Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Surface Blaster

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to be a Surface Blaster. A Surface Blaster conducts mining blasting operations effectively and safely to realise optimum blast performance in accordance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements. A qualifying learner will know and be able to oversee, apply and exercise safety, health and environmental measures, processes and procedures, including the waiting-place/ assembly point procedures, entry examination, making the workplace safe and completing the safe declaration; troubleshoot problems; communicate effectively; and conduct blasting operations.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Oversee, apply, exercise, and ensure safety, health and environmental measures and procedures for surface operations.
• Conduct blasting operations
• Troubleshoot
• Communicate effectively

Rationale

The Surface Blaster's appointment is prescribed by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), whereby appointees must be in possession of the appropriate Certificate of Competency issued by the DMRE. In terms of mining legislation, Surface Blasters who are appointed must be qualified, by virtue of their knowledge, training, skills, and experience, to perform the activities contemplated; and must be trained, assessed, and found competent, in accordance with recognised training and development programmes, so there is a need in the sector for this qualification.

Learners registering for this qualification will typically be working within the mining industry in surface mining operations.

The typical learning pathway in mining production operations would be to begin with an occupational qualification at NQF Level 1 or 2, proceed to Blasting Assistant at NQF Level 2, then Surface Blaster at NQF Level 3, Shift Supervisor, at NQF Level 4, Mine Overseer at NQF Level 5 and Mine Manager at NQF Level 7. There is currently no similar qualification registered on the NQF.

The work is done in excavations that do not exist naturally but are created through rock-breaking and blasting activities. This unique environment holds many hazards and risks for all personnel. The skills required to master the work in this occupation are complex and require dedicated learning, application, and specialised technical skills.

Mining will remain the backbone of the South African economy for many years to come, and with the advance of technology, there will in the coming decades, be opportunities to return to and access the minerals left behind in the older mines. The mining and minerals sector will also be able to access resources that are currently too deep to mine. The development of occupational competence as set out in this qualification is essential to capitalise on these technological advances.

Development of the qualification was in consultation with sector practitioners and providers and through the Minerals Council South Africa, Trade Unions and the DMRE.

This qualification will benefit society in terms of skills and technical competencies since qualifying learners will improve work standards, health and safety, effectiveness, and contribute significantly to the growth of the country's economy.

This qualification does not require registration with a professional body.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 684201-001-00-KM-01, Workplace Fundamentals, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-02, Health, Safety, and The Environment, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-03, Mining Operations, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-04, Health, Safety, and The Environment, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-05, Mining Operations, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-06, Crew Supervision, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-KM-07, Production Operations, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 36

Practical Skill Modules

• 684201-001-00-PM-01, Apply, Exercise, and ensure Safety, Health and Environmental Principles and Procedures, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-PM-02, Handle Explosives, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-PM-03, Use Explosives, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-PM-04, Apply Safety, Health and Environmental Measures, Processes, and Procedures, NQF Level 3, 12 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-PM-05, Conduct Blasting Operations NQF Level 3, 32 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 56

Work Experience Modules

• 684201-001-00-WM-01, Explosive Handling, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 684201-001-00-WM-02, Blasting Operations, NQF Level 3, 24 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 28

1. Carry out and conduct safety, health and environmental operations, interpreting, applying, and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards.
2. Conduct blasting operations, interpreting, applying and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards.
3. Demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot, identify and address mining-related problems.
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in respect of technical and practical mine operations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Carry out and conduct safety, health and environmental operations, interpreting, applying, and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards

• Apply knowledge and understanding of problem solving, occupational health, safety and the environmental requirements, geology, ground and strata control, support, hazard identification and risk assessment, examining and making safe, and statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Compete the ere-, start-, and end-of-shift process and procedure, and associated reporting is completed, in accordance with requirements.
• Apply, exercise and ensure safety, health and environmental measures and responsibilities in accordance with requirements.
• Deal with ground/ rock strata conditions, in accordance with requirements.
• Complete waiting-place/ assembly point procedures, entry examinations and safe declarations in accordance with the requirements

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Conduct blasting operations, interpreting, applying and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards

• Apply knowledge and understanding of problem-solving, occupational health, safety and the environmental requirements, geology, ground and strata control, support, hazard identification and risk assessment, examining and making safe, mining technology, environmental control/ ventilation, rock/ geotechnical engineering, blasting and explosives, and statutory, regulatory, and organisational compliance.
• Complete the Pre-, start-, and end-of-shift process and procedure, and associated reporting , in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Adhereto to safety, health and environmental measures and responsibilities in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Exercise control over explosives, in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
• Conduct blasting, in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

ELO 3: Troubleshoot

• Analyse and solve problems in accordance with requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

ELO 4: Communicate effectively

• Communicate fluently, in accordance with requirements.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment

The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment.

Summative Assessment

An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria.

The external assessment will consist of an evaluation and verification of records, and an interview, by a registered assessor(s), and/ or a written assessment, using specified assessment criteria requirement