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

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Shearing Shed Design NoteNumber twoDrag pathsTraditional designThe drag path refers to the path shearers must travel with the sheep from the catchingpen to the shearing position next to the downtube. Shearers say that these paths differwith respect to the ease of getting the sheep to the shearing position.Which path is best?The sketch shows five drag paths.Two-centre-board paths (1 and 5).Three across-the-board paths (2, 3 and 4).Experienced shearers dragged sheep along each path.ResultsThe chart shows how muchenergy is used per sheep todrag along different paths.A shearer dragging a sheepalong the best path uses20% less energy per sheep(compared to the worst path).The best path is the shortestand involves least turns andtwisting.Recommended paths• The recommended pathis a short path involvingminimal rotation of sheep.– Path 1 for centre-board.– Path 2 for across-the-board.• Shearing stands should be provided for left-handed shearers to avoid reversed paths.WorkSafe Victoria gratefully acknowledgesVIOSH AustraliaUniversity of BallaratPO Box 663Ballarat 3353Tel: 03 5327 9150100%80%60%40%20%0%79% 81% 83%Centre-board dragsNo. 1 No. 5Across-the-board dragsNo. 2 No. 3 No. 489%100%Path 1 Path 2 Path 3 Path 4 Path 5Oxygen consumption per sheep dragged100% = worst path tested (centre-board‘reverse drag’ e.g. left-hander in right-hand shed)54 Health & Safety in Shearing
Number threeRelease chutesTraditional designSheep often baulk at entering a release chute or gate. When this happens anyobstruction will serve as a foothold. This will mean that the shearer has to work veryhard and struggle to push the sheep out the chute or gate.How big is the problem?A good gate or chute requires no effort – the sheep just walk away or slide down.To find out how much force is needed when a shearer needs to push the sheep pastan obstruction, a chute was built with a small obstruction that the sheep could useas a foothold.Experienced shearers pushed sheep out the chute while the forces were measured.ResultsThe results show that the shearer has to do a lot more than just push the sheep towardthe chute. They must control a struggling animal. This means they must push and pullin all directions.When struggling with the sheep many joints in the body are placed at risk.For example the forces in the back were estimated to be about 25% greater than therecognised limits.The risk of a back injury is even greater because the shearer has been stooped overfor several minutes.Recommended releaseThe best release is one where no effort is needed by the shearer.Chutes or level releases can be made easy to use by:1. Making sure there are no obstructions (like wood nailed across the entry to thechute) that could be a foothold for the sheep.2. Making the chute large enough (about 600 mm wide by 850 mm high).3. Making the near side of the chute about 150 – 250 mm from the downtube.4. Cutting the chute about 150 mm into the shearing board.WorkSafe Victoria gratefully acknowledgesVIOSH AustraliaUniversity of BallaratPO Box 663Ballarat 3353Tel: 03 5327 9150Shearing Shed Design NoteHealth & Safety in Shearing 55
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 14 and 15: The mesh floor of this pen makesthe
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: Number oneCatching pen floorsTradit

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

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