Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

CURRICULUM DOCUMENT

Curriculum Code / Curriculum Title
311701-007 / Mining Technician: Strata Control Practitioner
(Coal)

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Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

V04-DRAFT CURRICULUM-10MAY2013Page 1

Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

V04-DRAFT CURRICULUM-10MAY2013Page 1

Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

Table of Contents

1.SECTION 1: CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

1.1.Occupational Information

1.2.Curriculum Information

1.2.1.Relation of this Curriculum to the Occupation and Qualification

Progression

1.2.1. Notes regarding the Progression

1.2.2.Curriculum Structure

1.2.3.TOTAL QUALIFICATION CREDITS:

1.2.4.International Comparability

2.SECTION 2: OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE

2.1.Title: Mining Technician: Strata Control Practitioner - Coal

2.2.Occupational Purpose

2.3.Occupational Tasks

2.4.Task Details

2.4.1.TASK 01: Conducting routine inspections in order to generate a strata control inspection report with recommendations for a designated area of a mine. (NQF Level: 3)

2.4.2.TASK 02: Creating awareness and understanding of strata control conditions through ongoing communication with production team members. (NQF Level: 3)

2.4.3.TASK 03: Participating in rock related accident and incident investigations. (NQF Level: 4)

2.4.4.TASK 04: Conducting quality control and quality assurance on support material. (NQF Level: 4)

2.4.5.TASK 05: Conducting geotechnical assessments (NQF Level: 4)

3.SECTION 3: CURRICULUM COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS SECTION

3.1.3A: KNOWLEDGE SUBJECT SPECIFICATIONS

3.1.1.List of Knowledge Subjects for which Specifications are included

3.2.Subject Specifications

311701-007-KS-01: Rock Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1)

311701-007-KS-02: Mining Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1)

SECTION 3B: PRACTICAL SKILL MODULE SPECIFICATIONS

List of Practical Skills Modules for which Specifications are included:

311701-007-PM-01-RESP.01-01: Inspect workplaces using a predetermined risk matrix. (NQF Level: 3)

311701-007-PM-02-RESP.01-02: Identify anomalous ground conditions. (NQF Level: 3)

311701-007-PM-03-RESP.01-03: Identify deviations from mining and support parameters, and dimensions of geological structures. (NQF Level: 3)

311701-007-PM-06-RESP. 03-01: Participate in accident and incident investigations. (NQF Level: 4)

311701-007-PM-07-RESP.04-01: Check material provided to the mine against the standards and procurement agreements. (NQF Level: 6)

311701-007-PM-08-RESP.05-01: Conduct a range of geotechnical index tests. (NQF Level: 4)

SECTION 3C: WORK EXPERIENCE MODULE SPECIFICATIONS

311701-007-WM-01 - CONTEXT 01-01: Exposure to the total practical mining processes

311701-007-WM-02 - CONTEXT 01-02: Exposure to workplace strata control inspection processes

311701-007-WM-03 - CONTEXT 01-03: Exposure toMine transportation and logistics processes.

311701-007-WM-04 - CONTEXT 02-02: Exposure to formal learning and development processes.

311701-007-WM-05 - CONTEXT 02-01: Exposure to on job communication and learning processes.

311701-007-WM-06 - CONTEXT 03-01: Exposure to Accident and incident investigation processes

311701-007-WM-07 - CONTEXT 04-01: Exposure to the mine procurement processes

311701-007-WM-08 - Context 05-01: Exposure to geotechnical sampling and testing processes

1.SECTION 1: CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

1.1.Occupational Information

1.1.1.Associated Occupations

311701 - Mining Technician

1.1.2.Occupation or Specialisation Addressed by this Curriculum

311701-007 - Mining Technician: Strata Control Practitioner (Coal)

1.1.3.Alternative Titles used by Industry

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Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

