Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work situations available.

What processes might be involved in moving goats?
Goats are taken from the catching pen to the board using safe handling techniques.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the safe operation of machinery and equipment
hazard and risk control
handling livestock including zoonoses control
administering first aid
safe manual handling, including lifting and carrying
safe fibre harvesting
the protection from electrical hazards, hazardous noise, and organic and other dusts
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and supervisors oral or written instructions.

What range of shearing methods and procedures may be recommended by industry?
This may include detailed procedures for belly and crutch removal, positioning of the goat and shearer in relation to the down tube, how to avoid second cuts, damage to sensitive and vulnerable parts of the goats anatomy, and damage to fleece.

What potential and existing hazards may be encountered in the workplace?
This may include goat movement and handling, loose boards, obstacles, hazardous substances (veterinary chemicals), damaged pens, and uneven ground.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
This may include any footwear that prevents feet crushing and skin abrasions.

What damage to goat and fleece needs to be avoided?
Safe and correct shearing methods may avoid shearing on the skin and second cuts, damage to sensitive and vulnerable areas of the goat such as teats, pizzles, ears, vulva, wrinkle and skin, eyes, hamstrings, joints, blood vessels, horns and eartags.

When might handling techniques be applied?
Handling techniques may be applied to catch, move, and position and release goat.

What types of contamination might be identified?
This may include coloured fibres, skin pieces, bloodstains, weed seeds, dags, dog hairs, other foreign matter and urine stains.

How might goat cuts be treated?
Cuts may be disinfected and sutured according to enterprise requirements.

What might types of problem goats might be identified
This may include wet goats, diseased goats, and goats affected by weed seeds and other problems.

What shearing grievances and difficulties might occur?
This might relate to responsibilities of owners, overseers and shearers, and just causes and procedures for stopping work as specified within relevant awards.

What environmental implications may be associated with shearing activities?
Negative environmental impacts may result from high density goat activity, particularly in holding or confined areas, causing odour, increased run-off flows, loss of ground cover, soil disturbance, pugging, dust problems, weed seeds in animal manure, and contamination of ground and surface water supplies.

What processes might be involved in moving goats?
Goats are taken from the catching pen to the board using safe handling techniques.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the safe operation of machinery and equipment
hazard and risk control
handling livestock including zoonoses control
administering first aid
safe manual handling, including lifting and carrying
safe fibre harvesting
the protection from electrical hazards, hazardous noise, and organic and other dusts
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and supervisors oral or written instructions.

What range of shearing methods and procedures may be recommended by industry?
This may include detailed procedures for belly and crutch removal, positioning of the goat and shearer in relation to the down tube, how to avoid second cuts, damage to sensitive and vulnerable parts of the goats anatomy, and damage to fleece.

What potential and existing hazards may be encountered in the workplace?
This may include goat movement and handling, loose boards, obstacles, hazardous substances (veterinary chemicals), damaged pens, and uneven ground.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
This may include any footwear that prevents feet crushing and skin abrasions.

What damage to goat and fleece needs to be avoided?
Safe and correct shearing methods may avoid shearing on the skin and second cuts, damage to sensitive and vulnerable areas of the goat such as teats, pizzles, ears, vulva, wrinkle and skin, eyes, hamstrings, joints, blood vessels, horns and eartags.

When might handling techniques be applied?
Handling techniques may be applied to catch, move, and position and release goat.

What types of contamination might be identified?
This may include coloured fibres, skin pieces, bloodstains, weed seeds, dags, dog hairs, other foreign matter and urine stains.

How might goat cuts be treated?
Cuts may be disinfected and sutured according to enterprise requirements.

What might types of problem goats might be identified
This may include wet goats, diseased goats, and goats affected by weed seeds and other problems.

What shearing grievances and difficulties might occur?
This might relate to responsibilities of owners, overseers and shearers, and just causes and procedures for stopping work as specified within relevant awards.

What environmental implications may be associated with shearing activities?
Negative environmental impacts may result from high density goat activity, particularly in holding or confined areas, causing odour, increased run-off flows, loss of ground cover, soil disturbance, pugging, dust problems, weed seeds in animal manure, and contamination of ground and surface water supplies.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to handle and shear goats using industry accepted methods and procedures. It also requires the ability to safely operate shearing equipment, avoid damage to goats and fleece, meet volume expectations, recognise problem and diseased goats, and apply treatments accordingly. Evidence must also be demonstrated in the employment of safe workplace and positive environmental practices.
The skills and knowledge to shear goat must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different goat breeds, fibre types and conditions, and shearing sheds.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens
components and functions of shearing equipment and machinery
industry accepted handling and shearing techniques and positions
goat anatomy and behavioural characteristics
goat diseases and treatments
environmental codes of practice with regard to livestock production
OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements
codes of practice for goat shearing
relevant industry awards.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

select and operate equipment appropriate to shearing tasks
avoid contamination, second cuts and damage to fleece, goats and people
appropriately treat injured goats
handle goats with due care
demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices
maintain safe and hazard-free equipment
read and interpret Material Safety Data Sheets, manufacturers specifications and shearing schedules
effectively communicate with work teams and supervisor, and comprehend and apply task instructions.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

types of shearing sheds, boards and catching pens
components and functions of shearing equipment and machinery
industry accepted handling and shearing techniques and positions
goat anatomy and behavioural characteristics
goat diseases and treatments
environmental codes of practice with regard to livestock production
OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements
codes of practice for goat shearing
relevant industry awards.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

select and operate equipment appropriate to shearing tasks
avoid contamination, second cuts and damage to fleece, goats and people
appropriately treat injured goats
handle goats with due care
demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices
maintain safe and hazard-free equipment
read and interpret Material Safety Data Sheets, manufacturers specifications and shearing schedules
effectively communicate with work teams and supervisor, and comprehend and apply task instructions.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to shearing procedures, problems associated with contaminated fleece or problem goats, may be discussed with colleagues and reported to the classer and/or overseer/supervisor. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to shearing procedures, problems associated with contaminated fleece or problem goats, may be discussed with colleagues and reported to the classer and/or overseer/supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Shearing outcomes including information with regard to shorn goats, problem goats and contaminated fibre, may be detailed and tallied, and organised by records and reports. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Shearing outcomes including information with regard to shorn goats, problem goats and contaminated fibre, may be detailed and tallied, and organised by records and reports. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Shearing activities may be planned and co-ordinated with time schedules and numbers of goats or sequenced as required. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Shearing activities may be planned and co-ordinated with time schedules and numbers of goats or sequenced as required. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in treating problem goats or in arranging for the collection of shorn fleece. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in treating problem goats or in arranging for the collection of shorn fleece. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied in the tallying of shorn goats, or in measuring treatment dosage for problem or injured goats. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied in the tallying of shorn goats, or in measuring treatment dosage for problem or injured goats. (2)

Solving problems
Contingencies for dealing with problem goats and contaminated fibre may be planned and prepared to minimise disruption to shearing schedules. Alternative planning may also be needed if complications occur when catching or shearing goats. (2)

Solving problems
Contingencies for dealing with problem goats and contaminated fibre may be planned and prepared to minimise disruption to shearing schedules. Alternative planning may also be needed if complications occur when catching or shearing goats. (2)

Using technology
To communicate, record and calculate shearing outcomes and tallies. (1)

Using technology
To communicate, record and calculate shearing outcomes and tallies. (1)