Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to set up, operate, adjust and shut down a process to stun, kill and defeather birds.
This unit applies to individuals who apply basic operating principles to the operation and monitoring of stunning, killing and defeathering equipment and processes in a poultry production environment.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, in accordance with State/Territory food safety, work health and safety, and environmental codes, regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare the stun, kill and defeather equipment and process for operation | 1.1 Confirm birds are available to meet operational requirements 1.2 Identify and confirm cleaning and maintenance requirements 1.3 Identify and fit personal protective clothing and equipment as required by workplace safety procedures 1.4 Fit and adjust machine components and related attachments 1.5 Enter processing or operating parameters required for the process 1.6 Check and adjust equipment performance to meet process requirements 1.7 Conduct pre-start checks according to workplace requirements |
2. Monitor each stage of the stun, kill and defeather process | 2.1 Start up and operate the stun, kill and defeathering process according to workplace procedures 2.2 Monitor equipment to identify variation in operating conditions and adjust or report variations according to production requirements 2.3 Monitor each stage of the process to confirm specifications are met 2.4 Confirm that birds are stunned, killed and bled to specification 2.5 Remove feathers and heads to specification 2.6 Identify, rectify or report out-of-specification product or process outcomes 2.7 Maintain the work area according to workplace cleaning and sanitation procedures 2.8 Maintain workplace records in required format |
3. Shut down the stun, kill and defeather process | 3.1 Identify and implement the appropriate shutdown procedure 3.2 Identify and report maintenance requirements |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interpret standard operating procedures for the stunning, killing and defeathering process |
Writing | Complete records according to workplace guidelines |
Numeracy | Monitor and adjust the stun, kill and defeather process control points including bleeding time, scald water temperature, immersion time and line speed Monitor supply and flow of materials to and from the stun, kill and defeather process to the evisceration process |
Navigate the world of work | Apply workplace procedures relevant to own role Understand main tasks, responsibilities and boundaries of own role, including use of personal protective clothing and equipment, housekeeping standards and environmental care requirements |
Interact with others | Report operational and safety information to relevant personnel using required communication method |
Get the work done | Solve routine problems according to workplace guidelines and using experience of past solutions |
Sectors
Poultry Processing (P)