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: 

Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting using a secondary breaker 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
15337  Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting using a secondary breaker 
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  7 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 2004-12-02  2007-08-16  SAQA 0857/04 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-08-16   2011-08-16  

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 is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
244369  Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker  Level 2  NQF Level 02  7   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who have responsibility to break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Explain specified requirements pertaining to breaking big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker;
  • Prepare to break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker; and
  • Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker. 
    		•

    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 specified requirements pertaining to breaking big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The risks associated with workplace hazards pertaining to breaking big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Workplace hazards must include:
  • Unsafe support conditions
  • Unsafe ground conditions
  • Misfires in rocks
  • Environmental conditions i.e. heat, gases, dust, excessive water, visibility and ventilation flow
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The risks associated with work-related hazards pertaining to breaking big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Work-related hazards must include those for:
  • Working in proximity of moving machinery
  • Pedestrians and other workers
  • Working in proximity of cables and pipes
  • Hydraulic pressure
  • Operation by means of remote control
  • Working with explosives
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The basic principles of operation of a secondary breaker are explained according to specified requirements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare to break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The required personal protective equipment is available, operational, fit for purpose and used in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The required tools, material and equipment are available, fit for purpose, operational and transported to the designated areas according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A pre-use inspection is conducted on the secondary breaker and sub standard conditions are dealt with according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The workplace is examined and workplace hazards are dealt with according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Workplace hazards must include:
  • Unsafe support conditions
  • Unsafe ground conditions
  • Misfires in rocks
  • Environmental conditions i.e. heat, gases, dust, excessive water, visibility and ventilation flow
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Precautions taken to prevent unauthorised entry into the affected area is according to specified requirements in terms of positioning of barricades, guards and symbolic signs. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The secondary breaker is prepared for operations according to specified requirements in terms of the positioning, leveling and stabilising of equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The consequences to health, safety and production if failing to adhere to specified requirements when preparing to break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Non-adherence to specified requirements must include:
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Selection, examination and transportation of tools, material and equipment
  • Area examination and workplace hazards
  • Precautions to prevent unauthorised entry
  • Preparation of equipment
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Big rocks are drilled and blasted according to specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specified requirements must include:
  • Manipulating of controls
  • Lifting and extending of boom
  • Position and depth of hole
  • Placement of cartridge
  • Body position
  • Precautions taken to prevent injuries and property damage
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Tools and equipment are used according 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 
    Work-related hazards must include those for:
  • Working in proximity of moving machinery
  • Pedestrians and other workers
  • Working in proximity of cables and pipes
  • Hydraulic pressure
  • Operation by means of remote control
  • Working with explosives
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Interpersonal interaction is positive, consistent with specified requirements, promotes effective teamwork and avoids dysfunctional conflict. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Reports are completed and submitted in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Tools and equipment are prepared and stored for subsequent use and those defective, are dealt with according to specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The consequences to health, safety and production of not adhering to specified requirements when breaking big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Consequences must include:
  • Drilling and blasting big rocks
  • Use of tools and equipment
  • Work related hazards
  • Interpersonal interaction
  • Reports
  • Preparation and storage of tools and equipment
     
    		•


    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.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Health and safety knowledge
  • Report writing
  • Legal and site-specific requirements 
    		•

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

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members 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 themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
    Note: The ability of the candidate to indicate what methods, tools and personal protective equipment is required and communicate to fellow workers his/her intentions and 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 sub-standard conditions will indicate his/her proficiency in effective communication. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
    Note: The ability of the candidate to adhere to safety, health and environmental requirements illustrates his/her capability to use science and technology effectively. 

    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 understanding that a specific observation, inference, action or decision can have a devastating effect. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    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 NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 244369, which is "Break big rocks by means of drilling and blasting with a secondary breaker", Level 2, 7 credits.

    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
  • Voluntary Codes of Practice
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications of 1993

    Unit Standard Justification

    Attribute, Level & Justification:
  • Skills: Level 2: Moderate in range. The skills required have some variety but are still fairly simple.
  • Procedures: Level 1: The same sequence or takes place again, with no alternatives.
  • Context: Level 1: Only occurs in defined contexts with no variety.
  • Knowledge: Level 2: Basic operational. The knowledge required is merely related to the operation and no theory needs to be applied.
  • Information processing: Level 1: The information required for competency can be recalled without any processing.
  • Problem Solving: Level 2: The candidate will only have to apply given solution to known/familiar problems.
  • Orientation of activities: Level 2: Follows instructions.
  • Application of responsibility: Level 2: Some responsibility towards quantity and quality, i.e. responsible for quantity and quality of item of competence and not the over al output.
  • Orientation of scope of responsibility: Level 2: Under general supervision and quality control.

    Average level: 1.7
    Actual level assigned: 2

    Credits

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

    Activity & Hours:
  • Classroom Teaching: 20 hours
  • On-The-Job Training: 48 hours
    Total: 68 hours

    Credits achieved: 68/10 = 6.8
    Credits assigned: 7 
    		•

    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 


    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. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 


    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.