SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Demonstrate basic knowledge of restoring excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115655	Demonstrate basic knowledge of restoring excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology			Fabrication and Extraction
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 2	NQF Level 02	3
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		2004-08-11	2007-08-11	SAQA 0655/04
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-08-11		2011-08-11

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This unit standard is replaced by:

US ID	Unit Standard Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Credits	Replacement Status
253035	Demonstrate knowledge of restoring excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity	Level 2	NQF Level 02	3

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard will be useful to Rock Engineering personnel who are responsible to assess the implementation of remedial actions to restore excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of loss of excavation integrity;

Demonstrate understanding of the risks associated with re-opening excavations and remedial action;

Demonstrate ability to identify damage to ground conditions and support units; and

Demonstrate the ability to assess, record and report the implementation of remedial action.

The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this unit standard are essential for social and economic transformation and contribute to the upliftment and economic growth of the mining and minerals sector.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:

National Introductory Certificate to Mining and Minerals ( Level 1)

Unit Standard "Achieve mining excavation stability with support installation" in the applicable geotechnical environment

Unit Standard "Demonstrate understanding of support installation quality"

Removal of support

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of loss of excavation integrity.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Basic explanation regarding the term "loss of excavation integrity" is provided.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A basic description of potential causes of loss of excavation integrity confirms knowledge.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Seismic activity

Falls of ground

High stress to strength ratios

Inadequate support installed

Poor quality support installed

Failure of individual support units

Failure of support system

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Demonstrate understanding of the risks associated with re-opening excavations and remedial action.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Explanations are provided concerning adverse conditions in the damaged and immediately surrounding areas in terms of the means for recognition and actions for correction.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Ground conditions

Integrity of original support

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Explanations are provided regarding the risks associated with re-opening a damaged area.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Potential for recurrence of cause of loss of integrity

Working in an unsupported / damaged area

Opening-up ahead of support installation

Effect of enlarged excavation on stability

Subsequent rock movement caused by opening up operations

Effect of possible blasting operations

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Demonstrate ability to identify sub-standard ground conditions and support units.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Explain the identification of potentially unstable areas.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Excessive closure or closure rate

Sudden closure

Backbreak

Excessive fracturing

Open fractures or joints

Excessive bed / layer separation

Relative rock displacements

Loosening or slabbing of rockwalls

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Explain the identification of potentially sub-standard support conditions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Quality of installation

Spacing of support units

Condition of support units

Effectiveness or ineffectiveness of installed support units

Suitability of support units installed

Replacement of damaged units

Premature support unit failure

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The consequences of not identifying sub-standard conditions and support on safety, health, equipment and production are explained.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Demonstrate ability to assess the implementation of remedial action.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Explanations are provided regarding the remedial actions contained in the Opening-up Procedure on the Mine.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Explanations are provided regarding additional site-specific remedial actions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The adherence to the specified remedial actions is assessed.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The observations are recorded and communicated to the responsible persons.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:

Health and safety

Legal and site-specific requirements

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

Note: The ability of the candidate to explain restoring excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

Note: The ability of the candidate to form part of the investigation and monitoring team in areas where excavation stability is being restored.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

Note: The ability of the candidate to organise the efforts of the rehabilitation team in following the opening up procedure.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Note: The candidate must be able to recognise unstable ground conditions and have knowledge of the appropriate action to take. The candidate must be able to interpret and apply mine opening-up standards.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.

Note: The appropriate communication with the relevant personnel with regard to the reporting of hazardous and sub-standard conditions and actions will indicate his/her proficiency in effective communication.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

Note: The use of opening up strategies and innovative support types as well as consideration of a variety of support types indicates effective use of science and technology.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

Note: The ability of the candidate to identify hazardous conditions. The effect of non-compliance and deviation from mine standards will indicate his/her proficiency in understanding that a specific action or decision taken has more than one effect.

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA

Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:

Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.

Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.

Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.

The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.

All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 253035, which is "Demonstrate knowledge of restoring excavation stability following loss of excavation integrity", Level 2, 3 credits.

Terminology

Specified Requirements

Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

Legal:

Relevant Acts: e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act 50/1991)

Mandatory Codes of Practice

SABS and other Standards

Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives

Site-specific:

Managerial Instructions

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme

List of Recorded OH&S Risks

Voluntary Codes of Practice

Manufacturers Specifications

Equipment and Materials Specifications

Working Guides

Mine Standard Procedures

Risk Assessment Documents

South African Bureau of Standards and other standards

Unit Standard Justification

Skills: Level 3: Well-developed range.

Procedures: Level 2: Established and familiar.

Context: Level 2: Routine and familiar.

Knowledge: Level 2: Some relevant theoretical.

Information processing: Level 3: Basic processing of readily available information.

Problem Solving: Level 2: A range of known responses to familiar problems, base on limited discretion and judgement.

Orientation of activities: Level 3: Directed.

Application of responsibility: Level 3: Some responsibility for quantity and quality, and possible responsibility for guiding others.

Orientation of scope of responsibility: Level 2: Under general supervision quality checking.

Average Level: = 22/9 = 2.44
Actual Level Assigned: = 2

Credits

Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcome:

Classroom Teaching: 8 hours

On-The-Job Training: 24 hours

Total: 32 hours

Credits Achieved: = 32 / 10 = 3.2
Credits Assigned: = 3

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

NONE