Assessor Resource

AMPA412
Conduct an animal welfare audit of a meat processing plant

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct an audit of animal welfare prior of slaughter and an animal welfare audit of the slaughter process.

This unit is for individuals who are employed to undertake animal welfare audits at a slaughtering establishment.

It is anticipated that this unit will complement existing auditor training by providing animal welfare related information.

Animal welfare audits conducted under this unit must be carried out in accordance with the Industry Animal Welfare Standards for Livestock Processing Establishments Preparing Meat for Human Consumption.

This unit must be delivered in the context of Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Identify relevant animal welfare regulations and standards

1.1 Identify and interpret relevant regulations and legislation about animal welfare/cruelty

1.2 Identify the responsibilities of business operators and personnel under relevant legislation

1.3 Identify relevant animal welfare standards, voluntary codes of practice and quality systems

1.4 Identify sections of acts, regulations, voluntary Codes of Practice or equivalent standards relevant to species being processed

1.5 Identify relevant and applicable animal welfare measures for receival, lairage, stunning and slaughtering during audit

2. Audit the animal welfare component of an Approved Arrangement for compliance with regulatory and relevant standard requirements

2.1 Audit Approved Arrangement or equivalent quality assurance systems for compliance with customer, commercial and regulatory requirements

2.2 Identify and confirm that workplace procedures for livestock receival, unloading, lairage, handling, restraining, stunning, slaughter, personnel training and animal welfare monitoring comply with relevant regulations and standards

3. Audit transport and unloading arrangements for livestock

3.1 Check the establishment's Approved Arrangement to ensure that it incorporates procedures and practices that enable compliance with customer, corporate and regulatory requirements

3.2 Audit the unloading and receival or ante-mortem inspection, sorting and yarding against workplace, customer, commercial and regulatory requirements

3.3 Identify facilities and equipment as operational, appropriately maintained and confirm their suitability for use

4. Audit management of livestock in lairage prior to slaughter

4.1 Assess inputs into the welfare of livestock in lairage against regulatory, customer and workplace requirements including facilities, handling practices, inspections, access to feed and water and pen density

4.2 Assess welfare of animals against pre-determined welfare measures

5. Audit treatment of sick/injured or uncooperative animals

5.1 Assess the handling of suspect, sick, injured or uncooperative stock against workplace and customer standards and regulatory requirements

6. Audit stunning of livestock

6.1 Review inputs into the stunning process including equipment maintenance, training and facilities for compliance with work place, standards and regulatory requirements

6.2 Assess effectiveness of restraint and stunning against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements

6.3 Assess monitoring of effective stunning by company personnel against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements

7. Audit slaughtering and shackling

7.1 Observe and assess exsanguination process for compliance with workplace and regulatory requirements

7.2 Assess bodies on the bleed chain for insensibility

7.3 Observe operators to ensure they are complying with workplace procedures including checking for an effective stun

8. Audit animal welfare monitoring, internal auditing, corrective and preventative action program

8.1 Review routine monitoring records for livestock handling, stunning and effective slaughter to ensure compliance with workplace, regulatory and customer requirements

8.2 Review internal audit records to assess control of animal welfare outcomes, including training of personnel

8.3 Assess effectiveness of preventative and corrective action programs

9. Audit contingency arrangements

9.1 Review and assess contingency plans for livestock emergencies against regulatory and standard requirements

10. Plan for an animal welfare audit

10.1 Interpret audit schedule and plan and organise the timely conduct of audit

10.2 Determine objectives, scope and criteria of audit according to workplace requirements

10.3 Assemble and brief audit team (if applicable), as required, for the objectives, scope and criteria of the audit

10.4 Notify those affected by and involved in the audit and document responsibilities according to workplace requirements

10.5 Notify stakeholders involved in an internal audit according to workplace requirements

10.6 Identify procedures, records and workplace documentation needed for the audit

10.7 Document evidence collection methods and sources to be used in the audit, including developing workplace checklists to workplace specifications

10.8 Conduct a document review prior to audit

11. Report outcomes of an animal welfare audit

11.1 Prepare an audit report, detailing areas of the program which were audited and findings against the audit criteria, including non-conformances, where applicable

11.2 Document objective evidence according to workplace standards

11.3 Keep records of audit process, objective evidence and findings in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements

11.4 Report findings according to workplace requirements

The candidate must be observed throughout the process of conducting at least one complete animal welfare audit at a meat processing facility.

