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

Handle and dispose of sludge 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12041  Handle and dispose of sludge 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-02-09  2007-11-28  SAQA 1058/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-11-28   2011-11-28  

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 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to handle and dispose of sludge in accordance with work policies and procedures. The learner will be able to recognise and report hazards to designated workplace personnel and accurately follow workplace procedures relevant to handling and disposing of sludge in the workplace. This competence will enable the learner to reduce health risks and contribute towards maintaining the environment. Achieving this unit standard will enhance the employability of the qualifying learner in the wastewater sector. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Literacy NQF level 1;
Apply personal safety practices NQF level 2. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Work policies and procedures:
Best operating procedures.

Personal protective equipment:
Overalls, gloves, gumboots, safety shoes, mask.

Disposal options:
Incineration, pelletisation, heat treatment, land disposal, sea disposal, burial, irrigation, reclamation, composting, and agriculture. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Explain health and environmental risks when handling and disposing of sludge 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The consequences of not wearing personal protective equipment are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Pathogenic organisms in sludge are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Parasitic organisms in sludge are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Environmental risks when disposing of sludge are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Hygiene procedures are followed in accordance with legislation and work policies and procedures. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Explain disposal options for sludge 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Disposal options are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Own works disposal process is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Impact on the environment of sludge disposal process at own works is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Dispose of sludge in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Sludge is disposed of in accordance with work procedures. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Equipment is checked and in good working order. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Damaged equipment is reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Spillages are noted and cleaned up. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Volume of sludge disposed of is measured and recorded. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Records are accurate and up to date. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Complete designated tasks and reports in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Designated tasks are completed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Problems are identified and solutions are proposed in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by 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 at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Learners should have a knowledge and understanding of:
  • Relevant Legislation: OHS Act and sludge guidelines
  • The importance of following relevant work policies and procedures
  • Different sources of sludge in own works
  • Appropriate disposal option for sludge based on different sources (types of sludge)
  • The importance of accurate records 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Damaged equipment is reported. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Designated tasks are completed.
  • Problems are identified and solutions are proposed in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Impact on the environment of sludge disposal process at own works is explained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation.

    Assessment criteria:
  • The consequences of not wearing personal protective equipment are explained.
  • Pathogenic organisms in sludge are explained.
  • Parasitic organisms in sludge are explained.
  • Disposal options are explained.
  • Own works disposal process is explained.
  • Impact on t6he environment of sludge disposal process at own works is explained.
  • Sludge is disposed of in accordance with work procedures.
  • Equipment is checked and in good working order.
  • Damaged equipment is reported.
  • Problems are identified and solutions are proposed in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

    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.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Environmental risks when disposing of sludge are explained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 246472, which is "Handle and dispose of water and wastewater sludge", Level 1, 5 credits.

    Integrated assessment:

    When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed. Assessors must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge by developing assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the learners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment. It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together in an integrated way, thus reducing the overall number of assessments and ensuring that commonalities that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    Assessment option:

    Learners could be assessed using the following methods:
    Oral or written questions
    Observation 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22673   National Certificate: Wastewater Process Operations  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-11-28  Was EWSETA 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.