This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to control operations in acid plant in Metalliferous mining.

This unit is appropriate for those working in technician 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 requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective control of acid plant operations, including:

selecting and using the required hand and power tools

handle dangerous materials

read and interpret instrumentation

operate lift equipment (manual, cranes and loads)

works with others to undertake and complete the control of acid plant operations 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 to confirm work/plans/specifications

passing on end of shift information

reviewing plant performance with oncoming shift

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

regulating the heat exchanger

monitoring and adjusting volume of gas

regulating gas impurity removal system

monitor storage capacity

regulating by-product disposal

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of controlling acid plant operations through:

applying legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for:

risk assessment and management

statutory compliance

work health and safety

confined space entry

identifying and handling dangerous materials

applying wet and dry working procedures

applying site procedures/site safety requirements

applying WHS procedures

applying operational procedures and checks

interpreting equipment safety requirements

using hazardous goods procedures and consequences of spills and identifying hazardous goods

identifying repair requirements

applying isolation procedures

applying emergency procedures

identifying environmental procedures

applying breakdown procedures

reading and interpreting instrumentation/interpret reports

identifying and diagnosing faults

using lift (manual, cranes and loads)

maintaining records

applying safe work practices

identifying and using hand and power tools

applying contaminant identification

identifying sources of acid plant materials

interpreting gas purification process

interpreting drying process

applying conversion and absorption

identifying storage methods and capacities

equipment limitations and operating parameters

using technical data (basic)

understanding pumping system

identifying reagent types

using sampling

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