Health and Safety in Shearing (PDF 917kb) - WorkSafe Victoria

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The mesh floor of this pen makesthe sheep difficult to drag.6.3 Catching pens, gateways and doors (continued)Hazard or riskThe size, weight and action of the catching pendoors can create risks. Low doors can strike theshearer in the lower back region when pushedbackward by a sheep. Heavy doors can also injurethe back when they strike the shearer as they dragthe sheep from the pen. Gates that are hard toopen may also increase fatigue and back strainwhile dragging.Latching gates open can allow sheep to escapefrom the catching pen onto the board, resultingin collisions, falls from raised boards and lossof handpiece control.Obstructions or steps between the board andcatching pen increase the risk of trips and fallsand back injury when dragging sheep to thedowntube.If the floor is wet and dirty there is a risk ofinjuries from slips, trips and falls.Risk controlThe top edge of the pen door should not be able tostrike the shearer in the lower back. To minimize theimpact of the pen gate on the shearer the catchresistance and inertia of pen gates should beminimized. Broad padding should be fixed on theinside of gates at the height of the lower back. Doorsshould he made from lightweight material, smoothon both sides and with no protrusions, and the forcerequired to open the gates should be minimized.Pen doors should self closing and allowed to closeafter catching each sheep.There should be no step nor obstruction(e.g. board fixed to the floor across gateway)between the catching pen and the board.The catching pen gate should swing both waysto allow uninterrupted access for the shearer.Double (batwing) gates are most suitable foracross-the-board sheds and provide easy accessfor the shearer, minimal obstruction to thepickers-up on the board and offer equal accessibilityto left-handed shearers. Single gates may be moreappropriate for same-side catch and let-go designs.Keep the floor as clean as possible. Although it isunderstood that in some cases a dirty floor isunavoidable, measures can be taken forimprovements, such as not leaving sheep in thecatching pens overnight.12 Health & Safety in Shearing
6.3 Catching pens, gateways and doors (continued)Hazard or riskStrain on the shearer’s back results from poorlylocated and oriented catching pens and gates.If a shearer is required to turn and twist eachsheep through more than 90° as he or she dragsit from the pen to the shearing position, the riskof injury, short and long-term, increases.Fatigue and its associated problems also increase.Provision for left-handed shearers needsparticular attention here.Risk controlThe shearer should be able to walk backwards fromthe catching pen gate to the downtube withoutneeding to twist or turn more than 90°. That is,the shearer or crutcher, having caught the sheep inthe catching pen, should be able to walk backwards,carrying or dragging the sheep from the catching pengateway (e.g. position 12 o’clock) to the shearingstarting position beside the downtube, facing3 o’clock or 9 o’clock depending on whether theshearer is right- or left-handed and whether theboard design is across the board or open board.The best design is where the shearer walks backwardsto the shearing position through a smaller angle.A very good example can be seen in some new shedswhere the catching pen and gate directly face thestand. That is, the gate is at an angle to the wallrather than parallel with it.The distance from the back of the catching pen tothe downtube should be kept to a minimum.The distance from the centre of the catching pengate to 305 mm (1 ft) in front of the downtube(when hanging perpendicular) should be no morethan 3050 mm (10 ft).A gradual floor slope in the catching pen toward thedowntube will making tipping and dragging easier.Remove any obstructions between pen gates anddowntube.Provide one or two stands in each shed for lefthandedshearers. One left-handed stand for everyfour-right handed stands may be a suitable ratio.*Shared pens can also lead to problems betweenshearers due to real or imagined snobbing taking place;that is, one shearer leaving his or her pen mate morethan their share of snobs. When constructing new shedsor renovating existing ones it is recommended that acatching pen for each shearer is provided.Further information may be found in Design ofShearing Sheds and Sheep Yards by A Barber andB Freeman and the Ballarat Shearing Shed DesignNotes listed in Appendix 3.See also Section 8 for related hazards, risks andrisk controls.Health & Safety in Shearing 13
Page 5 and 6: Overview1 What this document is, wh
Page 7 and 8: 4.2 Duties of employeesAn employee
Page 10 and 11: 5.3 Practicable risk controlsThe le
Page 12 and 13: 6.2 Sheep pens and gatesHazard or r
Page 16 and 17: In this pen thebattens are parallel
Page 18 and 19: The pen doors are a good design for
Page 20 and 21: 6.6 Wool and press rooms - hazards
Page 22 and 23: Throwing.There is good circulations
Page 24 and 25: 7 Machinery7.1 Overhead gear and sh
Page 26 and 27: 7.1 Overhead gear and shearing plan
Page 28 and 29: 7.3 Grinders (continued)Hazard or r
Page 30 and 31: 7.5 Shearers’ tools and equipment
Page 32 and 33: 7.8 Electrical safetyIn addition to
Page 34 and 35: 8.2 Shearing and crutchingHazard or
Page 36 and 37: 10 Work in heat and cold10.1 Risks
Page 38 and 39: 12 DustsHazard or riskDusts in the
Page 40 and 41: 14 Diseases from animals (Zoonoses)
Page 42 and 43: 16 First aidArrangements for First
Page 44 and 45: 17 Accommodation, amenities andtrav
Page 47 and 48: AppendicesAppendix 1 - Further info
Page 49 and 50: Other publications and sources• A
Page 51 and 52: ItemNo.Machinery12 Before shearing
Page 53 and 54: Shearing Health and Safety - Risk C
Page 55 and 56: Number oneCatching pen floorsTradit
Page 57 and 58: Number threeRelease chutesTradition

Health and Safety in Shearing (PDF 917kb) - WorkSafe Victoria

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?