Notices

New competency for ventilation officer role in underground mineral mines.

The Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee have published a new competency for a person appointed as a ventilation officer in an underground mineral mine in Queensland.

The new competency was required after legislation was passed by the Queensland Parliament that requires all underground mineral mines with more than 20 employees to appoint a ventilation officer who meets the competency requirements as specified by the advisory committee.

The Mines Legislation (Resources Safety) Amendment Act 2018 allows for a three-year transitional period, after which, the person appointed to the role must have the required competency.

The new competency provides ventilation officers with three qualification options:

• RIIUND603D and RIIUND601D as delivered by SIMTARS, and successful completion of an assessment examination conducted by SIMTARS
• The Graduate Diploma of Mine Ventilation from the University of New South Wales
• Qualifications obtained and recognised under an alternative jurisdiction and accepted by the Chief Inspector (Mineral Mines and Quarries).

A competency for ventilation officers in underground coal mines has been in place since 2003.

The competencies recognised by the Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee can be found on the Business Queensland website.