Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of ensuring the safety and hygiene standards of facilities and equipment prior to shearing and crutching operations, and is undertaken by the growers with assistance from wool handlers, and defines the standard required to: maintain contamination free environment for shearing and wool handling; recognise and remedy health and safety hazards; carry out minor maintenance and repairs to equipment and facilities; pen sheep in preparation for shearing; communicate verbally with work team; supervise operations.

Application of the unit 

This unit is applies to a grower with assistance from shed staff.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Inspect facilities and equipment

1.1. Facilities are inspected and assessed for hygiene and safety according to industry standards and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

1.2. Equipment faults or malfunctions are identified and reported for repair or replacement according to enterprise requirements.

1.3. Potential and existing hazards are identified, controlled and reported according to OHS requirements.

2. Prepare facilities

2.1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected, used and maintained according to OHS requirements.

2.2. Shed staff are engaged in the removal of contaminating substances according to industry Quality Assurance (QA) enterprise and environmental requirements.

2.3. Shed staff are directed/assisted in the cleaning of facilities and equipment to industry standards and hazards are eliminated according to OHS requirements.

3. Prepare equipment and materials

3.1. Shed staff are directed/assisted in the positioning of tables and equipment.

3.2. Bins/wool pack holders are placed in strategic positions.

3.3. Shed staff are directed/assisted in the positioning of brooms/scrapers.

3.4. Discussions are held with the presser in relation to their understanding of the property requirements.

4. Organise the supply of sheep to shearers

4.1. Order of shearing and information on mob cut-outs is conveyed to staff.

4.2. Sheep to be shorn first are placed in catching pens.

4.3. Supply of sheep in monitored and co-ordinated throughout shearing.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe work practices
• maintain contamination and hazard-free environment for shearing and wool handling
• recognise and remedy health and safety hazards
• carry out minor maintenance and repairs to equipment and facilities
• disposal of waste in an environmentally responsible manner
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• maintenance and hygiene requirements of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens
• sources and types of contamination
• principles of moving and penning animals
• animal welfare
• shearing requirements
• shed and board layouts
• environmental codes of practice with regard to shearing
• OHS and animal welfare legislation, codes of practice and enterprise requirements
• National codes of practice for the Shearing Industry (Health, Safety and Welfare standards).

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• maintain contamination free environment for shearing and wool handling
• recognise and remedy health and safety hazards
• carry out minor maintenance and repairs to equipment and facilities
• pen sheep in preparation for shearing
• communicate verbally with work team, and supervise operations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

The facilities may include:

• the shearing and wool handling area of the shearing shed
• sheep pens
• bins for fleece and non-fleece types.

Unit sector 

Wool

Co-requisite units 

Competency field