Hazards in shearing generally involve machinery, electrical fittings, sheep yard design, slippery and obstructed floors, sharp tools, equipment and protrusions, chemicals, heat stress, and strain injuries from repetitive, awkward and strenuous work.

Spot the hazard

Conduct a safety audit of shearing sheds, pens, flooring, machinery, wool presses, electrical fittings, connections and cables, lighting, ventilation, and the experience and safety training of those involved, particularly young workers.

Assess the risk

Assess identified hazards for likelihood to cause injury or harm. Assess also the potential seriousness of the injury or harm. Consider various safeguards and safe procedures, and assess these for other possible hazards before deciding a plan of action.

Make the changes

Many safety innovations have been developed and implemented to reduce shearing injuries. The following suggestions are to help farmers minimise risks:

• Design steps, ramps, pens, entrances, flooring, gates and latches to minimise the risk of strain and trip injuries to shearers and helpers.
• Ensure sheds are well lit and ventilated; cool in summer and draught free in winter.
• Keep a suitably equipped first aid box in the shearing shed.
• Have suitable, functional fire-fighting equipment available in shearing sheds and quarters.

Machinery

• Keep shearing machinery safely guarded to prevent it catching limbs, clothing or fleeces.
• Place stopping mechanisms within ready reach in case of emergency.
• Ensure a safe distance between shearing positions, to prevent the risk of downtubes clashing and creating cut hazards.
• Keep handpieces well maintained to eliminate vibration injuries.
• Choose quiet machinery or isolate noisy machinery to prevent hearing damage.
• Choose wool presses designed not to trap workers' hands.
• Consider having electric motors on wool presses to reduce noise and air pollution.
• Consider providing back support harnesses and equipment for shearers.

Manual handling

• Keep shearing floors and passage ways clean and clear of obstructions.
• Ensure floors in catching pens are kept clean and dry to reduce slip hazards.
• Allow sheep to empty out and settle down before moving them into the shed.
• Consider providing back support equipment for shearers.
• Keep shed hands clear of shearers unless they need to be there, or are called on for assistance.
• Keep dogs out of the working area, and don't tie them up where people can trip over them.

Fitness and health

• Shearers and rural workers should exercise regularly and eat a well balanced diet to guard against injury and maintain the required energy levels.
• In hot weather, take regular drinks of cool water or non-alcohol fluids to avoid heat stress.
• Maintain a good posture during physical work, and use your legs to lift, not your back.

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