SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Develop and apply processes and procedures for dealing with alleged noise infringement in a Local Authority

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
252382	Develop and apply processes and procedures for dealing with alleged noise infringement in a Local Authority
ORIGINATOR
SGB Environmental Sc/Mgt & Waste Mgt
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences			Environmental Sciences
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
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 for people working in local authorities and charged with noise control, as appointed Noise Control Officers. They facilitate the generation of policy, develop procedures, apply the by-laws, ensure that issues between complainants and offenders are resolved, and initiate further action where this becomes necessary, including notices and legal proceedings.

This unit standard will recognize the knowledge of processes and procedures for dealing with alleged noise infringement that noise control officers require if they are to discharge their duties effectively. It also recognizes the practical skills involved in implementing these regulations.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

Develop by-laws for dealing with noise infringements.

Develop and maintain municipal office protocols and procedures.

Implement and monitor noise control.

Facilitate the development of policy in response to noise legislation.

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:

Communication and maths literacy at NQF Level 4, or equivalent competence.

EN-03-Distinguish between and classify different types of occupational and environmental noise.

EN-04-Describe and explain the physical, emotional and psychological impact of noise on social well being.

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.

The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:

Actions include: Policy development; investigations; verification of reports; authorisation of notice to modify; notice to cease; court action.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Develop by-laws for dealing with noise infringements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Pertinent regulations are identified and described with reference to their provisions for dealing with alleged noise infringements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Regulations include:

Environmental Conservation Act; new regulations promulgated under the Act (regulations for Gauteng; W. Cape; Free State); the national R154; municipal by-laws.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The various processes for dealing with noise infringements are described in line with standard operating procedures for own municipality.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Procedures for approaching and issuing notices to the general public, and authorizing such notices, are described in line with the Criminal Procedures Act. Process and procedures described are consistent with own role as a peace officer, and appointed Noise Control Officer.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Procedures are reviewed at scheduled intervals for their effectiveness in guiding noise control. The review process is consultative, includes all affected stakeholders, and complies with Local Authority approval procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Stakeholders include:

Departmental; inter-departmental (Town Planning, Metro Police, Corporate & Legal, Service Delivery/Customer Care Centres).

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Changes made to by-laws and/or procedures are appropriate in terms of the review findings, and in compliance with current legislation and regulations. Standard operating procedures and job descriptions are updated to reflect changes made.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Develop and maintain municipal office protocols and procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

The line of authority is accurately outlined with reference to roles and relative scope of authority.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The origin and significance of various policy documents and/or regulations are described in terms of their source, binding authority and status in law. The implications of these documents for own department are identified and integrated into practice.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Departmental and inter-departmental roles are clearly demarcated with reference to different responsibilities and scope of authority, in order to minimise the possibilities of overlap and/or dysfunctional conflict.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Departments include:

The council; metro police, transport, environmental planning; management, civil engineering, customer care centres.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The roles and responsibilities of external agencies, consultants and/or provincial and national authorities are clearly articulated to promote effective interaction and collaboration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Protocols and procedures established are consistent with current policy documents and/or regulations, and provide clear guidance for intra- and inter-departmental interactions and networking.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Execution of own duties and responsibilities is consistent with agreed protocols and the existing procedural framework.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Implement and monitor noise control.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Investigations into noise related complaints and/or external assessments are ensured to be warranted in terms of their purpose, and the scope of actions permitted under law. Justified investigations are authorised in accordance with standard operating procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Investigations are delegated according to relative complexity and staff competence. Sensitive and/or complex investigations beyond the scope of staff are handled personally or by appointed external expert, in accordance with standard operating procedures or special conditions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Measurement, interpretation and reporting of disturbing noise is verified with respect to legal process, standard operating procedures and validity of evidence. Documentation produced is ensured to be accurate, complete, and technically correct.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Issue and delivery of notices is ensured to comply with municipal policy. The progression of notices is monitored for resolution or escalation, in accordance with established management systems.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Conditions include:

Type of notice, required details, format, recipient, issuing authority, handover, receipt.

Systems include:

Reports; procedures; measurement outcomes; standards; proposed mitigation measures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Supporting documentation for the issue of notices and/or initiation of court action is checked for compliance with the provisions in municipal policy. Actions to correct deviations are appropriate, and in line with standard operating procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Documentation includes:

Preliminary and final notices; sworn affidavits (noise nuisance); noise measurement (disturbing noise); survey report; correspondence with complainant or offender.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

Proformas with respect to notices and reports are reviewed at scheduled intervals and revised as required by operational requirements and/or changes in regulations, by-laws and national standards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

Notices and supporting documentation are ensured to be securely stored as required by municipal policy, and available on demand.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

Own role and responsibilities in the legal process is described with reference to actions initiating the court process as well as possible role as a witness in sensitive and/or technical court cases. The description is consistent with current legal practice and provisions.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Facilitate the development of policy in response to noise legislation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Opportunities for input into policy formation are identified in terms of their nature, scope and significance. Stakeholders identified and included in the consultative process are appropriate in terms of their possible contribution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Opportunities include:

Concept documents; response documents (to historical situations; emerging issues, strategic plans); noise management systems; demarcation discussions; standard operating procedures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

Own input reflects preparation appropriate to the significance of the issues, and is consistent with own responsibilities, expertise and experience.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Issues include:

Historical demarcation; urbanization; housing development; infrastructural development; industrial growth and development.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Strategic focus points and priorities for noise and noise mitigation at national level are investigated for implications and relevance at local authority level, using a variety of participative and consultative mechanisms.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Mechanisms include:

SWOT, gap analysis, strategic planning process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

Strategic planning, and input into policy documents, is consistent with national focus points and priorities, and reflects local authority consultation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Input includes:

Planning provision; noise mitigation measures.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

Input is submitted in accordance with required formats, procedures and protocols. Support provided throughout the committee and council stages is fact-based, detailed and enhances chances of approval.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

The noise management system is up to date and reflects collated input and data related to noise and noise mitigation. System information informs responses to noise complaints.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Information includes:

Identification of noise generators, noise sensitive areas, demarcation of noise zones, supplementary control areas; opportunities for noise mitigation; standard operating procedures for municipal planning.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

Policy advice and direction provided to the Local Authority is consistent with available data, emerging trends and anticipated resource requirements.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

Accreditation Options: Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.

Moderation Option: The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

The following 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:

Basic physical science (as it applies to sound).

Basic understanding of meteorological principles.

Basic occupational and safety principles.

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: Important in defining and identifying noise infringements and their impact on others, and solving problems between complainants and offenders.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

Note: Whole role is played out in a community context; operates as a member of a team, and must resolve issues for the good of the community.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

Note: Must be meticulous in recording information and presenting reports.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Note: Key task is to collect and organise information and present it; forms the basis of further proceedings.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

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

Note: Core skill-communicating and mediating between complainants and offenders; provide input into policy development.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

Note: Understanding the impact of sound and noise, and presenting this information to others requires an ability to use science and technology.

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: Core to role in noise management-understanding that the sounds people make affect those around them and may come to be viewed as unwanted sound, or noise.

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

Notes to Assessors:

Assessors should keep the following general 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 that 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.

The following particular issues should be taken into consideration when assessing against this unit standard:

Assessment must contain a practical component, either simulated or under actual work conditions.

Definition of Terms:

Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements.

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Core	59325	National Certificate: Environmental Noise Control	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2015-06-30	LG SETA

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.	Avenida (Pty) Ltd