Wool Handler
841517 · Heavy Next-day readyDescription
Regulates the flow of sheep to be shorn, keeps the shearing shed clean and tidy, and assists with wool preparation.
Typical work tasks
- Herds sheep for shearing and keeps mobs separate during shearing; spreads fleeces on skirting tables for classing, pressing wool and branding bales.
Typical work environment
- Works outdoors in yards when herding sheep and indoors in shearing sheds on sheep farms.
- Works as part of shearing gangs.
- Predominantly works long hours mostly during spring and summer months.
- Wool-handling is often extremely hot and tiring due to its physical nature and the fact this work is generally carried out in spring and summer as sheep must be dry to shear.
- Wool production quality and health and safety requirements provide a reasonably consistent standard of workplace facilities.
Typical physical and mental demands
- Typically light to medium with occasional heavy physical demand levels.
- Constantly stands and moves beside shearers or near the sorting tables, racks or wool presses, controlling sheep flow, collecting fleeces and spreading them.
- Sitting is uncommon other than when travelling or in break periods.
- Stretches and uses arms to reach out and down to pick up and throw newly-shorn fleeces onto the sorting table. Will also roll the fleeces and place on the wool press bale.
- Bends frequently when picking up fleeces and sweeping floors.
- Frequently twists the body and neck.
- Contact with skin irritants occurs through sheep wool, such as lanolin oil and other contaminants such as thorns and dags.
- Heavy lifting, pulling or carrying is occasionally required, for instance if wool presses are operated and there is a requirement to move bales.
- Repetitive hand and arm movements are required on a frequent basis.
- The use of hand tools will include bale hooks, twine and bale needles to stitch tops on full bales in the wool-press. Will also use brooms and bale branding tools.
- Mental skills necessary include wool evaluation and practical skills.
Entry signal Reviewed
No formal entry barrier — can start without prior training. Flagged next-day ready.
Entry barrier No formal entry barrier
Licence / registration No licence required
ANZSCO skill level 5
Next-day ready Yes
How this was determined (model-generated): Nil entry requirements; wool handling learned on the job.
Entry Requirements
- Nil (ANZSCO Skill Level 5).
Further Comments
- There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.