Assessment Scenario:

Students undertaking this unit of study shall be assessed on their knowledge through the completion of three assignments. The purpose of this preamble is to set the scene so that students gain an overall understanding of what is expected from them in completing the assignments.
In order to do this we will now set the framework in which the assignments are to be completed and how each assignment is designed to build on the previous one. So, that when all assignments are complete, the student will have completed a preliminary report on implementing a mine management and safety strategy for a new Quuensland coal mining operation that incorporates contemporary management processes aimed at ensuring that the mine, once in operation, has a quality management system that will underpin a safe system of work.

The scenario for the assignments is that you have been seconded to a Project Management Team that is establishing a new green-field mining venture. The mine is a Pty Ltd stand alone company called "Horizon Mining" and it is not connected to any other business entity in any way. Accordingly, you are not restricted in your approach by any management systems already in place at other mining operations.
Other members of the Project Management Team are working on such things as mine design, feasibility studies, exploration and land access, so you should not concern yourself with these aspects.

Each individual report should aim to inform the Project Management Team of their options, therefore they should not focus on one specific aspect. Should project management accept all or part of the preliminary report, they plan to commission a much more detailed report on the aspects raised in the preliminary report. Consequently it is important that you provide a rationale in order to support your recommendations.
All reports should be directed to:

Mr Brendan Donnelly,
Project Manager,
New Horizon Mining Pty Ltd

Each assignment should be presented in a report format to senior management and should include an executive summary, an introduction, the body of the report with appropriate sub-headings, recommendations, references and appendices. Also, each assignment should stand alone.

Details:

• The recommended organisational structure for the new mining operation. In your report you should provide the background on several options. You should recommend the ideal organisational structure and provide a detailed rationale for your choice.
• Explain the need for management systems and how they can assist the new mining venture in establishing and maintaining a safe and productive workplace. You should identify at least 4 separate management systems.
• For each system you need to discuss which position in the organisational structure is responsible for implementing, monitoring and updating the system. The systems identify problems with the mine safety or productivity. Describe the processes that will be put in place to address identified problems.

• The marks for this assignment are allocated to 40% for content, 30% for coherence, 15% for style and structure and 15% for referencing.
• You should use clear, coherent sentences.
• The organisational structure will require a clear diagram that is referred to within the text (probably more than once).
• You should include supporting detail of the purpose of the organisational structure.
• You should include the rationale for choosing a particular type of organisational structure.
• You should describe your reasons for recommending a particular organisational structure and how it supports the functions and principles of management.
• You should describe at least four management systems and how they can help to establish and to maintain a safe and productive mine site. Management systems should at least cover Mine Safety Management Plan or System, Environmental Management Plan or system, Mine Reporting System and a Maintenance Management System.
• You should include an explanation of which department managers are responsible for implementing and maintaining each system.
• You also need to describe some processes for dealing with anomalies or identified problems. The processes should resolve problems and communicate outcomes to mine personnel.
• Your sources of information should be correctly cited within the text and a list of references must be included at the end of the answer (under a separate heading).
• Mining terminologies must be used correctly.
• A detailed marking criteria sheet will also be available on the ENAR12004 moodle page.
  

Your initial report has been accepted by the project management team. They have some concerns in relation to ensuring that the mine meets the legislative requirements for operating in Australia. They would like you to develop a proposal that will ensure mine management are aware of their legal responsibilities in the following areas:

• Safety Management Plan, including a principal hazard management plan. Identify safety procedures that will be followed in the event of a fatality. Procedures should address questions of the following types:

• Who will be responsible for contacting police?

• Who will be responsible for securing the site?

• What backup procedures are required if key personnel are unavailable?

• Environmental Management Plan that will not only comply with the intent and the spirit of the relevant legislation, but will encourage all mine site personnel to view environmental protection and cultural awareness as critical components of their everyday duties. You should aim to support your recommendations by citing relevant sections of the legislation that govern your industry.

Your report should also identify any other safety related legislation the mine manager needs to be aware of and the responsibilities they may have under this legislation.

Project management has asked you to provide a report that will ensure mine management are fully aware of their safety and environmental responsibilities under Quuensland coal mining legislation.

