Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to remove the spinal cord from carcases after splitting.
This unit is applicable to workers on the slaughter floor responsible for removing spinal cords and dura mater to meet specifications trim.
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 spinal cord | 1.1 Remove spinal cord and dura mater from split carcase in accordance with the work instructions, and, where relevant, in compliance with the Specified Risk Materials (SRM) requirements of customers 1.2 Monitor removal to meet Quality Assurance (QA) specifications 1.3 Operate rise and fall platform according to workplace requirements (where part of trimmer's duties) |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must remove the spinal cord from carcases after splitting.
The candidate must:
identify spinal cord and dura mater to be removed
remove spinal cord cleanly and safely according to workplace requirements
apply relevant regulatory requirements
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
QA specifications for spinal cord removal
reasons for the removal of the spinal cord
where relevant, SRM and Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
relevant work instructions and workplace health and safety requirements
relevant regulatory requirements
customer specifications
Assessment Conditions
Assessment has to be demonstrated in a meat processing plant.
Competency must be demonstrated at the normal chain 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.