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

Demonstrate awareness and take initial actions at a hazardous materials incident 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115223  Demonstrate awareness and take initial actions at a hazardous materials incident 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Fire and Rescue 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 
Brief description of competence
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard will be able to identify the presence of a hazardous materials incident, and take the relevant precautionary measures.

Benefit to the learner
The learner will have a skill essential to a career in fire fighting, and will be in a position to protect him / herself and the public in hazardous material situations.

Broader benefit of competent practitioners
Competent qualifying learners will assist emergency services in protecting people and property from hazardous materials at Hazardous Materials incidents 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that anyone wishing to enter a programme leading to this unit standard will already be competent at communication and mathematical literacy at NQF level 4 or equivalent. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
This unit standard requires the individual to undertake the relevant outcomes actions for the nine identified classes of hazardous material as listed below:
  • Class 1 - explosives
  • Class 2 - gasses
  • Class 3 - flammable liquids
  • Class 4 - flammable solids
  • Class 5 - oxidizers & peroxides
  • Class 6 - poisons & etiological substances
  • Class 7 - radioactive materials
  • Class 8 - corrosives
  • Class 9 - miscellaneous dangerous goods / substances
  • O R M - D (other related materials - dangerous)

    This unit standard does not extend to those competencies required by the hazardous materials operations level 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify the categories of hazardous materials, their signage and their hazards and effects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The nine classes of hazardous materials are identified, and example given in each hazard class. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The potential effects of each of the nine classes of material are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Sources of identification of the class/es of hazardous materials are described. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Suspect or recognise the presence of hazardous materials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Industry accepted indicators are identified, explained and utilised. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Protect self from hazardous materials and the effects thereof. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Direct potential personal danger is identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate action is taken to secure personal safety. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify and implement the initial primary actions at a hazardous material incident. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Movement at the scene is controlled. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate life-safety measures are effected. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Call for the appropriate assistance. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Initiate appropriate communications/ support response. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Appropriate assistance is called for. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Incident Management Procedure is initiated. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor/moderator with the relevant ETQA.
  • Such registration assumes that the assessor has both ETDP competence as well as substantial functional competence in the relevant area of practice.
  • This point leads to the assumption that any assessor assessing this unit standard is not relying simply on the content of the unit standard to guide their practise. Rather the assessor is drawing on a wealth of experiential knowledge for which this unit standard provides a quality benchmark.

    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Such accreditation assumes that the institution has access to relevant resources and staff with a substantial functional competence in the relevant area of practice.
  • This point leads to the assumption that any person providing education or training leading to this unit standards is not relying simply on the content of the unit standard to guide their practise. Rather the trainer/educator is drawing on a wealth of experiential knowledge for which this unit standard provides a quality benchmark.

    3. Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to:
  • The ETQA's policies and guidelines
  • Agreements reached concerning assessment and moderation between ETQAs (including professional bodies) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Dangers and properties of hazardous materials.
  • Incident Management Procedure. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect analyse and organise information
    By assessing all relevant information at the scene of an actual or potential hazardous materials incident. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate
    By communicating with - appropriate to the scene - other emergency personnel, members of the public and members of her/his own service in order to take intial actions at an incident. 

    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 
    Notes about assessment

    Assessment of this unit standard should focus on signing off a learner as competent against the competence described in the purpose statement at the beginning of the standard. The implication of this is that no part of this unit standard is a mini-competence in and of itself, but is rather part of the bigger competence described in the purpose statement. The parts should be seen to be pieces of a jigsaw puzzle none of which make sense by themselves, and each one of which affects the others.

    For this reason, assessment criteria in this unit standard should be seen as orientated towards the standard as a whole. This does not mean that assessors should not check that a learner is competent at each outcome, but that they should not necessarily check this separately for each outcome. Similarly, assessors are encouraged not to assess essential embedded knowledge and critical cross-field outcomes separately.

    As each situation is different, it will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools that are appropriate to the contexts in which practitioners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment.

    Assessment should include practical demonstration of competence, either in the workplace or through work-realistic, out-of-classroom simulation.

    A range of assessment methods should be used, including:
    Direct observation - watch the practitioner carry out the task or produce a desired outcome during the course of his or her normal work under normal workplace conditions.
    Product sample - examine the outcomes previously produced by the practitioner.
    Simulation of a specific task - set a specific task for the practitioner to demonstrate in a simulated environment.
    Questioning (verbal or written) - ask relevant questions linked to the unit standard.
    Testimony - collect a portfolio of evidence from suitable people, e.g. report from a third party.

    It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together thus reducing the overall number of assessment 'events'.
  • Consider a complete activity in the workplace (the 'whole of work' approach) and see which unit standards relate to this activity.
  • Work out how practitioners could collect evidence on a number of unit standards at the same time covering all the critical aspects of the standards.
  • Ensure that commonalities that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    By checking for applied competence and critical cross-field competence as described below, the assessor must design a holistic assessment focused at the competence described in the purpose statement of this unit standard.

    The learner must demonstrate applied competence in the following way:

    1. The learner must demonstrate an ability to consider a range of options and make decisions about:
  • Ways in which to ensure personal safety and the safety of others at the scene of an incident.

    2. The learner must demonstrate an understanding of:
  • Dangers and properties of hazardous materials.
  • Incident Management Procedure

    3. The learner must demonstrate an ability to learn from her/his actions and to adapt to changes by:
  • Reflecting on their own practice, and adapting and modifying it accordingly.
  • Reflecting on their own patterns of learning and creating opportunities for future learning.

