Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to load and unload animals for transport.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for their own work. They identify and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems.
In addition to legal responsibilities, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Check facilities and equipment for sound working conditions | 1.1 Identify facilities and equipment required for the task and confirm with supervisor 1.2 Prepare loading facilities and equipment according to enterprise procedures 1.3 Check the work site, facilities and equipment for hazards and operation, control risks where appropriate and report safety concerns to supervisor 1.4 Carry out or organise repairs and maintenance of facilities and equipment required for loading or unloading livestock where necessary 1.5 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure correct fit |
2. Load animals | 2.1 Identify, muster, yard or secure animals using safe working methods in line with enterprise animal welfare policies 2.2 Inspect animals for signs of ill health, injury or abnormal behaviours and separate animals unsuitable for transport 2.3 Prepare animals for transport 2.4 Record identification details of animals and fit individual animal tags as required 2.5 Count, record and load livestock safely and with minimal stress to ensure no injury to co-workers or animals in line with enterprise animal welfare policies 2.6 Complete vendor declarations and any other required documentation |
3. Unload animals | 3.1 Unload livestock in a safe manner to ensure no injury to other workers or animals 3.2 Record numbers and individual identification details of livestock 3.3 Inspect livestock for signs of ill health, injury or abnormal behaviours and report to appropriate persons 3.4 Check documentation and reach agreement on condition of animals with the receiving or dispatching party where required |
4. Perform appropriate animal health procedure | 4.1 Sort stock, and separate distressed, injured or ill livestock if required 4.2 Undertake animal health treatments off truck if required 4.3 Feed and water animals as instructed 4.4 Apply enterprise biosecurity policies where required |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
check loading facilities for correct operation and hazards to animals and workers
sort livestock as required and separate unsuitable animals for transport
load and unload livestock
anticipate animal behaviour
provide and maintain appropriate animal feed and water
complete relevant documentation and affix individual tags if required
monitor animal health and welfare
read and interpret mustering, work and loading plans and maps
calculate animal numbers to assess and calculate feed and water requirements
follow relevant work health and safety requirements
follow relevant biosecurity policies as required
follow relevant animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
animal handling and movement methods and techniques
basic animal health and nutritional requirements
animal herding and flocking behaviour
techniques and uses of working dogs where appropriate
types of animal health treatments that may be required
common diseases and injuries in livestock
common abnormal livestock behaviours
causes of livestock being unfit for transport
legislative documentation requirements for livestock transport
relevant work health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare requirements
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or workplace and simulated environments that accurately reflect performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Livestock (LSK)