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: 

Time connect and initiate a blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119096  Time connect and initiate a blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord 
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 3  NQF Level 03  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 2005-11-30  2008-11-30  SAQA 0763/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-11-30   2012-11-30  

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 required to time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord.

People credited with this unit standard are able to
  • Explain the specified requirements regarding the timing, connecting and initiating of a blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord
  • Prepare to time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord
  • Time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord 
    		•

    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:
  • Follow basic health and safety practices pertaining to mining operations 
    		•

    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 
    Explain the specified requirements regarding the timing, connecting and initiating of a blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The significant risks and consequences associated with the workplace hazards related to the timing, connecting and initiating of a stope face are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of workplace hazards must include:
  • Unsafe ground conditions
  • Unsafe support conditions
  • Flammable gases
  • Combustible material
  • Moving equipment and machinery
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The significant risks and consequences associated with the work-related hazards related to the timing, connecting and initiating of a stope face are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of work-related hazards must include:
  • Working with explosives accessories
  • Working with hazardous chemicals within explosives
  • Explosives and accessories remaining on completion of charging operations
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The various initiating systems used for blasting with fuses and igniter cord are listed and the specified requirements regarding the reasons for applying each type of initiating system are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of initiating systems must include:
  • Centralised blasting systems
  • Non-electric delay starters
  • Portable shot exploders
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The specified requirements pertaining to burning speeds and delay times of accessories used for timing, connecting and initiating a blast of a stope face with fuses and igniter cord are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of accessories must include:
  • Igniter cord
  • Fuses
  • Detonating cord
  • Starters
  • Indicators
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The meaning of the terms; misfire, socket, timing, connecting and initiating are explained according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The meaning of the terms and the application of and reasons for reverse, stagger and box pattern timing are explained according to specified requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare to time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The required personal protective equipment is selected, available on person, operational and used in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The required tools, material, equipment and explosive accessories are selected, available in the workplace, operational and transported according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The area where the blast is to be timed, connected and initiated is examined for workplace hazards and these hazards are dealt with according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of workplace hazards must include:
  • Unsafe ground conditions
  • Unsafe support conditions
  • Flammable gases
  • Combustible material
  • Explosives and accessories remaining on completion of charging operations
  • Moving equipment and machinery
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Precautions to prevent inadvertent entry of persons during timing, connecting and initiating are taken according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The consequences to safety, health and production, if specified requirements are not adhered to whilst preparing to time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of non-adherence to specified requirements must include:
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Tools, material, equipment and explosive accessories
  • Area examination
  • Precautions to prevent inadvertent entry of person
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Time, connect and initiate the blast of a stope face using fuses and igniter cord. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The charged holes are timed and connected according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of timing and connecting must include:
  • Extension/installation of blasting wires
  • Length of igniter cord between fuses
  • Precautions taken to prevent out of sequence firing
  • Firing sequence of charged holes
  • Method of connecting the igniter cord to the fuses
  • Method of cutting igniter cord
  • Precautions taken to prevent injury to persons
  • Precautions taken to prevent damage to the accessories used
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Tools and equipment are used in accordance to specified requirements and in line with accepted ergonomic principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Work related hazards are dealt with according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of work related hazards must include:
  • Working with explosives accessories
  • Working with hazardous chemicals within explosives
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The blast is initiated according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range must include:
  • Connecting to blasting point
  • Required type of initiator
  • Adherence to connecting and blasting time schedules
  • Method of initiation
  • Precautions taken to prevent injuries and property damage
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Tools and equipment are prepared and stored for subsequent use and those defective, are dealt with according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Explosive accessories not used during timing, connecting and initiating are transported and stored according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Interpersonal interaction is positive, consistent with specified requirements, promotes effective teamwork and avoids dysfunctional conflict. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Reports are completed and submitted according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Consequences to health, safety and production if specified requirements are not adhered to whilst timing, connecting and initiating the blast of a stope face are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of non-adherence to specified requirements must include:
  • Timing and connecting of charged holes
  • Use of tools and equipment
  • Initiation of the blast
  • Preparing and storing tools and equipment
  • Transportation and storage of explosive accessories not used during timing, connecting and initiating
  • Interpersonal interaction
  • Reports
     
    		•


    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. 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 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. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

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

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

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively. 

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

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

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

    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. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology
    Specified requirements

    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

    Notes to assessors

    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 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.

    Unit standard justification

    Level

    Attribute, Level, Justification
    Skills, 2, The skills required have some variety but are still fairly simple
    Procedures, 2, Although the procedure is known and familiar (as level 1) it is not as repetitive
    Context, 2, Routine and familiar
    Knowledge, 3, Relevant theoretical knowledge is required to be fully competent
    Information processing, 3, Interpretation as opposed to basic processing is required.
    Problem Solving, 2, The candidate will only have to apply given solution to known/familiar problems.
    Orientation of activities, 3, Directed, with some autonomy
    Application of responsibility, 3, Candidate's output is quality checked
    Orientation of scope of responsibility, 3, Significant responsibility for the quantity and quality of output, and possible responsibility for the output of others

    Average level: 23/9 = 2. 55 , Actual level assigned: 3

    Credits
    Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcome:

    Activity- Hours
    Classroom Teaching- 24 Hours
    On-The-Job Training- 32 Hours
    Total- 56 Hours

    Credits achieved: 56/10 = 5.5 , Actual credits assigned: 6 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  49013   National Certificate: Mining Operations: Underground Hard Rock  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-08-16  Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  49014   National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Underground Hard Rock  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-08-16  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. CONCOR PROJECTS PTY LTD 
    2. FINSCH DIAMOND MINE(PTY) LTD 
    3. FOSKOR (PTY) LTD 
    4. HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD 
    5. MODIKWA MINING PERSONNEL SERVICES PTY L TD 
    6. NORTHAM PLATINUM LTD 
    7. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    8. SENZEKO EXECUTIVE RISK CC 
    9. SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED 


    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.