SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
118107	Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - FPMSETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Part-Qualification	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Forestry and Wood Technology
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	39	Not Applicable	NQF Level 03	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0522/24	2021-03-25	2025-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-31		2029-12-31

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Log Yard Operator. Log Yard Operator receives logs and process according to wet mill requirements (sorts, stores and delivers logs to the wet mill (sorts, de-barks, measures, etc.).

A qualified learner will be able to:

Receive; inspect; quality assure; de-bark (when applicable), categorise; segregate and store logs in their categories according to wet mill requirements.

Rationale:
Log Yard Operator is one of the specialised skills within the lumber milling industry. During the development of a Wood Processing Machine Operator qualification, stakeholders motivated for a part-qualification for individuals who may wish to practice in the log yard as Log Yard Operators. Stakeholders that participated included amongst others, the following: Tirhani Skills for Africa, Concordia Training, representatives from Sawmilling SA, Bracken Timbers and Rance Timber, Skills Unlimited.

This part-qualification is aimed at learners who previously worked in the sector, are currently working in the sector as well as new entrants who aspire to pursue a career in Log Yard Operators. The part-qualification allows for career mobility within the lumber milling industry. Learners can pursue careers such as Wet Mill Operator and Dry Mill Operator.

Benefits of this part-qualification for learners include formalisation of knowledge and skills acquired in the past, attainment of a nationally recognised qualification, employment opportunities, career mobility and possible entrepreneurial opportunities. The part-qualification provides qualified learners with opportunities to advance their careers by pursuing higher level qualifications. Once qualified in higher level qualifications, learners can take more responsibilities in management positions.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or certifying a work experience record.

RPL for access to the Qualification:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

NQF Level 2 qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

717201-000-00-KM-01, Basic Business Principles, Level 3, 7 Credits.

717201-000-00-KM-03, Basic Principles of Health, Safety and Quality, Level 4, 4 Credits.

717201-000-00-KM-04, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Level 3, 3 Credits.
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 14

Practical Skill Modules:

717201-000-00-PM-01, Perform Log Yard Operations according to Best Operating Practices, Level 3, 10 Credits.
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 10

Work Experience Modules:

717201-000-00-WM-01, Processes in the Log yard, Level 3, 15 Credits.
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 15

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Receive logs from suppliers.
2. Categorise; segregate and store logs in their categories according to wet mill requirements.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Read and interpret instructions.

Measure log dimensions, and record quantity and quality.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Perform pre- start up inspections.

Place logs into sorting system.

Sort and store logs according to prescribed log classes.

Move logs from storage for further processing.

Place logs in storage according to categories.

De-bark logs in accordance with the wet mill or log yard requirements where applicable.

Process logs according to harvesting date where applicable.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment:
The skills development providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment:
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. The external assessment will be conducted through written or oral assessments as well as evaluation of practical tasks at decentralised assessments sites by registered assessors over a period of not more than 3 days.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The qualifications from New Zealand and the United Kingdom were used in the comparability study due to their similarities with this qualification in terms of the Exit Level Outcomes.

New Zealand:
Qualification Title: Certificate in Wood in Wood Handling and Distribution, Level 3.

This qualification comprises a variety of strands, which are referred to as areas of specialisation within the South African context. Strands contained in the qualification are Log Yard Operations, Paint Operations, Timber Yarding and Despatch, and Wood Fibre Operations. The study has revealed that competences that are covered in the Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator are similar to those covered in Log Yard Operations' strand. The qualification is offered by Competenz. Entry into the qualification is Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and Resource Management Act 1991 as well as a lower level timber related qualification.

Learners are required to complete the following unit standards for this strand:
2 core unit standard listed below:

Apply workplace health and safety practices to a wood handling and distribution operation -5 Credits.

Apply knowledge of environmental, business or operational requirements, market opportunities and key performance indicators to a wood manufacturing operation-5 Credits.

as well as two (2) elective standards for Log Yard Operations listed below:

Apply knowledge of the work processes to move and monitor log product inventory-10 Credits.

Operate machinery and equipment to move and monitor log products in log yard operational roles-30 Credits.
Upon completion, learners will be credited with 50 Credits.

Similarities:
Similarities between the Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator and the New Zealand Certificate in Wood Handling and Distribution (Level 3) qualification have been found to be with course content, levels at which both qualifications are pitched at, areas of operation as well as processes embarked on.

It has been found that content covered in the Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator qualification is similar to that covered in the strand-Log Yard Operations. Both qualifications are pitched at Level 3.

Similarities were also found with the purpose of the two qualifications which is to provide wood manufacturing industry with people who have the skills and knowledge required to work as an operator under general supervision in a solid wood manufacturing operation.

Graduates will be able to operate plant and equipment used in solid wood manufacturing safely and efficiently as Log Yard Operators or timber machinists.

Differences:
Differences were noted with the structure, composition and credit values of the two qualifications. The Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator qualification comprises compulsory knowledge modules, practical skills modules and work experience modules. On the other hand, the New Zealand Certificate in Wood Handling and Distribution (Level 3) has 2 core unit standards and a variety of elective unit standards for each strand. Learners are required to choose a strand specific to the chosen area of practice.

Differences were also found with credit values. The Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator qualification has a low credit bearing whilst the credits awarded to learners that pursues the New Zealand qualification's Log Yard Operations strand are fairly high. Differences were also found with entry level requirements. Entry into the Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator is a level 2 qualification whereas learners who wish to enrol on New Zealand Certificate in Wood Handling and Distribution (Level 3) should have completed courses on Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and Resource Management Act 1991.

United Kingdom:
The United Kingdom did not have registered Log Yard Operators' qualifications registered on the country's Qualifications Framework. However, related qualifications were found to be offered by individual private institutions. One of these institutions was the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), that offers a Level 3 Certificate in Wood Technology and Application. Although the qualification is pegged at level 3, it was found to cover competencies that were covered in the Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator. Some of the competencies referred to include among others, sustainability and legal Trading of Timber, timber quality and grade in relation to end use, sorting grades of timber available, purpose of strength grading timber, timber end use and preservation treatments, how to maintain the quality of timber, timber components and panel and the use of engineered products.

The qualification is offered online with a lot of course work requiring investigating practices within workplaces. In this qualification, learners are afforded an opportunity to choose the area of specialisation.

Similarities:
Similarities have been found to be in relation to skills and knowledge covered, processes used, machinery, tools and equipment used and environment within which learners operate. Similarities were also found to be with regard to levels at which the two qualifications are pitched. Both qualifications are pitched at Level 3.

Differences:
Differences were noted with the structure and design of the two qualifications. The Occupational Certificate: Log Yard Operator comprises compulsory knowledge modules, practical skills modules and work experience modules. On the other hand, the Certificate in Wood Technology and Application appears to comprise compulsory learning units.

Comparison with regard to entry level requirements, credits and duration were not possible due to lack on information to this regard.

Conclusion:
In light of the findings, it is concluded that the South African Log Yard Operator's occupational qualification compares favourably with the international qualifications compared to.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

National Certificate: Lumber Milling, NQF Level 3.

National Certificate: Forestry: Timber Harvesting, NQF Level 4.

Vertical Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Wet Mill Operator, NQF level 4.

Occupational Certificate: Dry Mill Operator, NQF 4.

Occupational Certificate: Wood Processing Operator, NQF Level 4.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records.

Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
None

Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

The curriculum title and code are: Log Yard Operator and 717201-000-01.

Encompassed Trades:
This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD.

None

Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):

Fibre Processing and Manufacturing SETA.

Related Parent Qualification:

Occupational Certificate: Wood Processing Machine Operator, Level 4.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

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