1.2.Curriculum Information

1.2.1.Relation of this Curriculum to the Occupation and Qualification

Progression

1.2.1. Notes regarding the Progression

1.2.2.Curriculum Structure

Knowledge Subjects

Number / Title / NQF Level / Credits
311701-007-KS-01 / Rock Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1) / 4 / 53
311701-007-KS-02 / Mining Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1) / 4 / 25

Total Knowledge Credits: 78

Practical Skills Modules

Number / Title / NQF Level / Credits
311701-007-PM-01 / RESP.01-01: Inspect workplaces using a predetermined risk matrix. / 3 / 14
311701-007-PM-02 / RESP.01-02: Identify anomalous ground conditions. / 3 / 10
311701-007-PM-03 / RESP.01-03: Identify deviations from mining and support parameters, and dimensions of geological structures. / 3 / 6
311701-007-PM-04 / RESP.01-04: Generate a workplace strata control inspection report. / 3 / 6
311701-007-PM-05 / RESP.02-01: Communicate and coach workers in their working environment. / 4 / 6
311701-007-PM-06 / RESP. 03-01: Participate in accident and incident investigations. / 4 / 6
311701-007-PM-07 / RESP.04-01: Check material provided to the mine against the standards and procurement agreements. / 6 / 6
311701-007-PM-08 / RESP.05-01: Conduct a range of geotechnical index tests. / 4 / 12

Total Practical Skill Credits: 66

Work Experience Modules

Number / Title / NQF Level / Credits
311701-007-WM-01 / CONTEXT 01-01: Exposure to the total practical mining processes / 3 / 40
311701-007-WM-02 / CONTEXT 01-02: Exposure to workplace strata control inspection processes / 3 / 20
311701-007-WM-03 / CONTEXT 01-03: Exposure to Mine transportation and logistics processes. / 3 / 16
311701-007-WM-04 / CONTEXT 02-02: Exposure to formal learning and development processes. / 4 / 10
311701-007-WM-05 / CONTEXT 02-01: Exposure to on job communication and learning processes. / 4 / 8
311701-007-WM-06 / CONTEXT 03-01: Exposure to Accident and incident investigation processes / 4 / 10
311701-007-WM-07 / CONTEXT 04-01: Exposure to the mine procurement processes / 4 / 8
311701-007-WM-08 / Context 05-01: Exposure to geotechnical sampling and testing processes / 4 / 8

Total Work Experience Credits: 120

1.2.3.TOTAL QUALIFICATION CREDITS:

264

  • Knowledge Percentage: 30%
  • Practical Skills Percentage: 25%
  • Workplace Percentage: 45%

1.2.4.International Comparability

The Southern African mining industry finds itself in a unique situation, in that most mining operations are very labour-intensive, with the workforce generally having a low standard of education. Comparable operations in overseas countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia are highly mechanized, with well-qualified operators. In line with this approach, overseas mines do not have rock engineering departments, strata control issues are handled by the production personnel, while higher-Level rock engineering is contracted to specialist consultancies.
The following strategy is followed when conducting research for comparing against other qualifications elsewhere in the world:

