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

Inspect production and service excavations to detect abnormalities in ground conditions 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
256868  Inspect production and service excavations to detect abnormalities in ground conditions 
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  4 
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 inspection of production and service excavations in the mining and minerals sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the inspection process to identify abnormal ground conditions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of factors to be investigated to assess normality of conditions.
  • Demonstrate the ability to inspect workings for ground condition normality.
  • Demonstrate ability to record, report and communicate findings of the inspection. 
    		•

    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 inspection process to identify abnormal ground conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The need for a logical and standardized inspection process is explained in the context of mining operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The process of preparation, inspection and reporting is explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Plan study to identify larger scale geological and layout influences.
  • Formulation of an opinion of the conditions to be expected at the site.
  • Observations on-site are recorded.
  • Identification of observations that do not match the expected conditions.
  • Evaluation of the reasons why the actual conditions do or do not compare well to that expected.
  • Reporting of the observations and findings.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of factors to be investigated to assess normality of conditions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The factors to be evaluated to determine normality of conditions for a specific environment are listed and explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Support performance.
  • Quality of blasting/cutting.
  • Geological structures.
  • Rock wall/slope stability.
  • Seismic activity history.
  • Effect of seismic activity on support and ground conditions.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Normal conditions are briefly explained for each of the factors in the context of the specific mine. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Support performance.
  • Quality of blasting/cutting.
  • Geological structures.
  • Rock wall/slope stability.
  • Seismic activity history.
  • Effect of seismic activity on support and ground conditions.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of not knowing and understanding normal conditions for the specific environment are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate the ability to inspect workings for ground condition abnormality. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Preparation for the inspection of underground workings for abnormal ground conditions is executed according to the relevant inspection process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Workings are inspected for mine specific abnormal ground conditions in terms of the relevant procedure. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The inspection results are recorded according to mine specific requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The consequences of poor inspection for abnormal conditions on the safety of workers are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate ability to report and communicate findings of the inspection. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The inspection results are reported and communicated according to mine specific requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The consequences of not recording and reporting inspection results on the safety of workers 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 items reflect the type of knowledge that the assessor will evaluate:
  • The need for a logical and standardised inspection process.
  • The inspection process of preparation, inspection and reporting.
  • Factors to be investigated to assess normality of conditions.
  • Mine specific normal conditions.

    Processes and events:
  • Inspect workings for ground condition abnormality.
  • Report and communicate findings of the inspection.

    Causes and effects (Occupational Health and Safety):
  • 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 WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

    Note: The ability of the learner to explain the presence of abnormal conditions to the working place employees in an attempt to improve hazard awareness. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability of the learner to understand that the detail and systematic analysis of normal and abnormal conditions is essential in identifying abnormal hazards. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: The ability of the learner to critically evaluate the underground conditions to identify abnormal conditions. 

    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 findings of the analysis to production and rock engineering personnel. 

    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 identification of abnormal conditions have a significant effect on the stability of workings and 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.