Monitor and maintain the incubation of eggs

This standard covers monitoring and maintaining the incubation of eggs in hatchery production. The system could be manual or mechanical. You are likely to have overall responsibility for this part of production and be supported in this capacity by other workers. You will require considerable knowledge and practical skills and must be capable of identifying and resolving any problems that occur. When working with livestock or machinery you should be trained and hold current certification, where required. This standard is suitable for those with responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the incubation of eggs.

1. assess the risks associated with the activity to be carried out

   2. confirm that suitable clothing and personal protective equipment

   (PPE) is worn

   3. confirm that the tools, equipment and materials required are

   selected, prepared, used and maintained, safely and correctly

   4. monitor and maintain the incubation areas to ensure they are

   clean, safe and ready for use

   5. monitor the system for selecting eggs for incubation

   6. monitor the selection of eggs for incubation, in accordance with

   set times and the hatchery plan

   7. monitor the loading of eggs into the incubator

   8. monitor and maintain the incubator alarm system to ensure it is

   working correctly and take the appropriate action if it is not

   9. monitor and maintain the environmental conditions within the

   incubator, in accordance with production requirements

   10. check egg fertility at the correct intervals and the take the

   appropriate action based on the interpretation of the results

   11. confirm that eggs are selected for transfer and hatching in

   accordance with production requirements

   12. maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in

   the work

   13. maintain hygiene and bio-security, in accordance with business

   practices

   14. manage waste safely and correctly, in accordance with relevant

   legislation and business practices

   15. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental

   and health and safety legislation, animal health and welfare

   legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and

   business policies

   16. confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by

   relevant legislation and the business

1. how to identify hazards and assess risks

   2. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)

   suitable for the activity

   3. the types of tools, equipment and materials required and how to

   prepare, use, maintain and store these safely and correctly

   4. the production requirements and standards required for incubation

   and hatching

   5. the timing requirements of the incubation system, what may affect

   these and the required remedial actions

   6. the ways in which eggs must be loaded into the incubator, the

   reasons for this, and the implications of not loading eggs properly

   7. the purpose of functioning alarms and how they are monitored

   and maintained

   8. the correct environmental conditions required within the incubator,

   how these are monitored and maintained and the necessary

   adjustments to the system that may be required

   9. the types of problems that may occur during the incubation of

   eggs and the required action to take

   10. the implications of system failure

   11. the methods and correct intervals to check the fertility of eggs,

   how this information is used and the action to take when problems

   arise

   12. when the eggs are ready for transfer and how the transfer is

   carried out

   13. when and to whom information should be forwarded and why

   deadlines must be met

   14. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved

   in your work and how this should be done

   15. the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security and the

   methods for achieving this

   16. the importance of meeting relevant food safety and industry

   quality assurance standards

   17. how to handle, transport, store and dispose of waste, in

   accordance with relevant legal and business practices

   18. your responsibilities for the welfare of birds under relevant animal

   health and welfare legislation and codes of practice

   19. your responsibilities under relevant environmental and health and

   safety legislation, codes of practice and business policies

   20. the methods of stock control, record keeping and reporting used

   by the business