  • Countries with a formal Qualifications Framework, such as the United Kingdom (NVQ and SVQ), Australia and New Zealand.
  • Countries who are reputed to be leaders in a particular field.
  • SADEC countries, which are in geographical proximity to South Africa.
  • Countries with emerging economies (particularly in the mining context).
    This is based on an informative summary of world mining regions that was found.
    North America:
  • North America is the major producer of gold and silver.
    Europe:
  • Europe is not a major mining centre. However, it has several established base metal mines in Scandanavia, Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula.
    Asia:
  • Asia is a major producer of base metals, PGE's, ferrous metals and coal. Most major producers are state controlled.
    South America:
  • South America is a major producer of base and ferrous metals, in particular copper and iron ore.
    Africa:
  • Africa is a major producer of cobalt, gold, PGE's and diamonds. Mining accounts for a substantial proportion of several countries GDP's.
    Australasia:
  • Australasia is a leading producer of iron ore, gold and base metals.
    The Southern African mining industry finds itself in a unique situation, in that most mining operations are very labour-intensive, with the workforce generally having a low standard of education. Comparable operations in overseas countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia are highly mechanized, with well-qualified operators. In line with this approach, overseas mines do not have rock engineering departments, strata control issues are handled by the production personnel, while higher-Level rock engineering is contracted to specialist consultancies.
    For this reason, international comparability for Strata Control qualifications from Levels 2 to 4 is extremely difficult. While there may well be study material available for these Levels, it is intended for use by production employees and is not of a specialist nature.
    Qualifications Found:
  • Frameworks consulted were those of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (Britain) and Scotland.
  • While conducting the research in this regard, no evidence could be found of a strata control qualification per se comparable to NQF Level 3.
    Unit Standards Found:
  • A number of unit standards (competencies) were found on the Australian framework that was packaged in Underground Coal Operations qualifications:
    > MNCU053A Conduct basic strata control operations.
    > MNCU054A Conduct Advanced Strata control operations.
  • There were also units at Technical Management Level (not related to a qualification).
    > MNCU131A Establish the mining method and strata control system.
    > MNCU132A Implement the strata management plan.
    > MNCU133A Apply and monitor the strata management plan.
    Relevant unit standards were also found on the New Zealand framework (Domain: Metalliferous Mining (Underground):
  • 15662 Evaluate ground conditions and design support methods for underground mines and tunnels.
  • 15666 Demonstrate knowledge of geology of underground extraction sites.
    Courses Found:
    The United States and Canada are considered leaders in the world in terms of mining methodology, equipment and training.
  • Edumine offers professional development courses. Rock Engineering for non-engineers in mining addresses rock engineering (strata control) issues for personnel of mining companies who are not directly involved in mining.
  • The (USA) National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) offer a programme in ground control covering:
    > Using Mines Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) statistics and extensive interactions with the mining community to identify the most critical hazards.
    > Employing state-of-the-art strata control science in a targeted program of research that develops practical solutions.
    > Aggressively transferring research results to end users in the mining community.
    > Serving as the mining community's resource for the best strata control information available, and providing training and technical assistance consistent with this mission.
    In the SADC region officers within the rock engineering supportive services area in mines are taught the skills at the workplace. No generic courses/programmes could be found to perform a comparative analysis. This was confirmed in consultations held with an experienced mining engineer who has worked at mine manager Level in several SADC countries.
    Conclusions:
    International benchmarking in this instance has not revealed comparable qualifications for one or more of the following reasons:
  • The FETC: Strata Control Level 4 is a very specific qualification while the relevant units found internationally are packaged into broader qualifications at this Level or higher.
  • The reason for South African unit standards and qualifications representing a learning path starting at lower Levels is mainly due to the relatively low educational base of the majority of workers in the mining industry. The progression of qualifications from Level 2 through to Level 4 seek to address the education gap and give learners the opportunity to articulate to higher Levels, and hence advance their prospects with regards to career development.
  • The combination of geology, survey and sampling competencies into a single qualification is a unique approach that has not been seen elsewhere.
  • The unique circumstances of the South African mining industry such as diversity, skills shortages etc.
  • Legal requirements, particularly with regards to Occupational Health and Safety.
    The competencies covered by the FETC: Strata Control Level 4 is needed by employers and learners in the mining industry. It is highly motivated that learners should learn towards and be assessed against the relevant standards. Despite lack of any internationally comparable qualifications, it is nevertheless deemed a valuable and relevant qualification.

Entry Requirements

1. ENTRY REQUIREMENT: Maths and science or Mathematical Literacy at NQF 4 (Grade

12) level

2. Successful completion of the learning to meet the requirements of a Competent A person

3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT: Before attempting the final external assessment learners must successfully complete the National Foundational Learning Competence.

