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 QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: |
National Certificate: Chemical Operations |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
78527 | National Certificate: Chemical Operations | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
Chemical Industries SGB | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
The individual Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary for each Learning Programme recorded against this qualification is shown in the table at the end of this report. | SFAP - Sub-framework Assignment Pending | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National Certificate | Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology | Manufacturing and Assembly | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 135 | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | Regular-Unit Stds Based |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered" |
SAQA 091/21 | 2021-07-01 | 2023-06-30 | |
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 qualification is replaced by: |
Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
102156 | Occupational Certificate: Chemical Plant Operator | Not Applicable | NQF Level 04 | 487 | Complete |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
This qualification builds onto the GETC: Chemical Operations. This competence builds onto the largely theoretical foundation laid at NQF Level 1, needed to take responsibility for a significant process in the chemical operations industry. It also provides the basis upon which further related learning and career development can take place. Through the employment of competent operating personnel, employers and in turn the field and sub-field have confidence that this critical work in the industry is efficiently carried out. Social development and economic transformation are enhanced through efficient production, and career development and personal job satisfaction of operating personnel are facilitated through the learning process used to achieve the competency specified. Qualifying learners will: Have an understanding of the various process operations that are used in chemical or explosives operations: Rationale: The National Certificate in Chemical Operations: NQF Level 2 qualification replaces the following two qualifications: This qualification is the second in a learning pathway for people working in the chemical or processing industries who need to progress beyond NQF Level 2 in Chemical Operations. The qualification reflects the workplace-based common or non-specific needs that a learner requires in the chemical operations industry, before progressing to learning at a higher level. Typical learners are operating personnel working in a chemical processing plant. The chemical processing industry is well established in South Africa and its success is dependant upon the efficient production of chemical products. Achievement of this objective is largely dependant upon the competence, recognised by this qualification, of the people who operate chemical processing equipment. An adequate number of people with these skills are needed to ensure that the production units in South Africa operate productively. Competence in chemical process operations requires appropriate general, chemical specific technical and other knowledge and its application, as well as expertise in operating production equipment and controlling a chemical process. This knowledge and expertise can form a basis for further learning particularly in the production/operational, engineering and supervisory aspects of chemical operations and similar industries in the chemical and other sectors. |
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 1.
Recognition of Prior Learning: Recognition of prior learning must be carried out in accordance with the policy and rules specified and used by the ETQA responsible for evaluation of people seeking RPL for a part of the whole qualification. Access to the qualification: Access to this qualification is open, however it is preferable that learners have completed the GETC in Chemical Operations. Access for learners with disabilities is dependant on the: |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
In the compulsory Fundamental Component of the qualification, a learner must demonstrate his/her competence in the 20 credits in the field of Communication plus 16 credits in the field of Mathematical Literacy. The unit standards in the compulsory Core Component of the qualification reflect the skills and competencies needed for building expertise in the chemical operations field. In the Core Component, the learner must demonstrate his/her competence in the total of 64 credits. The Elective Component: The Elective Component consists of a number of specializations each with its own set of Unit Standards. Learners are to choose a specialization area and must choose Elective Unit Standards to the value of 35 credits from the Elective Unit standards listed under that specialization so as to attain a minimum of 135 credits for this qualification. Specialisation areas consist of the following unit standards: Chemical Specialisation (Learning Programme ID 58515): A minimum of 35 credits is required for the elective components. Learners must choose balance of the credits from the following electives to make up 35 credits: Mining and Minerals Specialisation (Learning Programme ID 78547): Learners are to choose Elective Unit Standards to the value of at least 35 credits from the list below: Category; ID; Unit Standard title; Level; Credits: |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Understand the principles of chemistry and their applications in industry.
2. Apply safety and environmental protection procedures in the workplace. 3. Apply operations in a chemical or process environment. 4. Apply quality procedures in a processing environment. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: Each critical cross-field outcome was considered in terms of its applicability to each of the specific outcomes for each unit standard. Where it was found to be applicable, the nature of the skills being developed was specified by the working group and captured in the standard. Critical cross-field outcomes are assessed per unit standards and are part of all exit level outcomes. Critical cross-field outcomes have been addressed by the exit level outcomes as follows: While performing integrated chemical process operations, qualifying learners can: Identify and solve problems in which response displays that responsible decisions, using critical and creative thinking, have been made by: Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community by: Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively by: Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information by: Communicate effectively by using mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations by: Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others by: Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation by: Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large by: |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
1.
