Improving Health and Safety in the Shearing Industry
Turning a "She'll be right" mentality into a "Let's get it right" mentality is the task of the recently formed Shearing Industry Health and Safety Committee, which will encourage a collaborative approach to shearing industry health and safety based on collective responsibility. Co-ordinated by ACC, the Committee's members include Federated Farmers, Shear NZ (the NZ Shearing Contractors Association), FarmSafe, the Department of Labour, Agriculture ITO, Tectra, the Amalgamated Workers Union NZ, and SheaResults (a provider of health and safety consultancy services to the industry).
A recent study shows a trend towards older shearers: unless there is an increase in young people entering the industry, the average age range within 10 years will be 40-50 years. The increasing age of shearers has significant health and safety implications for the future because of the physical nature of the job and the potential for increased long-term injuries. In addition, the industry tendency towards having fewer small, local shearing contractors has resulted in more travelling gangs and individuals spending extended time on rural roads. Road accidents, particularly on early morning journeys to isolated woolsheds, have long been recognised as a serious industry hazard.
There are already a number of initiatives underway that contribute to injury prevention in the industry, including:
- proposed Shearing Industry Best Practice Guidelines, which have been developed by ShearNZ, will shortly be available for final industry-wide consultation on www.acc.co.nz;
- a ShearSafe workshop, developed in conjunction with FarmSafe, which focuses on health and safety awareness, is now available to anyone in the industry, delivered at a time and place to suit participants;
- a ShearSafe passport, which recognises good workplace practice and awareness of injury prevention in the workplace, is also available to those who have completed a ShearSafe workshop and been endorsed by an approved employer; and
- ACC has recently funded a health and safety series called "Precautionary Tales" for Southland TV.
For more information and to arrange a ShearSafe Workshop, phone 0800 545 747. For more information on the ShearSafe Passport, email shearsafe@taylored.net.nz. "Precautionary Tales" will screen on Sky Channel 90 on Tuesday 20 Dec at 8pm, with repeats at 5.30pm for the following four Sundays. A free DVD of "Precautionary Tales" (Woolshed) will be available early in 2006 from Southland TV, PO Box 708, Invercargill, email admin@southlandtv.co.nz, tel (03) 214 6900, fax (03) 218 6899 |
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person
