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 preventative maintenance, environmental and safety issues in a computer environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114636  Demonstrate an understanding of preventative maintenance, environmental and safety issues in a computer environment 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Information Systems and Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular-Fundamental  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 is designed to provide credits towards health and safety in the work environment, specifically applicable to the computer industry.

Qualifying learners are able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the use of preventive maintenance measures and procedures of computer hardware;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the use of safety measures and procedures of a computer working environment;
  • Explain environmental protection measures and procedures of a computer working environment.

    The performance of all elements is to a standard that allows for further learning in this area. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit value is based on the assumption that people starting to learn towards this unit standard are:
  • Competent in Communications Literacy at NQF level 2
  • Able to describe basic concepts of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
  • Able to describe basic concepts of electricity
  • Able to identify basic computer components 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard covers:
    The health and safety requirements related to the computer environment. More detailed range statements are provided for specific outcomes and assessment criteria as needed. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the use of preventive maintenance measures and procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the use of preventive maintenance measures and procedures of computer hardware. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The demonstration identifies the causes of computer hardware maintenance. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: Over heating, Dust, Electrical Spikes, Thermal creep.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The demonstration covers preventive measure for the causes of computer hardware maintenance. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: Ventilation, Liquid cleaning compounds, Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the use of safety measures and procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the use of safety measures and procedures of a computer working environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The demonstration explains safety measure for different types of fires and which applies to computer environments. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: A, B and C types of fires.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The demonstration covers potential hazards and safety procedures relating to the computer environment. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: High-voltage equipment, Power supply, Screens.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The demonstration cover Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and precautions for it. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: Conductive rubber mat with grounding cable, grounding wrist strap, Goggles.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Explain environmental protection measures and procedures of a computer working environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The explanation covers handling of computer components. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: Screens, Batteries.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The explanation covers handling of computer peripheral components. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Including, but not limited to: Printer toner cartridges, Chemical solvents and cans.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The relevant Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programs of education and training assessed against unit standards.

    Moderation Process:

    Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that the possession or lack of the knowledge can be inferred directly from the quality of the candidate's performance against the standards.
  • The different hardware components of a computer, and their basic functioning
  • Peripherals used in a computer environment 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify, solve problems and make decisions:
  • Identify hazards, plan contingencies and identify solutions to hazardous situations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise, and critically evaluate information:
  • Gather, organise and interpret health and safety information. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically:
  • Use scientific solutions to problems, like rubber maps, grounding wrist strap etc. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to his/her full personal development and the social and economic development of the society at large:
  • Being aware of the potential environmental hazards of computer and computer-related equipment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:

    Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.

    Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.

    Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.

    The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgments should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.

    The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.

    All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Supplementary information:

    Definitions:
    A, B and C type fires refers to standard industry known definitions of types of fires. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  78964   Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 
    Core  24293   National Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2010-01-23  Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  61591   National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  78965   Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 
    Elective  24294   Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2010-01-23  Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement 


    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 at Vaal Triangle (AVT 
    2. Action for Blind and Disabled 
    3. Aspirations Communication Training CC 
    4. Atvance Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    5. Balefile Trading and Services 
    6. Bokamoso Skills and Economic Development Centre 
    7. College Africa Group (Pty) Ltd 
    8. CSL Accountants 
    9. Eagle Computer Training 
    10. Ekasi IT Solutions Centre 
    11. Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre Pty Ltd 
    12. Elangeni Training Institute 
    13. Elchees Software Solutions 
    14. Eshybrand Pty Ltd 
    15. EYETHU NATIONAL COMPUTER COLLEGE PTY LTD 
    16. Finweb Business Consultancy 
    17. Foster-Melliar (Pty) Ltd 
    18. Fourways Private College 
    19. Global Institute for Capacity 
    20. HAVOHEJ CONSULTANCY 
    21. Hazyview Computer College 
    22. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    23. Hlanganani ICT (Pty) Ltd 
    24. Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project NPC 
    25. Inqubeko Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    26. IT Academy 
    27. Jeppe College of Commerce and 
    28. K Boneng Consulting Services P 
    29. K Centre Business Enterprise (PTY) LTD 
    30. Loomee Group 
    31. Masakhane Training and Consult 
    32. Mogapi Education Group (Pty) Ltd 
    33. Moving Ahead Development Agenc 
    34. Musengavhadzimu Media 
    35. Natfin Holdings Pty Ltd 
    36. Ndulita Solutions 
    37. Polokwane Technology Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    38. Progressive School of Business 
    39. PRX SCHOOL TEST 
    40. QUALITATIVE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS 
    41. QUARPHIX (PTY) LTD 
    42. Redefine Human Capital (PTY) L 
    43. Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology Pty Ltd 
    44. Rostec Technical FET College (Pty) Ltd 
    45. Sabile Human Resources Consult 
    46. SANDM IT TRAINING (PTY) LTD 
    47. Silulo Ulutho Technologies 
    48. Spina Consultancy 
    49. Synergistic Covenant Network NPO 
    50. Techtisa (pty) Ltd 
    51. The Finishing College (Pty) Lt 
    52. Titan Trade Technologies 
    53. TORQUE TECHNICAL COMPUTER TRAINING PTY LTD 
    54. Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd 
    55. VSS College (Pty) LTD 
    56. Wellinkwise Pty Ltd 
    57. Whitestone College 
    58. ZA WIT (PTY) LTD 
    59. Zealot Business College 


    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.