This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to construct and maintain ventilation devices in underground coal mining, including stoppings, regulators, overcasts, undercasts, seals and bulkheads.

It applies to those working in operational roles. They generally work under minimal supervision to undertake a broad range of tasks in varied work contexts, using some discretion and judgement in selecting equipment, services or contingency measures.

Licensing, legislative and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories and industry sectors. Users must check requirements with relevant body before applying the unit.

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

construct and maintain ventilation devices on at least two occasions, including:

applying basic construction skills to conduct remedial work to make workplace safe and to identify potential strata hazards (roof and ribs)

completing operations on the following devices in an underground coal mine:

stoppings or regulators; and

overcasts or undercasts; and

seals or bulkheads

using materials for devices, including, but not limited to:

poles/props/ply/mesh

pre-fabricated steel

plaster/cementitious products or bricks

pumping equipment

foam or other secondary materials as required

establishing ventilation at construction site and monitoring mine atmosphere.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply relevant documentation, policies and procedures and confirm work activity is compliant

implement the requirements, procedures and techniques for constructing and maintaining ventilation devices, including:

reading, interpreting, applying and communicating technical information

identifying and minimising environmental issues, potential hazards and risks

selecting and using relevant tools and equipment

complying with environmental requirements and constraints

identifying work requirements

applying diagnostic and fault finding techniques

applying construction techniques

monitoring and responding to local environmental conditions (including ventilation, gas levels, spontaneous combustion and strata conditions)

inspecting and maintaining devices, equipment and materials

work effectively with others to construct and maintain ventilation devices in a way that meets required outcomes, including:

organising work activities to meet task requirements

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

complying with reporting requirements and procedures

determining coordination requirements throughout work activities, including with other work groups.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

key legislation required to construct and maintain ventilation devices

key policies, procedures and documentation required to construct and maintain ventilation devices, including required layouts, plans and operational safety systems

mine geology, environmental data and survey information related to ventilation devices, including:

ventilation/gas data

deputy reports

geological data

survey data

spontaneous combustion management plans

types, uses, and limitations of ventilation circuits, ventilation devices and sealing systems, including the following device types:

stoppings, including:

short-term

long-term

coffin box

machine doors

seals

bulkheads

balance chambers

regulators

overcasts

undercasts

principles and techniques for applying ventilation device construction processes and techniques, including for the following construction equipment types:

grout pumps

cement mixers

compressed air drills

borers

hoses

hand tools

scaffolding

levels

water traps

sampling lines

pressure gauges

gas drainage lines

shut off valves

oxygen breathing apparatus

gas detection equipment

ventilation device equipment and material characteristics and limitations, including transportation requirements, for device materials, including:

poles/props/ply/mesh

pre-fabricated steel

plaster/cementitious products/bricks

pumping equipment

foam

principles, processes and techniques for managing hazards, including:

strata

dust

gases

poor ventilation

spontaneous combustion

principles and techniques for identifying and responding to relevant hazards and emergencies, including those related to:

irrespirable atmospheres

noxious atmospheres

flammable and explosive mixtures

fires

site requirements for completing maintenance records and reporting requirements

techniques for coordinating and communicating job activities with others.

Mandatory conditions for assessment of this unit are stipulated below. The assessment must:

include access to:

personal protective equipment

equipment required to construct and maintain ventilation devices

be conducted in a safe environment; and,

be assessed in the context of this sector's work environment; and,

be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures and processes directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances.

Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated work 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.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must be able to clearly demonstrate current and relevant industry knowledge and experience to satisfy the mandatory regulatory standards as set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/Australian Quality Training Framework mandatory requirements for assessors current at the time of assessment and any relevant licensing and certification requirements. This includes:

vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed

current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided

current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning that informs their training and assessment

formal relevant qualifications in training and assessment

having knowledge of and/or experience using the latest techniques and processes

possessing the required level of RII training product knowledge

having an understanding and knowledge of legislation and regulations relevant to the industry and to employment and workplaces

demonstrating the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence outlined in this unit of competency, and

the minimum years of current** work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below in an industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit.

It is also acceptable for the appropriately qualified assessor to work with an industry expert to conduct assessment together and for the industry expert to be involved in the assessment judgement. The industry expert must have current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided. This means the industry subject matter expert must demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed:

*Guidance on simulated environments has been stipulated in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide located on VETNet.

**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 a minimum number of site assessments as determined by the relevant industry sector, across various locations.

*** While a unit of competency does not have an AQF level, where a unit is being delivered outside of a qualification the first numeric character in the unit code should be considered as the AQF indicator level for assessment purposes.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Coal mining (underground)