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: 

Charge shot holes with explosives and initiate blast 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
11702  Charge shot holes with explosives and initiate blast 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
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 2  NQF Level 02  15 
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 
This Unit Standard will be useful to people who are responsible for charging shot holes with explosives and initiating the blast. People credited with this Unit Standard are able to:
  • prepare to charge shot holes and initiate blast;
  • initiate the blast; and
  • monitor charging and blasting operations. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Knowledge of in-pit operation
  • Knowledge of strata (identification of strata)
  • An understanding of the basic principles of information technology
  • Knowledge of types and application of explosives. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare to charge shot holes and initiate blast. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Job instructions are interpreted correctly and the sequence of operations is determined according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Hazard identification and hazard control are conducted to comply with risk assessment requirements to eliminate, minimise or control risk of ill health and injuries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The work area is examined and hazards and defects are reported or rectified in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Hazards and defects must include the following:
  • Overhang
  • Large rocks
  • Bench edges
  • Power failures
  • Moving machinery
  • Water accumulations
  • Underfoot conditions
  • Weather condition (Lightning, wind direction).
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Persons are removed from charging area in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Barricades are erected in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Shot holes are measured and dewatered in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Explosives delivered to site are checked and stored in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. Explosives are placed in shot holes. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Placing of explosives must include the following:
  • Making up of primers
  • Priming
  • Charging up
  • Stemming.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    9. Shot holes are connected up in accordance with the blast design. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Connecting of shot holes must include the following:
  • Tie-in of blast.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    10. Over inspection and/or continuity test is conducted in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    11. Consequences of inadequate preparation are described in terms of potential effects on safety, health and production. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 12 
    12. Approved supplied Personal Protective Equipment and hygiene consumable usage is explained and adhered to. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Initiate blast. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Persons and equipment are evacuated from the area in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Guards are placed in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Placing of guards must include the following:
  • Public roads and access ways
  • Railway lines
  • Rivers
  • Power lines
  • Placement system.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Audible alarm is activated in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Blasting operations are co-ordinated with complimentary operations in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The blast is initiated in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Post-blast inspection is conducted in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Post-blast inspection must include the following:
  • Fly rock
  • Misfires
  • Dangerous ground
  • Large rocks
  • Fumes/smoke
  • Dust
  • Damage to equipment.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Guards are withdrawn in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. Charging and blasting methods comply with specified requirements to eliminate, minimize or control the risk of ill health and injuries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    9. Feedback is provided to the incoming shift with regards to conditions, environmental hazard and sub standard conditions in terms of specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    10. Recording and reporting are conducted in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Recording and reporting must include:
  • Reporting to supervisor
  • Submitting reports
  • Logbook entry
  • Permit documentation.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Monitor charging and blasting operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The blasting area is continuously monitored and safety hazards are addressed in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Occupational environmental elements are monitored and hazards are reported in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Occupational and environmental elements must include the following:
  • Dust
  • Water
  • Illumination
  • Noise
  • Fire and weather conditions.
     
    		•


    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 by SAQA.

    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 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to identify substandard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 

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

    Note: The ability and willingness of the candidate to accept and interpret work instructions correctly. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage himself/herself and his/her activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to indicate what methods, tools and personal protective equipment are required, and to communicate to fellow workers his/her intentions and the assistance required. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to reconcile the information from visual and physical examinations and constantly evaluate the changing situation. 

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

    Note: The appropriate communication with the relevant personnel with regard to the reporting of hazards and substandard conditions will indicate his/her proficiency in effective communication. 

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

    Note: The use of science and technology is not relevant for this unit standard. 

    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 ability of the candidate to identify and refer anomalous behaviour to a specialist confirms his/her understanding of the fact that a specific observation, inference, action or decision may have a devastating effect. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following 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 judgements 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 is able to 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, namely 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 
    TERMINOLOGY:

    Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    LEGAL
  • Relevant Acts, e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act No. 50/1991)
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other relevant standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

    SITE-SPECIFIC
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  21842   National Certificate: Surface Mining Rockbreaking  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2008-09-17  Was MQA 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. EXXARO COAL (PTY) LTD 
    2. FINSCH DIAMOND MINE(PTY) LTD 
    3. KOLOMELA MINE 
    4. KUMBA IRON ORE (SISHEN) 
    5. MATHOME TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (PTY) LTD 
    6. SENZEKO EXECUTIVE RISK CC 


    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.