This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to conduct digestion process in Metalliferous mining.

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 relevant documentation, policies and procedures

implements the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of the digestion process including:

conducting prestart, shutdown and secure of equipment

identifying and reporting all potential hazards, risks, environmental issues

applying operational safety requirements

accessing, interpreting and applying technical information

determine the range of causes that impact on digestion

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the digestion process in a way that meets all of the required outcomes including:

using a range of communications techniques and equipment to convey information to others

maintaining written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures

communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instruction

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

coordinating digestion activity with others

adjusting equipment and communicating effects upstream and downstream

adding reagents

isolating and shutting down digestion equipment in sequence and perform checks

returning digestion equipment to service

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of conducting digestion processes through:

applying organisation and site requirements and procedures for conducting the digestion process including:

site procedures

wet and dry working conditions

site safety requirements

isolation procedures

WHS procedures

operational procedures and checks

emergency procedures

environmental procedures

equipment safety requirements

hazardous goods procedures and consequences of spills and hazardous goods

breakdown procedures

using hand and power tools

pumping system and flow charts (pipeline and sprinkler systems)

sampling

diagnosing and interpreting faults

identifying, managing and reporting hazards

handling hazardous goods

interpreting reports

using lift (manual, cranes and loads)

accurately maintaining records

identifying and reporting defects

applying safe work practices

troubleshooting

identifying contaminants

complying with digestion process (basic)

identifying equipment limitations and operating parameters

complying with equipment safety requirements

identifying repair requirements

interpreting metallurgical and technical data (basic)

identifying reagent types

identifying types of ores (basic)

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