Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for shearing
- Check shearing materials, tools and equipment for serviceability and prepare in readiness for shearing operations
- Identify, draft and move alpacas to be shorn
- Position alpacas for shearing
- Identify potential and existing hazards in the workplace and report to the supervisor
- Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment
- Perform shearing operations
- Shear alpacas using shearing methods that minimise damage to the alpaca and fleece while meeting volume of shearing expectations
- Use safe and humane handling techniques at all times
- Monitor own shearing performance and adjust posture, shearing rate or speed and position of alpaca as required
- Comply with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements
- Respond to complications
- Complete shearing operation
- Place fibre to avoid contamination and for collection by handlers
- Set handpiece to non-operational position and store
- Release alpacas safely from the board into holding yards
- Report shearing grievances and difficulties
- Monitor and control environmental implications associated with shearing activities
- Follow enterprise biosecurity policies where required