Shearers adjust to the COVID-19 ‘new normal’ of masks, rapid antigen tests and limiting shed visitors

WA’s already strapped-for-staff shearing industry is being rocked by COVID-19, with rapid antigen tests, masks, and limiting shed visitors proving valuable tools in the fight against the spread of the virus. WA Shearing Industry Association president Darren Spencer said COVID-19 had gradually made its way into shearing sheds since the WA border opened on March 3, with reports of positive cases in teams at Pingelly, Narrogin, Wagin, Quindanning, Kojonup, Katanning and Tambellup. Mr Spencer urged shearers not to work if they were feeling unwell and to test negative before returning to the stand. “Some of these teams (with positive cases) share workers, which may want to be reviewed by contractors during this peak infectious time,” Mr Spencer said. Mr Spencer — who runs Spencer Shearing Service in Lake Grace — said his shearing team avoided any COVID-19 cases so far, but he had been supplying staff with free rapid antigen tests as a risk mitigation strategy. “I am advising my staff to practice social distancing and to manage any local community spread the best they can,” he said. Parsons Shearing contractor Mark Parson, whose business is based at Pingelly, said five of his shearers and five shed hand staff had COVID-19 earlier this month after a close contact brought the virus from Perth. “My staff tested positive at the beginning of March and were in isolation for seven days before testing negative,” he said. “It has cost me two weeks of work, but I expect to make it up soon.” Mr Parsons said he had encouraged his staff to be more cautious with social contacts and to make sure they wore masks when they came in contact with the general public. “I am advising my staff to take regular rapid antigen tests,” he said. “Its the new normal and we accept that. “The virus has at least come at the right time, with the busy shearing season begins to wind down towards the end of April.” Quindanning-based Crackers Contracting principal Mark Buscomb said two of his shearing team staff tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago. “They were infected from close social contacts,” he said. “Feeling ill, they took a rapid antigen test which were positive.” Mr Buscomb said he was already short four shearers, but had managed to keep on schedule with four weeks left to finish the busy season. As part of a risk assessment strategy, Mr Buscomb has advised staff to wear masks in public and if feeling ill, that staff member should take a test and not report to work if positive. The regional spread of COVID-19 has also forced the cancellation of three of WA’s main shearing competitions so far. This included Wagin Woolorama (March 10-11), the Pingelly Shears (April 2) and the Williams Gateway Expo (April 9). The coordinators of each competition said the risk of COVID-19 infection was too great for participants, particularly when the shearing industry was already experiencing a shortage of staff. WA Competitive Shearing Association president Greg Drew said it would be a wait and see if there would be further cancellations of regional shearing competitions. “I did think that once the Wagin Woolorama shearing competition was cancelled, the regional competitions would follow (and be cancelled),” he said. “We hope we can send a minimum open shearing team of three shearers and two wool handlers to the Australian National Championships at Bendigo in October, to represent WA. “Bendigo will decide the Australian team that will be eligible to compete at the World Shearing Championships in Scotland next year.” A group of five wool and sheep industry groups released a best-practice guide earlier this year for farmers and shearing teams to refer to when planning for and dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks in sheds. The group — which included WASIA and the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia — encouraged shearers to maintain a 1.5m distance between staff, implement and follow strict hygiene regimes, and over communicate with both shearing shed farmers and farmers. Some of the suggestions included using every second shearing stand, providing individual rooms for overnight jobs, separating shearing gear, and limiting visitors to the shearing sheds. The Shearing Contractors’ Association of Australia also distributed thousands of 3500 rapid antigen tests to members in January, including to its members in WA.