SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Vacuum dry surfaces

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243201	Vacuum dry surfaces
ORIGINATOR
SGB Hygiene & Cleaning Services
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services			Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 1	NQF Level 01	4
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 replaces:

US ID	Unit Standard Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Credits	Replacement Status
12526	Vacuum clean dry surfaces	Level 1	NQF Level 01	4

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

Learners credited with this unit standard are able to vacuum a variety of dry surfaces found in a residential, commercial, industrial or institutional environment.

Qualifying learners are able to:

Plan and prepare to vacuum dry surfaces.

Vacuum dry surfaces.

Perform end of task procedures after vacuuming dry surfaces.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

It is assumed that learners are competent in:

Communication at ABET Level 3.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

The scope of this unit standard is for any person who needs to vacuum a variety of dry surfaces with different vacuuming accessories. This unit standard is not applicable to vacuuming hazardous dust in an industrial environment e.g. in the mining industry, battery manufacturing etc. or to vacuuming of dust-sensitive areas e.g. Clean Rooms, computer installations, pharmaceutical and food factories and vacuuming of wet surfaces.

In the context of this unit standard a vacuum cleaner can be a dry vacuum, wet-and-dry vacuum, backpack vacuum, drum or cylinder vacuum, upright vacuum. Centralised, or built in vacuuming systems are excluded from this range.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Plan and prepare to vacuum dry surfaces.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Personal protective equipment is used in accordance with worksite procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The reasons for using personal protective equipment are explained in terms of General Safety Regulations.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range of protective clothing includes, but is not limited to, overalls, safety shoes, gloves and dust mask.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Surfaces that require vacuuming are identified in accordance with the scope of work, access and the cleaning specification.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range of dry surfaces could include but is not limited to hard floors, resilient floors, carpets, upholstered surfaces, furniture, fittings, shelves, skirting, pipes, curtains, blinds.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

A suitable vacuum cleaner for dry vacuuming is chosen and the reasons are explained in accordance with worksite procedures and basic cleaning principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range could include, but is not limited to dry vacuums, wet-and-dry vacuums, backpack vacuums, drum or cylinder vacuums, upright vacuums. Whilst all of the critical outcomes and many of the assessment criteria in this unit standard are applicable to centralised, or built in vacuuming systems, they are excluded from this range.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

The correct accessories are chosen for the surface to be cleaned and the reason for choosing the correct accessories is explained in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and worksite procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range of vacuum accessories could include but is not limited to filters, filter bag, extension cable, flexible hose, floor tool, upholstery tool, dusting tool, crevice tool, pipe tool.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Safety procedures when using a vacuum cleaner are explained in accordance with manufacturer's operating instructions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

The role of poor vacuum cleaner filtration on Indoor Air Quality is explained in accordance with environmental principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

The reasons why liquids should not be vacuumed using a dry vacuum cleaner is explained and two examples given of possible consequences.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9

Litter is removed from the surface before vacuuming and the reason for doing so explained giving three examples of litter that should be removed.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range of litter includes but is not limited to paper, paperclips, rubber bands, food, cigarette ends and any waste items.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Vacuum dry surfaces.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Correct plug points are chosen in accordance with worksite procedures and the reasons for the choice is explained in terms of basic cleaning principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Surfaces are vacuumed in accordance with worksite procedures and basic cleaning principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Filter bags and/or filters are cleaned and/or replaced in accordance with worksite procedures and the reason for doing so is explained in terms of manufacturer's operating instructions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Blockages in the vacuum cleaner are identified and cleared in accordance with worksite procedures, and methods of doing so are explained in terms of manufacturer's operating instructions.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Perform end of task procedures after vacuuming dry surfaces.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

All surfaces that have been vacuumed are checked, and the reasons for doing so are explained, in accordance with worksite procedures and basic cleaning principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

All waste generated during the vacuuming of dry surfaces is disposed of in accordance with worksite procedures and environmental principles.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

All equipment and consumable used for vacuuming dry surfaces are removed, cleaned and stored in accordance with worksite procedure.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Problems and damage identified during the vacuuming of dry surfaces are reported, and reasons for doing so are explained in accordance with worksite procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Range of problems and damage could include, but is not limited to, accidents and personal injury, damaged/missing equipment and/or personal protective equipment; staff problems, customer requirements, the cleaning schedule.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Any institution or provider offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited by the relevant ETQA.

Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be a constituent assessor registered with the relevant ETQA.

Both internal and external moderation of the assessment will be quality assured by the relevant ETQA in accordance with their published policies and procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Basic cleaning principles applicable to vacuuming dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify and solve problems that might occur during the vacuuming of dry surfaces such as unblocking pipes when operating a vacuum or making adjustments to the cleaning schedule when an area scheduled for cleaning is being occupied.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as a member of a cleaning team when vacuuming dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organize and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively during the processes of planning, preparing, cleaning and checking the quality of vacuuming dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, organise and evaluate information relating to surfaces, cleaning procedures, cleaning specifications and cleaning frequencies during the vacuuming of dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively when vacuuming dry surfaces by using oral and/or written language skills when reporting.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others by disposing of waste correctly and the use of equipment and processes in vacuuming dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising the importance of planning before vacuuming dry surfaces.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING

Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large by:

Participating as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities by implementing environmental cleaning methods.

Being culturally sensitive across a range of social contexts by considering the customer during the vacuuming of dry surfaces.

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

This unit standard replaces unit standard 12526, "Vacuum clean dry surfaces", Level 1, 4 credits.

Supplementary Information:

Definition of terms within this unit standard:

Access refers to the authority to enter an area to vacuum dry surfaces without disturbing people in or near that area.

Allergen refers to an organism or micro-organism that may cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Cleaning services environment refers to anywhere where cleaning takes place.

Cleaning specification refers to the list of dry surfaces to be vacuumed and the frequency of vacuuming agreed.

Clean Rooms are rooms where the particle counts are controlled within certain specifications. Typically, Clean Rooms are found in pharmaceutical and micro-electronic manufacturing environments.

Environment (as in 'a residential, commercial, industrial or institutional environment') refers to buildings or structures that contain dry surfaces to be vacuumed.

Frequency refers to the regularity or schedule of vacuuming dry surfaces e.g. daily, weekly, etc.

Hard floors can include terrazzo, quarry tiles, terracotta, ceramic tiles, slate, wood, concrete, granite, porcelain and marble.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the extent to which the filtration system in the vacuum cleaner filters out dust, allergens and micro-organisms.

Resilient floors can include vinyl, cushioned vinyl, asphalt, linoleum, sealed wood and profiled rubber.

Scope of work refers to the areas in which vacuuming dry surfaces is to take place.

Wet-and-dry vacuum refers to a vacuum cleaner with a by-pass motor, filtration system and a water shut-off device.

Worksite procedure refers to the method of vacuuming dry surfaces that has been identified and agreed.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	57937	General Education and Training Certificate: Hygiene and Cleaning	Level 1	NQF Level 01	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	SERVICES
Elective	80786	National Certificate: Home-Care Practices	Level 2	NQF Level 02	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.

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