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Title / Describe and operate a continuous miner to cut and extract in an underground mine
Level / 4 / Credits / 20
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the operational characteristics and performance of a continuous miner; describe safety systems and conditions for operating a continuous miner; describe extraction systems using a continuous miner and product transport methods; interpret a shift plan, outline the briefing, and plan for the shift; operate a continuous miner; and park and shut down a continuous miner, list defects, and complete documentation, in an underground mine.
Classification / Extractive Industries > Underground Extraction
Available grade / Achieved
Prerequisites / Unit 7146, Demonstrate basic knowledge and ability required to work in an underground operation,or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Guidance Information
1Performance of the outcomes of this unit standard must comply with the following:
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSW);
Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016;
Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016;
Health and Safety at Work (Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation) Regulations 2016;
approved codes of practice issued pursuant to the HSWAct.
2Any new, amended, or replacement Acts, regulations, standards, codes of practice, guidelines, or authority requirements or conditions affecting this unit standard will take precedence for assessment purposes, pending review of this unit standard.
3Definitions
Company procedures mean the documented methods for performing work activities and include health and safety, operational, environmental, and quality management requirements. They may refer to legislation, regulations, guidelines, standard operating procedures, manuals, codes of practice, or policy statements.
Industry best practicemay be documented in management plans, control plans, company procedures, managers’ rules, occupational health and safety policy, industry guidelines, codes of practice, manufacturers’ instructions, and safe working and/or job procedures (or equivalent).
Outcomes and performance criteria
Outcome 1
Describe the operational characteristics and performance of a continuous miner in an underground mine.
Performance criteria
1.1The operational characteristics and performance of a continuous miner are described in terms of its use in an underground mine.
Rangesafety features, controls, operating procedures, attachments, powered attachments.
Outcome 2
Describe safety systems and conditions for operating a continuous miner in an underground mine.
Performance criteria
2.1The safety systems and conditions for the operation of a continuous miner are described in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangesystems – compressed air, electrical services, survey sights;
conditions – gradient, speed, lighting, accessibility, ventilation, roadway, roof and sides security, water.
Outcome 3
Describe extraction systems using a continuous miner and product transport methods in an underground mine.
Performance criteria
3.1The extraction systems are described in terms of the use of a continuous miner.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – panel split and fender, pillar split and lift, bottom coaling, sub-level, caving, partial extraction, shortwall, stumps, goaf, sequence of operations.
3.2Product transport methods are described in terms of the extraction systems.
Rangeconveyors, flumes, pumps.
Outcome 4
Interpret a shift plan, outline the briefing, and plan for the shift.
Performance criteria
4.1The shift plan is interpreted in accordance with the work required for the continuous miner.
4.2The shift briefing notes are outlined in accordance with the shift plan.
Rangehazards, other machines, ventilation, planned and unplanned shutdowns, revised survey plans, amended priorities, status of the machine.
4.3Briefing information is interpreted and the work of the continuous miner is planned in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangeproductivity, customer focus, team working, product quality, sights, gradient, width, height, support, ventilation.
Outcome 5
Operate a continuous miner in an underground mine.
Performance criteria
5.1Walk-around and pre-start checks are completed in accordance with industry best practice.
5.2Working face is checked to ensure it has the required services and the conditions are checked in relation to continuous miner operation.
Rangeservices include – ventilation, air, water, electrical;
conditions – roadway, support, working face.
5.3Continuous miner is used to cut and load in accordance with industry best practice.
Rangechanging grade, breaking away, loading.
5.4Strata support is installed in accordance with industry best practice.
5.5Services are advanced in accordance with industry best practice and shift requirements.
Rangewater, electrical cables, accessories.
5.6Operator and personnel are located to ensure that they are not endangered by the operation of the machine.
Outcome 6
Park and shut down a continuous miner, list defects, and complete documentation.
Performance criteria
6.1Machine is parked and shut down in accordance with industry best practice.
6.2Identified defects are reported and managed in accordance with industry best practice and company procedures.
6.3Documentation is completed in accordance with industry best practice.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 7150.Planned review date / 31 December 2022
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 25 October 2005 / 31 December 2017
Rollover and Revision / 2 / 16 July 2010 / 31 December 2017
Review / 3 / 18 June 2015 / N/A
Rollover and Revision / 4 / 25 January 2018 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0114
This CMR can be accessed at
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact MITO New Zealand Incorporated if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
MITO New Zealand IncorporatedSSB Code 101542 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018