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: 

Implement lean work practices to ensure sound environmental management practices 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119821  Implement lean work practices to ensure sound environmental management practices 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Environmental Sc/Mgt & Waste Mgt 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Environmental Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  10 
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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 
In order for me to perform effectively in the field of environmental science, environmental management and waste management, I will be able to:
  • Implement work practices which use resources wisely to prevent, correct or remedy environmental impact(s).
  • Take responsibility for my own actions (and those of my team, if applicable) which could potentially impact on the environment.

    I will also know and understand:
  • The principles for responsible use and handling of various resources and materials (including waste) in my context.
  • The principles for responsible operation of machinery and equipment in my context.
  • Methods of effective communication.

    This unit standard is applicable in the context of any activity which is related to managing environmental issues, such as:
  • Waste management related activities, eg
    > Materials recovery and buy back centres
    > Waste reception
    > Landfill operations
  • Water course cleaning, care and maintenance
  • Care of public places, open areas, cultural and natural heritage sites
  • Maintenance of parks and sports fields
  • Involvement in community projects and job creation schemes relating to environmental practice
  • General industrial or extraction, ie activities with an environmental care or improvement focus 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Lean work practices refer to the optimal use of resources (including equipment, human resources, time, capital, facilities, waste, etc) and result in reduced use of materials and natural resources (including energy, water, chemicals, etc); minimisation of waste; prevention of pollution and reduction in environmental impact, while improving responsiveness, the quality of the product or service, and the profitability and competitiveness of the organisation.

    Environmental impacts include changes to the environment due to natural events and human activities such as resource utilisation, waste production, waste water management, industrial and mining activities, etc and the resultant effects on human health and well-being.

    The context is the learner's immediate work context. The terminology of the discipline is used to refer to concepts, but this is not intended to elevate the level: the application of the concepts must be appropriate to NQF Level 3 and the workplace context.

    All references to the impact of human activities on the environment implicitly include the subsequent impact of the degraded environment on human health and well-being in accordance with accepted definitions of the environment (Section 1 of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998).

    Additional information on the scope and level of this unit standard is indicated by range statements related to the specific outcomes. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain and describe concepts related to lean work practices. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Lean work practices: see Unit Standard range statement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept of lean work practices, in general, is described and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concept of lean work practices in relation to the learner's own work context is described and explained, and illustrated with concrete examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify opportunities for introducing lean work practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A range of situations or points in the workflow are identified in the learner's area of responsibility, where lean work practices may be introduced. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Reasons are given for identifying particular situations or points in the workflow as opportunities where lean work practices may be introduced. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    An appropriate response to each situation is determined. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Appropriate response includes consideration of the accumulative downstream effects resulting from the intervention.

    Appropriate response includes acting immediately and reporting (including incident reporting), and may include stopping the process, addressing the cause or addressing the impact. The response should be appropriate to the level of authority and capacity of the learner.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Develop an action plan to implement new or modified practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A logical, practical and sufficiently detailed plan to address each identified opportunity to introduce lean work practices is determined. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The plan should include a sequence of steps. There should be a separate plan for each identified opportunity.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The plan includes resources required, timelines and responsibilities. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Assess, evaluate and report the impact of new or modified practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The effect of each new or modified practice is assessed, evaluated and recorded accurately. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Effect will include improvements, no discernable change, worsening.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Reports reflect the key issues succinctly and clearly. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Reports are compiled and presented appropriately. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • The relevant Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programmes of education and training assessed against unit standards.
  • 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 
    1. Names & functions of:
  • Components of the environment and their relationships.
  • Natural resources and related principles and concepts.
  • Waste and related principles, concepts and legislative requirements.
  • Materials and related principles, concepts and legislative requirements.
  • Equipment and its operation and related concepts.
  • Related terminology.

    2. Purpose of:
  • Components of the environment and their relationships.
  • Properties and characteristics of natural resources, waste, materials, energy, and related principles, concepts and legislative requirements.
  • Equipment and its operation and related concepts.
  • Work methods that protect health and the environment, conserve resources (eg natural, human, time or financial resources, etc), minimise waste, prevent or reduce pollution and other forms of environmental damage, optimise the use of equipment, etc.
  • Planning (including implementing, monitoring, evaluating and adjusting implementation).
  • Effective communication with team members and other affected parties.
  • Recording and reporting.

    3. Attributes, descriptions, characteristics & properties:
  • Components of the environment and their relationships.
  • Properties and characteristics of natural resources, waste, materials, energy, and related principles, concepts and legislative requirements.
  • Equipment and its operation.
  • Materials and energy sources.
  • Work methods that protect health and the environment, conserve resources (eg natural, human, time or financial resources, etc), minimise waste, prevent or reduce pollution and other forms of environmental damage, optimise the use of equipment, etc.
  • Plans.
  • Effective communication with team members and other affected parties.
  • Reports.

