Full Course Name: Practice Environmental Awareness

Aligned to SAQA Unit Standard: 12512

NQF Level: 1

Credits: 4

Purpose of the learning Program: 

Learners working towards this standard will be learning towards the full qualification, or will be involved in or working within a cleaning services environment. Qualifying learners are able to explain why the environment is important and demonstrate how we should preserve it at home and at work in a commercial, industrial, pharmaceutical, food handling, domestic and health care cleaning and waste management environment.

Learning Assumed to be in Place and Recognition of Prior Learning

1. The learner has the speaking and listening ability equal to an ABET Level 1 Com 101 standard and/or any other communication skill that will enable him/her to confirm the knowledge and skills required by this unit standard.

Unit Standard Range

1. The scope of this unit standard is for any person who lives and works in South Africa.
2. Environmental awareness in the context of this unit standard refers to an understanding that we all produce waste and therefore impact on the environment.
3. The level assigned to this unit standard is appropriate because the process is limited in range, contexts are closely defined, knowledge is narrow and is used on a recall basis, and problem solving is limited. Actions undertaken are repetitive and familiar, generation of new ideas are limited at best, and while the learner will share information with others, there is no responsibility for the learning of others per se. Orientation of activity is directed in terms of worksite environmental policy and actions occur under close supervision.

RANGE STATEMENTS WHICH REFER TO ASSESSMENT CRITERIA IN THIS UNIT STANDARD

1. Assessment can be verbal, written or any other agreed upon method.
2. The impact of waste on the environment includes but is not limited to air pollution, water pollution, leaching from landfill sites, poisoning of groundwater systems and soil.
3. Environmentally sound housekeeping practices includes but is not limited waste separation at source, re-using waste items, clearing up spillages, reporting / dealing with environmental hazards, storing chemicals / materials correctly and safely, the observation of safe work practices and picking up waste.
4. Assessing the solid waste stream at minimum refers to determining where solid waste can be reduced or recycled – starting at the point of origin.
5. Environmentally friendly alternatives for currently used household products include but are not limited to the use of rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones, avoiding items packed in polystyrene containers, buying items in re-usable packages (egg. Cold drink bottles).
Recycling at home includes but is not limited to selling recoverable waste egg cardboard, aluminium cans and glass, using organic waste to make compost, re-using containers and other items.

Course Content:

Session 1 – Demonstrate an understanding of how the environment works.

Session 2 – Demonstrate an understanding of how pollution / waste impacts on the environment.

Session 3 – Take the appropriate steps to limit pollution / waste at the workplace.

Session 4 – Dispose of household waste in an environmentally responsible manner.