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 surface excavation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
336965  Demonstrate an understanding of surface excavation 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Fabrication and Extraction 
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  7 
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 
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of types of Surface Excavation operations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of surface excavation geology.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of surface excavation methods, techniques and applications.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of surface excavation services and infrastructure. 
    		•

    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 an understanding of types of Surface Excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Surface excavations are described in terms of their layout, methods of operation and products. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Surface excavation includes but not limited to:
  • Strip mines.
  • Opencast mines.
  • Open pit mines.
  • Quarries.
  • Dimension stone operations.
  • Alluvial mines.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Factors influencing the layout of surface excavations are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Surface excavations are described in terms of methods of operation and products. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Environmental factors affecting Occupational Health and Safety conditions pertaining to surface excavation are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of surface excavation geology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Exploration activities are explained in the context of surface excavation activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The nature of and requirements pertaining to vegetation and topsoil are explained in the context of surface excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The nature of and requirements pertaining to overburden are explained in the context of surface excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The layout and nature of the ore body are described for the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Densities and swell factors pertaining to the overburden and ore body are described and indicated for the specific operation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of methods and techniques involved in surface excavation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Load and haul activities and requirements are described in the context of surface excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The need for and requirements pertaining to waste dumps are explained in the context of surface excavation operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The need for and requirements pertaining to product stockpiles are explained for the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Drill and blast methods, techniques and applications are explained in the context of the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Quality control and sampling activities are explained in terms of operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Mine and production planning activities are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Face preparation methods, techniques and applications are explained in the context of the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Dewatering, draining and run-off control requirements, techniques and applications are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of services and infrastructure relating to surface excavation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The layout of and rationale for the mine Infrastructure is explained for the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The requirements for roads are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The requirements for and typical construction of dumps and stockpiles are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Water and power reticulation and infrastructure are explained in the context of the specific operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Security requirements and measures are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Lighting requirements and measures are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Lightning protection requirements and measures are explained in terms of legal and operational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    The use of and layout of the various buildings on the operation 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 embedded knowledge will be assessed in an integrated way in the context of the unit standard:
  • Types of surface excavation operations:
    > Exploration.
    > Geology.
    > Vegetation and topsoil.
    > Overburden.
    > Ore body and swell factors.
  • Methods and techniques, applications:
    > Load and haul.
    > Waste dumps.
    > Product stockpiles.
    > Drill and blast.
    > Quality control and sampling.
    > Planning.
    > Construction.
    > Face preparation.
    > Dewatering, draining, run-off control.
  • Services and infrastructure:
    > Roads.
    > Dumps and stockpiles.
    > Water and power reticulation.
    > Security.
    > Lighting.
    > Lightning protection.
    > Buildings. 
    		•

    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 and willingness of the learner to be part of a team and to participate constructively in achieving team goals and objectives in the understanding and application of surface excavation processes, methods and designs. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Note: The learner appreciates the role of modern technology in understanding and application of surface excavation processes, methods and designs and shows a positive orientation towards such technology. 

    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 learner understands that the interaction of numerous role players involved in upstream, downstream and parallel processes relating to surface excavation processes, methods and designs. 

    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:
  • Understanding of relevant Acts and Regulations:
    > Mine Health and Safety Act-1996, Labour Relations Act-1995.
    > Basic Conditions of Employment Act-1998.

    Site Specific:
  • Company policies and procedures regarding relevant:
  • Mine policies and procedures.
  • Codes of Practice.
  • Human Resources specific labour functions. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  74490   Further Education and Training Certificate: Mining 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.