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Part two: guidelines for the provision of facilities and general safety in shearing work

1. Sheep preparation

1.1 animal handling

All practicable steps should be taken to cope with the hazards associated with handling sheep. For example:

• Safety when yarding sheep can be improved when yards are well designed. Safety boots should be worn when yarding, as a sheep standing on the foot of a person not wearing safety shoes may cause bruising.
• Avoid lifting sheep as many injuries are caused this way. If sheep do have to be lifted, bend your knees and use your leg muscles.
• The best method of sitting up sheep is to turn the sheep's head on to its shoulder. In a clear area, the sheep should be held against braced knees with one hand under the chin and one on the rump. Next, the sheep's head should be turned to the rear while the other hand forces the hindquarters down against the leg. When the sheep is no longer standing on its feet you can then lift the front leg and sit the sheep securely on its rump.

To save effort and avoid back strain when shearing, get the animal to walk backwards and then sit on its rump. Correct techniques should be used when shearing, and thorough training should be provided for people involved in this work. Aids such as a counterbalance may help reduce back strain.

Sheep can be very unpredictable at times, and have a tendency to charge people when they are held in the yards or pens.

Always be aware of their potential to cause injury especially to areas such as the knees.

1.2 presentation of sheep for shearing

All practicable steps should be taken to ensure sheep are presented in good order for shearing to help reduce the risk of injury or illness. For example:

• Farmers must ensure sheep are dry for shearing operations. Damp or wet wool should not be shorn as this increases the risk of shed workers developing wool abscesses or arthritis. The quality of the wool is also affected.
• Sheep should be dagged prior to shearing.
• Sheep should be drafted according to:
  • breed
  • sex
  • age: lambs, hoggets and mature sheep
  • wool length: sheep previously shorn at different times sheep brought onto the property since the previous shearing
  • illness or ailments including footrot, lice, ticks, flyblown, and zoonoses.
• Before shearing mobs of rams, negotiations between the grower and contractor or shearing team members can take place to determine a method for shearing that allows adequate support to be available to shearers in the event of a ram struggling free or becoming free on the board.
• Sheep that are adequately emptied out cause fewer back injuries and strains, and reduce the incidence of pen stain in wool. The recommendations for emptying out sheep prior to shearing are summarised in the following table. It should be noted that they refer to the minimum and maximum periods of time without feed and water prior to shearing for any individual sheep.

Summary of recommendations for emptying out sheep prior to shearing
Recommended minimum and maximum number of hours without feed and water prior to shearing
	minimum number of hours without feed	maximum number of hours without feed	minimum number of hours without water	maximum number of hours without water	special considerations
Ewes (and adult male sheep)
Non-pregnant, non-lactating	20	32	12	24
Early to mid-pregnancy	18	30	12	24		Exceeding these maximums may induce metabolic problems and/or precipitate clinical diseases.
Late pregnancy and lactation	12	24	8	20		Exceeding these maximums may induce metabolic problems and/or precipitate clinical diseases. Where practical, unweaned lambs should remain with their mothers until ewes enter the woolshed.
Hoggets
Non-pregnant, non-lactating	18	30	12	24
Pregnancy and lactation	12	24	8	20		Use special care when handling pregnant hoggets. Exceeding these maximums may induce metabolic problems and/or precipitate clinical diseases. Where practical, unweaned lambs should remain with their mothers until hoggets enter the woolshed
Lambs
Pre-weaning	6	24	6	20		Exceeding these maximums may precipitate clinical diseases.
Weaned	12	24	8	20		Exceeding these maximums may precipitate clinical diseases.

2. The shearing shed

2.1 Access

All practicable steps should be taken to ensure that access to the workplace is safe for all people entering the workplace or property. For example:

• roading to and from a place of work should be free of hazards and deemed safe for vehicle access
• carpark areas would preferably have a grit or gravel area to cater for winter conditions
• woolshed entry points should have steps to provide access to elevated sheds or raised boards as required, and they should be properly designed for their purpose. They should be sound, have wide treads and have a non-slip surface. Chicken netting safely and securely stapled to wooden steps makes the steps safer. Where the height from the ground to the shed is over one metre the steps and landing should be fitted with adequate handrails. Adequate lighting should be installed near entry to the woolshed to ensure good visual access. It is recommended a sensor light be fitted above outside steps
• emergency exit doors should be easily opened and closed. Big sliding doors can be a problem if not easily moved. Exits should be clear of all obstacles to ensure a safe exit.

2.2 sheep pens and gates

Sheep pens, races and gates can potentially expose the 'penner up' person to the risk of injury from slips, trips and falls. All practicable steps should be taken to ensure this risk is minimised. The penner/presser is not responsible for yarding sheep other than inside the woolshed.

