Shearing Shed Operations SWMS
SWMS template for shearing shed operations. Covers Shearing handpiece, wool handling, pen-up.. 8-state AU coverage, CIH-reviewed editable DOCX delivered within 24 hours of payment.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Shearing shed operations involve a unique combination of repetitive manual handling, sharp powered cutting equipment, live animal handling, and slippery, lanolin-contaminated work surfaces. From pen-up and catching, through to handpiece operation, wool throwing, skirting and classing, every task in the shed presents a different hazard profile that must be controlled under a documented Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS). Australian shearing sheds — whether on a family-run property in the Riverina or a corporate pastoral station in WA — are workplaces under the meaning of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (or its state equivalent), and the PCBU operating the shed carries the primary duty of care under section 19.
While shearing is not classified as 'construction work' under WHS Regulation 2011 r291, the principles of high-risk work documentation apply through the broader hazardous manual tasks (Part 4.2), plant (Part 3.5) and managing risks to health and safety (Part 3.1) provisions of the WHS Regulation 2011, mirrored in WHS Regulations across NSW, QLD, VIC (OHS Regulations 2017), SA, TAS, ACT, NT and WA (WHS Regulations 2022). Safe Work Australia's Guide to Managing Risks in Rural Workplaces and the model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks both apply directly to shearing shed work.
A SWMS is legally required where work is reasonably foreseeable to cause serious injury — and shearing demonstrably meets that threshold given documented incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, lacerations, zoonotic infection and crush injuries. This SWMS satisfies consultation duties under WHS Act s47–49 and provides the documented evidence of risk assessment required to defend the PCBU in the event of a SafeWork or WorkSafe inspection.
Hazards identified
6 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Falls causing fractures, head strikes, lower back injury — particularly during catch-and-drag
Acute lumbar disc injury, chronic musculoskeletal disorders, shoulder rotator cuff tears
Deep cuts to hands, thighs and lower limbs; tendon damage; risk of secondary infection
Bruising, rib fractures, eye injuries, finger crush; zoonotic disease (Q-fever, orf, leptospirosis)
Chronic lower back pain, wrist tendinopathy, cumulative trauma disorders
Occupational asthma, organic dust toxic syndrome, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate or substitute hazards where reasonably practicable — use raised shearing platforms, sheep handlers (e.g. Te Pari, Combi Clamp) or upright shearing systems to remove catch-and-drag manual handling
- 2Maintain shearing board and grating free of dags, faeces and excess lanolin — sweep between sheep and apply non-slip surface treatment to high-traffic zones
- 3Inspect handpieces, downtubes and overhead gear before each run; lockout/tagout in accordance with AS 4024.1603 before any blade or comb change
- 4Provide and enforce use of PPE: cut-resistant shearer's moccasins or boots with non-slip soles, mesh aprons, P2 respirators during pressing and skirting (per AS/NZS 1716), and eye protection
- 5Implement maximum tally limits and structured smoko/lunch breaks aligned with the Pastoral Award 2020 to manage fatigue and cumulative manual handling load
- 6Conduct daily pre-start toolbox talks documenting sheep condition, mob behaviour, weather (heat stress) and any shed defects; record in the worker sign-on register
- 7Vaccinate at-risk workers against Q-fever (Coxiella burnetii) per Australian Immunisation Handbook, and provide hand-washing facilities with soap and running water for zoonotic risk control
- 8Train all workers in safe catching technique, handpiece handling and emergency procedures; retain training records for 5 years per WHS Regulation r39
- 9Establish a documented first-aid response including pressure-bandage protocols for handpiece lacerations and clear evacuation route to the nearest hospital — critical in remote pastoral settings
- 10Ensure shed lighting meets AS/NZS 1680.2.4 minimum 320 lux at the board, with emergency lighting tested before each shearing run
Applicable Codes of Practice
Directly applies to catching, dragging, throwing and pressing tasks — the dominant injury source in shearing
Sets the hierarchy of controls framework underpinning this SWMS
Industry-specific guidance addressing shearing, animal handling and remote work
Applies to wool dust and endotoxin exposure during pressing and skirting
Specifies P2 respirator standard for organic dust exposure
Critical for remote sheds where ambulance response exceeds 30 minutes
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Shearing boards become coated in lanolin, urine and faeces during a run, creating a persistent slip hazard documented as a leading cause of shed injury
Catching and dragging sheep weighing 40–80 kg over 200+ times per day exceeds the manual handling thresholds in the Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice
Shearing handpieces operate at 3,000+ rpm with exposed cutting combs in close proximity to the operator's leg and the animal
Sheep are unpredictable in confined catching pens, presenting kick, crush and zoonotic disease transmission risks
Although shearing is not 'construction work' under r291, these hazard categories trigger the PCBU's duties under WHS Regulation Part 3.1 (managing risks) and Part 4.2 (hazardous manual tasks). Failure to document controls in a SWMS-equivalent risk assessment exposes the PCBU to Category 2 offences under WHS Act s32 — penalties up to $1.8M for a body corporate and $360,000 plus 5 years imprisonment for an officer.
