This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to respond to workforce incidents in coal and metalliferous mining, including selecting and checking emergency equipment and reporting incidents.

It applies to those working in operational roles. They generally work under supervision to undertake a prescribed range of functions involving known routines and procedures and take some responsibility for the quality of work outcomes.

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:

respond to a workforce incident on at least two occasions, including:

locating, accessing and checking emergency equipment

selecting and using emergency equipment

selecting and using signs/signals/barriers to isolate identified potential danger areas

notifying occurrence and details of the incident to others using at least two of the following communication methods:

radio

telephone

telemetry

verbal

written

runners

digitaltoanalogue converter (DAC)

personal emergency device (PED)

signals.

During the above, the candidate must:

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

implement the requirements, procedures and techniques for responding to workforce incidents, including:

interpreting and assessing incidents and indicators

following and/or implementing appropriate evacuation procedures

work effectively with others to respond to workforce incidents in a way that meets required outcomes, including:

removing local workers from incident scene and preventing entry by others

communicating with relevant personnel and controlling response activities.

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 respond to workforce incidents

key policies, procedures and documentation required to respond to workforce incidents

characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations of emergency equipment, including:

roof support materials

firefighting equipment

pumping equipment

lifting and cutting equipment

first aid equipment

relevant communication systems

self-rescuers (conversion/filter units or oxygen generation)

self-contained breathing apparatus

respiratory protection

ventilation equipment

rescue/rope rescue/recovery equipment

absorption materials

spill response kits

chemical safety systems

principles and techniques for responding to the following incident types:

fires and explosions, including underground fires and explosions

spills, including:

chemicals

fuels

oils

water

minor accident

major accident or fatality

ignition

rock burst/outburst

spontaneous combustion

environmental incidents

roof/rib fall

inrush

irrespirable atmosphere

safety data sheet

vehicle accidents

wall collapse

wind blast

excessive dust

principles and techniques for applying initial response first aid

principles and techniques for firefighting, including underground firefighting

principles and techniques for ventilation and applying ventilation equipment

techniques for applying mine communication systems to respond to workforce incidents, including:

radio

telephone

telemetry

verbal

written

runners

digital to analogue converter (DAC)

personal emergency device (PED)

signals

principles and techniques for applying mine site trigger action response plans (TARPs) for hazard management plans

site requirements for notifying appropriate personnel of incident occurrence and reporting incident details

basic techniques for coordinating and communicating incident response 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 response to workforce incidents in coal and metalliferous mining

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

Metalliferous mining