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: 

Remove an obstruction from an orepass by means of blasting 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
9699  Remove an obstruction from an orepass by means of blasting 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-04-13  2007-08-16  SAQA 0859/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-08-16   2011-08-16  

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 is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
244473  Remove an obstruction from an ore pass by means of blasting  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who are responsible for removing an obstruction from an orepass by means of blasting. People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Explain specified requirements pertaining to the removal of an obstruction from an orepass by means of blasting;
  • Prepare to remove obstruction from an orepass;
  • Remove obstructions from an orepass. 
    		•

    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:
  • Unit Standard - Follow basic health and safety practices. 
    		•

    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. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain specified requirements pertaining to the removal of an obstruction from an
    orepass. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Explain specified requirements pertaining to the removal of an obstruction from an
    orepass by means of blasting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The specified requirements regarding the placement of guards and warning signs, entry of persons into the orepass and the action to be taken to prevent persons from being exposed to blasting fumes and the effects to health, safety and production if the specified requirements are not adhered to, are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Prepare to remove obstruction from an ore pass. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Remove obstruction from an ore pass. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    2. The specified requirements regarding the action to be taken to prevent fires which could be caused by the blast and the effects to health, safety and production if the specified requirements are not adhered to, are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    3. The specified requirements regarding the action to be taken should the charge misfire or fail to explode within the specified time limit and the effects to health, safety and production if the specified requirements are not adhered to, are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    4. The importance of removing an obstruction from an orepass in accordance with specified requirements and the consequences to health, safety and production if specified requirements are not adhered to, are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare to remove obstruction from an orepass. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Personal protective equipment is available, fit for purpose and used in accordance with design and specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Permission to blast is obtained from the designated person in the specified format and information is in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Precautions taken to prevent injuries, gassing, explosions and fires are in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Precautions must include the following:
  • Placement of guards
  • Placement of warning signs
  • Warning of persons
  • Testing for harmful gases
  • Watering down
  • Removal of combustible and flammable substances 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The required type and quantity of explosives are transported to the designated area in approved containers and the tools used, the positioning of the primer in the made up charge and the securing of it are in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The securing and physical condition of boxfront, chute and platform are verified to be in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The hopper is positioned and secured in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. The consequences to health, safety and production of not adhering to specified requirements while preparing to remove an obstruction from an orepass, are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Consequences must include those for the following:
  • Not using or using defective personal protective equipment
  • Not obtaining permission to blast
  • Not taking adequate precautions to prevent accidents
  • Using incorrect type and quantity explosives
  • Incorrect transport of explosives
  • Not positioning and securing hopper
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Remove obstruction from an orepass. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The charge is placed and the initiation system is connected in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The charge is initiated from a prescribed area, persons are positioned in a safe place and the prescribed re-entry period is adhered to in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The workplace is prepared for the continuation of normal duties in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Preparation must include the following:
  • Re-entry examination
  • Watering down the workplace
  • Checking the condition of the boxfront
  • Examine platform and ground conditions
  • Lock away unused explosives 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Interpersonal interaction is positive, consistent with specified requirements, promotes effective teamwork and avoids dysfunctional conflict. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Reports are complete, accurate, in the required format, and submitted to designated personnel on time. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. The consequences, to health, safety and production of not adhering to specified requirements whilst removing an obstruction from an orepass by means of blasting, are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Consequences must include those for:
  • Incorrect placing of the charge
  • Initiating the blast from an unsafe position
  • Not positioning persons in a safe area
  • Not adhering to the specified re-entry times
  • Not enhancing teamwork and avoiding conflict
  • Not submitting reports on time and to the designated persons
     
    		•


    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 accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. 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. 

    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.
  • The ability of the candidate to identify substandard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • The ability and willingness of the candidate to accept and interpret work instructions correctly. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage himself / herself and his / her activities responsibly and effectively.
  • The ability of the candidate to indicate what methods, tools and personal protective equipment are required, and to communicate to fellow workers his / her intentions and the assistance required. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • The ability of the candidate to reconcile the information from visual and physical examinations and constantly evaluate the changing situation. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • The appropriate communication with the relevant personnel with regard to the reporting of hazards and substandard conditions will indicate his / her proficiency in effective communication. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, thus showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • The use of science and technology is not relevant for this unit standard. 
    		•

    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.
  • The ability of the candidate to identify and refer anomalous behaviour to a specialist confirms his / her understanding of the fact that a specific observation, inference, action or decision may have a devastating effect. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following 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 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. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 244473, which is "Remove an obstruction from an ore pass by means of blasting", Level 3, 4 credits.

    Terminology

    Specified Requirements

    Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    Legal
  • Relevant Acts: e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act no 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act no 50/1991)
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other relevant Standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

    Site Specific
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications of 1993 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  49014   National Certificate: Rockbreaking: Underground Hard Rock  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-08-16  Was MQA until Last Date for Achievement 


    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.