Hunter-based registered training organisation, Forsythes Training, has launched a new mentoring service for mining employees who are undertaking the NSW Open Cut Examiners (OCE) written or oral examinations.
The face-to-face group mentoring can be held at a mine’s workplace and customised to meet participants needs.
The program is being run by Forsythes Training’s newly appointed, accredited mining trainer, Jeff Hanlon.
Jeff said the OCE exams are difficult and have high failure rates. He said it can be very expensive to re-sit examinations.
“Many people doing the OCE exams have not studied for these types of exams for some time or at all,” Jeff said.
“They are not used to doing closed book, written exams in short time periods nor doing oral exams.”
He said the mentoring service will help those seeking accreditation to understand the exam process and learn effective study methods and exam techniques. The sessions will include reviews of recent exam papers as well as reviews of legislation and recent mining incidents.
Forsythes Training CEO, Chad White said Jeff is highly experienced and qualified to help participants to pass the exams with flying colours.
“Jeff knows everything there is to know about mining and the OCE examinations,” Chad said.
“He’s done the exam himself, has successfully mentored others, and has served on the examinations panel.”
He said group mentoring is cost effective and helps participants to learn from the mentor and from each other.
Jeff has an NSW Open Cut Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency and an NSW Open Cut Examiner’s Certificate of Competency.
He has more than 35 years’ experience as an engineer and manager in the mining and quarrying industries. This experience includes working as a Mine Supervisor and a Mine Manager with Australia’s leading mining companies.
The NSW OCE examinations are essential for people wanting to work as an Open Cut Examiner (OCE), a Mine Supervisor, or a Mine Manager.
An OCE is responsible for ensuring a safe work environment by applying the safety and health management system in and around work areas of surface excavation, including monitoring the quantity and quality of output, supervising others, and applying solutions to non-routine problems.
In NSW, people need to have completed a Bachelor of Mining Engineering or Certificate IV in Surface Coal Mining (Open Cut Examiner) before being able to undertake the accreditation examinations.
Chad said the new service is part of a suite of nationally recognised, mining and resources qualifications, as well as other courses, programs, and training plans for the mining and resources sector.
Forsythes Training is an approved training provider under the NSW Resources Regulators’ learning from mining disasters training package and is expert at helping mining companies meet the regulator’s Maintenance of Competence Scheme.
The company is planning to offer a Certificate IV in Surface Coal Mining and has just launched a new WHS Responsibilities for Supervisors Workshop which is relevant for all sectors, including mining.
IMAGE | New mentoring program available for people partaking in NSW Open Cut Examiners (OCE) written or oral examinations.
