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Prepare for wool pressing, and press wool

Level / 3
Credits / 30

PurposePeople credited with this unit standard are able to: identify and describe types of wool press, and prepare for wool pressing; press wool bales; close and brand bales of wool; and stack and store wool bales.

Subfield / Wool Harvesting
Domain / Wool Handling
Status / Registered
Status date / 21 August 2009
Date version published / 21 August 2009
Planned review date / 31 December 2014
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0052

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1The following documents provide both a source of the national standard as stated in the performance criteria, and useful background information relating to this unit standard –

Clip Preparation – Best Practice Guideline (Wellington: NZ Wool Classers Association, May 2007). Available from Meat and Wool NZ, PO Box 121, Wellington 6140.

Shearing Handbook (Christchurch: Tectra Ltd, 2007). ISBN 0-9582522-2-X. Available from Tectra Ltd., PO Box 7327, Sydenham, Christchurch 8240.

Wool Handling Handbook (Christchurch: Tectra Ltd, 2007). ISBN 0-9582522-0-3. Available from Tectra Ltd., PO Box 7327, Sydenham, Christchurch 8240.

Wool Pressing Handbook (Christchurch: Tectra Ltd, 2007). ISBN 0-9582522-3-8. Available from Tectra Ltd., PO Box 7327, Sydenham, Christchurch 8240.

Best practice guideline for the New Zealand shearing industry: A Guide for Workplaces (Wellington: Department of Labour, 2008), available from

2Definitions

On-farm procedures – the verbal and written procedures for woolshed practices.

Wool handling – may include board or table handling.

3Assessment should be carried out in a shearing shed with a flow rate of a minimum of 1000 sheep per day.

4Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and its subsequent amendments.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Identify and describe types of wool press, and prepare for wool pressing.

Performance criteria

1.1The types of wool press are identified and described in terms of their operation and safety aspects.

Rangeone of – manual wool press;

two of – powered wool press.

1.2Thework area and equipment are prepared in readiness for pressing in accordance with on-farm procedures.

Rangework area – floor clean, clear of obstructions and rubbish, space for stacking bales;

equipment – wool clips and tools, marker pen, bale hook, press pins.

1.3The wool press is checked for safe operation, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.

1.4Wool packs selected are fit for use, suitable for breed type, and free from contamination.

1.5The lines of wool and oddments are identified and confirmed with the charge wool handler, classer, or grower.

Element 2

Press wool bales.

Performance criteria

2.1Wool is pressed in accordance with the Clip Preparation – Best Practice Guideline and the Wool Pressing Handbook.

2.2Bales are pressed within the weight range in accordance with the Wool Pressing Handbook and in consultation with the grower or contractor.

2.3Lines are pressed to minimise number of bin bales.

2.4Wool pressingis carried out avoiding any unnecessary build-up of fleeces and oddment lines.

2.5Wool pressing is carried out without risk to operator and other workers, and without damage to machinery and equipment.

2.6Work area is kept in a condition that avoids contamination and allows work to carry on without unnecessary stoppages.

Rangeclean, tidy, free of obstruction and rubbish.

Element 3

Close and brand bales of wool.

Performance criteria

3.1Bales are closed securely, in a safe manner, and branded in accordance with the Wool Pressing Handbook and Clip Preparation – Best Practice Guideline.

3.2Bales are handled and unloaded from the press avoiding injury to presser, without risk to other workers and damage to bales and equipment, and in accordance with the Wool Pressing Handbook and Clip Preparation – Best Practice Guideline.

3.3Bale descriptions and documentation are maintained in accordance with the Wool Pressing Handbook, or the Clip Preparation – Best Practice Guideline, or the Wool Handling Handbook.

Element 4

Stack and store wool bales.

Performance criteria

4.1Bales are stored within the shed in a place and manner which meets safety requirements, and is in accordance with on-farm procedures.

4.2Bales are stacked in a manner which avoids risk of injury to people or damage to the bales, with the brand exposed, in preparation for transport.

4.3The area and space used for stacking bales allows shearing shed procedures to continue in accordance with on-farm procedures, and contractor’s requirements.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019