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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Occupational Certificate: Driller 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
99379  Occupational Certificate: Driller 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MQA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  56  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Driller.

A Driller operates a drilling machine to drill holes for mining or construction operations. The drilling machine types may: be rotary, percussion or rotary/percussion (drifter); be pneumatically or hydraulically driven; have top-hammer or down-the-hole drill feeding systems; have conventional or reverse circulation systems; and have conventional or diamond drilling bits. The qualifying learner will know the functioning and operating requirements for the drilling machine, including health, safety and the environmental requirements to be able to operate the machine productively and safely.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Operate a drilling machine for mining and construction operations.

    Rationale:
    Various industry sectors use drilling machines. In particular, drilling operations are an essential part of the construction and mining sectors. South African legislation requires persons to be properly trained and assessed competent before operating machines.

    This qualification will train and develop the qualifying learner with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to ensure that the drilling machines are operated productively and safely. This will also improve the standard of training and assessment, which will lead to better operations and improved safety and will improve mobility of employment. Most learners will already be employed. The career progression for drillers will be to other machine operator specialisations and to occupations in operations, engineering or training. 
    		•

    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 result 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:
  • NQF 1 qualification with communication and mathematical literacy. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
  • 711301000-KM-01, Workplace fundamentals, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 711301000-KM-02, Health, safety and the environment, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 711301000-KM-03, Operations and machines, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 711301000-KM-04, Components, controls and consumables, Level 2, 5 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 23.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 711301000-PM-01, Work safely and respond to emergencies, Level 2, 1 Credits.
  • 711301000-PM-02, Perform pre-operational activities, Level 2, 5 Credits.
  • 711301000-PM-03, Operate machine, Level 2, 10 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 16.

    This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules:
  • 711301000-WM-01, Operational Drilling, Level 2, 17 Credits.
    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 17. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Carry-out start and end-of-shift procedures and checks, using the knowledge of the workplace and drilling machine specifications, operational standards, systems and procedures to meet all health, safety and environmental requirements.
    2. Operate the drilling machine, using the knowledge of its performance parameters, controls and operating standards.
    3. Work safely, applying knowledge of relevant legal and company requirements, hazard identification and risk assessment processes and procedures, including environmental and operating conditions. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Level Outcome 1:
  • The start and end-of-shift procedure is correctly completed.
  • Operational checks have been carried out according to procedures.
  • All safety, health and environmental requirements have been met.
  • An understanding of the purpose of all the checks is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Level Outcome 2:
  • The correct sequence of operations is followed.
  • The machine is operated within specified limits.
  • Any defects, damage or deviations are identified and reported and the machine is shut down or isolated in a safe manner.
  • Changes in environment or conditions are identified and reported - continuous risk assessment is carried out.
  • Man-machine interfaces are controlled safely and effectively.
  • Production targets are met.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Level Outcome 3:
  • The importance of identifying and responding to various kinds of hazard is explained.
  • How to respond to emergencies is described and explained.
  • Legal and procedural compliance with regard to the operation of the machine and working safely is described and explained.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The skills development provider 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 Assessment Quality Partner, is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external assessment will cover the following focus areas: Carry out start and end-of-shift activities, Operate the machine, Work safely. The external assessment will consist of an evaluation of records and questioning, by a registered assessor, using specified assessment criteria requirements. The assessor will not have been directly involved in the training or internal assessment of the candidate. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Drilling machines are used widely in the construction and mining sectors. The countries selected for comparison are Australia and New Zealand.

    Australia:
    RII20909 - Certificate II in Drilling Operations.
    RII31809 - Certificate III in Drilling Operations.

    The certificates contain similar modules, namely maintain workplace safety, identify and minimise environmental hazards and conduct drilling. The level of complexity is comparable to the NQF Level 2. However, the structure of the certificates is broader than this qualification. The Certificate II is applicable to a broad range of driller assistants, whereas the Certificate III extends to the South African equivalent of NQF 3 Mining Operations/Rock breaker, which is the vertical articulation for the Driller. The duration of the individual modules is equivalent to this qualification.

    New Zealand:
    National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Operations) (Level 3), with strands in Coal Plant, Drilling Surface, Drilling Underground, Maintenance Operations, Metalliferous Processing, Mobile Plant Surface, Processing Plant, Surface Extraction, Underground Extraction, and Water Treatment. 49-82 Credits.

    National Certificate in Drilling - Non-hydrocarbon (Driller) (Level 3), with optional strands in Environmental/Geotechnical, and Water Well, 90 Credits.

    National Certificate in Civil Construction Works (Horizontal Directional Drilling): with strands in Driller, Tracker, and Site Supervisor.

    The certificates contain similar modules, namely occupational health and safety practice and conduct conventional core drilling/ conduct drilling operations. However, as with the Australian certificates, the qualification extends to the South African equivalent of NQF 3 Mining Operations/ Rockbreaker, which is the vertical articulation for the Driller.

    Conclusion:
    The content and complexity of the directly applicable components compare closely with this qualification and the conclusion is that the curriculum is comparable to international practice. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Both horizontal and vertical articulation is possible.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Exploration Driller.
  • Occupational Certificate: Directional Driller.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Team Leader, Miner. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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 


    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.