The candidate must:

assess the welfare of livestock at receival and in lairage

assess livestock handling against requirements during unloading and handling in the lead up to slaughter

assess the handling of sick/injured and uncooperative animals against workplace and regulatory requirements

make an assessment of effective restraint, stunning and humane slaughter of livestock

use of effective interpersonal skills in a range of contexts, including audit interview situations

comply with Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) requirements for working around livestock

read and interpret relevant legislation, regulations, standards and Codes of Practice

effectively record and communicate audit findings to relevant stakeholders

The candidate must explain and interpret a range of relevant animal welfare measures relevant to the audit situation.

The candidate must:

be able to locate, read and interpret relevant animal welfare and cruelty legislation (Acts) and regulations

have a working knowledge of relevant voluntary industry animal welfare standards for processing establishments

have a working knowledge of relevant codes of practice or equivalent animal welfare standards (underpinning the Acts)

The candidate must demonstrate a broad factual, technical and theoretical knowledge of:

humane destruction and emergency slaughter arrangements

relevant measures of animal welfare

acceptable livestock handling techniques and measures

impact of stress during handling on the ultimate pH and quality of meat

WHS requirements for handling stock

regulatory and workplace requirements for animal welfare

regulatory requirements when dealing with sick and injured animals

requirements for contingency plans for dealing with animal-handling emergencies

All evidence must be collected in the context of current Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

A minimum of three different forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency.

This must include as a minimum:

written test or quiz

a complete onsite mock audit of animal welfare.

Assessment must be conducted in a slaughtering establishment under real working conditions.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Identify relevant animal welfare regulations and standards

1.1 Identify and interpret relevant regulations and legislation about animal welfare/cruelty

1.2 Identify the responsibilities of business operators and personnel under relevant legislation

1.3 Identify relevant animal welfare standards, voluntary codes of practice and quality systems

1.4 Identify sections of acts, regulations, voluntary Codes of Practice or equivalent standards relevant to species being processed

1.5 Identify relevant and applicable animal welfare measures for receival, lairage, stunning and slaughtering during audit

2. Audit the animal welfare component of an Approved Arrangement for compliance with regulatory and relevant standard requirements

2.1 Audit Approved Arrangement or equivalent quality assurance systems for compliance with customer, commercial and regulatory requirements

2.2 Identify and confirm that workplace procedures for livestock receival, unloading, lairage, handling, restraining, stunning, slaughter, personnel training and animal welfare monitoring comply with relevant regulations and standards

3. Audit transport and unloading arrangements for livestock

3.1 Check the establishment's Approved Arrangement to ensure that it incorporates procedures and practices that enable compliance with customer, corporate and regulatory requirements

3.2 Audit the unloading and receival or ante-mortem inspection, sorting and yarding against workplace, customer, commercial and regulatory requirements

3.3 Identify facilities and equipment as operational, appropriately maintained and confirm their suitability for use

4. Audit management of livestock in lairage prior to slaughter

4.1 Assess inputs into the welfare of livestock in lairage against regulatory, customer and workplace requirements including facilities, handling practices, inspections, access to feed and water and pen density

4.2 Assess welfare of animals against pre-determined welfare measures

5. Audit treatment of sick/injured or uncooperative animals

5.1 Assess the handling of suspect, sick, injured or uncooperative stock against workplace and customer standards and regulatory requirements

6. Audit stunning of livestock

6.1 Review inputs into the stunning process including equipment maintenance, training and facilities for compliance with work place, standards and regulatory requirements

6.2 Assess effectiveness of restraint and stunning against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements

6.3 Assess monitoring of effective stunning by company personnel against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements

7. Audit slaughtering and shackling

7.1 Observe and assess exsanguination process for compliance with workplace and regulatory requirements

7.2 Assess bodies on the bleed chain for insensibility

7.3 Observe operators to ensure they are complying with workplace procedures including checking for an effective stun

8. Audit animal welfare monitoring, internal auditing, corrective and preventative action program

8.1 Review routine monitoring records for livestock handling, stunning and effective slaughter to ensure compliance with workplace, regulatory and customer requirements

