Mine Environmental Control Officer

The purpose of National Occupational Certificate: Mine Environmental Control Officer is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mine Environmental Control Officer. Mine Environmental Control Officers coordinate, observe, measure, monitor, and ensure the implementation of occupational environmental control and hygiene systems, procedures, processes, specifications, standards, and codes of practice and make recommendations regarding corrective action and/or improvement of mine environmental control practices to ensure legal compliance for a section of a mine. Mine Environmental Control Officers troubleshoot and address problems; react to events in time-critical environments; and complete administrative functions and duties to realise optimum operational performance, availability, and mining production requirements in accordance with organisational, statutory, and regulatory requirements. A qualified learner will be able to: • Design the occupational and environmental control short- and medium-term systems and plans, and occupational hygiene programmes for a section of the mine. • Oversee the implementation of systems and plans for a section of the mine. • Provide input into enhancing the mine environmental control and occupational hygiene systems and functions, and contribute to revised standards, codes of practice, and plans. • Supervise the section environmental control unit and resources for a section of a mine. • Troubleshoot. • Communicate effectively. The qualifying learner will be able to carry out the required tasks effectively and confidently. The qualification offers qualified learner's opportunities to advance their careers within the mine environmental control related qualifications. A competent learner shall demonstrate among others the following attributes: honesty, integrity, punctuality, time management, self-motivated, responsibility, accountability, interpersonal relations, ethical behaviour, well organised, self-confidence and confidentiality.

Mine environmental control is a highly regulated field. Mines cannot operate without appropriately qualified Mine environmental control Officers. The work of these individuals is guided by the appropriate legislation, and the regulator requires practitioners to demonstrate competence in specific areas as set out in the legislation. Historically, the suite of certificates in Mine Environmental Control issued by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa was designed and was accepted by the South African Mining Industry, including the various Governmental Mining Authorities as a key and fundamental qualification to promote health and safety in the industry. With the globalisation of companies and the mobility of professionals in the last decade, professionals in this and other similar specialised areas had to prove their knowledge, skills and the worth of their qualifications since these were not issued by a formal (and recognised) educational institution. There is a critical need in the industry to recognise learner competence regarding essential operations associated with a healthy, safe, and productive working environment. This qualification is the next step in a career path in one of the areas of specialisation in Mine Ventilation. This qualification facilitates access for learners who have completed the appropriate level three qualification to acquire the technical knowledge and skills associated with safe, healthy, and efficient controlling of mine occupational environmental conditions in the workplace. It is vital that the Mine Environmental Control Officer comes from within the mining industry and has intimate knowledge and experience of all the aspects of Occupational Hygiene and Environmental Engineering. The qualification is designed to be flexible and accessible so that learners are able to demonstrate the competencies in mine environmental control across the mining and minerals sector. This qualification will benefit society in terms of skills and technical competencies since qualifying learners will improve work standards, health and safety, and effectiveness and contribute significantly to the growth of the country's economy. This enhances employment opportunities, which benefit the sector and learners and also ensures a wider coverage of Ventilation Practitioners in the South African work environment. Learners for this qualification will be Mine Environmental Observers and mine workers with appropriate experience seeking to advance their credentials or careers. The typical learning pathway in mining operations would be Mine Environmental Observer at NQF Level 3, Mine Environmental Officer at NQF Level 4, then Mine Environmental Control Supervisor at NQF Level 7 within the Occupational Qualification Sub-Framework. At the time of reviewing this qualification, a learning pathway across sub-frameworks could not be established because diagonal articulation was not possible. Collaboration with relevant stakeholders: • Workplace Practitioners, • Private Training Providers, • Employer association representatives, • Skills Development Facilitators and • Curriculum Development Specialist.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to Training: Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors. For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA): Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved. Upon successful completion of the EISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 3 qualification with Communication and Mathematics. Or • Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician: Mine Ventilation Observer, NQF Level 3, Or • Intermediate Occupational Certificate Mine Environmental Control Observer, NQF Level 3.

• Develop and ensure implementation of basic mine ventilation systems and occupational hygiene programmes.
• Observe and monitor the implementation of mine specific mine environmental control requirements.
• Initiate corrective action to improve the mine ventilation and occupational hygiene systems and functions.
• Oversee the mine environmental control function for a designated area of a mine.
• Troubleshoot the possible root causes analysis of poor performing ventilation systems.
• Communicate effectively.