Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to sweat skins in a fellmongering process.

Application of the unit 

This unit is applicable to workers filling, operating and emptying sweat rooms in a fellmongering operation.

Prerequisite units 

Nil

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Sweat skins

1.1. Skins are folded and hung in sweat room according to workplace  and Occupational Health and Safety (OH &S ) requirements .

1.2. Temperature and humidity settings are established for sweat room according to workplace requirements.

1.3. Cleanliness of hanging rooms is maintained to workplace requirements.

1.4. Quality checks are made on skins prior to removal from sweating room.

1.5. Skins are transferred from sweat rooms to wool pulling machines.

1.6. Mob separation of skins is maintained.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Ability to:

• check quality of the skins
• operate the sweating room in accordance with workplace and OH&S requirements
• apply relevant regulatory requirements  and safety procedures 
• work efficiently in teams and individually
• take action to improve own work performance as a result of self-evaluation, feedback from others, or in response to changed work practices or technology
• use relevant communication skills 

Required knowledge 

Knowledge of:

• OH&S requirements related to sweating skins
• purpose of sweating skins
• quality specifications  required of sweated skins prior to pulling
• steps in sweating skins
• relevant regulatory requirements and safety procedures

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.

These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.

Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.

All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Competency must be demonstrated at normal throughput rates of production.

Context of , and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must be conducted in an operating fellmongering plant.

Method of assessment 

Recommended methods of assessment include:

• quiz of underpinning knowledge
• workplace demonstration
• workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time.

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.

Guidance information for assessment 

A current list of resources for this Unit of Competency is available from MINTRAC www .mintrac .com .au  or telephone 1800 817 462.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Workplace  requirements may include:

• enterprise-specific requirements
• OH&S requirements
• Quality Assurance (QA) requirements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• the ability to perform the task to production requirements
• work instructions.

OH &S requirements  may include:

• enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs
• OH&S legal requirements
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:

• coats and aprons
• ear plugs or muffs
• eye and facial protection
• head-wear
• lifting assistance
• mesh aprons
• protective boot covers
• protective hand and arm covering
• protective head and hair covering
• uniforms
• waterproof clothing
• work, safety or waterproof footwear

• requirements set out in standards and codes of practice.

Regulatory requirements  may include:

• hygiene and sanitation requirements
• relevant state regulations.

Safety procedures  may include:

• accident prevention
• electrical fault procedures
• emergency evacuation procedures
• emergency procedures in case of injury
• equipment malfunction procedures
• hand and arm protection
• processes for different types of skins.

Communication skills  may include:

• applying numeracy skills to workplace requirements
• listening and understanding
• reading and interpreting workplace-related documentation
• sharing information
• speaking clearly and directly
• working with diverse individuals and groups.

Specifications  may include:

• workplace
• customer
• grading
• treatment
• mathematical information

Unit sector 

Co-requisite units 

Competency field