Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection duties on camels in a slaughtering establishment processing in accordance with the Australian Standard.
This unit is applicable to those who will seek employment and registration as a meat inspector in either the domestic or export processing sectors.
All work should be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, customer requirements and product specifications.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable problems.
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. Identify the main reasons for ante-mortem inspection | 1.1 Explain reasons for ante-mortem inspection 1.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with ante-mortem inspection |
2. Perform ante-mortem inspection on camels | 2.1 Identify and explain procedures and principles of humane handling of camels 2.2 Detect and identify signs of common conditions responsible for abnormalities at ante-mortem 2.3 Identify procedures for humane destruction 2.4 Identify procedures for emergency and suspect slaughter 2.5 Perform ante-mortem inspection on camels according to relevant workplace health and safety and regulatory requirements 2.6 Identify Quality Assurance aspects of ante-mortem inspection |
3. Make disposition as a result of inspection and take appropriate action | 3.1 Identify and document common diseases and conditions responsible for abnormalities in camels 3.2 Segregate suspect stock according to regulatory and workplace requirements 3.3 Identify signs of emergency or notifiable diseases that could be seen at ante-mortem 3.4 Describe emergency or notifiable disease procedures as set out in the relevant regulations |
4. Identify base anatomical structure systems of camels | 4.1 Identify organs of camels 4.2 Identify and explain lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, urinary, nervous and respiratory systems 4.3 Identify basic skeletal structure of camels |
5. Identify the main reasons for ante-mortem inspection | 5.1 Identify the main reasons for ante-mortem inspection 5.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with ante-mortem inspection |
6. Perform ante-mortem inspection on camels and make disposition | 6.1 Identify procedures and principles of humane handling of animals 6.2 Detect and identify signs of common conditions responsible for abnormalities at ante-mortem 6.3 Describe the symptoms of the major emergency diseases 6.4 Identify reporting procedures for emergency diseases 6.5 Segregate suspect camels according to regulatory and workplace requirements 6.6 Ante-mortem inspection is performed according to relevant workplace health and safety, workplace and regulatory requirements 6.7 Identify Quality Assurance aspects of ante-mortem inspection |
7. Identify and isolate animals requiring testing | 7.1 Identify reasons for testing 7.2 Procedures for identifying and isolating animals for testing are followed |
8. Identify the main reasons for post-mortem inspection | 8.1 Identify reasons for post-mortem inspection 8.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with post-mortem inspection |
9. Perform post-mortem inspection of camels | 9.1 Follow procedures for post-mortem inspection 9.2 Identify and detect abnormalities 9.3 Perform post-mortem inspection camels in accordance with regulatory requirements, hygiene and sanitation requirements and workplace health and safety requirements, in a work environment and under normal production conditions 9.4 Identify Quality Assurance (QA) issues of post-mortem inspection |
10. Make disposition | 10.1 Detect and identify common diseases and conditions responsible for abnormalities in camels 10.2 Identify and explain symptoms of major emergency diseases 10.3 Make disposition in accordance with the Australian Standard or any relevant importing country requirement |
11. Treat affected carcase appropriately | 11.1 Treat carcase in accordance with regulatory, hygiene and sanitation, and workplace health and safety requirements 11.2 Demonstrate anatomical knowledge of carcase in the disposition process |
12. Monitor stunning and slaughter of animals | 12.1 Identify requirements for effective stunning and slaughter 12.2 Ensure animals are stunned and bled according to workplace and regulatory requirements 12.3 Take corrective action in the event of ineffective stunning or bleeding |
13. Describe the procedures followed for retained carcase on the slaughter floor | 13.1 Identify and describe procedures for retained carcase in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements |
14. Identify and use Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform post-mortem inspection | 14.1 Identify and explain the purpose of the PPE equipment required for post-mortem inspection 14.2 Use equipment in accordance with QA and workplace requirements 14.3 Use, maintain and store Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements |
15. Take pathological and residue samples to assist in determining disposition | 15.1 Identify lesions and tissues necessary for determining dispositions 15.2 Collect and submit specimens according to workplace procedures 15.3 Retain carcases awaiting results according to workplace procedures 15.4 Interpret results |
Evidence of Performance
Candidates must perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of camels to Australian Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements in a workplace environment under normal operating conditions.
The candidate must:
identify the organs, skeletal structure and elements of the lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, urinary, nervous and respiratory systems relevant to meat inspection duties
perform ante-mortem inspection to Australian Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements
identify common diseases and conditions in camels seen at ante mortem inspection
describe appropriate dispositions for common diseases and conditions in camels
identify major emergency or notifiable diseases
demonstrate procedures for humane handling of livestock
identify suspect animals that may be suffering from a notifiable disease on ante-mortem examination according to Australian Standards
make disposition according to workplace and regulatory requirements
report notifiable diseases promptly and accurately according to regulatory requirements
perform post-mortem inspection in accordance with the Australian Standard and, where relevant, other importing country requirements
identify common diseases and conditions found at post-mortem
describe appropriate dispositions for common diseases and conditions in camels
treat carcases and offal in accordance with the Australian Standard and/or importing country requirements
monitor stunning in order to detect, assess and report animal welfare issues
follow safe work practices as laid down in work place requirements
take and dispatch samples for mandated testing
treat carcases being held for test results in accordance with regulatory or importing country requirements
perform inspection duties in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a factual, technical, procedural and theoretical knowledge of:
the physiology and anatomy of camels
the Australian Standard procedures for the post and ante mortem inspection of camels
additional inspection procedures relevant to the plant where assessment of the trainee is taking place
the potential impact of emergency diseases
common diseases and their symptoms as seen at ante and post mortem inspection
humane and efficient slaughtering techniques
procedures for retaining carcases
carcase sampling and testing
workplace health and safety hazards and work place requirements
principles and procedures for humane handling of camels
regulatory requirements for suspect camels, hygiene and sanitation standards, and workplace standards associated with ante-mortem inspection
segregation requirements for suspect animals
steps and procedures for humane destruction, emergency and suspect kills
steps in ante-mortem inspection and recognise abnormal conditions
symptoms of major emergency or notifiable diseases
regulatory requirements associated with emergency or notifiable diseases
the relevant registration processes and procedures for meat inspectors at their specific plant
Assessment Conditions
Assessment of ante and post mortem inspection must be conducted in a slaughtering establishment and assessment of post mortem inspection must be at chain speed.
As a minimum, assessment must consist of the following three forms of assessment:
a workplace referee report which documents at least 10 practice ante-mortem inspections and 100 hours of post-mortem inspection practice on the chain under the supervision of a qualified meat inspector or on plant veterinary officer (note that this may be reduced to 50 hours if this is the second post-mortem inspection unit selected). The candidate must diarise the practice including the number of livestock / carcases inspected and conditions detected and this has to be verified by a workplace supervisor or mentor
knowledge test which must include an assessment of the candidates knowledge of common diseases and conditions as well as emergency and notifiable diseases
on-the-job assessment with assessor observation
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.