Elements and Performance Criteria
- Complete work contracts for shearers and shed staff
- Arrangements are made in advance to obtain shearing services.
- Terms and conditions of employment or engagement are agreed and checked against the award or other accepted arrangements.
- Where employment is arranged, employment terms and conditions are written into an employment contract and are signed by employer and employees.
- Develop work plan for shearing day
- Shearing work plan is discussed, developed, agreed and documented with shearing team.
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards relevant to the preparation and conduct of shearing are identified and documented in work plan and appropriate action is taken to minimise risks.
- Work is carried out according to work plan.
- Work plan is reviewed with shearing team and any required improvements are noted for future action.
- Check shearing equipment
- Ensure shed and yards are prepared for shearing
- Shearing shed is checked and cleaned prior to commencement of shearing, ensuring enterprise quality standards.
- Yards are checked and cleaned prior to commencement of shearing, ensuring enterprise quality standards.
- Sources of alpaca fibre contamination are removed according to enterprise and industry quality standards.
- Safety hazards are reported to fibre grower or shed manager.
- Pen up alpacas
- Alpacas are moved according to shearing sequence, and OHS, animal welfare and enterprise requirements.
- Alpacas are penned by mobs, according to work plan.
- Pen density is determined to avoid crushing, trampling or soiling of alpaca fibre.
- Gates are secured to prevent mixing of mobs or escape of alpacas.
- Alpaca numbers are monitored in holding pens to ensure continuous supply to shearer.
- Pens are monitored to maintain alpaca in standing position to avoid soiling of alpaca fibre.