This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain mining methods and strata management systems in underground 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 mining methods and strata management systems on at least two occasions, including:

identifying viable options and selecting mining methods and strata management techniques that best meet required outcomes

conducting enquiries and investigations and preparing reports

analysing and reporting on training needs.

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 mining methods and strata management systems, including:

operating strata 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

work effectively with others to establish and maintain mining methods 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 required outcomes

designing and establishing sequences for mining operations

preparing technical procedures relating to mining structures.

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 mining methods and strata management systems

key procedures and documentation required to establish and maintain mining methods and strata management systems, including those relating to:

mine plans

ventilation

gas monitoring

strata support

safety management plans

risk management processes

mine planning and design

audit methodologies

environmental issues, hazards and risks

geological, geotechnical and hydrological information

principles and techniques for 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

principles and techniques for identifying and assessing factors affecting stability of mining structures, including:

stress analysis, including:

mining induced stress

vertical stress

horizontal stress tectonics

sedimentology, including:

subsidence

water bearing strata

permeability of seam and strata

hydrology

physical property testing

caving characteristics

windblast

outburst

gas content

over and underlying strata

mining structure failure modes

ground support systems

pillar design criteria

pillar stress, strain, strength and ratios

width and height ratios

roof support design criteria

Mohr’s Circle

Young’s Modules

Poisson’s Ratio

stress distribution diagrams

safety factors

principles and techniques for identifying and evaluating systems of work, including:

bord and pillar

place changing

longwall

highwall

auger mining

pillar extraction

partial extraction

use of breaker line supports

punch mining

techniques for identifying and evaluating mining and general engineering principles relating to the behaviour of excavations in rock, including:

exploration techniques

geology, lithology and strata gas characteristics

mine surveying

mining of coal deposits

techniques for identifying individual training needs and reviewing mining methods and strata management system training plans

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

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:

strata 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)