Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 11:38 PM AWST

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Monitor and operate tailings management facilities

Monitor and operate tailings management facilities

Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS460
State Code
AXM79
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
02/06/2016
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
05/08/2016
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
05/08/2016
Nominal Hours
45
Description
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor and operate a tailings disposal site.This unit of competency applies to environmental officers, operators or those in similar roles who are required to apply in-depth knowledge to identify risks (business and environmental), operate equipment to deposit tailings in the tailings management facility (TMF), take measurements and make observations on the integrity of the facility, and take actions to prevent or ameliorate adverse environmental outcomes from the tailings management facility. This unit of competency applies to early stage metal beneficiation processes, typically associated with aluminium, iron, gold, copper, tin, silver, lead and zinc. The TMF will have deposited material suspended in varying levels of water ranging from slurry (e.g. ‘red mud’), through high slump pastes (e.g. filter cake) to low slump pastes; the focus being sub-aerial deposition (not subaqueous or sea deposition). However, with appropriate contextualisation the unit of competency may be applied to other types of waste deposited in a TMF, including overburden, slag or other solid waste products from later metalliferous or other processes.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare for work
  • 1.1 Receive and give shift handover
  • 1.2 Identify work requirements.
  • 1.3 Identify and control work health and safety (WHS) hazards and identify risks to the environment
  • 1.4 Coordinate with appropriate personnel
  • 1.5 Check for recent work undertaken on TMF
  • 1.6 Note any outstanding/incomplete work
  • 1.7 Check operational status of TMF and ancillary equipment
  • 1.8 Coordinate with appropriate personnel, including facility managers and team members
2 Operate equipment for tailings deposition
  • 2.1 Access and interpret process waste/tailings management plan and comply with documented processes
  • 2.2 Identify the type of facility equipment and assess the appropriateness of the equipment given the tailings physical characteristics
  • 2.3 Measure and report on rate of flow, tailings characteristics and deposition outcomes, as required
  • 2.4 Set plant to deliver tailings to appropriate location of discharge point according to tailings management plan
  • 2.5 Complete routine checks, logs and paperwork, taking action on unexpected readings and trends
  • 2.6 Discharge tailings, as appropriate, based on set rotation sequence for discharges (‘paddocks’) and duration of deposition
3 Monitor and control TMF in accordance with procedures
  • 3.1 Carry out routine plant and facility inspections
  • 3.2 Check flora and fauna near TMF
  • 3.3 Check for indications of problems with TMF containment/wall
  • 3.4 Monitor indicators of location of phreatic zone
  • 3.5 Check beaching and decant water draw off locations
  • 3.6 Collect samples and conduct and analyse tests
  • 3.7 Record observations
  • 3.8 Compare operational performance against standards established in the tailings management plan
  • 3.9 Adjust spigots (feed) and decant location (withdrawal) to optimise operation of TMF
  • 3.10 Report operational condition of the tailings management facility
4 Recognise problems and take action in accordance with procedures
  • 4.1 Recognise developing situations which may require action
  • 4.2 Use water balance principles to determine adequacy of TFM capacity
  • 4.3 Adjust inflows and outflows (e.g. decant rate and tailings inflow) to respond to potential water imbalance especially overflows
  • 4.4 Identify and respond to problems arising from dust generated in TMF
  • 4.5 Report any issues identified with the integrity of the equipment delivering tailings to the TMF
  • 4.6 Apply the requirements of the emergency management plan in case of significant breaches of TMF integrity (for instance a breach of dam wall).
5 Isolate and de-isolate facility
  • 5.1 Complete any required pre-start checks
  • 5.2 Start up/shut down TMF plant and equipment according to their type and duty in liaison with other personnel
  • 5.3 Start up/shut down/changeover component plant items which are part of the TMF according to their type and duty in liaison with other personnel
  • 5.4 Isolate entire TMF and/or any component plant item
  • 5.5 Make safe for required work
  • 5.6 Check TMF/plant item is ready to be returned to service
  • 5.7 De-isolate and prepare TMF plant unit/plant item for return to service
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
WG556 PMAOPS460A Monitor and operate tailings management facilities Unit of competency