Mine Environmental Control Supervisor

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mine Environmental Control Supervisor. A Mine Environmental Control Supervisor must meet the requirements to be legally appointed in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act and are required to anticipate, recognise, evaluate and control the mine occupational environmental conditions for a designated area of a mine that may cause adverse health effects or pose a safety risk to persons or damage to property, a suitable qualified learner will be able to: • Anticipate, recognise, evaluate and control all occupational hygiene stressors for the designated area. • Design, plan and implement strategies for the provision of a safe and healthy occupational environment in a designated area of a mine. • Continually determine all mine environmental control hazards and risks and implement actions to mitigate the risks. • Ensure total compliance with all mine environmental control regulatory requirements. • Manage the resources of a mine environmental control department.

The underground Mining Environment is a unique working environment. Employees are expected to execute a range of cognitive and physical tasks, operate heavy and sometimes complex equipment within confined spaces in the absence of natural airflow. The work is done within rock chambers and haulages that do not exist naturally, but created through rock breaking and blasting activities. This unique environment holds many hazards and risks for the employees. These risks includes, but not limited to rock falls, lack of clean air, pollution of the environment from the equipment, noise stressors, poor illumination and natural occurring gases. Over the years the industry has developed sophisticated practices, systems to manage these hazards and risks and to create a safe and healthy occupational environment wherein mine employees can do their work. The regulators enforce strict laws to govern the control of this unique environment. In terms of these laws and regulations as per the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act no. 2 of 1996), every mine in the country is required to employ a group of technical and professional employees that will manage and control the occupational mining environment. These highly technical and professional persons must identify the hazards to health and safety, assess the risks to health and safety, record the hazards and risks, eliminate, control and minimise all hazards and risks. A person with this qualification will typically be appointed as a Mine Environmental Control Supervisor. The Mine Environmental Control supervisors design and develop comprehensive mine ventilation engineering systems and programmes, manage the ventilation engineering functions of a mine ensuring the creation, maintenance and improvement of a healthy, save and productive working environment. Furthermore, Mine Environmental Control Supervisors provide strategic direction and policies regarding all mine ventilation engineering aspects, design complex and comprehensive mine ventilation, refrigeration systems and programmes for existing and new mining ventures. Mine Environmental Control supervisors contributes to the research and development of new technology and leading practices. This Occupation Carries a legal appointment and therefore requires a nationally recognised programme or qualification. The skills required to master the work in this occupation is complex and requires dedicated learning and application. This qualification builds on the skills and knowledge mastered in the previous qualification, viz the Mine Ventilation Officer which serves as the entry requirement into this qualification. This qualification focuses on four key areas: Ventilation Engineering: which includes the mechanical engineering principles used to create airflow in underground workings and the principles and dynamics of refrigeration as applied in underground mining. The South African mines operate at an ever deeper level these technologies develop fast and increase in complexity levels. Mastery of this also enables articulation into Mining and Mechanical engineering studies within the Occupational qualifications sub framework and into Higher Education Sub framework. Occupational Hygiene: this covers the occupational environmental stressors within a mining environment and includes noise, illumination, pollutants, gas emissions, heat, fatigue etc. This knowledge allows articulation to qualifications in Occupational Hygiene. However here it is very specific to the mining environment. Emergency preparedness which forms a core part of the qualification and specifically emphasizes the availability and use of escape routes, dealing with underground fires, use of self-rescue equipment etcetera. Management and compliance which focus here is on managing the availability of the required occupational environmental data and the enforcement of compliance. This is done through small teams of qualified observers and practitioners and direct contact with employees and line managers. The mining industry will remain the backbone of the South African economy for many years to come, in fact, with the advance of technology there will, in the coming decades, be opportunities to return to and access the minerals left behind in the older mines, the industry will also be able to access resources that are currently too deep to mine. The development of the occupational competence as set out in this qualification is essential to capitalise on these technological advances and is directly aligned to the South African National Development strategy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician (Mine Ventilation Officer) Level 4, SAQA QUAL ID: 98932.

• Design, plan and implement strategies for the provision of a safe and healthy occupational environment in a designated area of a mine.
• Continually determine all mine environmental control hazards and risks and implement actions to mitigate the risks.
• Ensure total compliance with all mine environmental control regulatory requirements.