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

Embalming human remains without complications and/or trauma 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14140  Embalming human remains without complications and/or trauma 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Funeral Services 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Personal Care 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  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 forms part of the Qualification, National Certificate in Funeral Services Practice and is registered at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework. Learners working towards this standard will be learning towards the full qualification, or will be involved in or working within a funeral services environment, specialising in Embalming and Restoration, where the acquisition of competence against this standard will add value to each individual and the Funeral Industry as a whole.

The qualifying learner is capable of:

Performing pre-embalming procedures on human remains without complications and/or trauma
Embalming human remains without complications and/or trauma 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners accessing this qualification will have demonstrated competency in:
  • Numeracy at NQF Level 3 or equivalent.
  • English, verbal and written communication at NQF Level 3 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Range statements which are applicable to the unit standard titles, specific outcomes and assessment criteria are found beneath the applicable assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Perform pre-embalming procedures on human remains without complications and/or trauma 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1.Pre-embalming case analysis is carried out to determine embalming requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Embalming will mean decomposition is substantially retarded and restoring the human remains to a lifelike appearance.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2.Extrinsic and intrinsic factors are taken into consideration. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Intrinsic factors will include presence or absence of discolouration, cause and manner of death, pathological conditions, post-mortem changes and body conditions.
    Extrinsic factors will include time elapsed between death and embalming, atmospheric conditions, clothing or accessories and thermal influences.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3.The composition and amount of embalming fluid required is calculated
    taking case analysis and extrinsic and intrinsic factors into account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4.Safe techniques are used when handling embalming fluid. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    6.The embalming fluid is placed in the injection apparatus. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    5.Protective clothing and equipment is worn before and during embalming procedure. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Equipment includes embalming fluid injection apparatus, protective clothing includes gloves, overalls, boots, surgical masks.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Embalm human remains without complications and/or trauma 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1.Appropriate blood vessels are raised and exposed in terms of case analysis. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2.Embalming fluid is injected into raised and exposed blood vessels. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3.Circulation of embalming fluid is established through visual and touch
    methods. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4.Discolouration of the skin is removed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5.Ethics, health, safety and hygiene standards are adhered to according to
    regulations and instructions. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers offering learning towards this standard will be accredited and assessors registered by the relevant Education Training Quality Assurance body (ETQA). 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • A comprehensive understanding of methods, procedures and techniques for embalming human remains.
  • A in depth understanding of the composition and amount of embalming fluid required for embalming.
  • A general understanding of principles of hygiene in a mortuary.
  • A broad understanding of codes of practice and ethics for embalming and working with human remains.
  • A general understanding of techniques for raising and exposing blood vessels.
  • A basic understanding of methods and techniques for injecting intact human remains cases.
  • A broad understanding of stages of decomposition and their associated complications.
  • A basic understanding of causes of death.
  • An all rounded understanding of embalming equipment, materials, methods and consumables.
  • A broad understanding of health and safety procedures for working with human remains. 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems for embalming human remains without complications or trauma. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise oneself and one`s activities to ensure embalming practices are correct and ethics are maintained. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organise and critically evaluate information to enhance decision making regarding the embalming of human remains without complications and trauma. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems in that proper and effective embalming maintain the human remains in a lifelike state. 

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

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  23775   National Certificate: Funeral Services Practice  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 


    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.
     
    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.