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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply elementary calculations of mass and force to strata control 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115734  Apply elementary calculations of mass and force to strata control 
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 3  NQF Level 03  2 
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
252554  Apply calculations of areas, volumes, masses and weights to simple shapes in strata control  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who are responsible for assessing elementary support layouts and monitoring of support installation, quality and compliance to set standards.
  • Calculate the weight of the strata based on local geotechnical conditions;
  • Calculate support resistances required to support the strata in the local geotechnical conditions;
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding of the concept of energy absorption
  • Apply the calculations to assess support systems.

    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

    This unit standard is intended to promote general skills, knowledge and understanding of how to apply elementary calculations of mass and force to strata control in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers 
    		•

    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 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 
    Calculate the weight of the strata based on local geotechnical conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The use of the appropriate formulae for weight calculations confirms capability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Rock types and density
  • Volume
  • Gravitational acceleration
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The correct sequence of calculation steps for the abovementioned formulae is followed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Suitable checks to the abovementioned calculations are applied. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Calculate support resistances required to support the strata in the local geotechnical conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The term support resistance is explained in basic terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Weight of rock to be supported
  • Support unit force capability
  • Area to be supported
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The use of the appropriate formulae and data for the calculation of support resistance confirms capability. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Following the correct sequence of calculation steps for the abovementioned formulae, confirms capability. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The application of suitable checks to the abovementioned calculations confirms capability 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding of the concept of energy absorption. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The term energy absorption is explained in basic terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Velocity of ejection
  • Arresting distance of support.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The application of energy absorption theory is explained in basic terms. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Apply the concepts of support resistance and energy absorption to assess support systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The force generated by the support unit is estimated. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Quality of installation
  • Quality of material
  • Rock mass characteristics
  • Loading rate
  • Closure
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The support spacings are measured. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The support resistance is calculated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The application of suitable checks to the abovementioned calculations confirms capability 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The calculated support resistance is compared against the required criteria. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The support system is assessed for appropriateness. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The consequences of insufficient energy absorption capacity within support systems are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    The consequences of neglecting to apply the correct formulae and calculations to support resistance are discussed. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

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

    3. 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 
    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Health and safety
  • Report writing
  • 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 correctly estimate and calculate support resistances in an underground environment confirms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
    Note: The ability of the candidate to work in groups to solve support system problems based on the accurate estimation and calculation of the support resistances confirms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
    Note: Not applicable to this Unit Standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
    Note: The ability of the candidate to correctly retrieve data used for estimating support resistance, confirms. 

    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 other personnel regarding the consequences of the calculated support resistance, confirms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
    Note: The use of rock engineering basic science and technology in the process of selecting correct units for support resistance confirms. 

    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: Understanding that the correct application of support resistance to support strategies is beneficial to safety of people and production in the whole domain, confirms. 

    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, namely 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 252554, which is "Apply calculations of areas, volumes, masses and weights to simple shapes in strata control", Level 3, 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 no 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act no 50/1991)
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other relevant Standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives

    Site specific
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications

    Unit standard justification

    Level

    Attribute-Level-Justification
    Skills-4-Wide-ranging scholastic or technical

    Procedures-2-Established and familiar.

    Context-3-Range of familiar.

    Knowledge-3-Some relevant theoretical

    Information processing-4-Basic analytical interpretation of information

    Problem Solving-3-A range of known responses to familiar problems, base on limited discretion and judgement.

    Orientation of activities-3-Directed, with some autonomy.

    Orientation of scope of responsibility-2-Some responsibility for quantity and quality, and possible responsibility for guiding others.

    Application of responsibility-4-Under broad guidance and evaluation.

    Average level: = 3.11
    Actual level assigned: = 3

    Credits

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

    Activity-Hours
    Classroom Teaching-8
    On-The-Job Training-8
    Mentoring required-0
    Other (Specify)-0
    Total-16

    Credits achieved: = 16 / 10 = 1.6
    Credits assigned: = 2 
    		•

    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 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.