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: 

Make saw cuts by means of diamond wire saw 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116663  Make saw cuts by means of diamond wire saw 
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  15 
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 
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.

This unit standard is intended to promote general skills, knowledge and understanding of making saw cuts by means of diamond wire saw in a dimension stone quarry in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers.

People credited with this unit standard are able to
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the diamond wire sawing process
  • Set up the diamond wire saw and accessories
  • Operate the diamond wire saw
  • Finalise and report on the saw cut 
    		•

    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 at NQF Level 2
  • Mathematics at NQF Level 2
  • Health and safety at NQF Level 2.
  • Working in a quarry 
    		•

    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 an understanding of the diamond wire sawing process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Purpose of diamond wire cutting 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Principle of operation of the saw 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Safety systems
  • Controls
  • Power supply including machine components and accessories
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Diamond wire construction 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Carrier cable
  • Spacer design and material
  • Bead design
  • Joints
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The diamond wire saw cutting process is explained in terms of key steps. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Setup
  • Initial rounding of corners
  • Cutting
  • Monitoring
  • Wire rotation
  • End of cut procedure
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The use of water in the cutting process is explained 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Specified operating parameters and the consequences of not complying with them are explained as far as it affects cutting speed, wire life and costs. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Wire linear speed
  • Wire tension
  • Feed speed
  • Water quantity, position, sludge density
  • Add Wire rotation
  • Wire management
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Typical non conformances and their causes and mitigating circumstances are explained 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Occupational hazards and risks associated with diamond wire saw cutting are identified and mitigating actions explained in terms of with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    The importance of complying with safe work procedures and regulations is described in terms of the potential effect on safety, equipment, environment and production. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Set up the diamond wire saw and accessories. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The required personal protective equipment is available, operational, fit for purpose and used in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Ear plugs and/or ear muffs
  • Safety belt (where applicable)
  • Hard hat
  • Safety boots
  • Gloves
  • Goggles
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The required tools, material and equipment are fit for purpose, operational and transported to the work place according to specified requirements in terms of safety, securing and positioning. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Saw
  • Rails and stops
  • Additional guide pulleys
  • Crimper
  • Wire cutter
  • Spirit level
  • Vernier
  • Calculator
  • Stop watch
  • Nylon rope
  • Wire
  • Ferrules
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Occupational hazards and risks are identified and dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The diamond saw rails are placed and positioned in accordance with good working practice 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Distance from face
  • Alignment
  • Level
  • Stability
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The diamond saw is lifted and placed on the rails 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Lifting procedure
  • Slings
  • Interaction with front end loader operator
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The diamond wire is installed in accordance with operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Safety barricades are erected in accordance witrh specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Consequences of inadequate preparation are explained in terms of specified requiements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Non conformances are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Operate the diamond wire saw. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Occupational hazards and risks are identified and dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Initial rounding of corners is conducted to optimise wire life. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The saw cut is made in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Wire management is conducted in order to ensure optimum wire life. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Axial rotation
  • Wire circulated according to bead diameter
  • Cutting and joining procedures
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Environmental aspects are monitored and anomalies dealt with in accordance with specifed requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Dust
  • Water
  • Illumination
  • Noise
  • Weather conditions
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The diamond sawing process monitored and non conformances dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Wire linear speed
  • Wire tension
  • Feed speed
  • Water quantity, position, sludge density
  • Positioning of guide pulleys
  • Wedging when required
  • Storage of removed wire
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    End of cut procedure conducted at the end of each cut. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • End of cut (pull through) wire inserted at appropriate stage
  • Apply appropriate operating parameters
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Finalise and report on the saw cut. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The saw and accessories are cleaned and stored for subsequent use and those defective are dealt with according to specified requirements 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The saw and accessories are inspected, faultfinding is performed and operator maintenance is conducted in accordance with specified requirements 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The wire is cleaned and stored in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Reports are prepared and submitted in accordance with specified requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

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

    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard
  • Purpose of diamond wire saw cutting
  • Principles of operation of the diamond wire saw
  • Equipment construction and components
  • Operating methods and parameters
  • Occupational hazards and risks and mitigating actions
  • Typical non conformances and their mitigating actions 
    		•

    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 ability of the candidate to use equipment, follow processes and access and record data in a technological environment in accordance with environmental, occupational health and safety requirements. 

    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 far reaching consequences. 

    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
  • Guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines

    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 - Well-developed range
  • Procedures - 3 - Significant choice
  • Context - 4 - Variety of familiar and unfamiliar
  • Knowledge - 3 - Some relevant theoretical
  • Information processing - 4 - Basic analytical interpretation of information
  • Problem Solving - 3 - Range of known solutions
  • Orientation of activities - 3 - Directed, with some autonomy
  • Application of responsibility - 3 - Under general supervision quality checking
  • Orientation of scope of responsibility - 3 - Significant responsibility for quantity and quality

    Average level: 29/9 = 3.22
    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 - 90
    Mentoring required - 30
    Other (Specify)
    Total-150

    Credits achieved: 150/10 = 15
    Actual credits assigned: 15 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  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 
    Elective  62869   National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Surface Excavations  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. Anglo American Platinum Limited - Mogalakwena Mining Training Centre 
    2. AVENG (AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 
    3. BANA BA THARI MINING TRANING AND DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 
    4. CONCOR PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    5. DEI GRATIA TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION 
    6. ELITE OPERATOR AND SKILLS TRAINING 
    7. EXXARO COAL (PTY) LTD 
    8. FOSKOR (PTY) LTD 
    9. GEOSTRAT TRAINING 
    10. GLENCORE OPERATIONS SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD 
    11. HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD 
    12. KOLOMELA MINE 
    13. Kumba Sishen HRD Centre 
    14. MEDIRO TRAINING ACADEMY (PTY) LTD 
    15. MMTI Holdings 
    16. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    17. PMC TRAINING CONSULTANTS AND ASSOCIATES (PTY) LTD 
    18. POWERGATE TRAINING PTY LTD 
    19. PPC Ltd 
    20. PRISMA TRAINING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 
    21. PROGRESSIVE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS (PTY) LTD 
    22. SENZEKO EXECUTIVE RISK CC 
    23. XTRACT TRAINING SERVICES (SA)(PTY)LTD 
    24. ZULEK TRAINING SPECIALISTS 


    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.