Elements and Performance Criteria
- Perform board duties
- Stained wool, black wool, and contamination are removed on the shearing board.
- Belly wool is picked up, and stained wool is removed.
- Crutch wool is removed and the hind leg repositioned if necessary.
- Fleece is picked up and thrown, or parked and retrieved later if wool table is not clear.
- Removal of wool and maintenance of the board is monitored and extra support provided when needed.
- Mentoring and demonstration of work skills is provided to inexperienced board staff as required.
- All bending and lifting that is required is done according to safe working practices and using the available safety equipment.
- Prepare wool
- Locks are swept up and board and table locks are kept separate where directed.
- Shanks and jowls are removed if directed and placed in correct bin.
- Pizzle stain is removed from bellies and placed in stains line.
- Brisket wool is removed if directed by the wool classer.
- Crutchings are swept clear of the board, stain and dags are removed, and placed in correct bins.
- Lambs wool and prematurely shorn wools are carried to the wool table using boards or paddles if required.
- Mentoring and support is provided in wool handling to inexperienced staff as part of the work team role.
- Skirt fleeces
- Information is sought on wool classer requirements for mob.
- Fribs and sweats are removed and placed in correct bins.
- Short crutch wool and wiggings are removed and placed with locks.
- Wool carrying clumpy vegetable matter is removed if directed by the wool classer.
- Feedback is sought on accuracy of skirting and fleece to skirtings ratio.
- Fleece wool which is defective or lacks uniformity is removed if directed by the wool classer.
- Maintain wool flow and minimise contamination risk
- The immediate shearing area is swept after each sheep is shorn.
- Shearing boards, wool room, and area beneath the wool table are swept as regularly as necessary during the shearing operation.
- The shearing boards and the wool room are kept free of potential contamination.
- Waste is removed and appropriately placed in full consideration of environmental implications.
- Risk of mixing wool between lines is minimised through regular sweeping and maintaining bins, other containers and the wool area.
- All tasks are completed and contingencies covered through a professional, team-based approach.
- All bending and lifting that is required is done according to safe working practices and using the available safety equipment.
- Carry out tasks to support the shearing operation
- Rate of shearing is observed and frequency of refilling the catching pens and for mob cutout are estimated.
- Different mobs of sheep are kept separate.
- Directions from the wool classer are implemented and feedback provided on sheep supply and wool flow.
- All butts and bins are emptied and wool pressed.
- Bales are stored as directed.
- Wool working area is swept clean.
- Equipment is stored at the end of shearing.
- Board is washed down and disinfected after shearing cutout.