Personnel

Introduction

Your farm’s enhanced biosecurity plan will include a “Personnel” section that addresses issues such as employee entry and employee sharing, handwashing, footwear disinfection stations, visitors, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) etc.

Before writing this section of your plan, it may be useful to watch the introductory video in the Personnel Module for general background.

When writing the Personnel section of your plan you may find it useful to read examples extracted from other plans. Click on the items below to view some potential language (written as blue text in boxes) to draw from as you develop your own plan, specific for your own farm.

Example text is only a starting point and may not be appropriate for your farm or meet you state’s requirements. Also on this module’s page you will find example SOPs and log templates.

Your farm’s enhanced biosecurity plan will include a “Personnel” section that addresses issues such as employee entry and employee sharing, handwashing, footwear disinfection stations, visitors, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) etc.
Before writing this section of your plan, it may be useful to watch the introductory video in the Personnel Module for general background.

When writing the Personnel section of your plan you may find it useful to read examples extracted from other plans. Click on the items below to view some potential language (written as blue text in boxes) to draw from as you develop your own plan, specific for your own farm. Example text is only a starting point and may not be appropriate for your farm or meet you state’s requirements. Also on this module’s page you will find example SOPs and log templates.

This module will guide you through:

  • Describe how personnel may cross-contaminate farm premises
  • Describe the risks associated with sharing employees between multiple premises
  • Describe the risks associated with employees owning backyard livestock or poultry
  • Describe the entry and PPE procedures that will reduce the risk of personnel cross contaminating a farm premises
  • Describe videos and other resources that can be used to train employees

Select a thumbnail to view video >

Enhanced Biosecurity

Personal Protective Equipment

Upon the activation of the site-specific Enhanced Biosecurity Plan, Enter Premises Name will use (select appropriate box and complete relevant sections on type of PPE):

Reusable PPE           Disposable PPE       Both Types 

Reusable PPE Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan

  • The biosecurity program and/or the site-specific biosecurity plan should include provisions specifically addressing procedures and biosecurity PPE for site-dedicated personnel.
  • The plan should likewise address the procedures and biosecurity PPE for non-farm personnel.
  • All reusable PPE is in good condition and free of holes, cracks, or other signs of excessive wear.
  • Damaged items will be removed from circulation.
  • All reusable PPE remains on the premises. If reusable PPE must lease the site (e.g. for laundering you must demonstrate all risks are mitigated.
  • Reusable PPE and employee street clothing must be separated from each other at all times. If dedicated street clothing is utilized it must be marked and easily identified as premises specific reusable PPE.
  • C&D protocols are in place for all reusable PPE (SOP must be included).
  • Reusable footwear will remain inside the premise perimeter when not in use and undergo C&D after each use.
  • Reusable PPE dispensaries must be stocked with at least 3 sets of coverall type of PPE per employee.

Describe how you will address the above requirements including type of reusable PPE, who will use, storage location, and general protocol to ensure condition and C&D:

  • Reusable PPE including cloth coveralls and rubber boots will be used by regular employees. These coveralls and rubber boots are site-specific PPE and remain on the property at all times.
  • Employees will change into freshly laundered coveralls and disinfected boots at the beginnng of each work shift or after they have been involved with a high risk procedure discribed below including C&D of vehicles or poultry houses.  
  • The emplyee changing room (which is also the PPE dispensary) is indicated on the facilitie’s biosecurity map and located off the employee break room. Employees will not cross the Perimeter Boundry Area Perimeter without having donned farm-specific coveralls and swapped street shoes out for farm-specific rubber boots.
  • At a minimum the changing room/PPE dispensary will be stocked with three sets of overalls and one set of rubber boots per emplyee.
  • Reusable coveralls will be laundered on-site. Dirty coveralls will be deposited in a plastic-lined hamper labeled “Dirty Coveralls” where they will be retrieved daily for laundering on the farm using hot water and with detergent. The coveralls are then dried on the “High Heat / Sanitize” setting of the dryer.
  • Spare sets of overalls and boots, in a variety of sizes, will be kept in the dispensary for employees if coveralls or boots need immediate replacement. Stock availability for these replacement items will be confirmed daily by the employee picking up coveralls for laundering.
  • Employees are instructed to discard damaged or warn coveralls or boots in the bin marked “Used PPE” (see below). Employees will replace damage coveralls and rubber boots from the spare set inventory and report the exchange to their supervisor.
  • Rubber boots will be hosed off and disinfected prior to entering the changing area. This process is discribed in footware disinfection section. Reusable footwear will remain inside the perimeter when not in use.
  • All resuseable PPE will remain on the farm, and when not in use, or being laundered will be stored in the employee changing room.

