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: 

Use appropriate environmental management tools and protocols to detect and respond to specific impacts 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119829  Use appropriate environmental management tools and protocols to detect and respond to specific impacts 
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:
  • Identify components of the environment and describe their interrelationships.
  • Use appropriate terminology when speaking about the environment and environmental issues.
  • Use appropriate environmental management tools and protocols to monitor activities and processes in my work context, identify those activities that impact on the environment and assess the impacts.
  • Develop, implement and evaluate a plan to prevent, correct or remedy the identified environmental impacts.
  • Communicate effectively with team members to ensure their understanding and cooperation with regard to the implementation of the plan.
  • Record and report information related to these activities.

    I will also know and understand:
  • Principles and concepts related to assessing and managing environmental impacts.
  • The effects of human activities and organisational processes on the environment and what actions can be taken to address these impacts.

    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 the learner is competent is Communications and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Tools include assessment tools, incident reports, checklists, statistical process control charts, maps, layout plans, workflow diagrams and transportation documents, etc. Tools include preventive, predictive and monitoring tools.

    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.

    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 
    Monitor and evaluate activities and processes. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Activities and processes: those that occur in the learner's work context

    Activities and processes are internal to the organisation and are associated with the learner's work context, but may impact on the environment, organisational employees or the community. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate tools and protocols are used correctly to monitor and evaluate activities and processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Information is recorded and processed in accordance with the requirements of the tool or protocol and the organisation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Recorded includes accuracy, timeliness and comprehensiveness of the data collection and recording, and the identification of anomalies in the data.

    Processed includes maintaining data (updating, handing on, filing, storing, etc).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Desirable and undesirable conditions arising from activities and processes are described and explained in relation to standards and sound environmental practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Standards are levels of performance set by the organisation, by legislation or by regulations.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Use data from monitoring process to identify key activities and processes impacting on the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Data from monitoring process is compared with appropriate existing environmental standards to identify key activities and processes impacting on the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Identification of key activities and processes is correct. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Select and use appropriate tools and protocols to assess impact on the environment. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Appropriate tools and protocols: at least 2 different tools or protocols relevant to the context. The tools and protocols should be used in a simplified form appropriate to NQF Level 3. The purpose is for learners to develop a basic understanding of their role and application in environmental management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Relevant tools and protocols are used correctly to assess a selection of impacts on the environment. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The impacts are those identified in terms of Specific Outcome 2.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Assessments of impacts are adequate, accurate and relevant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Deviations are correctly identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information is recorded and processed in accordance with the requirements of the tool or protocol and the organisation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Recorded includes accuracy, timeliness and comprehensiveness of the information collection and recording and the identification of anomalies in the data.

    Processed includes maintaining information (updating, handing on, filing, storing, etc).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The components of the environment and their interrelationships are described and explained with reference to the negative effects of human activities on the environment. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Negative effects of human activities on the environment: this includes the subsequent impact of the degraded environment on human health and well-being in accordance with accepted definitions of the environment.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Develop and implement an appropriate plan to address the deviations and evaluate results. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Deviations: as identified in terms of Specific Outcome 3. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The immediate causes of the environmental impacts are identified and appropriate responses to address the impacts are determined. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Appropriate responses include preventive, corrective and remedial actions; acting immediately; reporting (including incident reporting); stopping the process; addressing the cause; addressing the impact. The responses will be appropriate to the level of authority and capacity of the learner.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The plan is logical, practical, sufficiently detailed and shows all the necessary steps in sequence. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The plan will include indicators for measuring the success of the interventions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Team members are briefed and their cooperation and commitment to implementing the plan is obtained and any other parties are informed and their assistance requested if required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Actions taken are in accordance with the plan and address the deviations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Actions may be preventive, corrective or remedial.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The implementation is monitored and adjustments are made where necessary. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The results of the interventions are evaluated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Record and report interventions and results achieved. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Reports can include recommendations, but this is not a requirement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Records are complete, accurate and in the correct format. 

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

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Reports are appropriately compiled and presented. 


