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

Apply calculations of support resistance and energy absorption capabilities of support units 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
256850  Apply calculations of support resistance and energy absorption capabilities of support units 
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 application of support resistance and energy absorption calculations 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 concepts of support resistance and energy absorption.
  • Calculate the support resistance capability of a support unit.
  • Calculate the energy absorption capability of a support unit.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the consequences of incorrectly calculated, inappropriate values or inappropriate application of support resistance and energy absorption. 
    		•

    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 knowledge and understanding of the concepts of support resistance and energy absorption. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concepts of "support resistance provided by support units" and "support resistance criteria" are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concepts of the "energy absorption capability of support units" and "energy absorption criteria" are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The conditions under which each of these concepts are generally used, are explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Support Resistance: Gravity driven conditions.
  • Energy Absorption: Seismically driven conditions.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The units in which each of the concepts are measured, are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The advantages of using these concepts when evaluating support systems are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Calculate the support resistance capability of a support unit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate values to input parameters in the calculation are given and explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Load/Force generated by the support unit.
  • Tributary area unit must support.
  • Density of rock.
  • Gravitational acceleration.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The way in which the load/deformation curve of a support unit and the closure rate can assist in establish the unit's load carrying ability are explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The support resistance capability of a mine-specific support unit is calculated by means of the specified method. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Calculate the energy absorption capability of a support unit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate values to input parameters in the calculation of the energy absorption are given and explained in the context of mining operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Load/Force generates by the support unit.
  • Tributary area to be supported by support unit.
  • Hangingwall/sidewall velocity.
  • Gravitational acceleration.
  • Yield capacity of support unit.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The way in which the force/deformation curve of a support unit can assist to establish the energy absorption capability of the support unit is explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The energy absorption capability of a mine-specific support unit is calculated by means of the specified method. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate understanding of the consequences of incorrectly calculated, inappropriate values or inappropriate application of support resistance and energy absorption. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The possible consequences of incorrect input parameters on working place stability are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The possible consequences of incorrect calculations on working place stability are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of inadequate support loads on working place stability are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The consequences of excessive support spacings on working place stability are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The consequences of inadequate support yield on working place stability are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 


    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 and understanding that the assessor will evaluate:
  • The concepts of support resistance and energy absorption.
  • Calculating the support resistance capability of a support unit.
  • Calculating the energy absorption capability of a support unit.
  • The consequences of incorrectly calculated, inappropriate values or inappropriate application of support resistance and energy absorption.

    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 ability of the learner to determine the appropriate calculation method and input parameters. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to explain the installation of support to reach the required support resistance and energy absorption criteria to the team. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to systematically work through the calculation process to evaluate support. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the learner to critically evaluate the input parameters to the calculations. 
    		•

    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 support requirements to production or rock engineering 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 mathematics and basic physics in the calculation of these values. 
    		•

    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 calculation and application of these values 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.