2. 3. 4. Integrated Assessment: The applied competence (practical, foundational and reflexive competencies) of this qualification will be achieved if a candidate is able to achieve all the exit level outcomes of this qualification. Appropriate methods and tools must be used to assess practical, foundational and reflexive competence of the learner in all the exit level outcomes listed above, as well as to determine a learner's ability to solve problems, work in a team, organize him/herself, use applied science, and understand the implications of actions and reactions in the world as a set of related systems. Such an assessment process will determine development of the whole person, and the integration of applied knowledge and skills. Assessors should develop, conduct, and ensure integration of, assessment by making use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods against the unit standards that make up the qualification. Combinations of applied, foundational and reflective competencies, including critical cross-field outcomes, should be assessed wherever possible. Moderators should ensure that assessment is valid, consistent and integrated into work or learning, and that there is sufficient and authenticated evidence of learner competence against the whole qualification. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The comparability was done against qualifications from the USA, Germany, the British NVQ, a range of European countries, Australian as well as New Zealand Qualification Frameworks. African countries with manufacturing facilities (including SADC countries) were scanned for applicable qualifications or training programmes, but no relevant qualifications are offered in any of these countries.
Both local and international qualifications place high emphasis on safety with a range of unit standards relating to emergencies, environmental protection and operating procedures forming the core. However, the rest of the Australian and British qualifications are made up of standards addressing operational functions with very little theoretical support. In contrast, the German qualification offers a model which seems more in line with the objectives of the NQF and the South African industry than any of the others. A wide theoretical basis is established before operational aspects are addressed, while menial tasks are not included to complete the qualification. The Introduction to Chemical Operations was therefore broadly based on the German qualification model, except for the exclusion of laboratory practice which is considered as a separate field of study. The compulsory theoretical content incorporated in the qualification will serve to support qualifying learners to make better informed, autonomous decisions within a more compact timeframe than most international learners and will increase transportability of the qualification considerably. An extensive international comparability was done which included the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Britain, European Community Chemical Operator Project and relevant African countries. United States of America: In the USA training for chemical process operators are generally considered as on-the-job training with some specialised multi-media and simulator training modules offered by private providers. However a small number of technical colleges offer certificate programmes which are very similar in design to the NQF Level 2 qualification. Germany: The German qualification was seen as the best benchmarking partner due to their position as international leaders in the chemical industry in both technical and operational issues. From our firsthand experience, the training provided in this field is partially responsible for their leading position. A contributing factor that leads us to this conclusion is the international regard for German technology. The German two year "Produktionsfachkraft Chemie" (Chemical Production Specialist) qualification was used as basis for the development of the NQF Level 1 and NQF Level 2 chemical operations qualifications. The main deviations from the German qualification are: Britain: A comparison with the British qualification was included, because the British chemical industry is very well developed and the NVQ is an educational structure comparable to the NQF. An internet search revealed that The British Level 2 NVQ qualification in Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Petrochemical Operations provides for the following areas of specialisation: Process Operations; Process Support Services and Control Operations Process. When compared to the British qualification, the South African NQF Level 2 qualification has a higher theory component while the British qualification is focused on job skills without any foundational science, process or equipment modules. The qualification contains compulsory core units consisting of safety, teamwork, work handover and a choice of five elective units ranging from processing operations, maintenance of equipment, packaging, transfer of material, to quality management. European Community Chemical Operator project: The European Community Project (Leonardo da Vinci) is aimed at establishing common educational and outcomes specifications for chemical operators in the European Union. At this stage of the project, their outcomes are virtually identical to ours, but standards have not yet been set to indicate how these outcomes would be achieved. Australia: The Australian processing industry is of a similar size and sophistication as the South African industry. For this reason a comparison with the Australian qualification was included, as well as the AQF being an educational structure comparable to the NQF. An internet search of the AQF revealed that the Australian Certificate II in Process Plant Operations contains compulsory core units in communication, safety, quality and work procedures and it allows the learner to choose elective unit standards in domains comparable to the local qualification, e.g. operate and monitor a range of processing equipment. Africa and SADC: African countries with processing facilities (including SADC countries) were searched for applicable qualifications or training programmes, but no relevant qualifications are offered in any of these countries. New Zealand: A comparison with the New Zealand qualification was included because the NZQA is an educational structure comparable to the NQF. The research in the NZQA showed that a Level 2 Certificate in Energy and Chemical Plant Operations (Process Operation) and a similar level 4 Process Operation qualification are registered. Subject content is similar to that contained in the South African qualification, namely: communication, safety, quality control and equipment operation, monitoring and maintenance. Summary: Both local and international qualifications place high emphasis on safety with a range of unit standards relating to hazards, emergencies and environmental protection included. The Chemical Operations Qualification compares well with the best international qualifications and training programmes offered. The compulsory technical content incorporated in the qualification will serve to support qualifying learners to make better informed, autonomous decisions within a more compact timeframe than most international learners and will increase transportability of the qualification considerably. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification is the first in a series of four chemical operations qualifications and it will allow the learner a vertical progression from the introductory NQF Level 1 qualification. The qualifying learner may progress to a NQF level 4 supervisory qualification in an internal process control role in the chemical or processing industry.
