The MHS workforce
Friday 18 April 2008
The MHS operational workforce consists of around 1,400 full-time employess and contracted staff in the 'front-line' meat inspection teams located in approved fresh meat premises throughout Britain. In addition, the MHS employs around 150 administrative and managerial staff at its headquarters in York.
Inspection teams
The inspection teams within plants will normally include an Official Veterinarian, a Senior Meat Hygiene Inspector or Senior Poultry Meat Inspector, a number of Meat Hygiene Inspectors or Poultry Meat Inspectors, and, at beef and/or sheep plants, Meat Technicians. The number of inspectors depends on the size of the plant, the volume/speed of production and the complexity of its operation.
Official Veterinarians (OVs) are qualified veterinary surgeons, who have additionally attained official designation to enforce legislation on public health and animal welfare at slaughter. They carry statutory responsibility under the relevant hygiene regulations for ante-mortem inspection, slaughter, post-mortem inspection, and health marking. The majority of OVs are supplied to the MHS by veterinary contractors.
Senior Meat Hygiene Inspectors (SMHIs) and Senior Poultry Meat Inspectors (SPMIs) have line management responsibilities for Meat Hygiene Inspectors and Poultry Meat Inspectors. Their duties include monitoring staff sickness, health and safety, and authorising timesheets and expenses.
Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) and Poultry Meat Inspectors (PMIs) work on the production line alongside plant staff at various critical points, each inspector performing a specific task as the carcases move along the line. They may also help with ante mortem inspection. MHIs and PMIs ensure that animal welfare and hygiene standards are observed throughout the production process, under the direction of the OV.
Meat Technicians (MTs) are responsible for checking that beef and sheep carcases are free from Specified Risk Material (SRM), and for supervising the staining of SRM. They also examine cattle passports and ear-tags to ensure that the Over Thirty Month (OTM) Rule, which prohibits entry to the human food chain of cattle over that age, is being adhered to.
Twelve Business Managers (BMs) have recently been appointed to replace the 29 former Area Managers in supporting the inspection teams and maximising their performance in protecting public health and animal health and welfare. The BMs are responsible for direct liaison with operators of licensed premises and their customer care. They are home-based, but regularly travel to plants.