Assessment Quality Partner Information

Mine Qualifications authority

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Strata Control Practitioner: Coal

2.SECTION 2: OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE

2.1.Title: Mining Technician: Strata Control Practitioner - Coal

OFO Code: 311701-007

2.2.Occupational Purpose

Strata Control Practitioners (Coal): Assists mine management to implement the code of practice to achieve and maintain a safe and productive working environment by identifying hazards assessing the risk and recommending appropriate and necessary measures to manage rock related risks.

2.3.Occupational Tasks

  • TASK 01. Conducting routine inspections in order to generate a strata control inspection report with recommendations for a designated area of a mine. (NQF Level: 3)
  • TASK 02. Creating awareness and understanding of strata control conditions through ongoing communication with production team members. (NQF Level: 3)
  • TASK 03. Participating in rock related accident and incident investigations. (NQF Level: 4) TASK 04. Conducting quality control and quality assurance on support material. (NQF Level:4)
  • TASK 05. Conducting geotechnical assessments (NQF Level: 4)

2.4.Task Details

2.4.1.TASK 01: Conducting routine inspections in order to generate a strata control inspection report with recommendations for a designated area of a mine. (NQF Level: 3)

Unique Product or Service

  • Strata control inspection report

Occupational Responsibilities

  • RESP.01-01: Inspect workplaces using a predetermined risk matrix.
  • RESP.01-02: Identify anomalous ground conditions.
  • RESP.01-03: Identify deviations from mining and support parameters, and dimensions of geological structures.
  • RESP.01-04: Generate a workplace strata control inspection report.

Context

  • CONTEXT 01-01: Exposure to the total practical mining processes
  • CONTEXT 01-02: Exposure to workplace strata control inspection processes
  • CONTEXT 01-03: Exposure to Mine transportation and logistics processes.

2.4.2.TASK 02: Creating awareness and understanding of strata control conditions through ongoing communication with production team members. (NQF Level: 3)

Unique Product or Service

  • Workers have an optimum awareness and understanding of managing strata controlsituations.

Occupational Responsibilities

  • RESP.02-01: Communicate and coach workers in their working environment.

Context

  • CONTEXT 02-02: Exposure to formal learning and development processes.
  • CONTEXT 02-01: Exposure to on job communication and learning processes.

2.4.3.TASK 03: Participating in rock related accident and incident investigations. (NQF Level: 4)

Unique Product or Service

  • Report regarding the rock related conditions of accident and incident sites.

Occupational Responsibilities

  • RESP. 03-01: Participate in accident and incident investigations.

Context

  • CONTEXT 03-01: Exposure to Accident and incident investigation processes

2.4.4.TASK 04: Conducting quality control and quality assurance on support material. (NQF Level: 4)

Unique Product or Service

  • Quality support material available according to mine standard.

Occupational Responsibilities

  • RESP.04-01: Check material provided to the mine against the standards and procurementagreements.

Context

  • CONTEXT 04-01: Exposure to the mine procurement processes

2.4.5.TASK 05: Conducting geotechnical assessments(NQF Level: 4)

Unique Product or Service

  • Information to compile a geotechnical report

Occupational Responsibilities

  • RESP.05-01: Conduct a range of geotechnical index tests.

Context

  • Context 05-01: Exposure to geotechnical sampling and testing processes

3.SECTION 3: CURRICULUM COMPONENT SPECIFICATIONS SECTION

3.1.3A: KNOWLEDGE SUBJECT SPECIFICATIONS

3.1.1.List of Knowledge Subjects for which Specifications are included

Number / Title / NQF Level / Credits
311701-007-KS-01 / Rock Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1) / 4 / 53
311701-007-KS-02 / Mining Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1) / 4 / 25

Total Knowledge Credits: 78

3.2.Subject Specifications

311701-007-KS-01: Rock Engineering Practice (Strata Control) (1)

Related Knowledge Subject Code and Title

080702: THIS SUBJECT IS ALIGNED TO THE Geotechnical Engineering FIELD OF STUDY: An area of study which prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design development and operational evaluation of systems for manipulating and controlling surface and subsurface features at or incorporated into structural sites including earth and rock moving and stabilisation land fills design and construction ofshallow and deep foundations control of slope instability with retaining walls and sheet piling structural use and environmental stabilisation of wastes and by-products underground construction and groundwater and hazardous material containment.

