Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to remove the head manually and with the aid of mechanical cutters. This unit may also be used to cover the competencies required to monitor and perform routine maintenance on automated head removing machinery.
This unit is applicable to workers in a slaughter floor, knackery or wild game processing establishments where heads are removed mechanically or manually.
All work should be carried out to comply with workplace and hygiene requirements.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision, exercise limited autonomy and have some accountability for their own work.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
This unit must be delivered and assessed in the context of Australian meat processing standards and regulations.
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. Remove the head | 1.1. Sever head at the base of the jaw (i.e. the atlanto-occipital joint) 1.2 Remove head in accordance with work instructions including, where relevant, compliance with Specified Risk Material (SRM) requirements 1.3 Remove head according to workplace health and safety requirements 1.4 Forward head for further processing, or disposed of, according to workplace requirements 1.5 Prepare, operate and maintain machinery for removal of head in accordance with work instructions |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must remove the head either manually and with the aid of mechanical cutters.
The candidate must:
use correct cutting lines for removing head
remove head in accordance with work instructions
use safe and hygienic practices to remove head
apply communication skills relevant to work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
apply relevant regulatory requirements
comply with workplace health and safety requirements related to removing head
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
basic anatomy of muscles, bones and joints of head for relevant species
cutting lines for removing head
how and when problems with equipment are reported
the work instruction for removing heads
relevant regulatory requirements
potential contamination and cross-contamination associated with removing head
issues associated with SRM material
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be demonstrated at normal chain speed.
Assessment of skills must take place during production time.
As a minimum, the following three forms of assessment must be used:
quiz of underpinning knowledge
workplace demonstration
workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time
Assessors must satisfy the current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.