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: 

Describe the effect of mining dimension on excavation stability 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115686  Describe the effect of mining dimension on excavation stability 
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 are pursuing a career in rock engineering and are responsible to monitor excavation stability.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the frequency of exposed geological discontinuities and mining excavation dimensions.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the stress related effects of different sized excavations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of the process of excavating on excavation stability.
  • Describe the effect of excavation dimension on safe working environment. 
    		•

    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 Certificate in Strata Control (Level 2) 
    		•

    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 understanding of relationship between frequency of exposed geological discontinuities. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the frequency of exposed geological discontinuities and mining excavation dimensions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The effect of the frequency and nature of basic geological discontinuities on the behaviour of the excavation wall rock is explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Jointing
  • Faulting
  • Layer / bedding separation
  • Intrusive materials
  • Potholes and domes
  • Weak rock formations versus strong
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The effect of various size excavations intersecting geological discontinuities is explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Tunnel / Roadway / Drifts
  • Shaft / Adit / Decline
  • Stope / Room / Bord
  • Highwall
  • Large chambers
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the stress related effects of different sized excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The basic concept of mining span versus induced stress is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The basic concepts of excavation dimension versus stress are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Deep mine - Increase in vertical stress
  • Shallow mine - Increase in tensile stress zones
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of the process of excavating on excavation stability. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The effects of mining operations on excavation dimension are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Selection of the correct excavating layout
  • Accuracy of marking and drilling / cutting
  • Use of the correct explosives and quantities
  • Use of the correct timing sequence
  • Off-line / off-grade excavating
  • Accuracy of Surveying.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The consequences of non-adherence to design layouts and specified requirements are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Describe the effect of excavation dimension on safe working environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The effects of excavation dimension on basic rock engineering designs are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Stable beam creation
  • Critical stable span
  • Support unit length / height
  • Support unit capacity
  • Stable excavation rockwalls
  • Stable pillar dimensions.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The consequences of ignoring excavation dimension effects are explained. 


    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:
  • OccupationalHealth 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 of the candidate to link excavation processes to final excavation dimensions and subsequent safe mining environments. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: Not applicable to this Unit Standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: Not applicable to this Unit Standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to recognise the effects of excavation dimension on safe working environments confirms compliance. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: Not applicable to this Unit Standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The selection and application of correct excavating techniques to ensure safe working environment confirms compliance. 
    		•

    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 candidate's ability to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the frequency of exposed geological discontinuities, stress induced planes, excavating processes and mining excavation dimensions confirms. 
    		•

    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:
  • 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
  • Skills: Level 3: Well-developed range
  • Procedures: Level 3: Significant choice.
  • Context: Level 3: Range of familiar.
  • Knowledge: Level 4: Broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts
  • Information processing: Level 3: Interpretation of available information
  • Problem Solving: Level 3: A range of known responses to familiar problems, base on limited discretion and judgement.
  • Orientation of activities: Level 3: Directed, with some autonomy.
  • Application of responsibility: Level 1: No responsibility for the work or learning of others.
  • Orientation of scope of responsibility: Level 3: Under general supervision quality checking.

    Average Level: 26/9 = 2.89
    Actual Level Assigned: 3


    Credits

    Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcome:
  • Classroom Teaching: 12 hours
  • On-The-Job Training: 16 hours
  • Total: 28 hours

    Credits Achieved: 28 / 10 = 2.8
    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 


    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.