Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge necessary to split skulls prior to the recovery of brains.
This unit is applicable to workers operating a mechanical head splitting machine in a meat processing plant. Head splitting is undertaken to facilitate the recovery of brains.
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. Split heads | 1.1 Perform pre-operational checks according to workplace requirements 1.2 Operate head splitter according to work instruction and relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 1.3 Operate head splitter according to workplace health and safety requirements 1.4 Monitor head splitting and report problems to supervisor 1.5 Store split head according to workplace requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must split skulls prior to the recovery of brains.
The candidate must:
perform pre-operational checks
operate head splitter hygienically and safely
identify potential workplace health and safety hazards
store split heads hygienically according to workplace requirements
report equipment faults to supervisor either verbally or in writing in accordance with workplace requirements
apply relevant regulatory requirements
use communication skills relevant to work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
standard of head splitting required to meet Quality Assurance (QA) requirements
relevant work instructions and SOPs
relevant regulatory requirements
potential sources of contamination and measures to minimise contamination
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in an operating meat processing plant.
Competency must be demonstrated at normal production speed.
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.