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

Implement safety procedures for open hole or deep excavations 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
365183  Implement safety procedures for open hole or deep excavations 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Occupational Health & Safety 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Preventive Health 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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 replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
119526  Implement safety procedures for open hole or deep excavations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is directed towards people who are required to work in open holes and deep excavations within the geotechnical industry.
  • People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Explain the legal responsibilities for Health and Safety when working in or alongside excavations.
  • Identify unsafe working conditions relating to excavations.
  • Determine methods of achieving health and safety when working in or alongside excavations.
  • Undertake responsibility for safety of self and others.
  • Conduct safe work practices. 
    		•

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

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Excavations refer to trenches, drilled holes, excavated holes and embankments. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the legal responsibilities for Health and Safety when working in or alongside excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Employee and employer obligations are described in terms of statutory requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Statutory requirements include safety, health and environmental legislation; local and provincial authority requirements; other industry accepted safety procedures.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The safety provisions of relevant legislation are explained according to employment regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The consequences of not adhering to legislation are explained in terms of potential danger to workers, loss of revenue and accountability. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify unsafe working conditions relating to excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Hazards are identified and controlled in accordance with the site safety requirements and relevant legislation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Hazards include, but are not limited to risk of ground collapse, gaseous conditions, risk of falling objects, risk of falling into excavations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Procedures for avoiding accidents are described in terms of company policy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Emergency procedures are identified and described in terms of actions required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Post accident procedures are identified and complied with in accordance with relevant legislation and standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Determine methods of achieving health and safety when working in or alongside excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Work areas requiring support are identified in accordance with relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of supporting ground are identified in accordance with the type of ground and depth of excavation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Alternative methods of providing support to excavations are identified and explained in terms of advantages and disadvantages. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Methods of preventing obstacles from falling are identified and explained in terms of safe work practices. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Undertake responsibility for safety of self and others. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Relative to work in or near excavations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Ground is supported to ensure stability for the duration of the work. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Personal protective equipment is selected and used according to manufacturers' specifications and the work functions to be performed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Consequences of not correctly wearing personal protective equipment are explained in terms of potential injury to self and others. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Consequences of unsafe working practice are explained in terms of potential harm to self and others. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The unsafe work area is clearly demarcated in terms of site-specific access requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Movements and whereabouts of others on the worksite are accounted for to enable the necessary actions to be taken in case of emergency. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Conduct safe work practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Guard rails are installed and used as required in terms of site and legislative requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Signs, boards and screens are erected and used according to legislated requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Protective clothing and equipment is available and used according to manufacturer's recommendations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Walkways and access paths are kept clear of obstructions in accordance with safety requirements, standard operating procedures and current, relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Air quality is monitored and procedures are implemented to ensure safe operation where air quality is poor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Support systems are removed after completion of work in accordance with safe working practices. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Legislative workplace requirements.
  • Methods of preventing ground collapse.
  • Methods of working safely in excavations.
  • How to erect signage and barriers.
  • How to conduct basic first aid. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others and in teams. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full development of oneself. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the Unit Standards being assessed.

    They must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge.

    As each situation is different, it will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which practitioners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment.

    The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a practitioner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a practitioner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, they should not be assessed as competent. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Health and safety in excavations has been identified by SAICE as critical to the industry and have developed a document that identifies safe working practices in deep excavations. This document should be referred to when conducting training or assessment of candidates in this unit standard.

    This unit standard replaces unit standard 119526, "Implement safety procedures for open hole or deep excavations", Level 3, 4 credits. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  77063   National Certificate: Construction Health and Safety  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  CETA 


    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. Academy for Construction Skills (Pty) Ltd (ACS) 
    2. ALLINA FRANCIS (SA) 
    3. Aveng Grinaker -LTA Civil Engineering 
    4. AVUXENI COMPUTER ACADEMY KZN 
    5. Bright Storm Projects 
    6. Certified Training Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    7. CLEAN HEAT ENERGY SAVING SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 
    8. Eastcape Training Centre 
    9. Elite Operator and Skills Training 
    10. Eskilz College (Pty) Ltd 
    11. imithetho labour law 
    12. Mavco Engineering 
    13. Microzone Training CC 
    14. Motheo Academy PTY LTD 
    15. Namuntlha Training and Development (Pty)Ltd 
    16. Raubex Construction Pty (Ltd) 
    17. Sonani Training and Communications 
    18. Tovani Traiding 299 
    19. Training Force (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.