Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to maintain and operate a mechanical cutter or scissors.
This unit is applicable to operations in abattoirs, wild game processing establishments and knackeries.
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. Perform cutting operations | 1.1 Operate cutters in accordance with workplace requirements 1.2 Operate cutters in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements 1.3 Identify potential sources of contamination and cross-contamination |
2. Remove hocks, horns or legs or trim necks | 2.1 Remove off-cuts in accordance with workplace requirements 2.2 Dispose of off-cuts according to workplace requirements |
3. Clean and maintain pneumatic cutters | 3.1 Clean and maintain cutters to workplace requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must maintain and operate a mechanical cutter or scissors.
The candidate must:
operate cutter in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements
operate pneumatic cutter to workplace requirements for one work station
demonstrate procedures for disposal of off-cuts
demonstrate maintenance and sterilisation of cutter
apply relevant regulatory requirements
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
basic operating principles of pneumatic cutter
workplace health and safety requirements
issues associated with use of the cutter
relevant regulatory requirements
potential sources of contamination and cross-contamination
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in the workplace under normal conditions.
Competency must be demonstrated at a work station using a cutter at normal chain speed. The pneumatic cutter must be operated for at least one workstation (e.g. cutting hocks, horns or trimming necks) at the speed of the chain.
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.