Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect, store and handle fertile eggs from breeder flocks.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for own work. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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. Prepare to handle eggs | 1.1 Follow biosecurity procedures 1.2 Follow personal hygiene requirements including washing and sanitising hands 1.3 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement suitable controls 1.4 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment and clothing 1.5 Check work area is clean 1.6 Check equipment is clean and working correctly |
2. Collect and sort eggs | 2.1 Ensure that nests and egg belts are free of sick or injured birds, carcasses and other obstructions in line with enterprise animal welfare procedures 2.2 Collect eggs from nesting system 2.3 Collect floor eggs and keep separate 2.4 Ensure that procedures are implemented to minimise floor eggs 2.5 Control flow of eggs to match handling rate 2.6 Remove very dirty, cracked, leakers or weak shelled eggs 2.7 Wash eggs as required using approved sanitisers and temperatures 2.8 Operate egg handling equipment appropriately 2.9 Sort eggs into settable and non-settable and categories within each |
3. Pack and store eggs | 3.1 Place eggs on appropriate trays with pointed end down 3.2 Assemble and stack trays in categories and label clearly and accurately 3.3 Transfer eggs to storage in order of age, category or dispatch order 3.4 Operate egg storage facilities/ cool rooms according to enterprise procedures 3.5 Fumigate eggs if required |
4. Complete hygiene and administration activities | 4.1 Clean and disinfect or sanitise egg belts/conveyors, equipment and work area 4.2 Clean, sanitise and check cool room and equipment 4.3 Safely handle and measure chemicals used in the cleaning process 4.4 Take and prepare samples for testing as required 4.5 Dispose of non settable eggs and waste in line with enterprise environmental polices 4.6 Monitor pest and vermin presence and implement control measures in line with enterprise procedures 4.7 Record and report all required information and issues 4.8 Follow industry standards and enterprise procedures for excess eggs which are destined for human consumption |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
follow personal hygiene requirements
check nest boxes and egg belts are free of obstructions
match egg collection equipment flow rate to handling rate
collect nest and floor eggs and keep separate
ensure that practices to minimise floor eggs are implemented
assess and sort eggs into settable and non settable and categories within each
place eggs on trays pointed end down
pack, label and store eggs correctly
complete hygiene and administration activities
operate egg washing equipment at correct temperature and sanitiser/detergent levels
clean and sanitise equipment, egg washing equipment, cool rooms and work areas
monitor pest and vermin presence and implement control measures
identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement suitable controls
follow biosecurity requirements
follow enterprise animal welfare procedures
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
industry standards, codes of practice, and enterprise procedures for collecting, handling, sorting, packing and storing settable eggs
commonly used methods of pest and vermin control
types, uses, cleaning and maintenance of machinery and equipment
relevant documentation, records and reports that are required
criteria for sorting and determining eggs that are unfit for setting and disposal methods
procedures for egg handling, collection, washing, sorting, packing, labelling, storage and fumigation
temperature, humidity, cleaning and operation for cool rooms and egg washing machines
procedures for handling, measurement and usage of cleaning chemicals, disinfectants and sanitisers
procedures for taking and handling samples for testing
enterprise environmental and sustainability requirements, and procedures for disposal and management of wastes, debris and run-offs
enterprise work health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare policies and procedures
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Poultry (PLY)