Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to perform post mortem inspection duties on wild game, such as kangaroos, wallabies, wild boar and possums, in a processing establishment operating 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 base anatomical structure systems of wild game | 1.1 Identify organs of wild game 1.2 Identify and explain lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, urinary, nervous and respiratory systems 1.3 Identify basic skeletal structure of wild game |
2. Inspect carcases prior to processing | 2.1 Identify reasons for pre-processing inspection and the grounds for carcases being unfit for processing 2.2 Procedures for identifying and condemning carcases unfit for processing are followed |
3. Identify the main reasons for post-mortem inspection | 3.1 Identify reasons for post-mortem inspection 3.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with post-mortem inspection |
4. Perform post-mortem inspection of wild game | 4.1 Follow procedures for post-mortem inspection 4.2 Identify and detect abnormalities 4.3 Perform post-mortem inspection wild game in accordance with regulatory requirements, hygiene and sanitation requirements and workplace health and safety requirements, in a work environment and under normal production conditions 4.4 Identify Quality Assurance (QA) issues of post-mortem inspection |
5. Make disposition | 5.1 Detect and identify common diseases and conditions responsible for abnormalities in wild game 5.2 Identify and explain symptoms of major emergency diseases 5.3 Make disposition in accordance with the Australian Standard or any relevant importing country requirement |
6. Treat affected carcase appropriately | 6.1 Treat carcase in accordance with regulatory, hygiene and sanitation, and workplace health and safety requirements 6.2 Demonstrate anatomical knowledge of carcase in the disposition process |
7. Describe the procedures followed for retained carcase on the slaughter floor | 7.1 Identify and describe procedures for retained carcase in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements |
8. Identify and use Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform post-mortem inspection | 8.1 Identify and explain the purpose of the PPE equipment required for post-mortem inspection 8.2 Use equipment in accordance with QA and workplace requirements 8.3 Use, maintain and store Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements |
9. Take pathological and residue samples to assist in determining disposition | 9.1 Identify lesions and tissues necessary for determining dispositions 9.2 Collect and submit specimens according to workplace procedures 9.3 Retain carcases awaiting results according to workplace procedures 9.4 Interpret results |
Evidence of Performance
Candidates must perform post-mortem inspection of wild game carcases 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 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 the symptoms of emergency and notifiable diseases found at post mortem
make correct dispositions for the common, emergency and notifiable diseases and conditions in accordance with the Australian Standard
treat carcases and offal in accordance with the Australian Standard and/or importing country requirements
monitor restraint, stunning and bleeding in order to detect, assess and report animal welfare issues
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 wild game
the Australian Standard procedures for the post mortem inspection of wild game
additional inspection procedures relevant to the plant where assessment of the trainee is taking place
humane and efficient slaughtering techniques including restraint, stunning and bleeding
procedures for retaining carcases
carcase sampling and testing
workplace health and safety hazards and work place requirements
role of equipment for meeting hygiene and sanitation and workplace requirements
correct technique for incision of parts and organs
procedures for disposal of condemned carcase
procedures for identifying, collecting and submitting specimens
symptoms of common diseases and 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 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 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 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.