Disposable PPE Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan during Enhanced Biosecurity Plan activation:

  • The biosecurity program and/or the site-specific biosecurity plan should include provisions specifically addressing procedures and biosecurity PPE for site-dedicated personnel.
  • The plan should likewise address the procedures and biosecurity PPE for non-farm personnel.
  • Employee changing areas are stocked with necessary PPE for workers entering the farm.
  • PPE Dispensaries are stocked with a minimum of 10 sets of disposable PPE for each disposable PPE type utilized by the premises.
  • Disposable PPE dispensaries and disposal bins and are available at each PBA and LOS Access Point (at a minimum).
  • Used disposable PPE will be bagged and sealed prior to removal from the premises.
  • All Visitors must be trained on the proper use of Disposable PPE.

 

Describe the general protocol for use of disposable PPE including type of PPE, who will use, storage locations, locations for disposal, and who will ensure supply levels:

  • Visitors will be required to don disposable PPE before crossing the Perimeter Boundry Area Perimeter line into the facility. This includes Tyvek coveralls, booties, and gloves.
  • A selection of unused disposable PPE, including Tyvek coveralls, booties, and gloves, will be stocked in the emplyee changing room. The employee changing room will serve as dispensary for disposable PPE and well as an access point for crossing the PBA perimeter. Confirmation of availability of disposable PPE will be confirmed daily by the employee picking up coveralls for laundering.
  • Upon entering the facility, all visitors will be accompanied by a farm employee to assist them with selection and donning of disposable PPE and compliance with hand washing and footwear disinfection requirements.
  • Visitors will change out of the used disposable PPE after having completed their tasks on the farm.
  • Upon exiting the facility, all visitors will be accompanied by a farm employee to assist them with doffing and proper disposal of used PPE.
  • Visitors will be instructed to discard disposable coveralls or boots in a bin clearly marked “Used PPE”. The bin will be lined with a large heavy-duty plastic garbage bag.
  • The bin will be checked daily by the employee picking up coveralls for laundering. Used disposable PPE will be collected when the bin is full.
  • Used disposable PPE will be sealed in the plastic garbage bag. The bag will be discarded with the farm’s normal trash pickup, which is removed to a local county landfill.

Hand washing and sanitizing stations Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan:

Note:  Each LOS, PPE changing area, PBA access point, processor, restroom/breakroom, and PPE station require a hand sanitization station.

Describe where hand washing/sanitization stations are located and the general protocol for ensuring the stations are fully stocked:

  • Hand sanitizing stations will be located inside the employee changing area (a Perimeter Boundry Area access point) and at all PPE stations and foot baths. This includes the entry to each of the enclosed poultry houses when emplyee cross the internal Line of Separation.
  • As required by state publich health OSHA regulations, handwashing materials including soap and running water are already availabe in the employee restrooms.
  • Confirmation of availability of soap and paper towels for handwashing stations and hand sanitizer for hand sanitation stations will be confirmed daily by the employee picking up coveralls for laundering.
  • Signage is placed at each hand washing / sanitizatiion station in English and Spanish instructing employees or visitors to wash or sanitize prior to entering the area.

Footwear Disinfection Station Requirements:

  • All individuals who enter the PBA on foot or exit their vehicle inside the PBA will ensure that visible contamination on their footwear, clothing, or exposed skin does not enter or exit the premises.
  • All changing areas, break rooms, PBA access points, and LOS access points will have a footwear and/or foot cover dispensary and disinfection station.
  • Footwear disinfection station placement will ensure the station will not be bypassed.
  • A maintenance log for the footwear disinfection stations must be kept.
  • Disinfectant will be changed and checked for proper concentration per manufacturer instructions, or more frequently if it appears dirty.
  • All employee training on the proper use and maintenance of footwear disinfection stations will be recorded in the Biosecurity Training Log.
  • All visitors must be trained on the proper use of the footwear disinfection stations and the training should be noted in the visitor log.

Describe how you will address the above requirements:

  • See “SOP: Footwear Disinfection Station Set Up and Use,” in the Appendix.
  • Employees will change out of their street footware into farm specific disinfected rubber boots before crossing the access point to the PBA in the employee changing room.
  • Visitors will be required to change out of their street footware into farm specific disinfected rubber boots or will be provided with plastic disposable booties before crossing the access point to the PBA in the employee changing room
  • The placement of footwear disinfection stations will not allow any person to bypass the station. This includes all vehicle and pedestrian gates and LOS access points.
  • The location of the footwear disinfection stations is discribed below and indicated on the farm’s biosecurity map. This includes:
    • In the employee entry area (PPE dispensary)
    • At the vehicle C&D station
    • Internal LOS boundaries at the entry of each poultry house
    • Entry and exit from the egg room
  • Each footwear disinfection station will be set up with the following:
    • A metal or plastic grid on which the employee or visitor will stand while disinfecting the boots.
    • A garden hose which will be used to hose off visable dirt or manure.
    • A bucket containing disinfectant the employee or visitor will step into with clean boots.
    • A long handled brush which the employee or visitor will srub all surfaces of the rubber boots.
  • A maintenance log for the footwear disinfection stations will be kept. Disinfectant will checked for proper concentration and changed as needed in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
  • 1-Stroke Environ or other disinfectant as directed by the regulatory Incident Management Team.
  • See the foot bath maintenance log template in the Appendix.
  • All employee training on the proper use and maintenance of footwear disinfection stations is noted in the SFS Biosecurity Training Log. l.

Employees Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan:

NOTE: Sharing employees between or among premises is a high-risk practice that increases the risk for disease transmission and is discouraged whenever possible. In the event of an animal disease outbreak that requires activation of your Enhanced Biosecurity Plan, the utilization of shared personnel will be prohibited on infected premises, contact premises, or suspect premises.

If the premises share employees, the following requirements must be met:

  • All participating premises will notify the IMT that they are sharing employees and provide contact information for all participating premises.
  • There is a minimum 24 hours down time for employees shared between premises.
  • Shared employees must shower and change clothes before entering each premises.
  • Each participating premises will record procedures on how personnel will move from one premises to another without spreading disease (e.g. use of PPE, disinfectants, foot baths, C&D activities).
  • The training records related to employee movement will be recorded in the Biosecurity Training Log.
  • All premises sharing personnel could be treated as a single premises.
  • Any participating premises found noncompliant in the event of an outbreak will cause all members to be non-compliant.
  • If one member becomes infected with an FAD/NAD, the IMT may impose movement restrictions on all participating premises.

Does this premises share employees with other premises? 

Yes   

  No

Enter Premises Name Shares Employees With:

Premises Name Premises Type NPIN Address Phone Number

Describe job duties and how employees are shared.  Include written SOPs to mitigate the associated risks:

  • During routine, non-outbreak operations this facility rarely, if ever, shares employees with other animal or poultry facility.
  • During the period in which the farm’s enhanced biosecurity plan has been activated, the farm will not share employees with any other animal or poultry facility.
  • If a critical staffing issue arises (such replacement staff following a medical emergency) and non-regular employees must be used on the facility, farm management will first notify the regulatory Incident Management Team for instructions on how to proceed.

Visitor Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan:

NOTE: Controlling and documenting visitors onto the farm is essential to prevent diseases from entering the farm. Any visitor who crosses the PBA must sign and complete the visitor log.         

  • Visitors will always be accompanied by a premises employee and will have limited access to the premises. No unauthorized access will be allowed.
  • Management will maintain a visitor log that is available for review.
  • Management will maintain an animal/product movement log that verifies and records Product Movement Permit information and documents the number and origin of animals, products, or items.
  • Everyone entering the PBA on foot or exiting their vehicle inside the PBA arrives at the premises having showered and wearing clean clothing and footwear.
  • Visitors entering biosecure areas will use PPE, footbaths, and hand sanitizer as directed.
  • All visitors who receive authorization to enter the PBA will have read the premises visitor biosecurity protocol and signed the Visitor Log, acknowledging their understanding and willingness to abide by these protocols.
  • Visitor Access to the poultry houses will be restricted.
  • Visitors will not be allowed to access the facility or grounds if they have had contact with susceptible species or rendering facilities in the preceding 72 hours.

 

Describe how you will address the above requirements:

