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

Demonstrate knowledge of pollution Incident management and remediation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116971  Demonstrate knowledge of pollution Incident management and remediation 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
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 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to take corrective action during emergency incidents to avoid damage to the environment and infrastructure to ensure the health and safety of people. This competence will enable the learner to ensure compliance with legislation and reduce legal and financial liability for the organisation. This will protect the environment and the country's water resources. The achievement of this unit standard will expand the skills base of the qualifying learner and make the person more effective in his/her tasks, more employable and will open up job opportunities in related fields. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Knowledge of Materials Safety Data Sheet and National Water Related Legislation, literacy NQF level 4 or equivalent, mathematical calculations NQF level 4. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Pollution incidents include industrial incidents, urban pollution (raw sewage, sewage sludge), underground storage tank leaks, mining pollution, agricultural pollution and tanker spills.
Legal requirements in terms of the National Water Act, Water Services Act, National Environmental Management Act, Criminal Procedures Act, evidential law and relevant local bylaws.
Long term source and resource remediation is defined as post incident spill management including the evaluation of the cause, review of spill clean up, future preventative measures and long term remediation recommendations. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Explain the procedures for the management of a pollution incident prior to going on site using relevant legislation. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Types of incidents are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Respective lead agents and role players for each type of incident are identified. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Appropriate action, including legal requirements, for each type of incident is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Manage the source of a pollution incident. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The scene of the incident is assessed and appropriate action is taken. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Relevant staff are sent to evaluate the source of the pollution with respect to quantity, quality and toxicity. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The use of correct tools to trace source of pollution is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Appropriate samples and prosecution evidence is obtained from the staff member/s and stored in a safe place. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Compliance with safety procedures at the scene of the pollution incident is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Staff are monitored to ensure that correct prosecution procedures are followed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
Legal sanction for clean up is issued to the polluter within the specified time frame. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
Reports are submitted to relevant authorities within the specified time frame. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Manage the clean up of the receiving environment in a pollution incident when the source can be traced. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Staff are sent to assess the effect of the pollution on the receiving environment. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Immediate clean-up procedure is assessed and evaluated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Appropriate prosecution evidence is correctly gathered. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Compliance with safety procedures is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Reports are completed and submitted to relevant authorities within the specified time frame. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Manage the clean up of the receiving environment in a pollution incident when the source cannot be traced. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Staff are sent to assess the effect of the pollution on the receiving environment. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Immediate clean-up requirements are assessed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Appropriate prosecution evidence is correctly gathered. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Compliance with safety procedures is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Correct use of spill clean-up equipment is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
Costs are correctly calculated and reports are completed and submitted to relevant authorities within the specified time frame. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Demonstrate an understanding of post incident management. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Long-term source and resource directed remediation measures are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Legal reporting procedures to relevant authorities are demonstrated. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
1. Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
2. Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
3. Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
4. Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
1. Relevant sections of the National Water Act, the Environmental Conservation Act, the National Environmental Management Act, the Health Act and the Water Services Act
2. Relevant sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations
3. Environmental auditing and interview techniques
4. Waste discharge charges and environmental cost recovery.
5. Spill clean up techniques and use of equipment.
6. Remediation techniques.
7. Legal report writing. 

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
N/A 

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
N/A 


Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

Assessment criteria: all 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community.

Assessment criteria: all 

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
Plan, organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.

Assessment criteria:
  • The scene of the incident is assessed and appropriate action is taken.
  • Staff are sent to assess the effect of the pollution on the receiving environment. 

  • UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
    Assessment criteria: all 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation.

    Assessment criteria: all 

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

    Assessment criteria: all 

    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.

    Assessment criteria: all 

    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 
    Integrated assessment.
    When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed. Assessors must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge by developing assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the learners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment. It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together in an integrated way, thus reducing the overall number of assessments and ensuring that commonalties that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    It is recommended that simulations and case studies are used extensively to assess knowledge and understanding of incident management and remediation. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  66789   National Certificate: Environmental Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  LG SETA 
    Elective  59201   National Certificate: Generic Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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. Giamanje TVET College 
    2. IQ Skills Academy (PTY) LTD. 
    3. Jobafrik Consulting 
    4. Josmap Training Institute 
    5. Lewerb Holdings (PTY) Ltd 
    6. Makhuba Development Projects CC 
    7. Mamuhle Academy 
    8. Maxlen Holdings 
    9. Mementos Training Pty Ltd 
    10. Petra Institute of Development 
    11. PFIM Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    12. Progressive School of Business and Engineering (Pty) 
    13. Reflections Development Institute 
    14. Sebenzisanane Human Capital 
    15. Tasc Business Consulting and Training 
    16. Thando Consulting Services 
    17. Timothy Fasheun Group Enviromentors (Pty) Ltd 
    18. Transafric Consulting Pty Ltd 
    19. Triplo 4 Sustainable Solutions (PTY) LTD 
    20. Vhutshilo Health And Training Organisation 
    21. Wildlife and Enviroment Society of South Africa 



    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.