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

Conduct explosives environmental testing and interpret the results 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116002  Conduct explosives environmental testing and interpret the results 
ORIGINATOR
Chemical Industries SGB 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  8 
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 is intended for a person who works in the explosives manufacturing, safety, quality control and environmental impact related fields. Knowledge regarding properties, behaviour, performance, safety requirements, application and uses of environmental testing procedures and the interpretation of analysis will ensure safe and quality assured explosives products.

A person credited with this unit standard is able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of environmental testing.
  • Conduct environmental testing procures.
  • Analyse and interpret the environmental testing results.
  • Report and recommend findings. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Description of required skills, knowledge and understanding on:
  • Understanding of the behaviour, uses of explosives.
  • Understanding of occupational health, safety and environment legislation relevant to the explosive manufacturing environment.
  • Understanding of the manufacturing and control of explosives manufacturing processes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Environmental testing of main items may refer to ballistic tests, sympathetic detonation, bullet impact, cook off, fuel fire tests, vibration tests, mechanical shocks, resistance against corrosion, and temperature cycling.

    This unit will contribute to the full development and further mobility and transportability within the fields of manufacturing and technology. The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this unit standard are essential for social and economic transformation and progression within the manufacturing context where explosives accessories are being handled and manufactured.

    The level assigned to this unit standard is appropriate because the process requires a wide range of technical skills and offers a considerable choice of procedures. A broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts, analytical interpretation of information, informed judgement and a range of sometime innovative responses to concrete but often unfamiliar problems are employed. The application of this unit standard is to qualify the person for certification in advanced trade and technical occupations.

    The credit value assigned to this unit standard is appropriate and reflects the average length of time for an average qualifying learner to become competent.
  • Recommended contact time and individual learning: 50 hours
  • Recommended time spent in structured learning in the workplace and assessment: 20 hours
  • Total notional hours: 70 hours 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of environmental testing. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Environmental testing equipment and procedures may include vibrators, jolting, thermal shock, temperature cycling, salt spray, rain simulation, dust storm simulation, drop tests, static safety, bump test and water tightness. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance and rationale for reliability and rejection criteria for environmental testing are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance and applications for environmental testing in the explosives manufacturing environment are identified according to industry requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The safety and risk requirements are identified according to industry criteria, safety requirements and applicable legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Types of environmental testing applications in the explosives manufacturing environment is identified according to industry applications and criteria. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The different types of Environmental Testing are chosen to satisfy or to simulate the operational conditions that the explosives are likely to encounter during storage (both long term and operational) and actual deployment.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The necessity and requirements of conducting environmental testing on explosives is identified according to industry standards and criteria. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Environmental testing refers to climatic extremes of arctic and tropical conditions, the difference between normal & operational storage conditions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Mechanical environmental testing procedures are identified according to industry standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Mechanical environmental testing may refer to vibration, jolting, jumbling and the various types of drop tests.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Thermal environmental testing procedures are identified according to industry standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Thermal environmental testing may refer to temperature/humidity cycling, thermal shock, hot and cold storage.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    The difference and applicability between the various types of climatic environmental tests with testing equipment used are identified according to industry standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Climatic environmental tests may refer to climatic environmental tests such as rain tests, dust tests and Radio Frequency Susceptibility tests.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Conduct environmental testing procures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Personal preparation is done according to standard operating procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Personal preparation refers to practices that ensure personal, product and environment safety.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The work environment and equipment are prepared according to standard operating procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Preparation refers to cleaning, calibration and set-up of test equipment.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Environmental testing equipment is used and controlled according to standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Evaluations are carried out in the designated area and according to site schedules, instructions and standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Testing areas are kept and maintained according to standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Analyse and interpret the environmental testing results. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Parameters are controlled and recorded according to standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Testing data are analysed and interpreted according to industry specification criteria. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Results are recorded according to standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Products are released for storage or transportation according to standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Report and recommend findings. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Specifications for environmental testing in the explosives products are identified according to industry standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The results of the tests are interpreted and a conclusion is drawn on the quality of the explosives products according to standard industry standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Deviations from the specifications for the environmental & environmental tests on the explosives products are explained according to industry standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The purpose of accurate documentation is explained according industry requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Internal moderation.
  • External moderation.
  • An assessor, accredited by the relevant ETQA, will assess the learner's competency.
  • Assessment procedures will be supplied by the ETQA in alignment with NSB requirements.
  • All assessment activities must be fair, so that all candidates have equal opportunities. Activities must be free of gender, ethnic or other bias.
  • Assessment and moderation procedures, activities and tools must be transparent, affordable and support development within the field, sub-field and NQF.
  • Questions and answers to determine theoretical knowledge are expected.
  • Examination of an assessment portfolio.
  • Reporting skills are demonstrated by effective communication, using verbal (language) and/or writing skills.
  • Direct observation in simulated or actual work conditions. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Embedded knowledge is reflected within the assessment criteria of each specific outcome and critical cross-field outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which response displays that responsible decisions, using critical and creative thinking, have been made by:
  • Solving process related problems within the scope of work in order to select applicable products and applications. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information by:
  • Analysing and interpreting properties and characteristics of explosive materials. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively by using mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentations by:
  • Verbal and non-verbal communication methods. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large. 

    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 
    Supplementary Information:

    Legal requirements:

    The following acts and/or codes, current and future regulations and amendments may be applicable:
  • The Explosives Act and Regulations, Act 26 of 1956
  • The Hazardous Substances Act and Regulations, Act 15 of 1973
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993. Regulations No 24272 of January 2003
  • The Mine Health and Safety Act, Act 29 of 1996
  • The Environmental Conservation Act, Act 73 of 1989
  • ISO 9001 & 14000


    Terminology or definitions

    Normal storage conditions are normal ambient temperature and humidity for 8 years. Operational storage is between -20°C and +40°C at 95%RH for 3,5 years and operational conditions are between -54°C and +71°C. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48915   Further Education and Training Certificate: Manufacturing and Assembly Operations Supervision  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MERSETA 


    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.