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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Make-up a cyanide solution in a metallurgical plant

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
15302	Make-up a cyanide solution in a metallurgical plant
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	6
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2007-10-30	2008-08-20	SAQA 0160/05
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-08-20		2012-08-20

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
256716	Make-up a cyanide solution in a metallurgical plant	Level 3	NQF Level 03	6

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard will be useful to people who are responsible for making up a cyanide solution in a metallurgical plant.

People credited with this unit standard are able to

demonstrate knowledge relating to the making up of a cyanide solution;

prepare to make-up a cyanide solution;

make-up a cyanide solution; and

complete the duties pertaining to the making up of a cyanide solution.

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:

Literacy and numeracy at Grade 12 or equivalent.

Transferring fluids by means of a centrifugal pump

Transferring fluids by means of a positive displacement pump

Handling cyanide safely in a metallurgical plant

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.

Types of cyanide

flake calcium cyanide

flake sodium cyanide

liquid sodium cyanide

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Demonstrate knowledge relating to the making up of a cyanide solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The legal and specified requirements pertaining to a safe, healthy work environment in the making up of a cyanide solution and the consequences of not adhering to the above are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The importance of making up a cyanide solution in terms of achieving specified production and up-and down stream operational requirements is explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Hazards and associated risks, pertaining to the making up of a cyanide solution, identified through specified risk assessment procedures, and the actions to be taken should they be encountered are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The specified principal components of the making up of a cyanide solution system are identified and their functions explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Principal components must include:

Making up of a cyanide solution system components

Instrumentation

Auxiliary systems

Safety devices

Interlock systems

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Specified lock-out procedures pertaining to the making up system and the consequences of non-compliance are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. The specified communication requirements pertaining to the making up of a cyanide solution and the consequences of non-compliance are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

7. The specified actions to be taken, should sub-standard conditions and problems be encountered, are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

8. Emergency procedures to be followed in the event of cyanide spillage and poisoning are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Emergency procedures must include:

First-aid treatment for cyanide poisoning

Entry into confined spaces

Cyanide neutralization

Spillage disposal

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9

9. The specified operating parameters and control methods and the consequences of not adhering to these are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10

10. The specific colour coding and symbolic signs pertaining to the making up of a cyanide solution are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11

11. Specified security requirements pertaining to access control and making up of a cyanide solution are explained.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Prepare to make-up a cyanide solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Personal protective and safety equipment is verified, examined and used in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Cyanide emergency equipment is verified and examined in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Tools and equipment are verified and examined in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Workplace hazards and associated risks are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. The cyanide making up system is examined and substandard conditions are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Safety and health procedures towards self and others are adhered to.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Make-up a cyanide solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Personal protective and safety equipment is used in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The start-up of the cyanide make-up system is in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The cyanide solution make-up process is monitored and controlled in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Effective communication ensures safe and optimal making up of a cyanide solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Tools and equipment are used in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Work related hazards and associated risks are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

7. Problems encountered are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

8. The making up of a cyanide solution is consistent with environmental policy and other specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9

9. Specified security requirements pertaining to access control and making up of a cyanide solution are adhered to.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10

10. Safety and health procedures towards self and others are adhered to.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Complete the duties pertaining to the making up of a cyanide solution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The cyanide solution make-up system is stopped in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Personal protective and safety equipment is dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. Cyanide emergency equipment is dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Tools and equipment are dealt with in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. Good housekeeping practices are maintained in accordance with specified requirements with special emphasis on safety requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Specified security requirements pertaining to the access control and making up of a cyanide solution are met.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

7. Specified reporting and recording requirements are met.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

8. Preparation for maintenance is in accordance with specified requirements. Specified lock-out procedures are adhered to.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
3. 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:

Health and safety knowledge

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 and risks, sub standard conditions, process problems and to rectify these, illustrates his/her capability to solve problems.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
Note: The ability of the candidate to communicate effectively and to maintain optimum production illustrates his/her capability to work effectively with others.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
Note: The ability of the candidate to maintain optimum production whilst adhering to safety procedures, illustrates his/her capability to organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
Note: The ability of the candidate to implement corrective actions illustrates his/her capability to collect, organise and critically evaluate information.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
Note: The ability of the candidate to maintain optimum production through effective communication and his/her ability to adhere to reporting requirements illustrates their capability to communicate effectively.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
Note: The ability of the candidate to adhere to safety, health and environmental requirements illustrates his/her capability to use science and technology effectively.

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 ability of the candidate to explain the importance of the process in terms of achieving production and up and down stream requirements illustrates his/her understanding of the world as a set of related systems.

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

This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 256716, which is "Make-up a cyanide solution in a metallurgical plant", Level 3, 6 credits.

Terminology

Specific 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

SABS and other relevant Standards

Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

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
Elective	49044	National Certificate: Mineral Processing, Gold Extraction	Level 3	NQF Level 03	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2008-08-20	Was MQA 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.	HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD