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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Measure and record the concentration of flammable and noxious gases and vapours and take appropriate action 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115092  Measure and record the concentration of flammable and noxious gases and vapours and take appropriate action 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Occupational Health and Safety 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Preventive Health 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular-Fundamental  Level 2  NQF Level 02  2 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard requires learners to be able to test for flammable and noxious gases and vapours that are present in places of work, to determine the nature of such flammable and noxious gases and vapours in order to prevent unsafe, unhealthy occupational environments.

Learners credited with this Unit Standard are capable of:
  • Selecting methods and instruments for detecting flammable and noxious gases and vapours that are appropriate for specified contexts.
  • Assessing the functionality of instruments used for detecting flammable and noxious gases and vapours to ensure safety, health and productivity.
  • Testing for the presence of flammable and noxious gases and vapours using appropriate instruments.
  • Evaluate test results to take appropriate action. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The Unit Standard outcomes and credits are based on the assumption that learners attempting this Unit Standard can already read, write and communicate at ABET 4/NQF Level 1 or equivalent. It is also assumed the learners have attained the competence required to assess workplace hazards and risks. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Flammable and noxious gases and vapours that could be present in places of work include noxious flammable and noxious gases and vapours. The most common flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours include but are not limited to: Oxygen (O2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Methane (CH4), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Ammonia (NH3), Chlorine (Cl2), Hydrogen (H2), Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), Arsine (AsH3), Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4), Mercury (Hg), Lead fumes (Pb), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), etc.

    Instruments used to detect gases and vapours include chemical detector tubes, and hand-held electronic instruments. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Select methods and instruments for detecting flammable and noxious gases and vapours that are appropriate for specified contexts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Descriptions of the characteristics and occurrences of flammable and noxious gases and vapours are consistent with scientific data contained in specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Descriptions of types of detection and measurement methodologies for flammable and noxious gases and vapours are consistent with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Descriptions of limitations of various detection and measuring methodologies are in terms of practical applications and are consistent with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Explanations of the effects that specified flammable and noxious gases and vapours have on the health and safety of people are consistent with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Explanations outlining the importance of testing for flammable and noxious gases and vapours are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Explanations confirming the circumstances that necessitate testing for flammable and noxious gases and vapours are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Explanations outlining the use of instruments and accessories are according to manufacturers' specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Explanations confirming instruments' and their accessories' principle of operation, range, use and limitations are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    The chemical formulae of relevant flammable and noxious gases and vapours are accurate. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    Methods and instruments selected are appropriate for specified contexts. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Assess the functionality of instruments used for detecting flammable and noxious gases and vapours to ensure safety, health and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Explanations confirming the importance of examining instruments are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Explanations of the safe handling and use of specified instruments are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explanations of the importance of complying with requirements for safe handling and use of specified instruments are in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Explanations of the importance of dealing with defective and used equipment are in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Instruments and accessories are inspected and tested for functionality prior to use and storage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Instrument defects are dealt with according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Instruments are cleaned before and after use, or disposed of, according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Examination and verification of calibration of instruments are according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Instruments are returned to the correct point of issue/storage after use. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Test for the presence of flammable and noxious gases and vapours using appropriate instruments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Explanation of the importance of continuously assessing health and safety hazards and risks is in terms of the possible consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Workplace health and safety hazards and risks are dealt with according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explanation of the dangers of accessing sites without meeting access requirements are in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Access requirements are met, where applicable. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Explanation of the importance of examining and correctly using personal protective equipment is in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Examination and use of personal protective equipment meets specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Personal protective equipment required is operational, fit for purpose, and used in accordance with manufacturer, design and specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Explanation of the importance of testing for gas according to specified requirements is in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Preparation for testing and testing for flammable and noxious gases and vapours fosters teamwork and minimises conflict. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    Test are performed according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    Sampling volumes to determine gas concentration are adequate. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Evaluate results of testing for the presence of flammable and noxious gases and vapours. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Test results are accurately recorded. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Explanation of occupational exposure limits and limits for gas concentrations is consistent with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explanation of action to be taken when flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours are encountered outside legal exposure levels is consistent with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Explanation of the importance of compliance is in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Explanation of conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings are correct. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Explanation of the importance of dealing with conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings is in terms of the consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Interpretation and conversion of gas concentration is according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Interpretation of results is according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    Action taken, if necessary, based on evaluation of test results is according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    Completion of reports is complete, accurate, in required formats, and submitted on time to relevant designated persons. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 12 
    Explanation of the importance of evaluating test results and taking appropriate action is in terms of the possible consequences for health, safety and productivity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 13 
    Evaluation of test results is accurate. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 14 
    Appropriate action is taken, based on evaluation of test results, that meet specified requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment of learner achievements takes place at providers accredited by a relevant ETQA (RSA, 1998b) for the provision of programmes that result in the outcomes specified for this Unit Standard. Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with a relevant ETQA. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with a relevant ETQA. The relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures will oversee moderation of assessment and is responsible for moderation of learner achievements of learners who meet the requirements of this Unit Standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Learners 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 learner's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the Unit Standard.

