Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to move and handle pigs.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to workers in pork production enterprises operating under routine supervision within organisational guidelines.
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. Control and move pigs | 1.1 Conduct moving, manual handling, lifting and restraining of pigs in a safe and appropriate manner in compliance with relevant work health and safety requirements 1.2 Move and handle pigs either singly or in groups safely and humanely, using appropriate positive behavioural methods 1.3 Monitor pigs constantly for signs of distress and take appropriate action 1.4 Record as required |
2. Restrain pigs | 2.1 Restrain pigs safely and humanely in line with enterprise animal welfare policies |
3. Weigh or condition score pigs | 3.1 Weigh individual pigs and groups of pigs as required, in line with enterprise biosecurity policies 3.2 Read ear tag, ear notch or pen number to identify pigs |
4. Return pigs to housing | 4.1 Return pigs to their housing or secure pigs at their final destinations as appropriate |
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:
control and move pigs
restrain pigs
weigh and condition score pigs
return pigs to housing
follow work health and safety policies
follow biosecurity policies
follow animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
techniques and methods for humane handling and restraint of pigs
relevant regulatory requirements, industry standards and codes of practice for ensuring animal welfare of pigs
signs of health, signs of ill health, signs of distress and methods for assessing pig health, welfare and behaviour
requirements, methods and procedures for weighing pigs
types and methods of identifying pigs
relevant work health and safety and biosecurity requirements
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace OR workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects 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
Pork (PRK)