Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to apply the spontaneous combustion management plan in Coal mining (Underground).

This unit is appropriate for those working in supervisory or technical specialist roles

Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and Industry sectors. Relevant information must be sourced prior to application of the unit.

Unit Sector

Coal mining (Underground)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit. Further information is available in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Companion Volume.

Unit Mapping Information

RIIMCU408A Apply the spontaneous combustion management plan

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=88a61002-9a21-4386-aaf8-69c76e675272

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

Evidence is required to be collected that demonstrates a candidate’s competency in this unit. Evidence must be relevant to the roles within this sector’s work operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria of this unit and include evidence that the candidate:

• locates and applies relevant legislation, documentation, policies and procedures
• implements the requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of the application of the spontaneous combustion management plan including:

• accessing, reading, interpreting, communicating and applying:
• technical information
• records and reports
• briefing and handover details
• planning and coordinating work
• conducting mine atmosphere monitoring
• conducting inspections related to spontaneous combustion
• interpreting and recording data related to spontaneous combustion
• interpreting and responding to spontaneous combustion indicators and ratios
• identifying and investigating incidents and potential hazards associated with spontaneous combustion
• identifying training needs, and preparing and implementing training plans
• applying spontaneous combustion control procedures or methods

• works effectively with others to plan, prepare and conduct the application of the spontaneous combustion management plan that meets all of the required outcomes including:

• organising work activities to meet all task requirements
• communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions
• complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures
• resolving coordination requirements throughout work activities

• demonstrates completion of applying the spontaneous combustion management plan that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

• applying spontaneous combustion management plan procedures such as:

• mine atmosphere monitoring
• reporting requirements
• auditing
• ventilation systems and usage
• inertisation techniques
• mine plan
• action plans
• response plans
• emergency procedures
• individual group responsibilities
• training and education procedures

• applying mine atmosphere monitoring such as:

• continuous monitoring
• portable (hand) monitoring
• collection of bag samples
• gas chromatography
• ventilation measurements from all areas of the mine including sealed areas
• waste workings monitoring

• identifying spontaneous combustion indicators such as:

• smoke
• haze
• sweating
• smell
• heat
• production of carbon monoxide
• hydrogen
• carbon dioxide
• methane
• higher hydrocarbons
• Or use of indicator ratios such as:
• CO make
• Graham’s ratio
• other ratios included in the site safety management system

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of applying the spontaneous combustion management plan through:

• accessing, interpreting and applying legislative, organization and site requirements and procedures for:

• applying risk assessment and management processes
• identifying and managing environmental issues, hazards and risks, and identifying environmental monitoring systems
• identifying training systems

• identifying the impact of coal seam characteristics, depositional factors and geological conditions on spontaneous combustion
• identifying and applying the fundamentals of:

• mine design and plan relating to spontaneous combustion
• mine gases
• mine and goaf ventilation systems
• spontaneous combustion causes and hazards
• methods of control of spontaneous combustion
• spontaneous combustion indicators and trigger points
• sealing procedures
• identifying and applying emergency response and evacuation/disaster planning processes and techniques

Assessment Conditions

• An assessor of this unit must satisfy the requirements of the NVR/AQTF or their successors; and Industry regulations for certification and licensing; and,
• this unit must be assessed in the context of this sector’s work environment; and,
• this unit must be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,
• assessment may be conducted in conjunction with the assessment of other Units of Competency; and,
• assessment must confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances; and,
• assessors must demonstrate the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence as outlined in this Unit of Competency, and through the minimum years of current* work experience specified below in an Industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or,
• where the assessor does not meet experience requirements a co-assessment or partnership arrangement must exist between the qualified assessor and an Industry subject matter expert. The Industry subject matter expert should hold the unit being assessed (or an equivalent unit) and/or demonstrate equivalence of skills and knowledge at the unit level. An Industry technical expert must also demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience specified below in the Industry sector, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed; and,
• assessor and Industry subject matter expert requirements differ depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework Level (AQF) of the qualification being assessed and/or Industry Sector as follows:

Industry sector	AQF** Level	Required assessor or Industry subject matter expert experience
Drilling, Metalliferous Mining, Coal Mining, Extractive (Quarrying) and Civil Construction	1	1 Year
	2	2 Years
Drilling, Coal Mining and Extractive (Quarrying)	3-6	3 Years
Metalliferous Mining and Civil Construction	3-6	5 Years
Other sectors	Where this Unit is being assessed outside of the Resources and Infrastructure Sectors assessor and/or Industry subject matter expert experience should be in-line with industry standards for the sector in which it is being assessed and where no Industry standard is specified should comply with any relevant regulation.

*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 frequent site assessments across various locations.

**Where a unit is being delivered outside of a Qualification the first numeric character in the Unit code should be considered to indicate the AQF level

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=88a61002-9a21-4386-aaf8-69c76e675272