Vertical articulation within the processing industry can occur with the following registered NQF Level 3 qualifications: The generic knowledge and expertise enables the learner to progress horizontally in a range of other processing operations or to develop a career where knowledge of process operations is necessary. Horizontal articulation within the processing industry can occur with the following registered NQF Level 2 qualifications: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
In order to assess this qualification, the assessor needs:
|
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
This qualification replaces qualifications:
Range of equipment covered: Range statements: |
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 244076 | Apply elementary statistical process control principles | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Core | 244071 | Apply sampling theory and practice | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 244080 | Apply standard operating procedures in a process environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Core | 244078 | Demonstrate understanding of a work permit system | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Core | 244074 | Demonstrate understanding of liquid-solid and solid-solid separation processes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Core | 244075 | Maintain the quality of products in a production environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 244082 | Monitor plant and equipment in a process environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Core | 12317 | Read and adjust instruments on production or packing equipment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 7 |
Core | 244073 | Receive, handle and store hazardous chemicals safely | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 244079 | Respond to emergencies in a process environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 119463 | Access and use information from texts | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 9009 | Apply basic knowledge of statistics and probability to influence the use of data and procedures in order to investigate life related problems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 7480 | Demonstrate understanding of rational and irrational numbers and number systems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 9008 | Identify, describe, compare, classify, explore shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional shapes in different contexts | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 119454 | Maintain and adapt oral/signed communication | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 119460 | Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 7469 | Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal and community life | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 2 |
Fundamental | 9007 | Work with a range of patterns and functions and solve problems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 119456 | Write/present for a defined context | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 115188 | Apply environmental protection procedures | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 114643 | Apply occupational health, safety and environmental protection in an explosive manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Elective | 110300 | Clean inspect and lubricate a production machine, and repair minor faults | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 9 |
Elective | 114639 | Control waste or effluent water in a manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 114647 | Decontaminate equipment and work areas in an explosive environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 259762 | Demonstrate an understanding of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the workplace | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 12 |
Elective | 114644 | Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour, performance and use of explosives | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Elective | 244077 | Demonstrate understanding of chemicals in a processing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 244072 | Demonstrate understanding of heat transfer equipment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 114649 | Destroy hazardous waste or redundant explosives | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 114650 | Mix explosive and non-explosive materials | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 114652 | Operate an X-ray machine in an explosive environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 114637 | Operate explosives accessories manufacturing equipment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 114642 | Operate hydraulic and pneumatic presses in an explosive manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 114645 | Operate initiating device manufacturing equipment in an explosive manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 114653 | Operate propellant manufacturing equipment in an explosive manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 114651 | Operate small arms ammunition manufacturing equipment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 12483 | Perform basic first aid | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 114640 | Prepare and treat metal surfaces of empty containers or components in the manufacturing environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 244083 | Solve operating problems using relevant technologies | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 114641 | Transport and store explosives and explosive containing materials | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Elective | 113877 | Understand fundamentals of electricity | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Elective | 244081 | Understand the properties and applications of materials in a processing environment. | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 116937 | Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based spreadsheet application to create and edit spreadsheets | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 117924 | Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based word processor to format documents | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 9322 | Work in a team | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement. |
LP ID | Learning Programme Title | Originator | Pre-2009 NQF Level |
NQF Level | Min Credits | Learning Prog End Date | Quality AssuranceFunctionary |
NQF Sub-Framework |
58515 | National Certificate: Chemical Operations | Generic Provider - Field 06 | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 135 | CHIETA | OQSF | |
78547 | National Certificate: Chemical Operations: Mining and Minerals | Generic Provider - Field 06 | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 135 | MQA | OQSF |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THESE LEARNING PROGRAMMES: |
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. |