF** Level | Required assessor or industry subject matter expert experience |
Drilling, Metalliferous Mining, Coal Mining, Extractive (Quarrying) and Civil Construction | 1 | 1 Year |
2 | 2 Years | |
Drilling, Coal Mining and Extractive (Quarrying) | 3-6 | 3 Years |
Metalliferous Mining and Civil Construction | 3-6 | 5 Years |
Other sectors | Where this unit is being assessed outside of the Resources and Infrastructure Sectors, assessor and/or industry subject matter expert experience should be in-line with industry standards for the sector in which it is being assessed and, where no industry standard is specified, should comply with any relevant regulation. | |
*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
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.