    The learner must demonstrate critical cross-field competence by demonstrating an ability to:

    Solve problems
    By assessing all inter-related factors at an emergency scene, linking these to communication requirements, and adapting her/his own actions in order to ensure efficient communication. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57849   Further Education and Training Certificate: Dangerous Goods: Multi-modal Transportation  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2016-12-31  TETA 
    Core  57803   Further Education and Training Certificate: Fire and Rescue Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  LG SETA 
    Core  64390   National Certificate: Emergency Services Supervision: Fire and Rescue Operations  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  LG SETA 
    Elective  48855   National Certificate: Emergency Services Operations  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2009-02-18  Was LG SETA 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. Africa Corporate Training Institute And Hr Consulting 
    2. Afroxpert Performance Developement Cc 
    3. Agisanang SA Training 
    4. Albatros Fire & Training Services (Pty) 
    5. All Access Holdings 
    6. Am Risk And Training (Pty) Ltd. 
    7. Aphro Collective 
    8. Asara Training Academy(Pty) Ltd 
    9. Asiphokuhle Training And Research Institute 
    10. Bantubanye Skills 
    11. Buffalo City Fire & Emergency Services Trainig Academy 
    12. Cape Winelands District Municipality 
    13. Cape Winelands Fire And Rescue Training Academy 
    14. City Of Cape Town - Fire And Rescue Services Training Academy 
    15. City Of Johannesburg Emergency Services Training Academy 
    16. City Of Tshwane Community Safety - Fire 
    17. Classic Human Capital Solutions 
    18. Crack Down Pest Control Services 
    19. Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality/Emergency Services Training Academy 
    20. Dga And Rss 
    21. Ekurhuleni Metropolitian Municipal Emergency Services Training Academy 
    22. Emcare Training Academy (Pty) Ltd 
    23. Engen 
    24. Ethekwini Fire And Disaster Management Services 
    25. Ethekwini Municipality Emergency Services Training Department 
    26. Ets Emergency Training Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    27. Fire Protection Association Of Southern Africa 
    28. Fire Skills Training Masters 
    29. FUTURE DISCOVERY TRAINING ACADEMY 
    30. Gns Training Consultants 
    31. Godonga Shakaneng 
    32. Goldfields Emergency Fire Services Training Academy 
    33. Iefa Cc. 
    34. Impact Emergency Technologies Cc 
    35. Innercity Training Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    36. Insiks Faya 
    37. Isibuko Group Pty Ltd 
    38. Jeppe College of Commerce and Computer Studies 
    39. Jobafrik Consulting 
    40. Josmap Training Institute 
    41. K Shabangu Fet College 
    42. Kalideen Investment T/A Kalvest 
    43. KALIDEEN MANAGEMENT SERVICES 
    44. Kegatilwe Construction & Projects 
    45. Kephama Training Solutions 
    46. KHOSITHI TRAINING 
    47. Kishugu Training (Pty) LtD 
    48. Kmjl Solution (Pty) Ltd 
    49. Leronsa Trading Enterprise 
    50. Letlhokoa Management Services Cc 
    51. Lo Tantsi Fire Consultants (Pty) Ltd 
    52. Luncedo Fire And Safety 
    53. Mashphe Logistics Services 
    54. MASM Trading Enterprise (Pty) Ltd 
    55. MASS COMUTER TRAINING AND PRINTERS 
    56. Matsila Holdings 
    57. MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE 
    58. MGM Training & Consulting 
    59. Misol Construction 
    60. Mohlaje Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    61. Mortarboard Training Solutions 
    62. Moving Business Altitudes Consulting 
    63. Msunduzi Municipality 
    64. Nelson Mandela Fire,Emergency & Rescue Service Training Centre 
    65. Nirvana Occupational Safety & Rescue Training 
    66. Ntsangalala Business Enterprise 
    67. Osolwazi Further Education And Training 
    68. Pholoha Projects And Ppe Suppliers (Pty) Ltd 
    69. Pioneer Business Consulting 
    70. Polokwane Local Municipality 
    71. Pro Ethnos Fire and Rescue (Pty) Ltd 
    72. Progressive School Of Business And Engineering (Pty) 
    73. Ptdev (Pty) Ltd 
    74. Rescu-Life Africa (Pty) Ltd. 
    75. Riverport Training Academy 
    76. Rlstp Training & Development (Pty) Ltd. 
    77. Rlstp Training And Devlopment (Pty) Ltd. 
    78. Rural Metro Emergency Management Services (Pty)Ltd 
    79. Rustenburg Emergency And Disaster Management Services Training Academy 
    80. Safe-T-Con 
    81. Sasol Secunda - Emergency Management Training Academy 
    82. Sebenzisanane Human Capital 
    83. Sekhukhune District Municipality Ems Training Academy 
    84. Sodic Training And Development 
    85. Sol Plaatje Emergency Services Training 
    86. Sonani Skills 
    87. South African Corporate Training Association 
    88. St Francis Fire & Safety Learning Academy 
    89. Survivor Fire And Rescue Training College 
    90. The Skills Academy 
    91. Thinking Mind Trading 
    92. Thubelihle Graduate Institute 
    93. Thuto Lere Community Empowerment Programme 
    94. Tld Consulting 
    95. Tlokwe City Council Fire Brigade Services Training Centre 
    96. Tloumogale Business Development & Consulting 
    97. Training At Work (Pty) Ltd 
    98. Tshwane Leadership & Management Academy (Tlma) 
    99. Tshwane Training Institute (Pty) Ltd. 
    100. Tsiku Consulting 
    101. Tsoga Re Dire Holdings (Pty) Ltd 
    102. Umbuso Training Services 
    103. Vhembe District Municipality 
    104. Vhutshilo Health And Training Organisation 
    105. Vicmat Consultants 
    106. Yes We Can Consulting Pty Ltd 
    107. Zanda Izifiso Ezinhle 
    108. Zealot Business College 
    109. Zwavhudi Business School (Pty) Ltd 


    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.