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: 

Excavate a trench and install shoring 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254061  Excavate a trench and install shoring 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  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 does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A competent learner would be able to contribute the knowledge and skill gained in this unit standard in this subfield and other related fields by:
  • Planning to excavate a trench.
  • Preparing the site.
  • Excavating the trench.
  • Clearing the site. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in the following:
  • Communication at NQF Level 1.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 1. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Most range statements are included with specific outcomes as applicable.

    Types of soil conditions:
  • Sandy, clay, water logged, rocky, previously backfilled embankments/trenches, structures in close proximity. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Plan and prepare to excavate the trench. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Tools and equipment are identified and selected in accordance with job requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Excavator, pick and shovel, blasting, jack hammers.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Safety equipment are selected and prepared in accordance with safety policies and procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Safety signs, personal protective equipment (PPE), Road signs, barricading, shoring.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Equipments are made available on site in accordance with job requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Documentation is correctly completed for stores in accordance with workplace procedure. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare the site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Possible risks are identified in accordance with safety requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Existing services are marked out in accordance with instructions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The location of the trench is marked out in accordance with instructions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The traffic and pedestrian barricades are set up according to site requirements and traffic regulations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Excavate the trench. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Risks associated with digging are identified in accordance with safety policies and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Safety requirements are identified and communicated in accordance with safety policies and procedures and worksite requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Trenches are excavated in accordance with job requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Problems are identified in accordance with job requirements and environmental restrictions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Groundwater, sandy conditions, rock formation, trees, traffic conditions, other services.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Excavation soil is placed in accordance with site conditions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Install shoring where required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Identify the need for shoring in accordance with site conditions, job requirements and safety regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ensure the availability of material and equipment in accordance with job requirements and workplace procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Install the shoring as per workplace policies and procedures. 


    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 registered with the FE/HE Registrar.
  • Any institution wishing to receive skill development grants must be accredited with the relevant ETQA. Such an institution will also be registered with the relevant SETA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be done by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the relevant sections of:
  • Current and relevant occupational health and safety legislation.
  • Municipal Bylaws.
  • Traffic Ordinance regulations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    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:
  • Planning to excavate a trench; preparing the site; excavating the trench; and clearing the site. 
    		•

    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 
    Integrated Assessment:
  • When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed. Assessors must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge by developing assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the learners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment. It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together in an integrated way, thus reducing the overall number of assessments and ensuring that commonalities that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    Assessment option:

    Learners could be assessed using the following methods:
  • Oral or written questions.
  • Observation or simulation. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  60169   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Reticulation Services  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 


    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. 4 TOPS ACADEMY 
    2. CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE 
    3. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    4. ERWAT 
    5. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    6. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
    7. THOBOLOGO TRAINING & EDUCATION GROUP 
    8. URSIVOX (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.