MODERN ABBATOIRS

DR. R. EMILIN RENITTA

AP/FPT
PLANT LOCATION AND FACILITIES
• Because of noise and odor generation,
slaughtering plants must not be located near
urban areas.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends
that plants be located far from areas where
objectionable odors or particles are generated,
such as dumps or chemical plants.
• Slaughtering plants should also have accessibility;
therefore, they should be connected to streets or
highways but separated from other plants or
buildings.
•
• Water supply must be in good quantity
because is a continuous operation throughout
the plant .
• Non-potable water is a hazard and must be
avoided.
• Carcasses are washed after dressing, so any
bacterial contamination in the water supply
will be passed to the meat substrate .
• Water disposal is equally important, because the
wastewater contains grease, blood, hair, and
tissue and bone particles.
• Slope in floors is required (no less than 10 cm for
each 6 m in working areas, and 15 to 20 cm for
each 6 m in the coolers) to avoid accumulation of
effluents.
• Federal or local legislation related to waste
disposal varies among countries or regions of the
same country, but almost every country where a
slaughtering plant is built has its own legislation.
• Ceilings should be no less than 3 m high or
more in certain working areas, such as those
for evisceration and cleaning.
• They should be flat and smooth and free of
unnecessary structures .
• Building materials for walls, floors, drains,
ceilings, and equipment are also subject to
regulations.
• All these materials should provide easy
cleaning.
•
• In general, these materials comprise concrete,
ceramic floor tile, floor-glazed brick, glazed
tiles, smooth surface Portland cement plaster,
plastic, or Portland cement plaster for ceilings.
• Certain materials in particular are not
acceptable, such as lead, porcelain, wood,
leather, fabrics, or any material that
undergoes chemical reaction.
• Square angles or joints where material can
accumulate must be avoided.
• Floors must be of any nonslippery material.
• The size of the killing room may vary
according to plant capacity, but in any case it
must have enough space for animal handling
and equipment operation, with walking areas
around operative sections.
• Adequate lighting is also necessary, either
natural or artificial.
• In any case, 220 lux in the working areas is
necessary, 540 lux in the inspection areas, and
110 lux in the coolers.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes
lighting necessary for each operation and
lamp placement. All lamps must have a
protective shield.
• Ceilings must be painted in white or a light
color.
• Ventilation and refrigeration also must be
controlled for comfort as well as for reducing
microbial growth.
• A maximum temperature of 10°C is necessary
in all working areas.
• Hand-washing facilities and drinking fountains
should be located in the working rooms .
• These must be pedal operated.
• Facilities for boot washing before walking into
the working area must be supplied.
• Product transferred in the plant should not
come in contact with the doorways; 1.50 m
doorways are necessary.
• There must be double-acting doors,
constructed of rust-resistant materials, with a
transparent panel at eye level.
• All windows, doors, and other openings must
have insect and rodent barriers such as
screens or seals .