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: 

Operate high-voltage earthing switches 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14627  Operate high-voltage earthing switches 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Transport and Logistics Operations 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Transport, Operations and Logistics 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2006-09-05  2009-02-18  SAQA 0160/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-02-18   2013-02-18  

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
260919  Operate near and underneath high-voltage equipment  Level 4  NQF Level 04   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner will be able to understand signs related to high voltage and operate high-voltage earthing switching to perform shunting movements and safety procedures according to company-specific train working rules to contribute to safety. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Shunt Rail Vehicles (ROTD 01)
Compile Trains (ROTD 02)
Basic Life Support and First Aid (Ancillary Health Care). 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
The level assigned to this standard is appropriate because performance must be carried out:
  • under different weather conditions,
  • during day and night time,
  • within a specific operational time span to minimise delays,
  • in different yard layouts/stations/sidings/sections

    This standard excludes:
  • the lawful practical certification for earthing switching on the job which can only be done by certified providers. 

  • Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify, understand & react to various high-voltage signs/boards erected alongside railway tracks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The various high-voltage signs/boards, that are erected alongside the railway track and that relate to specific instructions are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The various high-voltage signs/boards, that are erected alongside the railway track and that relate to specific instructions are understood. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The various high-voltage signs/boards, that are erected alongside the railway track and that relate to specific instructions are reacted upon. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Execute the prescribed safety procedures before switching "ON" the high-voltage earthing switches. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The prescribed high-voltage switching document is completed according to information required on the document. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Persons are warned about the switching on of high-voltage equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The high-voltage earthing switch is operated correctly for switching on according to high-voltage earthing switching instructions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Execute the prescribed company-specific safety procedures. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Execute the prescribed company-specific safety procedures after switching "OFF" the high-voltage earthing switches. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The high-voltage earthing switch is operated correctly for "switching off" according to the high-voltage earthing switching instructions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Persons are informed that the high-voltage equipment is switched off according to the prescribed document. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain the handling of equipment under high-voltage equipment. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Explain the handling of equipment under high-voltage equipment and the related parameters for safe working procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The handling of equipment under high-voltage equipment and the related parameters for safe working procedures according to company-specific and safety instructions are explained. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. An individual wishing to be assessed against this standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provided institution that has been accredited by the relevant ETQA.
    2. Any assessor and training provider must ensure that the relevant company-specific procedures/rules are used as reference material when designing courseware, assessment or when selecting pre-designed assessments.
    3. Anyone assessing a learner against this standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant TRANSPORT SETA - ETQA.
    4. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this standard must be registered and accredited as a provider at SAQA.
    5. Moderation of assessment will be done by the relevant ETQA as prescribed. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Learners can understand and explain the following in a rail environment:

    1. Principles and theory related to the identification and understanding of the meaning of various signs/board related to high voltage
    2. Principles and theory related to the earthing switching of high-voltage equipment.
    3. Principles and theory related to the parameters involved under live high-voltage equipment
    4. Relevant elements of POSMOR and specific company rules related to high voltage equipment. 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem-solving
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to solve problems by observing and acting upon unsafe conditions before/after switching and handling of equipment under high-voltage equipment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Team work
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to co-ordinate activities while performing the inspection/switching of high-voltage earthing switching. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self-organisation and self-management
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to conduct inspections in a systematic manner to understand various signs/boards and the actions that must be performed before switching high-voltage equipment and handling of equipment under high-voltage equipment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Information evaluation
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to critically evaluate information from visual/audible high-voltage indicators while performing shunting. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to communicate with all role players by utilising various communication media (written, verbal, radios, hand signals, etc.) before/after switching high-voltage earthing switches. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use of science and technology
    Use science and technology by switching high-voltage equipment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Inter-relatedness of systems
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to understand how one system relates to another (e.g. movement with or without high-voltage and the consequences related to the various circumstances). 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 260919, which is "Operate near and underneath high-voltage equipment", Level 4, 4 credits.

    ASSESSMENT PROCESS

    When conducting assessment, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed.

    They must ensure that assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge.

    Each environment/situation will be different, it will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the context in which the assessment will take place.

    METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

    During formal training at the provider:
    1. Written tests
    2. Case studies.
    3. Simulation

    During on the job training:
    1. Oral test
    2. Observations
    3. Case studies.

    In this environment it will be more effective to assess the unit standard as a stand alone by an Overhead Traction assessor.

    The integrated assessment must take place in the environment where the learner will work independently on completion of final assessment.

    Valid, reliable and authentic evidence (presented as a portfolio of evidence) from past achievements and experience may serve to supplement the assessment of applied competence. The portfolio should include, inter alia:
    1. Written statements from persons (e.g. current and/or previous employer, colleague, peer, manager, external customers) confirming competence of the learner.
    2. Relevant certificates or awards.
    3. Previous assessment records.
    4. Journal (Logbook).

    VALUES:

    In addition, the following values should be demonstrated:
  • Safety consciousness
  • Decisiveness
  • Co-operation
  • Sense of urgency (within limits)
  • Judgement
  • Trustworthiness
  • Integrity
  • Sobriety
  • Quality consciousness
  • Assertiveness

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    This standard can be assessed theoretically during training, but only a registered assessor who holds a valid certificate in operating high-voltage earthing switching can perform practical assessment. 

  • QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  23893   National Certificate: Rail Operations (Functional Yard Operations)  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2009-06-17  Was TETA 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.
     
    1. School of Rail Wentworth 
    2. School of Rail: Esselenpark 



    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.