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:

Co-ordinate drilling and blasting operations

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115615	Co-ordinate drilling and blasting operations
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	26
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"		2005-08-11	2008-08-11	SAQA 0655/04
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-08-11		2012-08-11

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
257023	Co-ordinate drilling and blasting operations	Level 3	NQF Level 03	10

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This Unit Standard will be useful to people who are responsible for co-ordinating drilling and blasting operations. People credited with this Unit Standard are able to

Co-ordinate drilling area preparation,

Monitor compliance to drilling and blasting plan,

Evaluate blasting techniques and options;

Select appropriate blasting techniques; and

Monitor and evaluate blasting performance

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:

Communication skills (Language at ABET Level 3)

Knowledge of in-pit operation

Knowledge of blasting and explosives

An understanding of the basic principles of information technology

Appropriate driver's licence.

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

Coordinate drill area preparation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Drill program requirements are discussed and confirmed with operators.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Appropriate drill rigs are allocated to specific drill sites.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Appropriate equipment for optimal blast hole drilling is evaluated and selected.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Drill bits

Drill string

Sampling equipment

Dust suppression system

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Monitor compliance to the drilling and blasting plan.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Drilling is undertaken in accordance with drilling and blasting plan.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Drilling programme requirements are monitored in compliance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Adherence to drilling parameters is monitored and recorded in line with specified drilling programme.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Pull-down pressures

Rotation speed

Air pressures

Angle of drilling

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Evaluate blasting techniques and options.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Blasting methods and accessories are evaluated to match site-specific requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Evaluation of economics and efficiency of blasting methods is done in accordance with specific requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Blasting schedule is planned and organized with site personnel.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Blasting programmes relative to geological site conditions and characteristics are evaluated.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Appropriate equipment for blasting requirements are evaluated and selected in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Red flags

Sirens

Radios

Barricades

Seismographs

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Select appropriate blasting technique.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Blasting materials and techniques are planned and selected to match geotechnical properties, fragmentation required and environmental consideration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Safe blasting procedures are designed in accordance with specific requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Seismic monitoring system is deployed.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Appropriate storage, transportation and handling methods for explosives are selected and
used in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

The blasting area is over inspected and hazards and defects are noted and rectified in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Evacuation of persons

Overhangs

Large rocks

Bench edges

Power lines

Mobile and stationary equipment

Water accumulations

Underfoot conditions

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Consequences of inadequate preparation are described in terms of potential effects on safety, health, production and damage to equipment.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Demarcation of blasting area.

Safe guarding of persons and machines in blasting area.

Work area examination

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5

Monitor and evaluate blasting performance.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Blasting performance is monitored, recorded and evaluated.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Powder factor

Blast gains/swell (heap) factor

Fragmentation - loading rates

Safeguarding of persons and equipment

Within seismic specifications - where applicable

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The work area is continuously monitored and safety hazards are reported in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Occupational environmental elements are monitored and hazards are reported in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Dust

Water

Illumination

Noise

Fire and weather conditions

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. 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.

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 identify substandard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

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

Note: The ability and willingness of the candidate to accept and interpret work instructions correctly.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage himself / herself and his / her activities responsibly and effectively.

Note: The ability of the candidate to indicate what methods, tools and personal protective equipment are required, and to communicate to fellow workers his / her intentions and the assistance required.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Note: The ability of the candidate to reconcile the information from visual and physical examinations and constantly evaluate the changing situation

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 hazards and substandard conditions will indicate his / her proficiency in effective communication.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

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

Note: The use of science and technology is not relevant for this unit standard.

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 and refer anomalous behaviour to a specialist confirms his / her understanding of the fact that a specific observation, inference, action or decision may have a devastating 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 is able to 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 257023, which is " Co-ordinate drilling and blasting operations", Level 3, 10 credits.

Terminology

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

Explosives Act

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-3-The skills required now have a significant variety and extend beyond the simple range.
Procedures-3-In this case the procedures could differ and the candidate has to make the correct selection of procedures to apply. The choice however is limited. E.g. interpretation of marking positions for shot holes.
Context-4-Here the candidate is exposed to both known (familiar) and unknown contexts (unfamiliar), i.e. the candidate has not yet been exposed to a particular context but can adjust drilling patterns and charging-up to suite conditions.
Knowledge-4-The theoretical knowledge required is extended to theoretical concepts. E.g. The varying densities and hardness of surrounding rock types.
Information processing-3-In this case the information is again available but interpretation as opposed to basic processing thereof is required. E.g. Irregular slope shape indicates poor drilling and blasting methods.
Problem Solving-3-The key difference from level two is the application of some "judgement" e.g. "fine-tuning" a drilling and blasting process.
Orientation of activities-4-The candidate is self-directed and gives instructions but is not directive in the entire process. Will follow lead.
Orientation of scope of responsibility-3-Here the responsibility extends towards, although not entirely, the output as well as, when applicable, the output of others.
Application of responsibility-4-Candidate is given guidelines and output is evaluated rather than checked. E.g. by means of production output.

Average Level: 31/9 = 3.44
Actual Level Assigned: 3

Credits
Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcome:
Activity-Hours
Classroom Teaching-30
On-The-Job Training-230
Mentoring required-0
Other (Specify)-0
Total-260
Credits Achieved: 260/10 = 26
Actual Credits Assigned: 26

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	57121	National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Quarrying	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"	2008-09-17	Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement

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.

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