Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to operate a meat mill plant including loading, drying and monitoring the quality of the finished meal.

Application of the unit 

This unit is applicable to rendering plant workers who operate a meat mill plant.

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. Operate meat meal mill

1.1. Meat meal fed into mill feeder bin is monitored.

1.2. Mill operation is monitored in accordance with workplace requirements .

1.3. Mill operation is monitored in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety (OH &S ) requirements .

1.4. Housekeeping is maintained for meat meal mill area.

1.5. Quality of meat meal is monitored and problems reported in accordance with workplace requirements.

1.6. Meat meal is produced to workplace requirements and customer specifications.

1.7. Meat meal samples are taken for testing in accordance with workplace requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

Ability to:

• operate meat meal mill to OH&S requirements
• monitor the operation of the meat meal mill to workplace requirements
• monitor the quality of meat meal
• produce meat meal to workplace requirements and customer specifications
• report equipment faults in accordance with workplace requirements
• carry out routine maintenance on meat meal mill as specified in workplace requirements
• work efficiently in teams and individually
• apply relevant regulatory requirements 
• 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:

• defects in meat meal
• meat meal processing
• OH&S hazards of operation of the meat meal mill
• relevant regulatory requirements
• workplace requirements and customer specifications for meat meal

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 has to be demonstrated by operating a meat meal mill at normal production rates.

Context of , and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must be conducted in an operating rendering 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:

• Export Control Act
• federal, state and territory regulations regarding meat processing
• hygiene and sanitation requirements
• relevant Australian Standards
• relevant regulations
• requirements set out in AS 5008:2001 Australian Standard for the Hygienic Rendering of Animal Products
• requirements set out in AS 4696:2007 Australian Standard for Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption.

Communication skills  may include:

• listening and understanding
• sharing information
• speaking clearly and directly
• working with diverse individuals and groups.

Unit sector 

Co-requisite units 

Competency field