Who this is for
- →Wool-growing PCBUs and pastoral station managers engaging shearing contractors
- →Shearing contractors and contracting principals supplying labour to multiple sheds
- →Shed hands, wool handlers, classers and pressers working under contract or as employees
- →Farm WHS coordinators preparing for SafeWork or WorkSafe rural inspections
- →Rural workforce labour-hire companies placing shearers and shed staff
- →Agricultural training organisations (RTOs) delivering AHC32419 Certificate III in Shearing
What you receive
- ✓CIH-reviewed editable DOCX SWMS template, fully customisable with your business details and site-specific controls
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT WHS/OHS Regulations
- ✓Comprehensive hazard register with risk matrix scoring (likelihood × consequence) pre-populated for shearing operations
- ✓Worker sign-on register meeting WHS Regulation r39 record-keeping requirements
- ✓Pre-start daily toolbox talk template addressing weather, sheep condition and shed defects
- ✓Plant pre-use inspection checklist for handpieces, overhead gear and wool press
- ✓Emergency response and remote-area first-aid annex including Q-fever and laceration protocols
- ✓Delivery within 24 hours of payment via secure email link
Worked example
A wool-growing PCBU near Hay, NSW engages a shearing contractor for a 6,000-head main shear. The station manager downloads this SWMS, populates the site details (shed location, nearest hospital, UHF channel, mobile coverage notes) and adds two site-specific controls: a sheep handler installed at stand 3 to reduce catch-and-drag load, and a documented heat stress trigger requiring smoko extension when shed temperature exceeds 35°C. The contractor's leading hand walks each shearer, shed hand and presser through the SWMS at the pre-start meeting on day one, and each worker signs the register. On day three, a SafeWork NSW inspector attends following a notifiable incident at a neighbouring property. The inspector requests evidence of risk management for hazardous manual tasks and animal handling. The PCBU produces the signed SWMS, the hazard register, training records and the daily toolbox talk log — demonstrating compliance with WHS Act s19 primary duty and consultation under s47. No improvement notice is issued.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — s19 primary duty, s32 Category 2 offences, s47–49 consultation
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 — Part 3.1 managing risks, Part 4.2 hazardous manual tasks, Part 3.5 plant
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC) and OHS Regulations 2017 — equivalent duties for Victorian sheds
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022
- Pastoral Award 2020 — working hours, breaks and accommodation standards for shearing teams
- Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) — zoonotic disease notification obligations
- Australian Immunisation Handbook — Q-fever vaccination recommendations for at-risk occupations
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for shearing if it isn't 'construction work'?
While shearing is not captured by WHS Regulation r291 (which applies to High Risk Construction Work), the PCBU still has a duty under WHS Regulation Part 3.1 to identify hazards, assess risks and document controls. A SWMS is the recognised vehicle for meeting this duty in shearing — and is what SafeWork and WorkSafe inspectors expect to see during a rural inspection.
Does this SWMS cover all eight Australian states and territories?
Yes. The included state-specific legislation schedule maps controls to NSW, QLD, VIC (OHS Regulations 2017), WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT regulations. Victoria and WA have non-harmonised regimes, and the schedule addresses both.
Who signs the SWMS — the station owner or the shearing contractor?
Both. Under WHS Act s46, where multiple PCBUs share a duty (the landholder PCBU and the shearing contractor PCBU), they must consult, cooperate and coordinate. In practice, the contractor typically authors and signs the SWMS as the duty-holder for the work activity, and the landholder co-signs as the host PCBU. Each shearer, shed hand and presser then signs the worker sign-on register before commencing.
How often should the SWMS be reviewed?
Review whenever there is a change to the work (new equipment, new shed layout, different mob), after any incident or near-miss, when a worker raises a concern, or at minimum annually. Document the review date on the SWMS cover page — inspectors check this.
Does the SWMS address Q-fever and zoonotic disease risk?
Yes. The hazard register and controls section explicitly address Q-fever (Coxiella burnetii), orf and leptospirosis, with reference to the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommendation for pre-exposure Q-fever vaccination of shearers, shed hands and classers.
Can I edit the SWMS to add my own site-specific controls?
Yes — the document is delivered as a fully editable DOCX. You are expected to add site-specific details (shed address, emergency contacts, nearest hospital, named workers) and any additional controls identified during your own consultation with workers, as required under WHS Act s47.