Purpose of the Knowledge Subject

The focus of the learning in this subject is on building understanding of the key concepts andprinciples of Rock Engineering practice. The learning includes the key Rock Engineering theory and terminology and allows learners to develop an appreciation of the science of Rock Engineering as it relates to Strata Control.

Topics included in this subject:

TOPIC NUMBER / TOPIC TITLE / WEIGHT / CREDITS
311701-007-KS-01:01 / Principles, types, characteristics and applications of rock support and mine rock support standards (Intermediate) / 15 / 4
311701-007-KS-01:02 / Theory of pillar design as a rock support medium. (Intermediate) / 15 / 8
311701-007-KS-01:03 / Theory, terminology and basic calculations associated with rock engineering (Intermediate) / 10 / 12
311701-007-KS-01:04 / Interaction between rock strength, stress and fracture
(Intermediate) / 15 / 3
311701-007-KS-01:05 / Principles, types, characteristics and applications of rock mass monitoring and instrumentation (Basic) / 15 / 3
311701-007-KS-01:06 / Concepts and principles of geological and geotechnical logging. (Intermediate) / 10 / 16
311701-007-KS-01:07 / Principles and application of the code of practice. (Intermediate) / 10 / 3
311701-007-KS-01:08 / Short medium and long term causes and impacts of ground vibration on ground stability in coal mines. (Basic) / 10 / 4

TOTAL TOPIC CREDITS: 53

311701-007-KS-01:01 -Principles, types, characteristics and applications of rock support and mine rock support standards (Intermediate)(Credits: 4)

Topic Elements to be covered include:

1. Calculate a basic support design for various roof scenarios (NQF Level: 5)

2. Explain what is meant by SUPPORT PRINCIPLES and give examples of the applicationof support principles in various mining situations. (Beam creation, Suspension, Containment, Confinement. Load distribution.)

(NQF Level: 3)

3. Explain and demonstrate by means of calculations the concepts of Areal coverage, Tributary area andFactor of safety.(NQF Level: 5)

4. Describe the features and characteristics of a range of support units currently being used in the industry. (NQF Level: 3)

Internal Assessment Criteria:

1. Given a range of physical strata roof conditions be able to identify the most appropriatesupport design:

a. Correct design selected for every condition;

b. All aspects of the surrounding host rock considered;

c. All calculations correctly applied. (Weight: 100%)

311701-007-KS-01:02 -Theory of pillar design as a rock support medium. (Intermediate)

(Credits: 8)

Topic Elements to be covered include:

1. Explain what a mine pillar is and how pillars work as primary support mechanisms in coalmines:

a. Tributary area theory;

b. Pillar design guidelines (Shallow, medium and deep level);

c. Features and characteristics of the main pillar designs (Salamon and Munro, Van DerMerwe, Madden, Ozravecz, Oldroyd, Buddery, Bieniawski) (NQF Level: 5)

2. Describe the basic pillar design principles for primary, secondary, tertiary and pillar extraction mining practices. (NQF Level: 4)

3. Explain the impact on surface structures due to mining activities:

a. Subsidence;

b. Environmental;

c. Infrastructure;

d. Cultural issues and grave sites;

e. Human settlements. (NQF Level: 4)

4. Explain what a special area is and how pillar design principles must be adapted in such areas. (NQF Level: 5)

5. Describe the purpose, features and characteristics of barrier pillars (Mine boundaries) (NQF Level: 3)

Internal Assessment Criteria:

1. Given scenarios regarding different mining areas, mining depths, mining methods andenvironmental factors be able to do a basic pillar design for the situations: