SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Demonstrate a basic understanding of the effects of drilling and blasting on the surrounding rock mass

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115683	Demonstrate a basic understanding of the effects of drilling and blasting on the surrounding rock mass
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	3
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 will be useful to people who may be concerned with fall of ground hazards associated with drilling and blasting.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

Demonstrate basic knowledge of drilling and blasting of the rock mass;

Demonstrate knowledge of the strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling and blasting practices;

Identify the strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling and blasting and evaluate the associated risk and;

Report the hazards to relevant personnel.

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

Demonstrate basic knowledge of drilling and blasting of the rock mass.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

A Basic description of drilling is given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Drilling direction

Burdens

Drilling patterns

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A basic description of the explosive types used on the specific mine is given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

A basic description of the characteristics of common explosive types used on the mine is given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Explosive sensitivity

Explosive shock level

Explosive gas content

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

A basic description of the process by which explosives break rock is given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Gas creation

Gas pressure

Blast fracture creation and propagation

Blast fracture patterns

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Demonstrate knowledge of strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling practices.

OUTCOME NOTES

Demonstrate knowledge of the strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling and blasting practices.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Basic explanation of incorrect drilling and blasting practices are given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Large burden

Drilling into rock surrounding excavation

Poor drilling direction

Overcharging

Poor tamping

Short holes

Poor timing

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Basic explanation of the strata control related effects of incorrect drilling are given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Damage to surrounding rock mass

Falls of ground

Irregular face shapes

Stress concentrations

Ineffective pre-conditioning

Damage to support units

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Basic explanation of the strata control related effects of incorrect blasting are given.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Blast fracture propagation into hangingwall or sidewalls

Blast damage to support units

Excessive hangingwall vibrations

Blasting gas intrusion into weakness planes in the surrounding rock

Falls of ground.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Identify strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling and assess associated risk.

OUTCOME NOTES

Identify the strata control hazards associated with incorrect drilling and blasting and assess the associated risk.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Strata control related hazards caused by poor drilling and blasting are described and identified.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Overbreak / Damage to surrounding rockwalls

Loosening of rockwalls

Damage to support units

Disturbance of geological structures

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Assess the risks associated with each of the strata control hazards caused by incorrect drilling and blasting.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Report the hazards to relevant personnel.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Blast related strata hazards are recorded according to mine specific procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Blast related strata hazards are reported to supervisors and other workers.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

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

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

Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates 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 candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

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 to assess the risks associated with strata related hazards confirms ability to critically evaluate.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

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

Note: The ability of the candidate to promote correct drilling and blasting practice within the mining team as a way to ensure their own safety confirms.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

Note: The ability of the candidate to understand that good drilling and blasting practice has to be planned and managed confirms.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Note: The ability of the candidate to identify various strata control related hazards and assess the associated risks.

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 with regard to the need for correct drilling and blasting practice as well as areas of higher risk due to incorrect practices confirms ability.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

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

Note: The use of science and technology is promoted through the basic understanding of the explosives and explosions.

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 understanding of the need for good drilling and blasting practice to maintain stable excavations and ensure the health and safety of mining personnel.

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: 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

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

SANS and other relevant Standards

Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives/instructions

Site-specific:

Managerial Instructions

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme

List of Recorded OH&S Risks

Voluntary Codes of Practice

Manufacturers Specifications

Equipment and Materials Specifications

Working Guides

Mine Standard Procedures

Risk Assessment Documents

South African Bureau of Standards and other standards

Unit Standard Justification

Skills: Level 2: Moderate in range

Procedures: Level 3: Significant choice.

Context: Level 3: Range of familiar.

Knowledge: Level 3: Some relevant theoretical

Information processing: Level 2: Basic processing of readily available information

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

Orientation of activities: Level 2: Directed.

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

Application of responsibility: Level 3: Under general supervision quality checking.

Average Level: = 2.56
Actual Level Assigned: = 3

Credits

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

Classroom Teaching: 8 hours

On-The-Job Training: 24 hours

Total: 32 hours

Credits Achieved: = 32 / 10 = 3.2
Credits Assigned: = 3

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	60369	National Certificate: Strata Control Operations	Level 3	NQF Level 03	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.	ADCORP TECHNICAL TRAINING (PTY) LTD
2.	GEOSTRAT TRAINING
3.	PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD
4.	SASOL GLOBAL LEARNING
5.	SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED
6.	THUNGELA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD
7.	XTRACT TRAINING SERVICES (SA)(PTY)LTD