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Grower Accreditation Criteria

Section 2: Preventing Contamination

2.1 Rubbish Containers

Requirement

Clearly marked rubbish containers of a suitable size must always be present in the shed and empty at the start of shearing.

The number needed will depend on the size and layout of the shed. It is essential to have at least two – one in the wool room and one by the grinder.

Containers must be of a suitable design; for example, woolshed rubbish containers or conventional rubbish bins.

Note: Do not use fertiliser bags or sacks, because of the risk of contamination.

2.2 Ashtrays

Requirement

If smoking is permitted on the shearing board and in the wool room ashtrays must be provided. If smoking is not permitted, “no smoking” signs must be displayed and enforced.

2.3 Contaminating Fibres

2.3.1 Potential Contaminants

Artificial and natural fibres – and synthetic twine from hay bales in particular – are serious contaminants of wool.

Requirement

Polypropylene, sisal and hemp in the form of string, twine, bags or fabric for any purpose, must not be present in the woolshed or yards. This includes, but is not limited to, ties on fences/gates/partitions, shearing machine cord, exit chute (porthole) covers, pads on catching pen doors, sun/wind/condensation shields in the woolshed or yards.

The wrapping fabric and metal straps used to wrap bales of wool packs is another potential source of contamination. These must be removed from the woolshed before shearing begins.

The woolshed roof lining material must not be frayed.

2.3.2 Acceptable Products

So long as they are unfrayed and otherwise in good condition, the following items are acceptable in the woolshed:

  • Shearing machine pull cords: Nylon or cotton sash cord.
  • Catching pen door pads (if present): Cotton, canvas, vinyl coated fabrics, wool pack fabrics – all pads must be in good condition, ie. not frayed.
  • Wool press ropes: Supplied by the manufacturer of the press.
  • Rope above wool press: As for shearing machine pull cords.
  • Ropes used for lift and swing gates: To be made of unfrayed twisted rope or wire rope.

2.4 Working Environment

Requirement

The woolshed must be clean and tidy before shearing begins to avoid the possibility of contamination. If necessary, the floor and board should be washed.

All articles or products that are not essential for the shearing and wool preparation activity (such as chemicals, bags of fertiliser and animal feed) must be removed from the shed or stored away from the shearing board and wool handling areas. These are defined as the areas where the wool is shorn, sorted, skirted, pressed and stored.

The sheep yards must be cleared of rubbish and twine.

The area where bales are to be stored must be clean and dry.

Before the start of shearing, all loose wool must be baled or put in labelled containers or fadges.

Recommendation

Smoko rooms or areas where food is consumed should be cleaned before and after use.

2.5 Towel & Clothes Hooks

Requirement

There must be enough securely attached towel and clothes hooks/pegs/wires/chains or nylon cord for shearers to use during work. Clothing and towels must not be stored in the wool handling, classing and pressing areas.

2.6 Sheep Marking Products

Requirement

All raddle, crayon and aerosol marks must be removed during wool preparation.

Sheep must only be marked with approved sheep marking aerosols, raddles or crayons.

An approved product must be available in the woolshed during shearing to enable shearers to identify sheep which have black spots.

Recommendation

Aerosols should be applied only to the ear or nose of the sheep. Marking of sheep during pregnancy scanning may make this recommendation difficult to observe.

2.7 Dogs

Requirement

To prevent contamination of the wool with dog hair, unsupervised dogs must not be allowed in shearing or wool handling areas. Only supervised working dogs may cross these areas for yarding purposes during shearing.

2.8 Cleaning Up

Requirement

The shearing and wool handling area must be thoroughly cleared of any rubbish before each shearing run begins.

2.9 Wool Press Bars

Recommendation

The press bars used to hold the flaps in place when pressing should be permanently attached to the press.

Section 3 – Important Procedures

 

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