Day 096 - 03 Mar 95 - Page 48
1 A. Yes. It appears to be very technically sensitive
2 equipment which must be correct, you know, before it is
3 used. Now, the scientists and developers are satisfied
4 that it is as required, and will in future make it
5 fail-safe. In actual fact, that is exactly what they have
6 called it, the "stunning fail-safe monitor".
7
8 Q. You have the equipment now; is that right?
9 A. Yes.
10
11 Q. What have you got the cut out set out?
12 A. As the recommended levels.
13
14 Q. What is that?
15 A. 1.2 or 1.3 amps. Do not hold me to the exact figure,
16 please.
17
18 Q. You see, on the right hand page under paragraph 60, it
19 says: "Take care to ensure that an animal does not receive
20 an electric shock before the electrodes are applied.
21 Animals with wet skins may receive an electric shock by
22 contact with the animal being stunned or with those sides
23 of the tongs which are live"?
24 A. Yes.
25
26 Q. They seem to be indicating that there can be a problem if
27 the animals are wet?
28 A. No, I would say what they are indicating is there can
29 be a problem with untrained people using the system, the
30 method. Those people that are correctly trained, there is
31 not a problem.
32
33 Q. You would recognise that some animals can get electric
34 shocks, though?
35 A. If someone is not doing their job correctly, of course
36 it can happen, but in a well run plant that should not
37 happen.
38
39 Q. Or if another animal bumps into it, if there was more than
40 one being stunned or more than one in the stunning pen at a
41 time?
42 A. That is what training is all about, to make sure it
43 does not happen.
44
45 Q. So are you saying that never happens at your plant?
46 A. I do not think there is much in life that one can say
47 "never at all". One can always use best practices and,
48 you know, achieve best results. One must not forget,
49 before anyone is allowed to use those, they have to be
50 licensed by the authorities. Ours is one of the few
51 industries where everything has to be licensed for you to
52 be able to carry on in the industry.
53
54 Q. If you turn to page 20 underneath the picture it says:
55 "Electrodes should not be applied behind the ears or on
56 each side of the neck, otherwise the animal may be
57 paralysed without being rendered unconscious and may suffer
58 severe pain". So, that is something that pigs at your
59 plant are likely to be suffering?
60 A. I am very confident, with our on plant vet who is there
