Description
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This unit covers the assessing of ground conditions in
the resources and infrastructure industries.
It includes: preparing for entry to area to be assessed; inspecting and
assessing ground conditions; and recording and reporting on ground conditions |
Pre Requisites
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Nil |
Application
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This unit applies to the assessment of underground and
surface ground conditions for safe working before entry. It is appropriate for those working in
operational roles, at worksites within:
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Civil construction
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Coal mining
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Drilling
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Extractive industries
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Metalliferous mining
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Performance Criteria
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1. Prepare for entry to area to be assessed
1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the assessing of ground conditions
1.2. Determine and confirm ground areas to be inspected and assessed
1.3. Obtain information on ground condition of each area to provide an initial assessment
1.4. Arrange communications methods with other workers
1.5. Select personal protective equipment appropriate for work activities
1.6. Select and obtain appropriate supportequipment for ground assessment
1.7. Identify, address and report potential hazards
1.8. Ensure that adequate ventilation is flowing into the work area,
1.9. Safely secure working area with barricades or advice to others working in or near the working site
1.10. Ensure that area to be assessed is adequately illuminated
2. Inspect and assess ground conditions
2.1. Conduct visual inspection of work area to identify adverse conditions which could affect ground stability and safetyWhere area is assessed as being stable, use appropriate equipment/techniques to confirm ground stability and remove loose material before continuing to next area, or commencing work
2.2. Where area cannot be made safe or ground is assessed as unstable, barricade and install warning signs
2.3. Continuously assess ground conditions during work activities
3. Record and report ground conditions
3.1. Record ground condition assessment results and action taken
3.2. Report ground conditions and action taken to relevant personnel for follow-up action
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Required Skills & Knowledge
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Required skills
- apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures
- access, interpret and apply technical and safety information
- communicate with and coordinate activities with others
- apply plant and equipment records keeping requirements
- apply environmental compliance requirements
- apply isolation procedures
- apply scale/bar down procedures
Required knowledge
- basic geology
- types of ground which are assessed
- unsafe ground conditions
- site preparation procedures
- washing down procedures and equipment
- ground inspection and assessment procedures
- communication procedures and methods
- worksite security methods and equipment
- site recording and reporting systems
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Range Statement
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Relevant compliance documentation may include:
- legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures
- manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
- Australian standards
- codes of practice
- Employment and Workplace Relations legislation
- Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Type of ground to be assessed may include:
- Decline
- ore drive/ ore body
- footwall and quartz margin
- hanging wall
- limestone, quartz, shale, sulphide materials
- major shears or faulting
- damp blocky areas (lubricated)
- unravelling blocky ground
- competent blocky ground
- bedding angle of rock as presents itself in openings
- different types of ground support
- 'bellies' and 'undercuts'
- different mineral or rock contacts
- ground with poor support or bearing capabilities
- washouts
Information may be obtained from:
- cross-shift workers
- supervisors
- survey reports
- training courses
- site-specific information
- industry-based electronic information such as stability monitoring systems
- site-based geotechnical experts
Communications may include:
- hand signals
- direct communication
- verbal
- mine level plans
- notice boards
Personal protective equipment may include:
- gloves to be worn when barring
- sleeves to be rolled down
- safety lanyard if working near edge or in a man-platform
Support equipment for ground assessment may include:
- danger barricades and signage
- serviceable, effective spot light for high headings
- jumbo lights
- lights on loader with platform
- hoses with tails
- water services and manifolds
- torch or stope light for additional lighting
- in high headings or openings, a loader with man-platform and lights on
- ancillary equipment
Potential hazards may be from crushing by rock falls, and may be caused by:
- commencing scaling work from unsafe or unsupported ground
- other people approaching the work area and being allowed to enter un-scaled area
- rock as it falls or slides down a scaling bar
- barring down directly above self
- large spans of unsupported laminated material that falls
- having insecure footing and a 'bad' retreat
- not reading shears/ block joints and faults correctly to identify rock that can move
- not sounding and testing ground where different mineralisation and rock types meet
- non-bonding of rock types
- advancing into un-scaled areas without scaling the area first (having a quick look)
- failing to recognize that dust falling indicates large rocks moving that may fall
- shattering rock as it falls from the roof or face
Adverse conditions may include:
- fresh rock falls
- bellies and undercuts
- cracks and fissures
- discontinuities
- floor heave
- three or more discontinuities or cracks with opposite dips (crack angle running into rock) which may form a wedge, block or slab, which is not bolted or otherwise supported
- water seeping out of discontinuities that were previously dry
- stope pillars that are higher than they are wide
- signs of stress such as material that has flaked off walls and pillars
- rock bolt plates that have been flattened or are 'doming' in, instead of out (plates that are beginning to turn 'inside out')
- where the plate is split or the nut has pulled through the plate
- straps that are under tension bowing out under obvious load
- evidence that the rock bolt is taking load
- rock bolts, plates and straps, which have corroded
- timbers which are splitting, bending or have failing headboards
- concrete reinforcement that is cracking, flaking or fallen
Appropriate equipment/techniques to confirm ground stability may include:
- varying length scaling bars fitted with centre rubber for rock deflection
- manual scaling
- hydro scaling
- mechanical scaling, for example using an excavator or similar fit-for-purpose machine
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Evidence Guide
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:
- knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for assessing of ground conditions
- implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient assessment of ground conditions
- working with others to assess ground conditions and meet all of the required outcomes
- consistent timely completion of assessment of ground conditions that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes
Context of and specific resources for assessment
- This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
- The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.
- Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.
- Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.
- Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.
- Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
- Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:
- written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge
- observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
- implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes
- consistently achieving the required outcomes
- first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
- working with others to undertake and complete the assessment of ground conditions
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.
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