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

Undertake an emergency rescue operation in a confined space 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
260139  Undertake an emergency rescue operation in a confined space 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Fire and Rescue 
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 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  5 
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 
This unit standard is intended for rescue personnel who are expected to undertake emergency rescues as part of their duties to enter confined spaces. Learners will be able to perform rescue operations in confined spaces by applying safe working practices and first-aid principles to rescue victims from confined spaces.

People credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of safe working practices in confined spaces.
  • Select and operate equipment for rescues from confined spaces.
  • Carry out a rescue in a confined space.
  • Conduct briefings and compile reports. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that a learner is already competent in:
  • Communication skills at NQF Level 4. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Rescues from confined spaces can include:
  • Shafts, tunnels, wall cavities, silos, trenches, sewers, tanks, collapsed buildings, storage tanks and vessels. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of safe working practices in confined spaces. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Standard operating procedures in terms of working in confined spaces are explained in accordance with organisational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Environmental and atmospheric conditions are monitored in terms of their impact on safety and working in confined spaces. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The procedure for isolating hazards and protecting personnel in a confined space is identified and described in accordance with organisational requirements and relevant legislation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Hazards include but are not limited to flammable substances, toxic gas, fumes or vapours, oxygen deficiency, oxygen enrichment, asbestos, dust, solid materials which can flow, Ingress or presence of liquids, electricity, mechanical equipment, noise, excessive heat and heat exhaustion.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Personal protective equipment for use in confined spaces is described in terms its uses and functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Response requirements for risks in confined spaces are described in accordance with standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Select and operate equipment for rescues from confined spaces. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Equipment is selected that is suited to the requirements of the situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Equipment and resources required to perform rescues are described in terms their uses and functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Rescue equipment is operated in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Carry out a rescue in a confined space. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Casualties are located in accordance with standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Rescue routes are established to effect a rescue operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Emergency evacuation procedures are identified and adhered to in order to evacuate casualties safely. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Safety considerations are demonstrated in accordance with the rescue procedures and guidelines. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Safety considerations include but are not limited to personal protective equipment, illumination, ventilation, atmospheric monitoring, equipment appropriate to safety officer and scene security.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Inner and outer cordons are set up to secure the incident site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Safe access and egress are maintained in order to carry out safe rescues in confined spaces. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    First aid procedures to prevent further injury and/or trauma are described in accordance with standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Types of communication systems used in confined spaces are explained in terms of their uses and benefits in a given application. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Conduct briefings and compile reports. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Briefing of response teams is conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An incident report is compiled in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Debriefing is conducted to relevant agencies in accordance with the requirements of rescue operations. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA:
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • First Attack Fire-fighting.
  • Occupational Health and Safety.
  • Fires and hazardous materials.
  • How to isolate hazards and protect personnel.
  • Personal protective equipment for use in confines spaces.
  • Equipment that could be used in confined spaces.
  • How to establish rescue routes.
  • How to evacuate casualties.
  • How to set up cordons.
  • Emergency evacuation procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying problems related to fire and rescue incidents by applying the relevant safety practices while working in confined spaces. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others by following instructions and standard operating procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The ability to speedily organize oneself and one's activities by identifying and using the correct equipment and personal protective equipment when working in confined spaces. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect information relating to the incident in order to conduct briefing and debriefing of relevant roleplayers and compile reports to safety officers in charge. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively through verbal and non-verbal communication techniques in confined spaces. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others by using appropriate rescue systems or strategies in a dynamic environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems in that working in confined spaces involves specialised equipment and expert knowledge to deal with casualties at the incident scene. 

    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 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  64390   National Certificate: Emergency Services Supervision: Fire and Rescue Operations  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  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. Goldfields Emergency Fire Services Training Academy 
    2. Josmap Training Institute 


    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.