Mining Technician (Mine Ventilation Officer)

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Mine Ventilation Officer. Mine Ventilation Officers coordinate, observe and monitor the implementation of mine specific ventilation codes of practice and make recommendations regarding corrective action and/or improvement of ventilation practices to ensure legal compliance for a designated area of a mine. A qualified learner will be able to: • Design and ensure implementation of basic Mine Ventilation systems and Occupational Hygiene programmes. • Provide input into enhancing the Mine Ventilation and Occupational Hygiene systems and functions. • Supervise the mine ventilation function and resources for a designated area of a mine. • Provide information for improving the mine refrigeration system.

The Mine Ventilation Profession is a highly regulated profession. Mines cannot operate without appropriately qualified Mine Ventilation 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 mobility of professional 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.In addition, the transformation of the current qualifications into formally recognised educational credentials open the door to the registration of professionals with the Engineering Council of South Africa. Learners credited with this occupational certificate will qualify to be appointed as Mining Engineering Ventilation Technicians. 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. Iit is vital that the Mining Ventilation Engineering Technician 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 Ventilation across the mining and minerals sector. The specialisations in Coal, Hardrock and Surface Excavations do not require separate qualifications. The distinction lies in the Work Experience Component. The qualification will be endorsed as Underground Hardrock, Underground Coal, or Surface Excavations based on the completed work experience. Moving to a new mining context will require that the learner completes the relevant work experience in that context and then apply to the External Assessment Quality Partner to have the qualification endorsed accordingly.

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 Requirement: • Occupational Certificate: Mining Technician: Mine Ventilation Observer, at NQF Level 3.

• Develop and ensure implementation of basic Mine Ventilation systems and Occupational Hygiene programmes.
• Observe and monitor the implementation of mine specific ventilation codes of practice.
• Initiate corrective action to improve the mine ventilation and occupational hygiene systems and functions.
• Oversee the effective functioning of a mine ventilation function for a designated area of a mine.