    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 
  • Names and functions of:
    > Environmental management tools and protocols
    > Components of the environment and their interrelationships
    > Natural resources
    > Terminology related to planning and implementing plans
    > Terminology related to the environment and to addressing environmental impacts
  • Purpose of:
    > Applying environmental management tools and protocols
    > Addressing environmental impacts
    > Developing, implementing and evaluating plans
    > Preventive, corrective and remedial responses to environmental impacts
    > Promotion of social and economic development
    > Wise use of resources
    > Planning and development activities
    > Briefing team members and obtaining their commitment and cooperation
  • Attributes, descriptions, characteristics & properties:
    > Components of the environment and the interrelationships between them
    > Environmental impact of human and operational activities
    > Environmental issues at local, regional, national and global levels
    > Environmental management tools and protocols for identifying, monitoring, assessing and measuring impacts
    > Environmental impact management concepts: sustainable development, best practical environmental option, cleaner production, etc.
    > Environmental impact management practices
    > Preventive, corrective and remedial responses to environmental impacts
    > Effective communication with team members and other affected parties
  • Processes and events:
    > Identifying, monitoring, assessing, measuring and addressing environmental impacts
    > Pollution
    > Environmental degradation
    > Droughts, floods
    > Planning, implementing and evaluating plans
    > Applying preventive, corrective and remedial responses to environmental impacts
    > Using environmental management tools and protocols
    > Communicating effectively with team members and other parties
  • Causes and effects, implications of:
    > Effects of human activities on the environment
    > Effects of events such as droughts and floods
    > Pollution and environmental degradation, eg erosion, global warming, climate change
    > Implications of not applying environmental management tools and protocols appropriately
    > Implications of not following the sequence of steps set out in the plan
    > Implications of not monitoring the implementation of the plan
    > Implications of not applying environmental management practices
    > Implications of not communicating effectively with team members and other parties
  • Procedures and techniques:
    > Applying environmental management tools and protocols to monitor activities and identify, assess and evaluate impacts
    > Procedures for planning, implementing and evaluating measures to address environmental impacts
    > Procedures for applying preventive, corrective and remedial responses to environmental impacts
    > Procedures for recording and reporting information
  • Sensory cues:
    > Related to using the tools and protocols
    > Related to identifying impacts
    > Related to evaluating the effectiveness of preventive, corrective and remedial measures to address impacts
  • Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
    > Related to environmental management and related activities (ie relevant aspects at the appropriate level)
  • Theory: rules, principles, laws:
    > Relevant science and technology
    > Environmental management principles, eg polluter pays, precautionary approach, duty of care, pollution prevention, holistic approach, participation, transparency, accountability and liability
    > Waste hierarchy
    > Biophysical cycles
    > Ecosystem processes
  • Categories:
    > Environmental management tools and protocols
    > Environmental impacts
    > Natural resources
  • Relationships, systems:
    > Relationship between the accuracy of the assessment, the value of the information collected, the effectiveness of the plan and its implementation and the overall success of the intervention
    > The need to balance protection of the environment with social and economic development 
    		•

    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 identifying the environmental impact, determining the immediate cause and developing and implementing an appropriate plan to address the impact. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others.
  • Lead the team in activities related to preventing, correcting and remedying environmental impacts. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities.
  • Related to using environmental tools and protocols correctly to assess impacts.
  • Related to implementing and evaluating preventive, corrective and remedial responses as planned. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Apply appropriate tools and protocols to monitor activities and assess environmental impacts.
  • Evaluate information related to monitoring the implementation of the plan. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively.
  • Use appropriate terminology related to environmental concepts, principles and management practices.
  • Communicate effectively with team and other affected parties.
  • Record and report information appropriately. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically.
  • Apply knowledge of environmental components and principles to identify and assess impacts, and to formulate and implement a response to address the impacts (appropriate to NQF Level 3 and the capacity and authority of the learner). 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems.
  • Describe how environmental management tools and protocols can be applied to assess and prevent, correct or remedy the impacts of human activities on the environment. 
    		•

    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 
    Elective  64589   National Certificate: Community Water, Health and Sanitation Monitoring  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 


    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. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    6. ESKOM GENERATION - PALMIET PUMP STORAGE GRABOUW 
    7. Faranang Marketing 
    8. Furniture World Training Centre 
    9. Growth Management Consulting 
    10. Inkqubeko Investment (Pty) Ltd 
    11. IQ Skills Academy (PTY) LTD. 
    12. Jobafrik Consulting 
    13. Josmap Training Institute 
    14. Kay Beez Development Projects 
    15. KOKANO PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    16. Lewerb Holdings (PTY) Ltd 
    17. Makhuba Development Projects CC 
    18. Makoti Skills Development Solutions 
    19. Mamuhle Academy 
    20. Mortarboard Training Solutions 
    21. MOTHEO SKILLS ENTITY ( PTY) LLTD 
    22. Nemalale Eagles Consultancy CC 
    23. Networx for Career Development 
    24. Nkinane Trading Enterprise 
    25. Petra Institute of Development 
    26. PFIM Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    27. PMA Holdings (PTY ) LTD. 
    28. POWER SYSTEMS TRAINING, CAPE TOWN 
    29. Progressive School of Business and Engineering (Pty) 
    30. Reflections Development Institute 
    31. Shudu Trading 
    32. Simmek Holdings 
    33. Siza Nesu Training and Consultants 
    34. South African Corporate Training Association 
    35. South West Gauteng College - Central Office 
    36. Starplex 489 cc 
    37. Tachfin Holdings 
    38. Tembe Service Providers 
    39. Thando Consulting Services 
    40. Timothy Fasheun Group Enviromentors (Pty) Ltd 
    41. TLD Consulting 
    42. Tloumogale Business Development & Consulting 
    43. Umbuso Training Services 
    44. UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE(PTY)LTD 
    45. University of Venda 
    46. 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.