Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They may include, but are not limited to:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice
Procedures would be expected to comply with any relevant government regulations.
Logs and reports
Logs and reports may include:
paper or electronic-based logs and reports
verbal/radio reports
reporting items found which require action
Appropriate action
Appropriate action includes, but is not limited to:
positioning of the decant pond, damp or seepage at the dam wall, status of leak detection systems, any unusual vegetation or wildlife occurrences, tailings surface status, and integrity of the dam wall
recording piezometer readings on water pressure, groundwater quality, seepage and leakage rates through notch weirs, settlement and displacement survey measurements of dam walls
calculating water balance based on measures of inflow (with tailings, rainfall, catchment run-off, and so on), storage and outflow (seepage, water reclaim, evaporation, and so on)
responding to dust issues by spraying with chemical dust suppressants, covering the tailings with gravel, setting up silt trap fences or changing the tailings water ratio to maximise the wetted surface
determining problems needing action
accessing and applying relevant technical and plant data
applying appropriate problem solving techniques to determine possible fault causes
rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
reporting problems outside area of responsibility/ability to designated person
Typical problems
Typical problems may include, but are not limited to:
rupture of the tailings slurry delivery pipeline or decant water return pipeline
rainfall induced erosion of the tailings facility containment wall or water imbalance
geotechnical failure/excessive deformation of containment wall
overfilling with tailings beyond management facility capacity, especially the result of unpredicted tailings production
seepage of hazardous materials through the dam wall or through the foundation into the groundwater
dust emissions especially of toxic materials
uncontained floodwater in high rainfall areas
Tailings/waste characteristics
Tailings/waste characteristics include:
mineralogy: residual resource potential, and plant nutrients
chemical reactivity: toxicity, leachate potential, acid producing potential, spontaneous combustion, cementation/hydration and weathering
physical characteristics: particle size distribution, particle density compressibility, shear strength, liquefaction potential, erodibility and dusting potential
placement characteristics: placed dry density, particle sorting, permeability, bearing capacity and initial placement density
handling characteristics: solids content of slurries, trafficability during placement, flocculation/settling time and abrasiveness
Tailings disposal strategy
Tailings disposal strategy can include:
use/operating of equipment, such as pipes, pumps, conveyor belts, pipeline delivering tailings to management facility (leaks, blockages) and associated equipment (for instance centrifugal or positive displacement pumps)
the location of discharge points
the rotation sequence for discharges
the duration of deposition in an area
the location of settling ponds and decant facilities
the location and timing of intermediate paddock bunding
the likely landform created by the deposition processes at stages throughout operations up to and including final landform
flowable volumes and potential flow paths
operational maintenance requirements (e.g. dust suppression, fauna exclusion and drainage)
Health, safety and environment (HSE)
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
Work requirements
Work requirements may come from briefings, handovers and work orders and may include:
compliance documentation
product specifications
nature and scope of tasks
achievement targets
operational conditions
geological data
site survey data
site layout and out of bounds areas
worksite inspection requirements
lighting conditions
plant or equipment defects
hazards and potential hazards
coordination requirements or issues

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence are:
work requirements are identified
appropriate routine checks, logs and paperwork are completed and appropriate action planned, as required
routine plant and facility inspections are properly carried out
problems are identified and responses planned
work environment and equipment are made safe for use.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this competency will occur over a range of situations which will include typical disruptions to normal, smooth operation. This will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability. Where safety, lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue an industry-based simulation may be employed to assist the process.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, competency and safety requirements of the site and consistent with workplace systems or procedures.