Day 097 - 06 Mar 95 - Page 54


     
     1
     2   Q.   Have you ever seen it?
     3        A.  I do not think -- no.
     4
     5   Q.   You have been there 10 years?
     6        A.  Yes.
     7
     8   Q.   How many animals a day are processed at Midland Meat
     9        Packers?
    10        A.  600 to 800.
    11
    12   Q.   Then it says:  "Keep handling and other disturbance
    13        (including noise) to a minimum".  Is noise a problem at a
    14        slaughterhouse?
    15        A.  Yes.  Obviously, it is kept to a minimum, as far as
    16        possible, but it can be loud in a slaughterhouse, yes.
    17
    18   Q.   It can be noisy?
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    21   Q.   There is moving machinery which is made of metal?
    22        A.  Exactly, yes.
    23
    24   Q.   Do you think there is anything that can sensibly be done at
    25        the present time to reduce the level of noise which is
    26        found in slaughterhouses?
    27        A.  Bearing in mind the nature of the operation, the
    28        machinery being used, I doubt very much that that noise
    29        limit or noise level could be limited.
    30
    31   Q.   Do you think there might come a time when the parts of
    32        machinery are made of, let us say, graphite or ceramic or
    33        plastic?
    34        A.  I suppose it is feasible, yes.
    35
    36   Q.   But you know of no such system ---
    37        A.  Not at the moment, no.
    38
    39   Q.   -- available at the present time?  Then it says:  "Ensure
    40        that passageways are well lit and free from obstructions".
    41        Is that an important consideration?
    42        A.  Yes, obviously, cattle have to see where they are going
    43        and be able to move unobstructed.
    44
    45   Q.   Is it important not to have sticking out nails, bits of
    46        angle bars and that kind of thing?
    47        A.  Yes.  We would not want to injure animals on the way up
    48        to slaughter.
    49
    50   Q.   What are your passageways made of? 
    51        A.  Concrete walls, basically, smooth concrete walls. 
    52 
    53   Q.   Smooth concrete walls.  What about the footing for the
    54        cattle?  What is the floor made of?
    55        A.  A concrete floor.
    56
    57   Q.   Is it smooth?
    58        A.  No, it is -- I do not know what you call it.
    59
    60   Q.   Is it hatched or lines across it?

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