Meat Packer Job Description
Meat packers are responsible for wrapping, grinding and packing meat. They occasionally have to shave or wash animal meat before packing, inspect meat or meat products, use hand or power tools and grind meat into used to prepare sausages, luncheon meats and other types of meat products.
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Duties
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The duties required of meat packers include loading materials and products into package processing equipment, measuring, weighing and counting product materials, moving or lifting heavy objects, loading, unloading or stacking products or materials and maintaining a clean and safe work area. They are also responsible for sorting manufacturing materials or products, operating packaging machine equipment, recording product, packaging and order information on forms and records.
Skills
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The skills required to become a meat packer include equipment selection skills, operation and control skills, reading comprehension skills and active listening skills. Equipment selection skills will be useful when choosing which tools will be best for each task of the meat-packing process. Controlling operations of equipment and tools will be much easier with operation and control skills. Reading comprehension skills are needed to understand written instructions. Active listening skills are needed to give full attention to what other people say and to fully understand them. Meat packers should also have static strength to be able to lift, pull, push or carry heavy objects or doing the actual packing of the meat. Arm-hand steadiness is also an important skill to have because they have to keep their arms and hands steady when moving or carrying objects.
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Meat Packers
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Meat packers must have knowledge of biology of plant and animal organisms, public safety and security, food production, production and processing and knowledge of the machines used to pack the meat. They must have knowledge of relevant equipment, procedures, policies and strategies used to comply with local, state or national security operations in order to protect people, data and property. They must know and comply with the techniques used to store and handle meat products. Meat packers must also know how to handle raw materials.
Working Conditions
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Meat packers may work very early shifts and may work 12 to 15 hour shifts, working more than 50 hours per week. Meat packers should have at least a high school diploma. Most of the training occurs on the job; however, some trade schools offer courses in meat packing and processing work. Work in a meat packing plant can be very dangerous, so it is important to use caution when working. Meat packers have to endure tough working conditions, such as intense heat, extreme cold, strong odors and slippery floors. Wearing non-slip shoes is often required.
Salary
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As of May 2004, meat packers made an average annual salary of $39,610, according to My Plan.
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References
- Photo Credit carving pork meat. meat in the market.smoked pork image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
