Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The efficient operation of a meat plant depends greatly
on the well-being of its personnel. Although a fully
trained
industrial nurse and
a well-appointed
first-aid
room
are considered beneficial, especially for the larger
premises, not only to deal with cuts and other problems
associated with slaughtering operations but also to assist
materially in raising hygiene standards and preventing
the onset of zoonoses, they have mostly been replaced by
a trained first-aider.
A
laundry
and conveniently sited
car park
are neces-
sary departments of the modern meat plant and a com-
prehensive
system of internal communication
and
adequate
security arrangements
.
Vehicle washing
An often neglected facility is that for the cleaning of meat
transport and animal transport vehicles.
The former should be provided in the clean side of the
establishment and have adequate high-pressure hoses
with hot water and detergent along with good drainage
for vehicles and wash area. For livestock vehicles lorries,
it is sufficient to provide a supply of cold water under
pressure along with appropriate disinfectant. As for the
meat vehicle wash area, suitable floor gradients are nec-
essary in the plant dirty section. It is not unreasonable, in
view of the great importance of having clean vehicles, to
insist on the cleaning of all meat vehicles before loading
and all stock lorries after unloading.
Veterinary office
An adequately equipped lockable facility, preferably a
room, for the exclusive use of the veterinary service is
essential. The rooms should be provided with hand-
washing and shower facilities and lockers for clothing
(work and personal) and meat inspection equipment. A
convenient means of cleaning footwear before entry into
changing rooms is an advantage.
General amenities for personnel
The ideal layout for amenities is one which forces opera-
tives to follow hygienic practice by design. The entrance
lobby should open into a room containing lockers for
street clothes which opens into the slush room, or
hygiene lobby, containing boot wash, hand wash, apron
wash and hanging area before entering into the process-
ing room. Toilets and canteen should be placed on the
entrance lobby side of the changing rooms forcing the
operate to disrobe completely into street clothes before
visiting either.
A sufficient number of flush lavatories, showers and
wash-hand basins must be provided. One lavatory for
every 15 employees is recommended. It is recognised
that showers are rarely used by operatives under normal
circumstances so their number should only be sufficient
to fulfil the requirements of the competent authority.
Non-contact taps for hand-washing facilities, foot, knee,
elbow or photo-electric cell operation must be used.
Hand towels are the preferred method for drying hands.
Separate units must be provided if both sexes are
employed.
Lockers should be of metal construction with sloping
tops and placed 40 cm above the floor in order to facili-
tate cleaning. A plastic, stainless steel or wooden bench
along the front of the lockers at this level completes the
furniture. Separate lockers should be provided for each
employee's personal and work clothing, if alternative
means of storing work clothing and equipment is not
provided. Soiled working clothing should not be stored
in lockers but be directed to the laundry.
Urinals should be installed in toilet rooms for male
personnel.
It is well worthwhile giving close consideration to the
layout and design of changing facilities for staff.
Ventilation in these areas is of great importance, as is a
code of practice for their use.
Treatment of effluent
The processing of carcases and the resultant by-products
give rise to large amounts of highly polluting wastewa-
ters, semi-solids and solids, which must be separated and
treated before being discharged into the environment.
The objective of effluent treatment is to produce a
product that can be safely discharged into a waterway or
sewer in compliance with the recommended limits for
discharge.
Effluents
can be divided into four categories:
1
Non-toxic and not directly pollutant but liable to
disturb the physical nature of the receiving water
2
Non-toxic and pollutant load to organic matter
content of high oxygen demand
3
Toxic - containing highly poisonous materials
4
Toxic and pollutant due to organic matter of high
oxygen demand and toxic in addition
The most effective way to reduce cost of wastewater
treatment through capital expenditures or operating
expenses is through reduction at source of the volume of
waste to be treated. Volume reduction can be achieved
through minimisation of water usage and spillages and
also through good housekeeping within the processing
facility. The first priorities at the effluent treatment plant
are to separate effluent from storm water, to lessen the
quantity of material requiring treatment, to physically
separate gross solids from liquid effluent and to reduce
the amount of biological treatment required.
