SKILLS PROGRAMS

 

Operate Mobile Machinery for Surface Excavation Operations (V5) MQA/SP/0177/19

People credited with this Skills Programme are able to operate mobile machinery in surface mining and quarrying operations with suitable knowledge of the mining environment as well as basic health and safety principles in and around the workplace. Elective unit standards are selected to provide the required competencies to complete this Skills Programme.

In addition, individual unit standards can be trained and assessed against for a variety of plant and equipment.

Blasting Assistant – Surface Mines & Quarries (SP-CLA-G017)

terms of the Explosives Regulations under the Mine Health and Safety Act, a competent person is required as a blasting assistant. The competencies required by the Blasting Assistant are:

  • Safe receipt, storage, issuing and transportation of explosives (control);
  • The preparation of primers;
  • The charging of blast holes with explosives or the placing of explosive charges;
  • The connecting up of blasting rounds or circuits, and
  • To assist with the safeguarding of persons against the significant hazards associated with the use of explosives.

People with this skills programme will be able to comply with part of the Explosives Regulations under the Mine Health and Safety Act in terms of the competencies specified for blasting assistants but excluding the duties covered by the Skills Programme for the Management of Explosives Magazines on Mines and Quarries

Persons who have achieved this skills programme can progress towards the National Certificate in Rockbreaking L3 (Surface Excavations) as well as other similar qualifications in the Surface Mining/Quarrying sector. This skills programme would also be useful for responsible persons handling explosives within the Chemical and Construction sectors. Following the phasing out of the Opencast Blasting certificate on 30 June 2009, the Unit Standards included in this Skills Programme form part of the new Rockbreaking Qualification – Surface Excavations as well as being an Exit Level Outcome in its own right. People credited with this Skills Programme are able to assist in Blasting operations.

Handling of Explosives in Mines (MQA/SP/0124/10//0

In terms of Section 10 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, the employer must provide information, instruction, training and / or supervision to perform work safely and  without risk to health and each employee must be familiar with work related hazards and risks as well as the measures to eliminate control and minimise hazards and risks. Chapter 4 of the Mine Health and Safety Act Regulations provides for the competencies of Rockbreakers and Blast Assistants, but there is no specific regulation governing the competencies of the employees engaged in the handling of explosives as well as their control between the storage facilities and points of use. There are other employees who handle explosives and initiating systems plus accessories during the charging up and blasting processes, in addition to the Blast Assistants and Rockbreakers. People with this skills programme will be able to comply with the Mine Health and Safety Act in terms of the competencies for handling explosives but excluding the duties covered by the Skills Programmes for “The control of explosives magazines on mines and quarries” and  Blasting

The Examination, Making Safe and Declaring Safe of Surface Mines, Quarries, Dumps &
Stockpiles

terms of the Mines Health and Safety Act and Regulations (Act 29 of 1996), and for purposes of Regulation 14.1 (1) and 14.1 (5), competent person means a person who has been assessed and found competent to examine, make safe and declare a workplace safe. Such competent persons must  ensure, if at any time a working place or part thereof becomes unsafe during a shift, that: All persons, other thanthose examining and making safe, are removed from such unsafe area

No persons are permitted to return thereto until declared safe by a competent person
The design of this Skills Programme however extends beyond Fall of Ground requirements. A more holistic approach towards ensuring a safe and healthy working environment has been 11 adopted, whereby the contribution of the individual extends beyond mere compliance. People with this skills programme comply with the Fall-of-Ground regulations promulgated by the Minister of Minerals and Energy. The regulations require a competent person to examine and make safe a workplace (Competent Person A) and determine that such competence will vest in a candidate having achieved the requirements of the relevant skills programme registered with the Mining Qualifications Authority. Both Skills Programmes relating to FOG Regulations are covered: 

The Examination, Making Safe and Declaring Safe of Surface Mines, Quarries, Dumps & Stockpiles – Competent A (Blasted) – SP-CLA-G015(A)

The Examination, Making Safe and Declaring Safe of Surface Mines, Quarries, Dumps and Stockpiles – Competent A (Un-blasted) – SP-CLA-G015 (B)