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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan and prepare to establish and maintain the mining method and strata management system
   • Access, interpret and apply mining method and strata management system documentation, and ensure the work activity is compliant
   • Identify and record the necessary resources required to create and maintain a stable mining structure
   • Identify and evaluate historical information relating to the mine site
   • Identify, assess and record possible mining structure failure modes relevant to the mine site
   • Determine the criteria for establishing the stability of mining structures
   • Identify the hazards and analyse the risks associated with failures of mining structures
   • Identify and assess the limitations and controls applying to design of stable mining structures
2. Identify and evaluate geological and geotechnical information to establish a stable mining structure
   • Identify and determine exploration techniques to gain information about geological, hydrological and geotechnical conditions
   • Identify and evaluate geological, geotechnical and hydrological information
   • Identify and evaluate strata gas information
   • Identify and evaluate roof, seam and floor lithological and physical properties information
   • Identify and evaluate stress regimes information
3. Identify and evaluate mining engineering principles and practices
   • Identify and evaluate mining system types and methods
   • Identify potential layouts for stable mining structures from engineering analysis
   • Identify and evaluate mining constraints impacting on the development of a stable mining structure
   • Identify and evaluate equipment requirements, appropriate for the development and maintenance of a stable mining structure
   • Identify the effects of mining induced subsidence on surface areas
4. Identify, evaluate and determine the strata control systems
   • Identify, evaluate and determine ground support systems.
   • Identify, evaluate and determine ground support installation and monitoring systems
   • Identify and evaluate causes and impacts of strata failure mechanisms
   • Identify and evaluate natural and induced stress control methods
5. Establish the strata management plan
   • Design and establish methods of entry to the coal seam
   • Design and establish systems of mining
   • Design and establish sequences for mining operations
   • Design and establish strata management procedures
   • Identify the training needs and establish a training plan
   • Establish action response plans for the management of strata movement
6. Plan and prepare for the implementation of the mining method and the strata management systems
   • Access, interpret and clarify the mining method and the strata management system
   • Identify and communicate to all personnel roles and responsibilities
   • Identify, forecast, obtain and allocate/schedule resources required
   • Develop the implementation process for the training plan
   • Develop the monitoring and review processes for the strata management system
7. Establish the process to audit the effectiveness of the strata management system
   • Audit mining structures for stability
   • Audit monitoring systems
   • Audit compliance to action response plans
   • Audit recording and reporting systems
   • Audit maintenance program and procedures
   • Audit the training plan for currency, relevance and compliance
   • Establish procedures for response to instances of non-compliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit
8. Plan and prepare to establish and maintain the mining method and strata management system
   • Access, interpret and apply mining method and strata management system documentation, and ensure the work activity is compliant
   • Identify and record the necessary resources required to create and maintain a stable mining structure
   • Identify and evaluate historical information relating to the mine site
   • Identify, assess and record possible mining structure failure modes relevant to the mine site
   • Determine the criteria for establishing the stability of mining structures
   • Identify the hazards and analyse the risks associated with failures of mining structures
   • Identify and assess the limitations and controls applying to design of stable mining structures
9. Identify and evaluate geological and geotechnical information to establish a stable mining structure
   • Identify and determine exploration techniques to gain information about geological, hydrological and geotechnical conditions
   • Identify and evaluate geological, geotechnical and hydrological information
   • Identify and evaluate strata gas information
   • Identify and evaluate roof, seam and floor lithological and physical properties information
   • Identify and evaluate stress regimes information
10. Identify and evaluate mining engineering principles and practices
    • Identify and evaluate mining system types and methods
    • Identify potential layouts for stable mining structures from engineering analysis
    • Identify and evaluate mining constraints impacting on the development of a stable mining structure
    • Identify and evaluate equipment requirements, appropriate for the development and maintenance of a stable mining structure
    • Identify the effects of mining induced subsidence on surface areas
11. Identify, evaluate and determine the strata control systems
    • Identify, evaluate and determine ground support systems.
    • Identify, evaluate and determine ground support installation and monitoring systems
    • Identify and evaluate causes and impacts of strata failure mechanisms
    • Identify and evaluate natural and induced stress control methods
12. Establish the strata management plan
    • Design and establish methods of entry to the coal seam
    • Design and establish systems of mining
    • Design and establish sequences for mining operations
    • Design and establish strata management procedures
    • Identify the training needs and establish a training plan
    • Establish action response plans for the management of strata movement
13. Plan and prepare for the implementation of the mining method and the strata management systems
    • Access, interpret and clarify the mining method and the strata management system
    • Identify and communicate to all personnel roles and responsibilities
    • Identify, forecast, obtain and allocate/schedule resources required
    • Develop the implementation process for the training plan
    • Develop the monitoring and review processes for the strata management system
14. Establish the process to audit the effectiveness of the strata management system
    • Audit mining structures for stability
    • Audit monitoring systems
    • Audit compliance to action response plans
    • Audit recording and reporting systems
    • Audit maintenance program and procedures
    • Audit the training plan for currency, relevance and compliance
    • Establish procedures for response to instances of non-compliance or other discrepancies/deficiencies revealed by audit

Performance Evidence

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 procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient establishment and maintenance of the mining method and strata management systems including:

operating hand held monitoring equipment

collecting, collating and interpreting mining structures data

accessing and evaluating data from monitoring systems and equipment

performing mathematical calculations

interpreting and applying mathematical and scientific theorems/laws related to mining structures

accessing, interpreting and applying mine survey information

interpreting and applying design criteria for mining structures systems and devices

accessing and analysing historical strata information related to the mine and failure mode of mine structures

works effectively with others to undertake and complete the establishment and maintenance of the mining method and strata management systems including:

communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions, and convey work progress

identifying the relevant information and scope of the work necessary to meet the required outcomes

designing and establishing sequences for mining operations

preparing technical procedures relating to mining structures

demonstrates completion of establishing and maintaining the mining method and strata management system that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

identifying viable options and the selection of mining method and strata management techniques that best meet the required outcomes

conducting enquiries/investigations and preparing reports

analysing and reporting on training needs

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the following when establishing and maintaining the mining method and strata management systems through:

accessing, interpreting and applying legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for:

applying risk management processes and techniques

mine planning and design

evaluating audit methodologies

identifying and managing environmental issues, hazards and risks

accessing and applying legislative and site requirements for mining structures including:

mine plans

ventilation

gas monitoring

strata support

safety management plans

identifying and evaluating the systems of mining including:

tunnels

drifts

stone drivage

shift sinking

pillar extraction

partial extraction

punch mining

longwall mining (including installation and recovery)

the use of breaker line supports

faults drivage

identifying and assessing factors affecting stability of mining structures including:

stress analysis including: mining induced stress, vertical and horizontal stress tectonics

sedimentology including: subsidence, water bearing strata, permeability of seam and strata, hydrology, physical property testing, caving characteristics, windblast, outblast, gas content and over and underlying strata

mining structure failure modes

ground support systems

pillar design criteria

pillar stress/strain/strength/ratios

width/height ratios

roof support design criteria

Mohr’s Circle

Young’s Modules

Poisson’s Ratio

stress distribution diagrams

factors of safety

identifying and evaluating systems of work including:

bord and pillar

place changing

longwall

highwall

auger mining

pillar extraction

partial extraction

the use of breaker line supports

punch mining

identifying and evaluating mining and general engineering principles relevant to the behaviour of excavations in rock including:

exploration techniques

geology, lithology and strata gas characteristics

mine surveying

mining of coal deposits

identifying and applying emergency response and evacuation/disaster planning processes and techniques

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