8.2 Review internal audit records to assess control of animal welfare outcomes, including training of personnel

8.3 Assess effectiveness of preventative and corrective action programs

9. Audit contingency arrangements

9.1 Review and assess contingency plans for livestock emergencies against regulatory and standard requirements

10. Plan for an animal welfare audit

10.1 Interpret audit schedule and plan and organise the timely conduct of audit

10.2 Determine objectives, scope and criteria of audit according to workplace requirements

10.3 Assemble and brief audit team (if applicable), as required, for the objectives, scope and criteria of the audit

10.4 Notify those affected by and involved in the audit and document responsibilities according to workplace requirements

10.5 Notify stakeholders involved in an internal audit according to workplace requirements

10.6 Identify procedures, records and workplace documentation needed for the audit

10.7 Document evidence collection methods and sources to be used in the audit, including developing workplace checklists to workplace specifications

10.8 Conduct a document review prior to audit

11. Report outcomes of an animal welfare audit

11.1 Prepare an audit report, detailing areas of the program which were audited and findings against the audit criteria, including non-conformances, where applicable

11.2 Document objective evidence according to workplace standards

11.3 Keep records of audit process, objective evidence and findings in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements

11.4 Report findings according to workplace requirements

The candidate must be observed throughout the process of conducting at least one complete animal welfare audit at a meat processing facility.

The candidate must:

assess the welfare of livestock at receival and in lairage

assess livestock handling against requirements during unloading and handling in the lead up to slaughter

assess the handling of sick/injured and uncooperative animals against workplace and regulatory requirements

make an assessment of effective restraint, stunning and humane slaughter of livestock

use of effective interpersonal skills in a range of contexts, including audit interview situations

comply with Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) requirements for working around livestock

read and interpret relevant legislation, regulations, standards and Codes of Practice

effectively record and communicate audit findings to relevant stakeholders

The candidate must explain and interpret a range of relevant animal welfare measures relevant to the audit situation.

The candidate must:

be able to locate, read and interpret relevant animal welfare and cruelty legislation (Acts) and regulations

have a working knowledge of relevant voluntary industry animal welfare standards for processing establishments

have a working knowledge of relevant codes of practice or equivalent animal welfare standards (underpinning the Acts)

The candidate must demonstrate a broad factual, technical and theoretical knowledge of:

humane destruction and emergency slaughter arrangements

relevant measures of animal welfare

acceptable livestock handling techniques and measures

impact of stress during handling on the ultimate pH and quality of meat

WHS requirements for handling stock

regulatory and workplace requirements for animal welfare

regulatory requirements when dealing with sick and injured animals

requirements for contingency plans for dealing with animal-handling emergencies

All evidence must be collected in the context of current Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

A minimum of three different forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency.

This must include as a minimum:

written test or quiz

a complete onsite mock audit of animal welfare.

