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: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for designing highwall or slope face shapes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
256842  Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for designing highwall or slope face shapes 
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 4  NQF Level 04  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 for people who are pursuing a career in rock engineering.

This unit standard is intended to promote general skills, knowledge and understanding of the determination of the optimum face shape for highwall or slope stability in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of highwall/slope shapes.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the issues that effect stable shapes.
  • Determine stable shapes.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the consequences of unstable highwall/slope shapes. 
    		•

    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 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate understanding of highwall/slope face shapes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Highwall/slope face shape is explained using sketches in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Dip angle of face.
  • Strike direction of face.
  • Slope curvature (dip and strike).
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The highwall/slope shapes are explained in terms of specific mining environments. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Quarry layout.
  • Open pit layout.
  • Strip layout.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the issues that effect stable face shapes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Issues that affect stable highwall/slope curvature are listed and explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Stress directions.
  • Radius of slope curvature (concave/convex).
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Issues that affect stable highwall/slope angles are listed and explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range must include:
  • Radius of slope curvature (concave/convex).
  • Rock mass quality.
  • Geological discontinuities.
  • Water.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Determine stable highwall/slope shape. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The need to ensure convex radii of curvature on highwall/slope curvatures is explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The method of determining initial slope angles from historical data is explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Other mines in similar rock mass conditions.
  • Same mine but other slopes/highwalls.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Methods to address potentially unstable highwall/slope angles are listed in terms of legal and operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Induce failure and clean up.
  • Reduce the face dip angle.
  • Install reinforcement.
  • Combinations of the above.
  • Water management.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The process of determining the optimum highwall/slope angles is explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Identify potential highwall/slope instability.
  • Determine methods to ensure stability of the highwall/slope angle.
  • Determine the implications of each method with highwall/slope angle and cost of remedial action.
  • Decide on the optimum highwall/slope angle and preventative action required to ensure stability.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate understanding of the consequences of unstable slope shapes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The consequences of highwall/slope failure, due to unstable shapes, are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The consequences of highwall/slope failure are explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Health and safety.
  • Production levels.
  • Production costs (clean-up, reinforcement).
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard 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 unit standard 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 with 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.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this unit standard 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 
    The following essential embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:

    Knowledge that the assessor will evaluate:
  • Demonstrate understanding of highwall/slope shapes.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the issues that effect stable shapes.
  • Determine stable shapes.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the consequences of unstable highwall/slope shapes.

    Causes and effects (Occupational Health and Safety):
  • Use of equipment.
  • Use of personal protective equipment.
  • Adherence to occupational; health and safety requirements.
  • Work related hazards and associated risks.

    Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies and standards:
  • Occupational health, safety 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 IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Note: The identification of anomalous highwall/slope shapes and the optimum methods of preventative action. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to involve team members in the historical analysis of data to ascertain the optimum highwall/slope angle. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to understand that the safety of other personnel is affected by the responsible and effective addressing of potentially unstable face shapes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to critically evaluate historical and new data in an attempt to determine the optimum face shape. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to communicate the required face shape to the responsible personnel. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The use of calculations and graphs to ascertain the optimum face shape. 
    		•

    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 understanding that effective identification of potentially unstable face shapes and the selection of appropriate preventative action, affects the safety of workers. 
    		•

    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 and Regulations, 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/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. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  62796   Further Education and Training Certificate: Strata Control Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  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.
     
    NONE 


    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.