    4. Processes and events:
  • Identifying and planning appropriate action to promote lean work practices.
  • Implementing new or modified practices to reduce environmental impacts.
  • Evaluating the effects of practices implemented.

    5. Causes and effects, implications of:
  • Implications of not using resources wisely.
  • Implications of pollution, poorly managed waste, using non-renewable resources.
  • Implications of failure to work safely, failure to work efficiently, failure to meet standards, failure to meet customer needs, etc.
  • Implications of not communicating effectively with team members and other affected parties.
  • Benefits of lean work practices, pro-active planning and continual improvement.

    6. Procedures and techniques:
  • Procedures and techniques for identifying opportunities for, and planning and applying lean work practices.
  • Procedures for reporting environmental threats and incidents.
  • Procedures for dealing with potential and actual damage to the environment.
  • Procedures for handling, processing and disposing of waste.
  • Emergency procedures.
  • Procedures for handling materials and resources.
  • Procedures for operating equipment.

    7. Sensory cues:
  • Sensory cues related to identifying materials and recognising defective materials.
  • For recognising and classifying types of waste.
  • Related to identifying correct and non-conforming operation of equipment, etc.
  • Recognising pollution and irresponsible use of resources.
  • Identifying potential and actual damage to the environment.

    8. Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
  • Legislation related to the environment, material and waste management, equipment operation, workplace policies and standards (relevant aspects at the appropriate level).

    9. Theory: rules, principles, laws:
  • Environmental ethics.
  • Relevant environmental principles.
  • Theory and principles related to handling, using, transporting and storing environmentally sensitive materials.
  • Related to conserving resources and using them wisely (natural resources, energy, materials, equipment, etc), minimising waste and pollution, re-using and recycling materials, cleaner production, lean production.
  • Basic understanding of the concept of cost effectiveness.

    10. Categories:
  • Of resources, of materials, of equipments, of waste, of energy, etc.

    11. Relationships, systems:
  • Relationship between lean work practices, the wise use of resources, and meeting customer and organisational expectations and 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:
  • Related to the implementation of lean work practices in environmentally sensitive contexts. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others:
  • Involve team members in the implementation of lean work practices.
  • Work safely with due care for the health and well-being of others. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities:
  • Carry out activities in order to identify opportunities for, and to plan and implement lean work practices in environmentally sensitive contexts. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • Use sensory information to identify a variety of potential or actual environmental impacts or practices requiring a response. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively:
  • Communicate effectively with team members and others.
  • Record and report information related to planning and implementing lean work practices. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically:
  • Use knowledge of material properties, equipment and resources to implement lean work practices (within the scope and capacity of the learner). 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems:
  • Describe the relationship between lean work practices, the wise use of resources and meeting customer and organisational requirements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49752   National Certificate: Environmental Practice  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  LG SETA 


    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. A4 Consultancy CC 
    2. AVAX SA 481 CC. T/A Mandisa Development Services 
    3. Bephaswana Skills Development (Pty) Ltd 
    4. Buena Vista Learning Academy 
    5. Faranang Marketing 
    6. Furniture World Training Centre 
    7. Growth Management Consulting 
    8. Inkqubeko Investment (Pty) Ltd 
    9. IQ Skills Academy (PTY) LTD. 
    10. Jobafrik Consulting 
    11. Josmap Training Institute 
    12. Kay Beez Development Projects 
    13. KOKANO PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    14. Lewerb Holdings (PTY) Ltd 
    15. Makhuba Development Projects CC 
    16. Makoti Skills Development Solutions 
    17. Mamuhle Academy 
    18. Mortarboard Training Solutions 
    19. Nemalale Eagles Consultancy CC 
    20. Networx for Career Development 
    21. Nkinane Trading Enterprise 
    22. Petra Institute of Development 
    23. PFIM Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    24. PMA Holdings (PTY ) LTD. 
    25. Progressive School of Business and Engineering (Pty) 
    26. Reflections Development Institute 
    27. Shudu Trading 
    28. Simmek Holdings 
    29. Siza Nesu Training and Consultants 
    30. South African Corporate Training Association 
    31. South West Gauteng College - Central Office 
    32. Starplex 489 cc 
    33. Tachfin Holdings 
    34. Tembe Service Providers 
    35. Thando Consulting Services 
    36. Timothy Fasheun Group Enviromentors (Pty) Ltd 
    37. TLD Consulting 
    38. Tloumogale Business Development & Consulting 
    39. Umbuso Training Services 
    40. UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE(PTY)LTD 
    41. University of Venda 
    42. Wildlife and Enviroment Society of South Africa 


    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.