Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

Which vitals signs should be checked?
Vital signs include pulse, respiration and pupillary light reflex.

What might be considered abnormal characteristics?
Abnormal characteristics might be anything that cannot be diagnosed or explained from previous experience. Where abnormal characteristics appear to be present, they should be referred immediately to a veterinary laboratory.

What factors need to be considered in selecting a site suitable for the post-mortem examination?
Post-mortems are likely to be carried out within a laboratory setting.
The post-mortem site must be able to be cleaned both before and after the examination. It must be located away from other animals, and blood and fluids must not be able to contaminate surrounding areas or facilities.

What information should be collected before conducting the post-mortem examination?
Information to be collected may include:
date of death or the date animal was found dead
identification number and age of animal
location of animal (e.g. pen, shed or paddock number)
weight
body condition
previous health problems
period of ill health if any (e.g. when first noted as being sick or off feed)
health of other animals in the same institution
specific information relating to the experimental program
other details required by the animal ethics committee and institutional policies and procedures.

Which animals may be included?
Animals may include birds, fish, reptiles, cats, dogs, primates, native animals, farm animals (such as pigs, sheep, horses, cattle and goats), rabbits, rats, mice and guinea pigs.

What OHS hazards may be involved?
Animal care within animal technology has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of anaesthetic agents, chemicals and appropriate monitoring and scavenging systems requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
The use of equipment, including its use in difficult areas, requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads including animals and equipment. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Some animal technology facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease to humans and other animals may include incident reporting, cleaning, the removal of waste and spillage, the containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective clothing and equipment and seeking advice from supervisors.

What clothing, equipment and resources might be required to carry out a post-mortem examination?
An autopsy kit should contain a knife, a steel or sharpening stone, scissors and forceps or tweezers, swabs, plastic bags or containers to collect specimens, plastic or rubber disposable gloves, bucket, scrubbing brush and disinfectant.
Other equipment may include pen and notebook and a wheelbarrow or trolley for disposal of the carcass.

What expert assistance may be needed?
A veterinarian may be needed where unusual symptoms are detected. Assistance may also be needed where a large animal is to be lifted or moved.

What may unusual symptoms indicate?
Unusual symptoms may indicate the presence of notifiable and potentially hazardous conditions or diseases such as anthrax or other zoonoses. They may include large or small organs, excessive fluid and swellings.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

handle, move and dispose of animal carcasses
collect and obtain information about animals to be examined
carry out external and internal assessments of animals and take samples and tissues as required
identify abnormal characteristics
clean and disinfect equipment, materials and area upon completion of post-mortem examination
prepare a brief for the veterinarian and / or supervisor to enable an accurate analysis and / or diagnosis of the cause of death and / or to provide data required for the research program.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

typical causes of death for the species being examined
a sound working knowledge of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and related State / Territory legislation
a sound working knowledge of State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation
a sound working knowledge of the process of obtaining approval from an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
a sound working knowledge of animal biology, anatomy and physiology of the range of species in the institution's research program including the position, features and appearance of major organs in healthy animals of the species being examined
sequence of actions in conducting a post-mortem examination
potentially hazardous conditions or zoonotic diseases such as anthrax
requirements for the correct preparation, labelling and packaging of biological and potentially hazardous samples
institutional protocols, policies and procedures, including OHS
objectives of the research program.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

ability to interpret and apply the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and related State / Territory legislation
ability to interpret and apply relevant State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation
ability to interpret and apply protocols set by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
identify and confirm the death of research animals
cut open animals for post-mortem examination in an accurate manner
sharpen knives
prepare slides
handle dead animals without risk to self or others.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions that has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace including equipment for the collection, preliminary analysis and disposal of biological samples
institutional procedures and protocols relating to taking biological samples and conducting post-mortem examinations
a range of dead research animals for post-mortem examinations.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and, where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology institution or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency
RUV3302A Conduct euthanasia of research animals

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
By collecting and presenting all relevant information about the animal being examined. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By preparing complete reports with accompanying samples. (3)

Planning and organising activities
By conducting post-mortem examinations in the correct sequence and using the correct tools and equipment. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with laboratory staff to conduct post-mortem examinations. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By recording details of the animals being examined such as weight, age and date and time of death. (3)

Solving problems
By making initial assessments of the possible likely causes of death that will guide the direction of further examinations into actual causes of death. (3)

Using technology
By using scales, personal computers and appropriate tools and equipment to conduct post-mortem examinations, take samples and produce reports. (3)