We are constantly reminded that workplace accidents can happen anywhere, and people can be injured doing obscure jobs we never even think about. I was reminded of that this morning when a story out of New Zealand crossed my Cluttered Desk.
According to Radio New Zealand, WorkSafe, New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator, has partnered with “shearing legend” Sir David Fagan to get farmers and shearers looking out for risks on the job. Fagan, who retired last year after 33 years as an open-class shearer, is apparently a legend because he has won 640 finals worldwide, 16 national champion titles, five individual world championships and seven world team championships.
Clearly, the man knows his way around a sheep. With an honor title such as “Sir” applied to his name, you can tell that New Zealanders take their sheep shearing sheriously.
And the focus on safe sheep shearing is important, as WorkSafe says 129 people were severely injured on the job last year. There was no mention of how many sheep are injured on the job each year.
According to Radio NZ, Sir David said both shearers and farmers need to be careful. He said, “From a farmer’s point of view, with health and safety now the way it is, the farm track or road coming into the woolshed is really important. We’ve had incidents where vans can’t get in safely – particularly on some of the hill country”. He also pointed out that taking time to check the shed and equipment was also crucial. “One of the main things in the shed itself is the steps and walking up to the shed, the equipment in the shed mainly the shearing plant itself – some of it is getting very old. The most common accident in a shearing shed involved a lock-up of the shearing equipment. Shearers get injured with cutting or the handpiece flying around and hitting and injuring your arm.”
Clearly shearing sheep in a shabby shack is shimply shameless.
Sir David added; “If farmers are looking at upgrading the shearing plant they should make sure the plant has a safety cut out or sensor so if there is a lock-up the machine just stops so no one gets injured.”, adding, “The wool press is also a classic – always a risk there.”
One of the most poignant points of advice Fagan offered, in this authors humble opinion, was that “farmers should also make sure their sheep have fasted before shearing because a full animal is heavier and more awkward to handle, making it easier for shearers to hurt themselves”. That is a point well taken.
After all, when shlumping or schlepping sheep for shapable shaving or shearing, shrimpy is shuperior.
So as you go about your day, remember that there are people risking their health, doing important things we need but that we never ever think about. Reminding you of that is simply what I do. I wouldn’t want to shirk my responsibilities.