This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to apply and monitor the ventilation management plan in Coal and Metalliferous mining.

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory or technical specialist 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 legislation, documentation, policies and procedures

implements the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application and monitoring of the ventilation management plan including:

interpreting and applying a limited range of mathematical and scientific theorems/laws related to ventilation

collecting, collating and interpreting ventilation data

interpreting and applying ventilation device construction/installation specifications

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing reports

accessing, interpreting and applying data from monitoring systems and equipment

applying risk management processes and techniques

initiating ventilation training

demonstrates completion of application and monitoring of the ventilation management plan that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

operating hand-held monitoring equipment

installing, monitoring and maintaining ventilation control device

monitoring, recording and reporting on mine ventilation, including defects to ventilation control devices

adjusting mine control devices

applying water management procedures

scheduling and carrying out inspections, repair and maintenance activities

reviewing and reporting on maintenance requirements and activities

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge in applying and monitoring the ventilation management plan through:

methods of mine ventilation and their applications/limitations

methods of panel ventilation and their applications/limitations

impact of mining techniques and mine and panel design on ventilation

mine roadways and shafts and their impact on mine ventilation

impact of geological characteristics and seam gradients on mine ventilation design

impacts on the ventilation system of gas drainage, spontaneous combustion, outburst and windblast

mine gases; the types and their characteristics, sources, physiological effects and methods of detection

dust, fumes and other particulate matter; the types, sources, physical and physiological effect and control/mitigation methods

mine fires; the types, sources of ignition, possible effects on the ventilation circuit and prevention/control/mitigation methods

mine explosions; the types, ignition sources, possible effects on the ventilation circuits and prevention/control/mitigation methods

pressure changes; causes, the impacts on the ventilation system, and responses

heat/humidity; the sources and factors which may impact on mine ventilation and personnel

fixed ventilation monitoring systems types, uses and limitations

portable monitoring equipment, types, characteristics, uses and limitations

ventilation surveys including the types, frequency and method for conduct including pressure/quantity/temperature and gas

dust surveys for irrespirable quantity

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 is best assessed in the context of this sector’s 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 this sector’s workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills; 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

dation 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.

Coal mining

Metalliferous mining