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 an elementary understanding of support units, their behaviour and application 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254583  Demonstrate an elementary understanding of support units, their behaviour and application 
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  3 
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
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 will be useful to people who are pursuing a career in rock engineering and who are responsible for ensuring excavation stability with support.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate elementary knowledge of support principles.
  • Demonstrate elementary knowledge of support units and their functions.
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding of support unit behaviour.
  • Demonstrate elementary understanding of support unit installation. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in:
  • Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate elementary knowledge of support principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An elementary explanation of tunnel support principles is provided. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Beam building.
  • Arch formation.
  • Suspension.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An elementary explanation of stope support principles is provided. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Assistance of dilation in beam building.
  • Rock to be supported at various depths.
  • Area of influence of support.
  • Suspension.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate elementary knowledge of support units and their functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Elementary explanation of the general support functions is provided. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Temporary.
  • Primary.
  • Secondary.
  • Tertiary.
  • Permanent.
  • Regional.
  • Internal.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate support units and their functions are described in elementary terms for the various stoping environments. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Shallow, intermediate, deep and ultra-deep mining.
  • Multi-reef mining.
  • Wide reef mining.
  • Steep dip mining.
  • Seismically active areas.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Appropriate support units and their functions are described in elementary terms for the various tunnel environments. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Shallow, Intermediate, deep and ultra-deep tunnels.
  • Large excavations.
  • Seismically active areas.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding of support unit behaviour. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Support unit characteristics are explained in elementary terms with the aid of load-deformation graphs where applicable. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Active/passive.
  • Stiff/soft.
  • Yield range.
  • Failure.
  • Arial coverage.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The effect of various indirect issues on support unit behaviour is explained in elementary terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Support material quality.
  • Support installation quality.
  • Support spacings.
  • Support unit dimensions.
  • Insufficient tendon length.
  • Loading rate.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate elementary understanding of support unit installation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The installation of tunnel support units is explained in elementary terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • End-anchored units.
  • Cement grouted units.
  • Resin grouted units.
  • Long anchors (grouted).
  • Trusses.
  • Sets.
  • Aerated cement fillings.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The installation of stope support units is explained in elementary terms. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Must include:
  • Elongate units.
  • Pack units.
  • Backfill types.
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against the qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with 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, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described in the associated unit standards.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Rock-related standards.
  • The consequences of not having rock-related mine standards.
  • The origin of rock-related mine standards.
  • Strata control reasons for mine-specific rock-related standards.
  • Safety, health and environmental legislation and regulations.
  • Quality policies, standards and agreements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.

    Note: The ability to explain and promote rock-related standards to fellow workers confirms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability to identify non-standard conditions and promote the standard requirements confirms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to understand the impact of non-standard conditions on excavation stability and the need for standard installations 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 demonstration of understanding using neat, simple sketches and clear verbal explanation 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 strata control concepts to explain rock-related standards confirms. 

    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 knowledge that acceptance of non-standard conditions have an impact on the safety of others and that identification and promotion of applicable rock-related standards is essential to ensure worker safety confirms. 

    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 
    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 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act 50/1991).
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice.
  • SANS and other relevant standards.
  • Chief Inspector of Mines' Directives/Instructions.
  • Guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines.

    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. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  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.