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: 

Demonstrate elementary knowledge and understanding of multi-reef / seam environments to achieve excavation stability with support 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115670  Demonstrate elementary knowledge and understanding of multi-reef / seam environments to achieve excavation stability with support 
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  2 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 2004-08-11  2007-08-11  SAQA 0655/04 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-08-11   2011-08-11  

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 will be useful to people who are pursuing a career in rock engineering and who are responsible for achieving excavation stability in a multi-reef environment.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate elementary knowledge of multi-reef environments.
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding mining implications of multi-reef mining environments.
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding of the effects of mining on rock mass stability in multi-reef environments.
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding of the support requirements for multi-reef mining environments. 
    		•

    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:
  • National Certificate in Strata Control (Level 2)
  • The appropriate unit standard on achieving mining excavation stability with support (Level 2) 
    		•

    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 
    Demonstrate elementary knowledge of multi-reef environments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An elementary explanation of the term "multi-reef" is provided. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An elementary explanation of the importance of middling between the reefs is given. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding mining implications of multi-reef mining environments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The options available in mining of multi-reefs are listed. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Simultaneous extraction
  • Subsequent extraction
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The effects of the mining of multiple reefs on the each other are explained in elementary terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Middling stability
  • Remnants
  • Pillars
  • Total closure
  • Intersection with stress fractures
  • Reactivation of seismic activity
  • Rock types
  • De-stressing of lagging reef horizon
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate understanding of effects of mining on rock mass stability in multi-reef environments. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding of the effects of mining on rock mass stability in multi-reef environments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance of stabilization of the middling is explained in elementary terms. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The conditions in the on-reef excavations that determine the support characteristics required are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Intersection of stress fractures caused by mining of leading reef horizon
  • Absence of stress in lagging reef horizon
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding of the support requirements for multi-reef mining environments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The need for high load bearing, indestructible support to stabilize the middling is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate support types for the stabilization of the middling are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Backfill
  • Pillars
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The support characteristics required to control the reef horizon hangingwall are described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Active
  • Stiff
  • Areal coverage
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Appropriate support types for the stabilization of the reef horizon hangingwall are explained. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Pre-stressed elongates
  • Cement based packs
  • Pre-stressed tendons
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The consequences of not installing the appropriate support in multi-reef environments on the health and safety and production are explained. 


    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. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. 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.

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Occupational Health and safety
  • Report writing
  • Legal and site-specific requirements 
    		•

    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.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to identify hazards associated with multi-reef mining and ensure excavation stability with support will confirm. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: Not applicable to this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: Not applicable to this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to critically evaluate the effects of mining on one reef on mining operations on the other confirms. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: The appropriate communication with other personnel with regard to hazards associated with multi-reef mining confirms. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The use of science and technology is promoted through the implementation of recent rock engineering knowledge on multi-reef mining. 
    		•

    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.
  • Note: The understanding that mining operations on different reefs interact and that this can affect the health and safety of mining personnel confirms. 
    		•

    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 
    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
  • SANS and other relevant Standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives/instructions

    Site-specific:
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Voluntary Codes of Practice
  • Manufacturers Specifications
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications
  • Working Guides
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • Risk Assessment Documents
  • South African Bureau of Standards and other standards


    Unit Standard Justification
  • Skills: Level 4: Wide-ranging scholastic or technical
  • Procedures: Level 3: Significant choice.
  • Context: Level 3: Range of familiar.
  • Knowledge: Level 3: Some relevant theoretical
  • Information processing: Level 3: Interpretation of available information
  • Problem Solving: Level 2: Known solutions to familiar problems.
  • Orientation of activities: Level 3: Directed, with some autonomy.
  • Orientation of scope of responsibility: Level 1: No responsibility for the work or learning of others.
  • Application of responsibility: Level 3: Under general supervision quality checking.

    Average Level: 26/9 = 2.78
    Actual Level Assigned: 3


    Credits

    Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcome:
  • Classroom Teaching: 8 hours
  • On-The-Job Training: 16 hours
  • Total: 24 hours

    Credits Achieved: 24 / 10 = 2.4
    Credits Assigned: 2 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  60369   National Certificate: Strata Control Operations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 


    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. ADCORP TECHNICAL TRAINING (PTY) LTD 
    2. GEOSTRAT TRAINING 
    3. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    4. SASOL GLOBAL LEARNING 
    5. SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED 
    6. THUNGELA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD 
    7. XTRACT TRAINING SERVICES (SA)(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.