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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of blasting operations on highwall/slope stability 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254579  Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of blasting operations on highwall/slope 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 
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 highwall and slope stability.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of highwall/slope blasting practices.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of factors that control blast damage to highwalls/slopes.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of blast damage and its control.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of blasting techniques to reduce blast damage.

    This unit standard is intended to promote general skills, knowledge and understanding of the effects of blasting operations on highwall/slope stability in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers. 

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

  • UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of highwall/slope blasting practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The conflicting requirements of good fragmentation versus minimum highwall damage, in blast design are explained in terms of blasting principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Drilling patterns for opencast mining are sketched and explained, with special emphasis on perimeter holes, in terms of mine specific conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Blasting practice is explained in terms of mine specific practices. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Explosive type.
  • Charging up.
  • Stemming.
  • Initiation sequence.
     

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of factors that control blast damage to highwalls/slopes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The factors that control highwall/slope damage are listed in terms of blasting practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Type of explosive.
  • Blasthole diameter.
  • Effective burden.
  • Sub-drill depth.
  • Blasthole inclination.
  • Stemming.
  • Initiation sequence.
  • Delays between successive hole or row firing.
     

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The effects of parameters in causing blast damage are explained in terms of blasting practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Effective burden.
  • Sub-drill depth.
  • Blasthole inclination.
  • Stemming.
  • Initiation sequence.
  • Delays between successive hole or row firing.
     

  • SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate knowledge of blast damage and its control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of damage are listed and explained in terms of blasting practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Structural damage due to blast vibrations.
  • Structural damage due to gas penetration.
  • Fly-rock damage.
     

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The control of blast damage is explained in terms of blasting practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Delay blasting.
  • Amount of explosive used.
  • Stemming.
  • Drilling patterns.
  • Blasting techniques.
     

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of not controlling blast damage to highwalls/slopes are explained in terms of impact on people and operations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate basic knowledge of blasting techniques to reduce blast damage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Techniques to reduce blast damage to highwalls are listed and explained in terms of special blasting practice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Buffer blasting.
  • Pre-plitting.
  • Post-splitting.
     

  • ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Hazards and risks pertaining to the blasting process are identified and explained in terms of impact on occupational health and safety and environmental impact. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The appropriate preventive measures are described in accordance with specified requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against the qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described in the associated unit standards.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 

  • UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Highwall/slope blasting practices.
  • Factors that control blast damage to highwalls/slopes.
  • Blast damage and its control.
  • Blasting techniques to reduce blast damage.
  • Use of equipment.
  • Use of personal protective equipment.
  • Adherence to safety requirements.
  • Work related hazards and associated risks.
  • Safety, health and environmental legislation and regulations.
  • Quality policies, standards and agreements. 

  • UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to systematically assess the factors that may potentially cause blast damage. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to correctly identify the causes for blast damage. 

  • 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 regarding blasting damage. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The use and understanding of modern blasting practices. 

  • 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: Understanding that the correct application of drilling and blasting practices is beneficial to safety of people and production in the whole domain. 

  • 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 
    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 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act 50/1991).
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice.
  • SANS and other relevant Standards.
  • Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives.

    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. 

  • QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  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. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    3. SASOL GLOBAL LEARNING 
    4. SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED 
    5. THUNGELA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD 
    6. 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.