    Credited learners understand and can explain:
  • Types of detection and measurement methodologies for flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours.
  • Limitations of various detection and measuring methodologies.
  • Effects that flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours have on the health and safety of people
  • Importance of evaluating flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours.
  • Circumstances that necessitate evaluating flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours.
  • Use of instruments and accessories.
  • Instruments' and their accessories' principle of operation, range, use and limitations.
  • Importance of examining and calibrating instruments.
  • Safe handling and use of specified instruments.
  • Consequences for health, safety and productivity of dealing with defective and used equipment, continuously assessing health and safety hazards and risks, dangers of accessing sites without meeting access requirements, examining and correctly using personal protective equipment, testing for gas according to specified requirements, compliance with exposure levels, dealing with conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings, evaluating test results and taking appropriate action.
  • Occupational exposure limits and limits for flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours.
  • Action to be taken when flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours are encountered outside legal exposure levels.
  • Conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems related to the detection, analysis, and recording of flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours by implementing remedial and preventative measures. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team/group/organisation/community by accepting, interpreting and delegating instructions correctly, if and when required, in a context-appropriate manner. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively by meeting specified requirements, recording test results in specified formats, and taking appropriate action where necessary. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information to correct for conditions, environmental factors, and limitations that can influence readings, interpret information obtained, and take appropriate action. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematics and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations to record and report test results. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others) to select the appropriate methods and instruments for testing for flammable and noxious gases and vapours and vapours. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by taking appropriate actions based on the evaluation of test results and reporting results to relevant designated persons, confirming that a specific observation, inference, action or decision can have an interrelated 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 learner 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 learner 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 learner 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. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Legal requirements:

    Specified requirements include legal requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:
  • OHS Act and Regulations 85/1993
  • Mine Health and Safety Act and Regulations 29/1996
  • Guideline for mandatory Codes of Practice

    Site-specific requirements:

    Specified requirements include site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:
  • Managerial instructions
  • Codes of Practice
  • Company Standards
  • Standard Task Procedures
  • Health Management Program
  • Risk Assessment Documentation
  • Working Guides
  • Manufacturers' specifications 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48804   National Certificate: Occupational Safety, Hygiene and Environment  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2008-11-26  Was HW SETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Core  90656   National Certificate: Mine Ventilation  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 
    Elective  49013   National Certificate: Mining Operations: Underground Hard Rock  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-08-16  Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  64909   National Certificate: Small Scale Mining  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 


    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.
     
    1. ASSMANG BEESHOEK MINE 
    2. BARBERTON MINES (PTY) LTD 
    3. CONCOR PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    4. FINSCH DIAMOND MINE(PTY) LTD 
    5. FOSKOR (PTY) LTD 
    6. IMPALA PLATINUM SERVICES LTD 
    7. MANCAS CONSULTINGS CC 
    8. MATHOME TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (PTY) LTD 
    9. MINTEK 
    10. MODIKWA MINING PERSONNEL SERVICES PTY L TD 
    11. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    12. SENZEKO EXECUTIVE RISK CC 
    13. SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED 
    14. SIYANDA BAKGATLA PLATINUM MINE 
    15. XTRACT TRAINING SERVICES (SA)(PTY)LTD 


    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.