This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain spontaneous combustion management systems in coal mining, including design, development, audit and review processes and procedures.

It applies to those working in management roles. They generally perform complex, nonroutine tasks involving strategic and planning activities and are responsible for establishing and maintaining operational systems and plans.

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:

establish and maintain spontaneous combustion management systems on at least two occasions, including:

establishing and incorporating spontaneous combustion management objectives, processes, descriptions, responsibilities and review procedures

identifying viable options and selecting spontaneous combustion management techniques that best meet required outcomes

identifying training needs relating to spontaneous combustion risk minimisation and confirming training plans are established according to site requirements.

During the above, the candidate must:

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

implement procedures and techniques for establishing and maintaining spontaneous combustion management systems, including accessing, interpreting and applying:

technical information

legislative and site requirements

records and reports

briefings and handover details

principles of mine design

methods to assess the risks and consequences of spontaneous combustion

work effectively with others to establish and maintain spontaneous combustion management systems, including:

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

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

developing procedures appropriate to mine operations for management of spontaneous combustion.

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 establish and maintain spontaneous combustion management systems

key procedures and documentation required to establish and maintain spontaneous combustion management systems

principles of mine design relating to spontaneous combustion, including techniques for:

identifying the effects of coal seam characteristics on spontaneous combustion

identifying and reviewing inertisation principles and techniques

evaluating geological data

evaluating strata control

evaluating underground water management

evaluating seal design and sealing procedures

spontaneous combustion management requirements, including techniques for:

identifying and managing causes and effects of spontaneous combustion

identifying and monitoring spontaneous combustion indicators and ratios

implementing methods of control of spontaneous combustion

auditing and reviewing spontaneous combustion management systems

principles of ventilation management, including:

mine gases and gas management

mine ventilation systems

key external agencies

principles, processes and techniques for emergency response, evacuation and disaster planning

techniques for identifying training needs and plans

techniques for leading and coordinating work activities with others.

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

include access to:

spontaneous combustion management plan

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)