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.
Relevant compliance documentation may include:
legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures
manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
Australian standards
code of practice
Employment and Workplace Relations legislation
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Work instructions may come from:
briefings, handovers, plans and work orders and may be written or verbal, formal or informal and may include:
nature and scope of tasks
specifications
quality of finished works
achievement targets
operational conditions
obtaining of permits required
site layout
out of bounds areas
worksite inspection requirements
lighting conditions
plant or equipment defects
hazards and potential hazards
coordination requirements or issues
contamination control requirements
environmental control requirements
barricade and signage requirements
Hazards may include:
lack of preventative maintenance causing rupture of air delivery and sample delivery hoses
damaged/worn clean air and sample hoses
inadequate airborne dust prevention control measures
incorrect match of hose size to hose tails/clamps and fittings
incorrect fitting of clean air or sample hoses
high abrasive wear rates to drill cutting receival equipment
incorrectly fitted hose restraint devices
incorrect hose restraints in use
incorrect or inadequately secured cyclones and cyclone lids
incorrectly fitted grinding wheels, stones and disks
inappropriate methods/procedures for clearing sample hose blockages
insecure sample deflection devices fitted to the drill head
incorrect fitting of wire to wire-line winch drum
wireline snags and overruns
lack of provision of restraint devices to clean air, sample hoses and drill head sample deflection devices
incorrectly fitted stuffing boxes and T pieces
excessive drill pipe and drill string component wear
unguarded or uncontrolled access to pinch points, i.e. hydraulic make-up and break-out devices
poor triangulation configuration of rod/pipe hoisting equipment for angle of hole
excessive wear to hook and clamshell assemblies
lack of provision of handling equipment for movement of sample bags and heavy up and down hole equipment
poor ergonomic equipment design for tasks such as sample splitting, bagging and movement
inappropriate storage/racking of drill pipe
incorrect use of stilsons
incorrect mixing procedure and application of urethane forms
inadequate security of outside hole collar devices
drill cuttings blockages (down and up hole)
Coordination requirements may include:
drill team
other equipment operators
maintenance personnel
supervisors
worksite personnel
Restraining devices shall include:
two leg stocking type whipchecks
correctly rated shackles
correctly rated and fitted whipcheck anchor points
Restraining devices may also include:
wire rope sling type whipchecks
internal hose wire type whipchecks
hose restraint brackets and clamps
Safe and serviceable condition will be:
free from excessive leaks and excessive wear to internal wear resistant materials
chimney correctly positioned in the cyclone vortex zone to best eliminate dust emission
Make up and break out equipment may include:
stilsons
hydraulic pipe tongs
hydraulic pipe wrenches
hydraulic pipe/rod spinners
hydraulic make/break devices
make up torque requirements
bit break out plates
In-hole equipment may include:
drill rods and drill pipe including:
aircore rods with inner-tubes (may use IF or API threads)
conventional drill pipe (API Reg or API IF threads)
reverse circulation drill pipe (e.g. Remet, Metzke, Drillstar)
drill pipe thread type subs, saver subs, blow up/down subs, dig-out subs and cross-overs (API and IF threads)
floating/fixed inner tubes
inner-tube sealing devices such as aircore inner tube ferrules or RC inner-tube 'O' rings
aircore trumpets and trumpet subs
Drill hole collar casing may include:
steel casing
PVC casing
poly pipe (to maintain open blast hole collar)
Outside hole return collar devices may include:
stuffing boxes and T pieces for conventional open hole drilling, including RAB, hammer or combined RAB hammer
stuffing boxes and T pieces for reverse circulation drilling
discharge restraint devices as required
stuffing boxes and T pieces for discharge directed to sump or cyclone
Drill rod and pipe handling equipment may include:
manual handling
hook and clamshell
hoist plug
automated and semi-automated rod handlers
hydraulic pipe/rod/casing clamps
hydraulic pipe/rod/casing spinner
drill rod/pipe clamps
rod/pipe spanner
slips
slips basket
Drill bits may include:
blade bits
PCD bits
tri-cone bits
button bits (conventional and RC)
aircore bits
Drilling parameters may include:
rotation speed
weight on bit
penetration rate
Drilling additives may include:
drilling mud (e.g. polymers)
foams
cement and cement additives
hole collar sealants:
2 part urethane foam, and/or
gypsum cement
Personal protective equipment includes:
steel-capped boots and hardhat
gloves
dust mask
eye and hearing protection
general protective and reflective clothing

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.
Overview of assessment

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 conducting air drilling
implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of air drilling
working with others to undertake and complete air drilling tasks that meets all of the required outcomes
consistent timely completion of air drilling tasks 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 air drilling tasks
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.