• The mark for this assignment will be allocated to 40% for content, 30% for coherence, 15% for style and structure and 15% for referencing.
• Use clear coherent sentences. Use correct mining terminology.
• The safety management plan should at least meet the requirements of the Queensland Coal Mining Act and Regulations.
• A specific section of the report should explain exactly what needs to happen in the event of a fatality on the mine site.
• The environmental section of the report should describe suitable processes for monitoring and reporting incidents that impact on the environment.
• The processes should refer to and meet all the requirements of the Queensland Environmental Protection Act.
• Other Queensland safety related legislation the mine manager may need to be aware of includes the Explosives Act 1999 and the Radiation Safety Act 1999.
• All sources of information should be correctly cited within the text and a list of references must be included at the end of the answer (under a separate heading).

Once again your report has been accepted by the project management team. Senior project management believes that in order to ensure a safe and productive workplace mine management will require detailed guidance for setting up a suitable mine reporting system. They will also require clear expectations of what leadership in the workplace will look like on a day to day basis. Finally they will need guidance on setting up a suitable Enterprise Agreement for the mining operation.

Senior project management have now requested a further report to cover the following options:

• A review of several different mine reporting systems. Highlight the desirable features of each system and recommend a suitable system with appropriate justifications based on how well the system fits the organisational structure that you recommended in your initial report.
• A leadership development plan. Your plan will describe the type of behaviour you would expect good mine leadership to demonstrate. You will then describe a process that attempts to identify potential leaders in the workforce. The plan will also describe how good leadership will be rewarded and promoted as a positive and valued quality by all mine personnel.
• A plan for implementing an Enterprise Agreement to meet the needs of the proposed mining operation. At this stage Project Management is not interested in the content of the agreement, just the process that they are required to follow in legally establishing an agreement. They are particularly interested in ensuring compliance with the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.
• As this is a preliminary report there is no need to assess costs or develop a schedule. The purpose of this report is to provide the necessary information to allow mine management to make an informed decision about the pros and cons of selecting a suitable mine reporting system, implementing a leadership development plan, and implementing an enterprise bargaining agreement.

The marks for this assignment will be allocated to 40% for content, 30% for coherence, 15% for style and structure and 15% for referencing. Use clear coherent sentences. Mining terminology must be used correctly.

• Your review should reference at least three different mine reporting system websites.
• You should include at least one table that provides a convenient comparison of the features identified for each mine reporting system.
• Developing an in-house reporting system is a suitable option to consider but needs to specify the advantages and disadvantages and justify the inclusion (or exclusion) of features.
• The reporting systems suitability should be justified by how well it aligns with the organisational structure that you recommended in assignment 1.
• The leadership development plan will include a clear description of what leadership looks like for several different roles in the mining operation. These roles might include the senior site executive, the shift supervisor and the truck operator.
• The plan should describe how good leaders will be identified and how good leadership will be rewarded without causing ill feeling in the workplace.
• Detail of the processes required to be followed to establish an enterprise bargaining agreement. Describe how an enterprise agreement can meet the requirements of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.
• Correctly cite sources of information within the text.
• Include a list of references at the end of the answer (under a separate heading).
• References should include relevant mining act and regulations, Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, other relevant legislation, etc.

The "Learning Portfolio" provides you with an opportunity to reflect on what you are learning. You will record in the Learning Portfolio, notes on any work and reading that is relevant to the learning outcomes detailed in the course profile. You will record and demonstrate evidence of all of the learning outcomes detailed for this course, particularly teamwork, cultural sensitivity and ethical values. The Learning Portfolio provides you with an opportunity to discuss your learning experiences online. It is also a record of websites, texts and journal articles that may be useful for future reference in your career in mining.

With each assignment submitted you will also submit an updated version of your Learning Portfolio. There are three elements to the Learning Portfolio:

1. Study Diary
2. Learning Reflections
3. Interactions

Each element should contain updates when submitted with an assignment.

Maintain a Learning Journal while you are working on this course. Spend the last 5 minutes of any study session updating your learning journal.

Reflect on your learning and record what you have been working on. Record your work and background reading that is completed as part of the preparation for submitting an assignment.

Record your online discussions and interactions and map them to the learning outcomes for this course.

Record and demonstrate evidence of all of the learning outcomes detailed for this course, particularly teamwork, cultural sensitivity and ethical values.

This assessment does not require time to be spent on high quality presentation, it just needs to demonstarte evidence of work undertaken towards completion of the unit on a weekly basis.

The "Learning Portfolio" is a word document containing three elements

1. Study Diary
2. Learning Reflections
3. Interactions

Each element should have additional entries when submitted with a newly completed assignment.

By the end of the course every learning outcome in the learning reflections element requires an entry describing evidence of that learning outcome.