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

Operate mechanical and electrical plant and equipment in a water and wastewater environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
255474  Operate mechanical and electrical plant and equipment in a water and wastewater environment 
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 3  NQF Level 03  6 
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 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard will be able to operate mechanical and electrical plant and equipment safely by understanding the associated dangers. This competence will enable the learner to operate and perform basic maintenance of plant and equipment used on water and wastewater works. This will ensure that breakages and stoppages are kept to a minimum thus using plant and equipment in accordance with safe work practices. This competence will advance the learner`s own expertise and employability in the water sector and other related jobs.

Learners credited with this unit standard are capable of:
  • Operating plant and equipment in a water and wastewater environment.
  • Applying safety procedures during the operation of plant and equipment.
  • Demonstrating knowledge of the operations of plant instrumentation.
  • Performing routine maintenance of plant instrumentation. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in the following:
  • Communication skills at NQF Level 2.
  • Mathematical literacy NQF Level 2.

    It is also assumed that learners are competent in the following unit standards:
  • Apply personal safety practices in the water sector NQF Level 2.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of plant equipment. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Mechanical Equipment:

    Pumps:
  • Types: Positive displacement: (Reciprocating and Rotational).
  • Centrifugal pumps: (Single stage and Multi stage).

    Compressors:
  • Types: Positive displacement and Blowers.

    Valves:
  • Types: Isolating and regulating (Ball, globe, butterfly, needle, gate, slide, diaphragm, pinch, non return valves and safety valves).

    Electrical equipment:
  • Motors, Local Control panels, Cables, Transformers, Fuses, isolators, switches, breakers and electrical supply boards.

    Plant Instrumentation:
  • Pressure gauges, Temperature gauges, Flow meters, Open/Close limit switches.
  • Pressure Switches and level indicators. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Operate the plant and equipment in a water and wastewater environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of plant equipment are identified and described in terms of their functions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Types of plant equipment refer to mechanical and electrical equipment.
  • Mechanical equipment includes but is not limited to pumps, valves, compressors.
  • Electrical equipment refers to motors, local control panels, cables and transformers.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Operating principles are known and understood according to technical application. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Major components of mechanical and electrical equipment are identified and described in terms of their usage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Cleaning activities in relation to mechanical and electrical equipment are explained in terms of safe work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Access control requirements relating to electrical installations is explained according to organisational procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Apply safety procedures during the operation of plant and equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Safety procedures are identified and explained in accordance with safe working procedures and Occupational Health and Safety requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Potential dangers related to mechanical and electrical equipment are identified and reported for corrective action. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Potential dangers refer to but are not limited to loose electrical cable, trip and fall, open manholes and missing safety guards.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Precautionary measures are applied in order to prevent injury. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Precautionary measures refer but are not limited to personal protective equipment, safety sigs, colour coding and lock-out devices.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the operations of plant instrumentation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The different units of measurements are described to quantify different information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Types of plant instrumentation are identified in terms of their purpose and functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Plant instrumentation is explained in terms of its operating principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Data from different plant instrumentation is collated for record purposes and corrective action. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Data required refers to meter readings, flow indicators and level indicators.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Perform routine maintenance of plant instrumentation. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Maintenance of plant instrumentation refers to but not limited to changing of flow charts, replacing instrument pens and top-up chemicals for on-line instruments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Chart replacements is demonstrated with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Cleaning requirements associated with equipment explained according to organisational procedures. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA`s policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise.
  • Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Learners should have a knowledge and understanding of:
  • Identification and understanding of electrical signs and colour coding.
  • Dangers when using electricity.
  • OHS Act legislation relating to competency.
  • The reasons for lockout.
  • Dangers when using moving machinery First Aid. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Operate and solving problems associated with malfunctioning of plant equipment in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made to meet organisational goals and objectives. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community in order maintain good working relationship with internal and external customers in a water and wastewater environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Planning, organising and managing oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively to ensure coherence with organisational schedules. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information relating to meter readings and process control. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation to report relevant information to supervisors. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Using science and technology effectively and critically to understand the functioning of the plant equipment and instrumentation showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

    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 by observing the importance of plant operational principles. 

    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.
  • Simulation or observation. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  60190   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Control  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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. CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE 
    2. DR HE MAEPA INSTITUTE 
    3. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    4. ERWAT 
    5. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    6. K-BONENG CONSULTING SERVICES (PTY) LTD 
    7. Kelvin Power (Pty) Ltd 
    8. NTANDOKAZI HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD 
    9. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 


    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.