IMPORTANTShotfirer Training and Licensing

Current standards for shotfirer licensing require training to the national competencies and the awarding of a Statement of Attainment (SoA) by a Registered Training Organisation. This comes under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and means that training standards are no longer administered by the various mines, dangerous goods and explosives regulators but by the local Department of Education and Training.

Under the current system there are three ways to obtain the necessary Statement of Attainment:

1. Refresher

2. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

3. Completion of a full Shotfirer training course.

These are detailed below:

Refresher

The requirement for ‘Refresher’ training and the re-issue of an updated Statement of Attainment are designed to fill in any gaps and to meet the mines regulators expectation for continuous learning and development. A Statement of Attainment itself is not expired by the Department of Education and Training.

Refresher training focusses on recent legislation, product and practice changes and learning from incidents as well as a refresh of the main shotfirer competencies.

The ‘Refresher’ is a short course for shotfirers who hold an existing shotfirers license and a Statement of Attainment (SoA) from a Registered Training Organisation for the shotfiring units of competency. Units can be from the current, RII09, or superseded, MNMG, MNC, MNQ training packages.

Successful trainees will receive a Statement of Attainment for the current RII09 units of competency matched to their existing SoA units.

Blast Management International offers a two day full contact refresher training option.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The requirements for RPL are set out in the AQTF document at http://www.training.com.au/pages/menuitema9bdc36a165dfb80f9fa5a1017a62dbc.aspx

Essentially this means that experienced shotfirers who have been trained but do not have a Statement of Attainment can obtain one through submitting evidence that they have experience and learning that can be mapped to the requirements of the recognised competencies.

The creation of a portfolio of evidence and the review of this by the RTO is a significant task (see below) and the effort is generally well in excess of completing a full shotfirer course.

In summary Shotfirer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment is for shotfirers with the following skills, experience and training:

1. A minimum of 12 months working as a shotfirer.

2. A minimum of 6 months shotfiring in the past 2 years.

3. A current shotfiring license issued by the state regulator.

4. A log book signed off by a responsible person confirming recent shotfiring experience.

5. Evidence of non-accredited shotfiring training completed, certificates etc.

6. Evidence of participation in mining related risk assessments such as completed, JSA's, JRA's take 5's or similar to show risk management experience.

7. Ability to have a practical assessment signed off by a qualified site trainer / assessor.

Submission of RPL Portfolio:

A portfolio of learning and experience to obtain RPL needs to provide evidence that the trainee has met all the requirements for the units of competency. These can be downloaded from the National Industry Skills Council at http://www.skillsdmc.com.au/en/Training%20Packages/RII09%20Resources%20and%20Infrastructure%20Industry%20Training%20Package/Units%20of%20Competency/2%202%20Blasting%20-%20RIIBLA.aspx

Evidence is generally of the form of working documents, plans, diary notes, shift logs, risk assessments, reports etc. Declarations of competency are not evidence.

As an example the candidate would need to provide evidence for capability in relation to charging holes as follows:

1. Supervise blast personnel during loading operations

2. Prime and charge holes in accordance with the blast plan

3. Ensure blast holes are charged in accordance with loading plan and identify non-conforming conditions

4. Ensure blast holes are stemmed in accordance with blast plan

5. Clear the area of equipment, personnel and isolate/barricade the blast area, including warning signs

6. Test equipment and accessories

7. Maintain records

BMI is able to conduct assessment of submitted portfolios. Contact BMI for more information.

Shotfirer Training Course

Trainees who undertake a full training course will receive a Statement of Attainment for the relevant RII09 shotfirer units of competency.

BMI runs regular courses, depending on demand, which range in duration from four to five days. Training courses involve both theory and practical assessment and trainees must have access to a drill and blast operation to complete. Alternatively BMI can arrange this at additional cost.

Persons attending a full shotfirer course must have a minimum of six months drill and blast experience, preferably as blast crew.

Contact:

For more information email training@blastmanagement.com.au

Notes: All successful trainees will receive a Statement of Attainment to the RII09 training package for the shotfiring units of competency. This meets the requirements of the Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas, NT and WA regulators.