Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 6:07 PM AWST
22/07/2026 6:07 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Conduct hand held mining
Conduct hand held mining
Unit of competency
National Code
RIIUMM303A
RIIUMM303A
State Code
WB311
WB311
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
28/11/2011
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
28/11/2011
Nominal Hours
70
Description
This unit covers the conduct of hand held mining in the metalliferous mining industry. It includes planning and preparing for hand held mining, setting up hand held machines, carrying out hand held mining operations, and carrying out end-of-shift procedures. 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.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan and prepare for hand held mining
- 1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the work activity
- 1.2. Plan and prepare work
- 1.3. Receive, interpret and clarify shift change over details
- 1.4. Identify, manage and/or report risks and hazards
- 1.5. Select and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
- 1.6. Wash down and visually inspect work area to ensure safe access
- 1.7. Ensure work area is properly ventilated before entry and ensure area is free of dust and blasting fumes
- 1.8. Inspect and assess site conditions to determine if scaling is required and take action
- 1.9. Identify, inspect and clearly mark all exposed butts and misfires
- 1.10. Ensure that butts or remnants are made safe or report the occurrence
- 1.11. Inspect hand held drilling machinery and equipment for operational serviceability
- 1.12. Identify if breakthrough with drill-steel may occur and take appropriate action
- 1.13. Ensure that appropriate dust suppression and/or extraction equipment is prepared and ready for use
- 1.14. Adhere to emergency reporting and evacuation procedures
2. Set up hand held machine
- 2.1. Assemble hand held machine and connect services to machine
- 2.2. Perform hand held machine operational checks according to recommended operating procedures
- 2.3. Select location and positions hand held machine for drilling operations according to the drilling plan
3. Carry out hand held mining operations
- 3.1. Conduct work safely and efficiently
- 3.2. Select appropriate drill steel and determine hole collar location
- 3.3. Drill holes in accordance with drilling plan
- 3.4. Continue to monitor condition of back, walls and floor
- 3.5. Monitor hand held machine and air-leg for efficient operation
4. Carry out end-of-shift procedures
- 4.1. Shutdown machine and disconnect services
- 4.2. Inspect machine for defects and damage, and report to appropriate persons
- 4.3. Remove equipment, hoses or debris from the work area
- 4.4. Store machine and associated equipment and plant in a designated or safe location
- 4.5. Submit end-of-shift report
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
Employment and workplace relations legislation
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Legislation may include Acts and regulation dealing with:
mining safety and health
mine inspection
OHS
explosives
Machinery and equipment may include:
airleg assembly and accessories
hand held
rising feed
drill steels
bits
raise ladder
water hoses
air hoses
lubrication devices
Hand held machine operational checks may include:
checking and testing machine controls
rockdrill chuck wear
lubricator and lubrication
secure nuts and bolts
water tubes
bridle pins
security of air and water connections
inspection of hoses and connections
oil flow from exhaust outlet
Personal Protective Equipment may include:
lamp
safety helmet
eye protection
hearing protection
protection from atmospheric contaminants (dust/oil mist)
hand protection
overalls with reflective strip
safety footwear
Rockdrill machine faults may include:
drop in penetration rate
loss of water or water pressure
loss of rotation
loss of air or air pressure
loss of lubrication
loss of gauge on bit
clogged air or water tubes
broken water tube
water in airline
airleg problems (e.g. broken crows foot)
Unusable drill steels may include:
bent
broken
blocked
blunt
without necessary gauge/diameter
Work area inspections may include:
travel ways
footings/access/retreat
fumes or dust
ventilation air flow
ground conditions
breakthrough locations (if accessible)
misfires
services including firing cables
workplace explosive storage
Potential hazards and risks may include:
insufficient illumination
falling rocks
fire/flames/ignition sources
premature explosion
atmospheric contaminants
faulty equipment
debris
insufficient ventilation
unauthorised persons
high air or water pressures
breaking hoses
stuck or broken drill steels
drilling in butts
drilling into misfires
Site procedures may include:
pre-start check
lock out and tagging procedures
clean up
blasting procedures and re-entry times
permit-to-work systems
safety equipment
use of personal protective equipment
communication and reporting procedures
emergency procedures
Dust suppression and/or extraction equipment may include:
secondary fans (electric or compressed air) and ventilation bags
mobile or fixed sprays
