Mineral processing mobile and static plant operator

This apprenticeship is in revision

A revised version of this apprenticeship standard has been agreed and is available for information only at present. Further details of this and other apprenticeship standards in revision are available in the revisions status report.

Overview of the role

Operating and maintaining heavy mobile plant equipment like excavators, dumper trucks or construction material production plants

Mineral processing mobile and static plant operator

Reference Number: ST0144

Details of standard

Occupation:

The main duties and tasks of mineral processing mobile and static plant operators are to operate either fixed or mobile heavy plant equipment efficiently and safely complying with current legislation, company policies and procedures. Producing high quality products for a diverse range of end uses and related manufacture such as construction products, ready mixed concrete, mortar, asphalt, cement, precast or prestressed concrete products. Duties include carrying out preventative and routine maintenance inspections of equipment and housekeeping. Furthermore, they are expected to report plant defects, conduct risk assessments, work alone and in a team, demonstrate a good product knowledge and a strong discipline towards safety, health and environment. It is also the responsibility of the mineral processing plant operator to report stock availability and quality. Plant machinery is specialist equipment (potential value up to 2 million pounds) that can fall into two main categories with various associated job roles.

Static plant:

Concrete batcher, asphalt plant operator, mortar plant operator, crushing and screening plant operator, washing plant operator precast & prestressed concrete production operative, etc.                      

Mobile plant:

Mobile plant operators required to operate plant equipment such as quarry dumpers, articulated dumpers, 360 excavators, telehandlers, loading shovels and dozers, etc.

Apprentices will be expected to become competent at operating one item of plant during the apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

As a minimum they must achieve level 1 English and maths and take the test for level 2 English and maths. Individual employers will set any additional entry requirements for this apprenticeship.

Sub sectors that use this standard

Extractive operations, quarrying, mining, waste operations, precast & prestressed concrete, dimension stone operations, delving, recycling 

Duration

18 to 24 months (Minimum 12 months)

Apprenticeship Level

Level 2

Core competencies – knowledge, skills and behaviours

KNOWLEDGE 

What is required

Operations
  • Demonstrate understanding of the operational and technical aspects of the fixed or mobile plant equipment.
  • Demonstrate understanding of all the hazards and risks of operating fixed or mobile plant equipment.

Health and safety

  • Explain the importance of reporting and evaluation of all potential work hazards and site-specific hazards, including near-misses and dangerous occurrences.
  • Demonstrate the identification of risks of activities using approved assessment processes and encourage other employees to demonstrate safety-conscious behaviours.
  • Demonstrate understanding of risk assessments, legislation, regulations, safe systems of work, and limits of responsibility.

Sustainability
  • Explain how to evaluate the environmental impact of operating mobile and static equipment.
  • Explain the importance of minimising fuel/waste and environmental impact of work activities.

Effective communications
  • Explain the reporting lines in both day-to-day and emergency situations.
  • Explain how to communicate effectively and how to develop and maintain effective working relationships.

Product knowledge
  • Demonstrate understanding of the products and product specifications required and identify changes or issues with quality or stock levels when they arise.

SKILLS

What is required

Operations
  • Be able to conduct pre-start and post operation checks of plant equipment.
  • Be able to operate fixed or mobile plant equipment to the required company standards, safe systems of work and current regulations.
  • Be able to operate fixed or mobile plant equipment in an effective and efficient manner.

Sustainability
  • Be able to assess, identify and report any environmental impact of work undertaken.
  • Minimise the demand for fossil fuels and natural resources wherever possible.

Maintenance techniques
  • Be able to conduct routine and reactive maintenance in accordance with company policy, procedures and manufacturer specifications.
  • Be able to use materials, fluids and lubricants required for everyday operation and maintenance in accordance with company policy, procedures, control of Substances Hazardous to Health data (COSHH) and manufacturer specifications.

Planning and organising Work
  • Be able to plan and complete required tasks in line with company key performance indicators, measures and record progress against them.
  • Be able to monitor stocks of materials and products required, and report issues with these in line with company policy and procedures.

Products
  • Be able to produce a consistent high quality end product in line with customer and company specifications, be they aggregates, ready mixed concrete, cement, mortar, asphalt, cement, precast or prestressed concrete products.
  • Be able to monitor end product quality and stocks and report issues in line with company policy and procedures.

BEHAVIOURS

What is required

Professional judgement
  • Be able to work within own level of competence and know when to seek advice from colleagues.

Commitment to code of ethics
  • Demonstrate working within the company rules, regulations and maintaining professional competence.

Continuing professional development (CPD)
  • Be able to identify own development needs and take action to meet those needs.
  • Be able to use own knowledge and expertise to help others.

Commitment to equality and diversity
  • Explain the importance of equality and diversity and manage/challenge others to meet the requirements of fairness at work.

Communicate Effectively
  • Explain the importance of communicating with operational team effectively ensuring information is passed clearly and promptly.

Accepting responsibility
  • Be able to take responsibility for own behaviours, actions and standards of work.

Health, safety & environment
  • Be able to comply with risk assessments, safe systems of work, company safety policy and procedures at all times.
  • Explain the importance of promoting a positive health, safety and environmental culture through situational awareness and by personal example, taking appropriate actions if others are acting unsafely.

Qualifications:

To demonstrate competence the appropriate qualifications must be achieved during the apprenticeship as they are a regulatory requirement within the sector.

For Mobile plant operations:

MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Mineral Products Mobile Plant Operations.

For Static plant operations (extractive operations)

MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Mineral Products Processing Operations

For Static plant operations (Precast concrete operations)

MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Precast Concrete Operations

For Static plant operations (Dimension stone operations)

MPQC Level 2 Certificate in Dimension Stone Operations

For Marine Dredging static plant operations

MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Marine Aggregate Extraction

Review date:

This apprenticeship standard should be reviewed three years after approval of the standard and every three years thereafter.

Crown copyright © 2024. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

Status: Approved for delivery
Level: 2
Reference: ST0144
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 01/02/2024
Approved for delivery: 6 June 2017
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Typical duration to gateway : 18 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £9000
Options: Mobile Plant, Static Plant
LARS Code: 175
EQA Provider: Ofqual

Mineral processing mobile and static plant operator assessment plan

File size: 797.03 KB

Find an apprenticeship

Contact us about this apprenticeship

Employers involved in creating the standard: Myers Group, Francis Flower, Health & Safety Executive, Breedon Aggregates, Hargreaves Production, Surface Mining, Aggregate Industries, EPC-UK, United Asphalt Limited, University Of Derby, Institute of Quarrying, BAM Ritchies, Frimstone, Day Group, Hope Construction Materials, Finning UK Ltd, MPQC

Print the occupational standard (including PDF)

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date Latest end date
Revised version awaiting implementation In revision Not set Not set Not set
1.0 Approved for delivery 06/06/2017 Not set Not set

Is this page useful?

Tell us about your visit

Help us improve our website