Assessment must be conducted in a slaughtering establishment under real working conditions.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify and interpret relevant regulations and legislation about animal welfare/cruelty 
Identify the responsibilities of business operators and personnel under relevant legislation 
Identify relevant animal welfare standards, voluntary codes of practice and quality systems 
Identify sections of acts, regulations, voluntary Codes of Practice or equivalent standards relevant to species being processed 
Identify relevant and applicable animal welfare measures for receival, lairage, stunning and slaughtering during audit 
Audit Approved Arrangement or equivalent quality assurance systems for compliance with customer, commercial and regulatory requirements 
Identify and confirm that workplace procedures for livestock receival, unloading, lairage, handling, restraining, stunning, slaughter, personnel training and animal welfare monitoring comply with relevant regulations and standards 
Check the establishment's Approved Arrangement to ensure that it incorporates procedures and practices that enable compliance with customer, corporate and regulatory requirements 
Audit the unloading and receival or ante-mortem inspection, sorting and yarding against workplace, customer, commercial and regulatory requirements 
Identify facilities and equipment as operational, appropriately maintained and confirm their suitability for use 
Assess inputs into the welfare of livestock in lairage against regulatory, customer and workplace requirements including facilities, handling practices, inspections, access to feed and water and pen density 
Assess welfare of animals against pre-determined welfare measures 
Assess the handling of suspect, sick, injured or uncooperative stock against workplace and customer standards and regulatory requirements 
Review inputs into the stunning process including equipment maintenance, training and facilities for compliance with work place, standards and regulatory requirements 
Assess effectiveness of restraint and stunning against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements 
Assess monitoring of effective stunning by company personnel against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements 
Observe and assess exsanguination process for compliance with workplace and regulatory requirements 
Assess bodies on the bleed chain for insensibility 
Observe operators to ensure they are complying with workplace procedures including checking for an effective stun 
Review routine monitoring records for livestock handling, stunning and effective slaughter to ensure compliance with workplace, regulatory and customer requirements 
Review internal audit records to assess control of animal welfare outcomes, including training of personnel 
Assess effectiveness of preventative and corrective action programs 
Review and assess contingency plans for livestock emergencies against regulatory and standard requirements 
Interpret audit schedule and plan and organise the timely conduct of audit 
Determine objectives, scope and criteria of audit according to workplace requirements 
Assemble and brief audit team (if applicable), as required, for the objectives, scope and criteria of the audit 
Notify those affected by and involved in the audit and document responsibilities according to workplace requirements 
Notify stakeholders involved in an internal audit according to workplace requirements 
Identify procedures, records and workplace documentation needed for the audit 
Document evidence collection methods and sources to be used in the audit, including developing workplace checklists to workplace specifications 
Conduct a document review prior to audit 
Prepare an audit report, detailing areas of the program which were audited and findings against the audit criteria, including non-conformances, where applicable 
Document objective evidence according to workplace standards 
Keep records of audit process, objective evidence and findings in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements 
Report findings according to workplace requirements 
Identify and interpret relevant regulations and legislation about animal welfare/cruelty 
Identify the responsibilities of business operators and personnel under relevant legislation 
Identify relevant animal welfare standards, voluntary codes of practice and quality systems 
Identify sections of acts, regulations, voluntary Codes of Practice or equivalent standards relevant to species being processed 
Identify relevant and applicable animal welfare measures for receival, lairage, stunning and slaughtering during audit 
Audit Approved Arrangement or equivalent quality assurance systems for compliance with customer, commercial and regulatory requirements 
Identify and confirm that workplace procedures for livestock receival, unloading, lairage, handling, restraining, stunning, slaughter, personnel training and animal welfare monitoring comply with relevant regulations and standards 
Check the establishment's Approved Arrangement to ensure that it incorporates procedures and practices that enable compliance with customer, corporate and regulatory requirements 
Audit the unloading and receival or ante-mortem inspection, sorting and yarding against workplace, customer, commercial and regulatory requirements 
Identify facilities and equipment as operational, appropriately maintained and confirm their suitability for use 
Assess inputs into the welfare of livestock in lairage against regulatory, customer and workplace requirements including facilities, handling practices, inspections, access to feed and water and pen density 
Assess welfare of animals against pre-determined welfare measures 
Assess the handling of suspect, sick, injured or uncooperative stock against workplace and customer standards and regulatory requirements 
Review inputs into the stunning process including equipment maintenance, training and facilities for compliance with work place, standards and regulatory requirements 
Assess effectiveness of restraint and stunning against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements 
Assess monitoring of effective stunning by company personnel against workplace, customer and regulatory requirements 
Observe and assess exsanguination process for compliance with workplace and regulatory requirements 
Assess bodies on the bleed chain for insensibility 
Observe operators to ensure they are complying with workplace procedures including checking for an effective stun 
Review routine monitoring records for livestock handling, stunning and effective slaughter to ensure compliance with workplace, regulatory and customer requirements 
Review internal audit records to assess control of animal welfare outcomes, including training of personnel 
Assess effectiveness of preventative and corrective action programs 
Review and assess contingency plans for livestock emergencies against regulatory and standard requirements 
Interpret audit schedule and plan and organise the timely conduct of audit 
Determine objectives, scope and criteria of audit according to workplace requirements 
Assemble and brief audit team (if applicable), as required, for the objectives, scope and criteria of the audit 
Notify those affected by and involved in the audit and document responsibilities according to workplace requirements 
Notify stakeholders involved in an internal audit according to workplace requirements 
Identify procedures, records and workplace documentation needed for the audit 
Document evidence collection methods and sources to be used in the audit, including developing workplace checklists to workplace specifications 
Conduct a document review prior to audit 
Prepare an audit report, detailing areas of the program which were audited and findings against the audit criteria, including non-conformances, where applicable 
Document objective evidence according to workplace standards 
Keep records of audit process, objective evidence and findings in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements 
Report findings according to workplace requirements 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AMPA412 - Conduct an animal welfare audit of a meat processing plant
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

AMPA412 - Conduct an animal welfare audit of a meat processing plant

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: