Meat Processing Worker

Meat processing workers perform a wide range of tasks including handling livestock, slaughtering and processing livestock, operating processing and rendering equipment, despatching products and keeping records.

Meat processing workers may perform the following tasks:

move and manage animals before they are killed
stun animals using an electrical device or cartridge gun
kill animals while they are unconscious
remove hides/pelts and internal organs
use saws to split the carcasses
trim carcasses
move carcasses to chillers and freezers
break carcasses by boning and slicing meat cuts for sale and further processing
pack the boned and sliced meat into cartons
process hides and pelts
process by-products
load meat products into trucks.

Specialisations:

Boner and Slicer

A boner and slicer breaks down carcasses by removing bones and slicing meat ready for sale or further processing.

Renderer

A renderer operates processing plants to produce meat meal, fertilisers and tallow.

Slaughterer

A slaughterer kills the animals and removes the internal organs and hides.

Some abattoirs have meat-packaging operations for export.

Meat processing workers stand for most of the day. Hands and clothes may become soiled with blood or fat, but health regulations make sure that meat processing workers work under hygienic conditions. The areas in which they work are usually large, well lit and ventilated and kept very clean. Employers usually provide a laundry service for uniforms.

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