ventilation doors or other vent devices
air movers and ventilation bags
use of water trucks
watering down site
wash down backs and blasted material
Conditions may include:
ground conditions(blocky, faulted, secure)
floor stability (e.g. broken, blocky, flaky, stable, compacted)
slope of working surface
environmental conditions (e.g. hot, noisy, dry, wet)
visibility and illumination conditions
Relevant compliance documentation may include:
legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures
manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
Australian standards
Employment and workplace relations legislation
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Legislation may include Acts and regulation dealing with:
mining safety and health
mine inspection
OHS
explosives
Machinery and equipment may include:
airleg assembly and accessories
hand held
rising feed
drill steels
bits
raise ladder
water hoses
air hoses
lubrication devices
Hand held machine operational checks may include:
checking and testing machine controls
rockdrill chuck wear
lubricator and lubrication
secure nuts and bolts
water tubes
bridle pins
security of air and water connections
inspection of hoses and connections
oil flow from exhaust outlet
Personal Protective Equipment may include:
lamp
safety helmet
eye protection
hearing protection
protection from atmospheric contaminants (dust/oil mist)
hand protection
overalls with reflective strip
safety footwear
Rockdrill machine faults may include:
drop in penetration rate
loss of water or water pressure
loss of rotation
loss of air or air pressure
loss of lubrication
loss of gauge on bit
clogged air or water tubes
broken water tube
water in airline
airleg problems (e.g. broken crows foot)
Unusable drill steels may include:
bent
broken
blocked
blunt
without necessary gauge/diameter
Work area inspections may include:
travel ways
footings/access/retreat
fumes or dust
ventilation air flow
ground conditions
breakthrough locations (if accessible)
misfires
services including firing cables
workplace explosive storage
Potential hazards and risks may include:
insufficient illumination
falling rocks
fire/flames/ignition sources
premature explosion
atmospheric contaminants
faulty equipment
debris
insufficient ventilation
unauthorised persons
high air or water pressures
breaking hoses
stuck or broken drill steels
drilling in butts
drilling into misfires
Site procedures may include:
pre-start check
lock out and tagging procedures
clean up
blasting procedures and re-entry times
permit-to-work systems
safety equipment
use of personal protective equipment
communication and reporting procedures
emergency procedures
Dust suppression and/or extraction equipment may include:
secondary fans (electric or compressed air) and ventilation bags
mobile or fixed sprays
ventilation doors or other vent devices
air movers and ventilation bags
use of water trucks
watering down site
wash down backs and blasted material
Conditions may include:
ground conditions(blocky, faulted, secure)
floor stability (e.g. broken, blocky, flaky, stable, compacted)
slope of working surface
environmental conditions (e.g. hot, noisy, dry, wet)
visibility and illumination conditions
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 the conduct of hand held mining
implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of hand held mining
working with others to undertake and complete the conduct of hand held mining that meets all of the required outcomes
consistent timely completion of hand held mining 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.
Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.
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.
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
consistent achievement of required outcomes
first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
working with others to undertake and complete the conduct of hand held mining
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.
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 the conduct of hand held mining
implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of hand held mining
working with others to undertake and complete the conduct of hand held mining that meets all of the required outcomes
consistent timely completion of hand held mining 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.
Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.
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.
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
consistent achievement of required outcomes
first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
working with others to undertake and complete the conduct of hand held mining
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| W2479 | MNMUDB310A | Conduct hand held mining | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WH705 | RIIUMM303D | Conduct hand held mining | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| W667 | RII30309 | Certificate III in Underground Metalliferous Mining | Qualification |
| D584 | RII30311 | Certificate III in Underground Metalliferous Mining | Qualification |