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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Operate a portion cutting machine in a poultry abattoir 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119432  Operate a portion cutting machine in a poultry abattoir 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Secondary Agriculture: Processing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to operate a portion cutting machine to portion fresh poultry carcasses. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Health and Safety Level 1. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
N/A 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Comply with hygiene and safety regulations and procedures. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Personal and abattoir hygiene procedures are adhered to. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Personal hygiene, abattoir hygiene, PPE, Health and Safety.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
All the appropriate PPE in the workplace is used. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Safe working methods and procedures are applied. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The source of a carcass is described. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Supply line, air chiller, distribution conveyor.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The safe operation of the portion-cutting machine is demonstrated. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Portion cutting machine, stainless steel gloves.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The consequences of cutting too slowly are described. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Bottle neck and build ups.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The consequences of cutting too quickly are explained. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Uncut carcasses.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The changing of a blunt blade according to the Standard Operating Procedure is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
The consequences of using a blunt blade are described. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
The consequences of using a blunt blade are described.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Demonstrate an understanding of the placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The correct placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor is described. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Take away conveyor, portions as per company SOP's, constant supply.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The consequences of overloading a section of the conveyor are explained. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Loading procedure, portions falling off, create bottleneck.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Demonstrate the removal of backbones from cutter platform. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The safe operation of feeding backbones into the take away chute is demonstrated. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Cutter platform, backbones, take away chute.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Demonstrate the carcass trimming as per company procedures. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The safe operation of trimming fat and skin from the carcass is demonstrated. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Cutting machine, carcass, fat and skin, take away chute.
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The safe feeding of trimmed fat and skin into take away chute is demonstrated. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

    The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established principles. Practical assessment activities will be used, which are appropriate to the contents in which qualifying learners are working. These activities will include an appropriate combination of self and peer assessment, practical and oral assessments, observations etc.

    The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge be assessed. The specific outcomes must be assessed in its own right, through oral and practical evidence. It cannot be assessed by observation only.

    The specific outcomes and essential knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a qualifying learner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge, but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, then they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a learner is able to perform specific outcomes, but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, they should not be assessed as
    competent.

    Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found, both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

    Performance of specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of qualifying learners, not unfairly discriminate against them. Qualifying learners should be able to justify their performance in terms of these values. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Embedded knowledge is reflected in the Assessment Criteria for each Specific Outcome. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
  • Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively.
  • Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities.
  • Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.
  • Exploring education and career opportunities, and
  • Developing entrepreneurial opportunities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been mad.
    Specific Outcome: 2, 3
  • Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization or community.
    Specific Outcome: 1
  • Comply with hygiene and safety regulations and procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
    Specific Outcome: 1, 2
  • Comply with hygiene and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyze, organise and critically evaluate information.
    Specific Outcome: 2, 3
  • Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation.
    Specific Outcome: Embedded 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
    Specific Outcome: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Comply with hygiene and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor.
  • Demonstrate the removal of backbones from cutter platform. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
    Specific Outcome: All
  • Comply with hygiene and safety regulations and procedures.
  • Operate the manual portion-cutting machine in order to cut carcasses according to company specifications and standards.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the placement of cut portions onto the take away conveyor.
  • Demonstrate the removal of backbones from cutter platform.
  • Demonstrate the carcass trimming as per company procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  49583   General Education and Training Certificate: Poultry Processing  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  49581   National Certificate: Poultry Processing  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  49579   National Certificate: Poultry Processing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.