Farm safety – sheep and shearing

Sheep can be unpredictable, so working with them and shearing them can create many hazards. Safe work practices and good training help avoid many mishaps, and a well-planned working environment reduces the chance of injury and illness.

Poorly designed yards and shearing sheds present a range of physical, chemical and biological hazards. Have a plan for every stage of work with sheep, from mustering, to drafting, to shearing, to returning the animals to their pasture, and make sure everyone involved understands it. Well-designed and well-maintained yards make handling sheep safer and easier.

Common hazards#

Hazards linked to handling sheep and to shearing, crutching and treating them include:

• Charging, crushing and collisions with animals
• Slips, trips and falls
• Foot injuries
• Dust
• Zoonosis (diseases passed from animals to people)
• Noise exposure
• Chemical exposure and accidental self-injection when vaccinating
• Manual handling that causes musculoskeletal injuries such as strains and sprains

Designing a safer working environment#

• Design yards, sheds and races carefully so stock flow smoothly, reducing the risk of crushing and of collisions with animals.
• Use non-slip surfaces to avoid slips and falls in yards.
• Make sure the shearing shed is well lit and well ventilated.
• Store and use agricultural and veterinary chemicals appropriately, and keep machinery safe and well maintained.
• Maintain loading ramps and races in good working order.
• Install safety cut-off switches on shearing plant and wool presses, and make sure they work.
• Fit guards on shearing equipment, wool presses and grinders.
• Fit clearly signposted emergency stop buttons, and check that all are working.
• Consider using lift, slide or swing gates.
• Where electricity is available, fitting electric motors to the wool press can reduce air and noise pollution.

Protecting yourself#

• Build a good working knowledge of animal behavior and keep a calm, positive attitude towards stock.
• Make sure workers are properly trained in shearing shed safety.
• Wear the correct personal protective equipment, including suitable footwear.
• Wet down yards to reduce dust, and wear respiratory protection when needed.
• Always wear a helmet when riding a motorbike or quad bike, even when moving slowly.
• Know what to do if a needlestick injury occurs.

Avoiding manual handling injuries#

• Minimize the amount of lifting needed.
• When you do have to lift a sheep, use your legs, not your back, and keep good posture.
• When shearing, keep the animal close to your body, and use your thigh muscles when you need to lift it.
• For some animals, such as prime lambs or crossbred sires, sedatives may help; consult your veterinarian first.

Where to get help#