Gate hinges, catches, railings and stops should be well maintained and in good working order. Pen gates should be able to swing in and out. All parts and components used should be free of sharp edges, protrusions and splinters. Pens and gates should be inspected for protrusions and sharp edges before each shearing season and repaired as required. Counterweights fitted to gates are a very serious hazard and must be enclosed. Light coming up from under the pen floor should be blocked out if it is causing problems during penning.

2.3 catching pens, gateways and doors

Catching pens, gateways and doors can cause injury to members of the work team if not well maintained or not well designed.

The physical size of the pens may result in excessive lifting and dragging if too large, or restrict movement if too small. The catching pen should hold 20 to 25 sheep and the minimum distance to drag the sheep should be about 2.5 metres.

Grating that runs across the catching pen allows sheep to gain a foot hold, restricting the ease of tipping and dragging and increasing the risk of back injury to workers. Grating should run towards the catching pen doors enabling the shearer to tip the sheep's back towards the door more easily. This reduces twisting, the distance the sheep needs to be dragged, and friction during dragging.

The size, weight and action of the catching pen doors can create risks. The top edge of the pen door should not be able to strike the shearer in the lower back. To minimise the impact of the pen door on the shearer at every 'catch', resistance of pen doors should be minimised. Broad padding should be fixed on the inside of doors at the height of the lower back, about 1.2 metres. Doors should be made from lightweight material, smooth on both sides and with no protrusions. Pen doors should be self-closing and allowed to close after catching each sheep.

Poorly located and oriented catching pens and doors place undue strain on shearers' backs. The shearer should be able to walk backwards from the catching pen door to the downtube without needing to twist or turn more than 90 degrees. The distance from the back of the catching pen to the downtube should be kept to a minimum.

2.4 The shearing board

The floor of the shearing board is an extremely high use area. All practicable steps should be taken to ensure the hazards associated with the shearing board are minimised to reduce the risk of injury.

Slippery floor boards increase the effort required by shearers to hold the sheep and maintain stability, increasing the risk of back injury. The floor needs to be kept in good condition. Non-slip surfaces are essential and the shearing board should not be varnished. Tongue and groove wood makes a good floor as it is strong, provides good grip and is slow wearing.

Insufficient floor space increases the risk of collisions and interference with other shearers. Ensure sufficient floor space for all workers to perform their tasks safely and properly. The shearer must be able to work without encroaching on the next shearer's work space or route in and out of the pen. A minimum distance of 2 metres between the downtubes is recommended for new or renovated sheds. Size of sheep must be taken into consideration.

A secure fixing point for a back harness should be provided. It should be clear of any overhead shafting plant and lighting fixtures and within reach when standing on floor.

Sheep should have an unobstructed exit from the shearing board that requires the least effort from the shearers. Where chutes are used their entrance should be extended onto the floor of the shearing board by some 100 to 150 mm, with the front edge lower than the floor, for easy release of sheep. Ensure that chutes and doorways are large enough to allow for easy handling of large-framed sheep. If modifying the count out pen, consider placement of chutes/doorways in positions that limit drafts or glare to the board.

2.5 The wool and press room

All practicable steps should be taken to ensure wool and press room hazards are identified and minimised to reduce the risk of workers being injured.

Continual bending and reaching to pick up fleeces off the board increases the risk of back strain. Raised shearing boards reduce the risk of back strain.

Insufficient space in the wool room increase the risk of injury from collision with other workers and contact with machinery. The minimum clear space around the shearing board end and working sides of the wool table should be 1 metre, with a minimum of 2 metres between any machine and the wool table. Ensure there are no obstacles between the board and the wool table.

Small wool tables that are not designed for the size of current fleeces or are the wrong height can cause back strain. A well-designed wool table is essential for safe work with reduced risk of strain or injury. The table height should be adjustable. Ensure wool tables are large enough to accommodate fleeces.

Uneven floor surfaces increase the risk of trips, slips and falls. Keep the floor clear and in good condition. Protruding nails should be countersunk, and uneven, loose and slippery boards should be repaired or replaced. Concrete floors require some impact-absorbing material considering the amount of speed and movement required of wool handlers.

Wool bins should be located and orientated in such away as to provide easy access for wool handlers. Wool bins should be designed so they are light and can easily be moved by wool handlers. Protruding objects should be removed or covered. Ensure wool bins are well maintained.

Using bale hooks and trolleys and getting help to move wool bales will decrease the risk of injury. If a bale trolley is used the floor must be level and strong enough to support the wheels of the trolley.

Where practical, the wool room should be kept clean, safe and hygienic.

Ensure there is good lighting in all work areas and at all times of the day and year.

3. Machinery

All practicable steps should be taken to ensure all machinery is well maintained and certified to meet minimum safety standards. Persons operating machinery should have correct training or be under supervision of a trained person.

3.1 shearing plant

Ensure that adequate guards are in place to minimise the risk of clothing, towels or fleece becoming entangled in the shafting plant.

Portable stands that are inadequately secured and incorrectly fitted can result in injuries. Ensure portable stands are safely fitted and secured.

Power points for individual electric power plants should be positioned between 1 and 1.5 metres above floor level. This is recommended to bring them within reach of the shearer.

The downtube height should be positioned so that the lower end of the short tube describes a circle of 275 mm in diameter on the floor, with the long tube perpendicular and 600 mm away from the wall or any obstruction.

Ensure that the downtube parts are in good condition and correctly installed. The spring at the top of the downtube should be in good condition and not worn or weak. Joint guards must be fitted to all joints.

It is recommended that worm drives (not pin drives) are installed in new or renovated sheds as they reduce the risk of serious injury due to a lock up.

3.2 handpieces

A worn out, poorly adjusted or poorly maintained handpiece will vibrate, heat up, cut poorly and put more physical strain on the shearer, particularly their hands and arms. The handpiece must be in the best possible condition and be kept in good working order and worn parts replaced. Where the shearer is required to supply and maintain his or her own handpiece the shearer is also responsible for keeping it in good order.

3.3 grinders

To ensure the safety of grinder operators all practicable steps should be taken to ensure the grinder is well maintained and certified, and only operated by persons with appropriate training or supervision.

Personal protective equipment, including safety glasses that allow good vision, should be provided, maintained in good condition and worn to prevent foreign objects propelled from the grinder entering the operator's eye, or striking the face.

Guards must be provided and maintained on all grinders. This is to help minimise the risk of foreign objects striking the person in operation of the grinder.

Rotating discs can fly off the grinder and cause injury to operators. Operators should check that discs are property secured before each start up by attempting to simultaneously rotate discs in opposite directions. Discs, nuts and washers should be compatible with the grinder. The grinder should be mounted so that the direction of the disc rotation is away from busy work areas and flammable materials including wool packs.

All grinders must be in a secure, properly lit enclosed space and securely anchored in position.

Electrical leads and cables need to be properly routed to eliminate any risk of them being cut or damaged or being tripping hazards.

Exposure to high noise levels can result in permanent hearing loss. Grinder operators must be provided with earmuffs which must be used and maintained in good condition.

3.4 wool presses

All practicable steps should be taken to ensure the safety of all wool press operators and those in the vicinity.

This includes ensuring that the press is maintained in good operational and mechanical condition. Anyone using a press must be properly trained and skilled in its use.

The design of some wool presses makes it possible for the operator to become entrapped. The use of block and tackle wool presses is not recommended because of the serious injuries associated with them. It is considered safe to use these presses if they are converted to a windup type press. This type of conversion can only be carried out if the boxes are in sound condition. It is not recommended that double action ratchet wool presses be used. Many presses of this type have worn mechanisms that fail suddenly due to their age, increasing the risk of serious injury to the operator. Manual handling problems are also associated with loading the wool because of the double-sized box.

Powered wool presses should have a safety stop mechanism. A readily accessible trip switch should stop operation of the press if the switch is 'tripped' by an operator or bystander.

Hydraulic lines should be inspected before operation and worn lines should be replaced. Hydraulic hoses that burst under pressure can result in serious burns or penetration injuries from hydraulic pressure.

Electrical leads and cables must be properly secured and clear of any moving parts such as the ram, monkey, doors, press wheels and bale barrow wheels. This is to reduce the risk of electrical hazards.

Ensure the press is located so that there is no interference between the operation of the press and other work being carried out near by.

Electric pull-over presses should have guards installed on sprockets and chains. All lift and swing presses must be fitted with a hoist brake which must be maintained and operational.

All wire and nylon ropes on presses should be in good condition, not frayed or worn.

3.5 storage of shearer's tools and equipment

Loose tools and equipment on the board pose a slipping and tripping hazard.

Damage to tools and equipment may occur which can affect their subsequent use and operation. Provide adequate storage space for shearer's tools and equipment near the work area. The storage area should not be located above the porthole.

3.6 electrical safety

The electrical wiring and fittings of machinery connected to the mains supply (or similar) must comply with the Electricity Regulations 1993.

All portable or hand-held machinery that derives power from an electrical current should be used with a properly connected isolating transformer or residual current device. Specific guidance on the suitable types and use of these devices should be sought from the appropriate electrical supply authority or from an electrical inspector.

3.7 manual handling

In addition to animal handling, many tasks around the woolshed involve lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling movements, which can result in physical injury. The physical demands of shearing and shed work require that workers have a reasonable level of fitness. The primary responsibility to ensure fitness is with the employee. It is necessary that adequate warm up and warm down exercises are performed by workers at the start and conclusion of each run. These exercises will assist in limiting the extent of back injury.

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