This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations in coal mining, including positioning launches and maintaining supply of coal to the stacker.

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:

conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations on at least two occasions, including:

positioning the launch

performing functions tests on at least four of the following:

chain conveyor

cutter-heads

traction

shear-up/down

camera sprays

pan up/down

water sprays

steering wings

stab-jack

belt tracking

propulsion

coordinating and monitoring at least one of the following operations:

pit preparations

stacker positions

levelling and realigning of stacker

maintaining supply of coal

monitoring and responding to mining requirements for at least five of the following:

pitch

roll

spalling

guttering

roof conditions

inrush

floor conditions

coal flow

gaseous situations

monitoring and responding to work area requirements for at least four of the following:

high wall stability

low wall stability

lighting

associated/close proximity machinery

equipment and personnel

impact of weather conditions.

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 conducting conveyor-car high wall mining operations including:

applying diagnostic and fault finding techniques

determining and obtaining resources required for operations

performing equipment inspections, operational servicing requirements and maintains clear written records of activities

work effectively with others to conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations that meets required outcomes, including:

communicating and coordinating activities with others

participating in shift briefing

communicating and interpreting handover details.

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 conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations

key policies, procedures and documentation required to conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations, including:

operational safety requirements

site and equipment safety procedures

site mining systems and procedures

conveyor-car high wall mining maintenance systems and procedures

cable management procedures

environmentally sensitive fluids and materials

chemical and fuel safety measures

boarding and disembarking procedures

relocation procedures

shift blasting schedules

advance and retraction procedures

operational signal procedures

techniques for applying geological and survey data, including:

go/no-go zones

high-wall stability

drive position

gas conditions

seam pitch

seam conditions

principles and techniques for function tests, including:

chain conveyor

cutter-heads

traction

shear-up/down

camera sprays

pan up/down

water sprays

steering wings

stab-jack

belt tracking

propulsion

principles and techniques for coordinating and monitoring operations, including:

pit preparations

stacker positions

levelling and realigning of stacker

maintaining supply of coal

principles and techniques for monitoring and responding to mining requirements, including:

pitch

roll

spalling

guttering

roof conditions

inrush

floor conditions

coal flow

gaseous situations

principles and techniques for monitoring and responding to work area requirements, including:

high wall stability

low wall stability

lighting

associated/close proximity machinery

equipment and personnel

impact of weather conditions

principles and techniques for conducting conveyor-car high wall mining operations, including:

access, interpret and apply technical information

maintain equipment records

mining conditions and related methods/techniques

mine gases and their properties/impacts

conveyor-car high wall mining system characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations, including those relating to:

launch vehicle

stacker

continuous miner

conveyor cars

gas monitoring systems, processes and responses, including those relating to:

inertisation

flushing

ceasing mining

extraction

retraction

methane monitoring

site environmental requirements and constraints relating to conveyor-car high wall mining operations

principles and techniques for identifying and responding to relevant hazards and emergencies

site requirements for processing 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:

conveyor-car

personal protective equipment

equipment required to conduct conveyor-car high wall mining operations

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