Some woolsheds need upgrading

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 16

Some woolsheds need upgrading

While the standard of woolsheds in Canterbury is reasonably high, it is obvious that some buildings will have to be improved before the 1978-79 shearing season begins.

In -ome areas work has already started on improving conditions for shearers, shedhands and sheep, as laid down by Labour Department and union regulations, and the cost can vary from as little as SI 00 to the price of a new woolshed. With the introduction of covered sheepyards. woolsheds have become smaller, but the cost of a suitable combined unit is about $21,000.

This is a costlv exercise and ways should be examined of providing satisfactory facilities by adding to existing sheds For instance, it is possible to add a raised board, catching pens, and a I.Bm race behind, for about $7OOO. while also increasing the holding capacity by 140 sheep or so. The raised board can be joined on to the existing wool room, and a race leading from 'he old grating can feed the new grating area. Rv doing this al! regulations and working condition requirements can he met. as well as providing extra grating and wool room space. Many older woolsheds have access into the catching pens from the back only, and they could be greatly improved by additional gates to allow sidefilling. so reducing movement of sheep and saving shed hands’ time. It is relatively simnle to design a woolshed allowing three fills into each catching pen from different positions. Light is poor in most old woolsheds, but is extremely important for sheep movement and wool handling. This defect can be simply and cheaply corrected hv placing a strip of corrugated translucent sheeting. about 61cm wide, down from the top plate. This can be placed to shed light on both gratings and the wool room. Regulations lav down certain requirements for woolsheds and some details are now mandatory to ensure satisfactory working conditions for both shearer and shed hand. For example, all catching pen doors must be padded

at the point of shearer contact as the sheep are pulled out. and any new or altered woolsheds must have one catching pen and door per shearer. Many older sheds could be easily altered to provide these facilities. Many catching pen doors are wrongly placed in relation to the machine and each sheep has to be repositioned after it is dragged out. Each woolshed must _ have a hand basin and water, and if no accommodation is supplied, hot water must be laid on. Toilets must be provided within easy access of the shed, preferably attached _ to the shed with entry off the building. Regulations also state that a “smoko” compartment. isolated from the board, furnished with table and chairs, must be incorporated, and the shed must be in a clean state prior to shearing. Many boards are not regularly washed and some windows are never cleaned from one shearing to the next. It is also mandatory to have al) sheep skins cleared from the catching pen areas. Counting sheep into catching pens is not allowed, and counting-out pens or recognised mechanical counters must be used. AH machinery must be checked and in good working order, particularly the wool press to ensure safety. A first aid kit must be placed in a convenient position. Farmers have access to many woolshed designs these days which supply first class working conditions and it is reasonably easy to alter existing sheds to either chute or return race types. Both have their advantages, although with the advent of covered yards, chute sheds are the most efficient, and if board measurements are correct, sheep can be efficiently shorn and disposed of: A considerable length of

grating is required for a return race design and the side filling of catching pens becomes almost impossible. However, where existing sheds are low to the ground, a return race shed provides excellent shearing and woolhandling facilities if altered. Farmers, shearers and shed hands all have obligations to one another, and it is important at this early stage that some thought is given to providing the best working facilities for al) concerned in the coming season.

The accompanying item has been written by L. Galloway, sheep and beef officer of the Ministry of Agriculture. Christchurch.