Visitors: General

  • Access to the premises will be limited to employees and authorized personnel including, but not limited to, service crews, inspectors, veterinarians, and delivery trucks.
  • Visitors will be limited and unauthorized access will not be allowed.
  • There is a clearly marked, designated employee/visitor parking area outside of the perimeter, away from animal areas.
  • Employee and visitor vehicles that have NOT been cleaned and disinfected will not enter the operation and will be parked in this area.
  • Everyone arriving at the operation will be required to have showered and wearing clean, freshly laundered clothing and clean footwear. Before crossing the PBA Perimeter on foot or exiting their vehicle inside the Perimeter they will have to changed into farm-specific reusable or disposable coveralls and disinfected rubber boots.
  • Footbaths will be used by all persons entering the premises and biosecure areas.
  • All visitors who receive authorization for entry will have read the facilities Egg Farm Visitor Biosecurity Protocol and signed the Visitor Log, acknowledging their understanding and willingness to abide by this protocol.
  • Visitors will not be allowed to access the facility or grounds if they have had contact with susceptible species or rendering facilities in the preceding 3 days.
  • All visitors will be accompanied by an employee during Enhanced Biosecurity Plan activation.
  • The employee accompanying the visitor will ensure that they properly don and doff the appropriate PPE before crossing the PBA perimeter onto the facility.
  • Visitors will be generally prohibited from crossing a LOS into poultry house/pen, unless it is absolutely necessary. In such a situation (veterinary inspection, critical infrastructure repair) in addition to donning farm-specific PPE they will bring into the house only single-use or cleaned and disinfected tools. The ,

 

Visitor Log:

The visitor logs, blank & signed Visitor Biosecurity Protocol are located in the main office. All movements including people, animals, animal product, animal feed, manure, deliveries,

other vehicles, and equipment, across the perimeter are recorded in the visitor log or animal/animal product movement log. This document is kept in the main office and is available for review upon request. An example Visitor Log can be found in the Appendix. If the animals, animal products, and other items are moving under a Product Movement Permit, premises management should verify the hauler’s copy of the Product Movement Permit. Management will log the number and origin of the animals, products, or items.

 

Signage For Visitors:

All premises signage will be in English and Spanish. All premises gates and personnel entrances will have signage to restrict the movement onto the premises to essential personnel only. Separate buildings within the perimeter may have signage that designates the biosecurity requirements for entry into the building/area. Other signage shall be placed to direct personnel & visitors to:

  • Location of visitor check in (front desk)
  • Location of PPE Dispensary
  • Location of Foot Baths
  • Location of Vehicle C&D Station
  • Location of Non-essential pickups and deliveries

 

Hauler Biosecurity Requirements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan:

  • Haulers who enter the perimeter must be in compliance with all biosecurity protocols established for visitors to the premises.
  • Haulers for both incoming and outgoing loads must possess a valid Product Movement Permit for the products they are transporting.
  • Pick-ups and deliveries within a Control Area will be single premises only

Hauler: General

  • Haulers who enter the perimeter on foot will be in compliance with all biosecurity protocols established for visitors described above in “Visitors” section.
  • Vehicles coming onto the premises by haulers that are being used to deliver shipment or performing critical tasks (service vehicles, inspector’s vehicles, veterinary trucks, and delivery trucks) will be cleaned and disinfected before entry.
  • Haulers bringing shipments onto the premises that do not leave the cab of their cleaned and disinfected vehicles will not be required to change into farm-specific PPE.
  • Haulers for both incoming and outgoing loads will stop at either the front office or in the designated employee/visitor parking area outside of the perimeter to ensure they possess a valid Product Movement Permit for the products they are transporting. 
  • Pick-ups and deliveries within a Control Area will be allowed only with vehicles that have been cleaned and disinfected.
  • Employee and visitor vehicles that have NOT been cleaned and disinfected will not enter the operation and will be parked in the designated employee/visitor parking area.

High Risk Employee Movements during activation of Enhanced Biosecurity Plan:

Describe premise-specific employee movements that may present a disease risk that have not already been described:

High Risk Employee Activities on the Farm – tasks at higher risk of resulting in disease contamination includes but is not limited to vehicle washing, manure hauling, contact with any outside vehicles or visitors to the premises.

High Risk Employee Activities off the Farm – include owning personal “backyard” poultry, visiting other places with poultry including other farms, rendering plants, owners of backyard poultry, swap meets etc.

High Risk Employee Movement Mitigation

Describe premise-specific protocols in place to mitigate cross-contamination or disease spread by the high-risk employee movements just described:

  • If an employee has performed tasks likely to result in disease contamination (vehicle washing, manure hauling, contact with any outside vehicles or visitors to the premises), a full change of PPE will be required prior to further animal contact on the farm.
  • Employee training will include viewing the three USDA-California video vignettes that address high risk activities off the farm.
  • Employees are required to sign a statement that they will not own personal poultry and will avoid contact with them when not working at the facility.

Personnel on the Poultry Site (1-page handout)

Designed for employees this 1-page handout succinctly describes employee procedures which might be implemented on a poultry farm. Available English and Spanish

Biosecure Entry Procedure (1-page handout)

Designed for employees this 1-page handout introduces the concept of the Danish Entry system, Available in English and Spanish

The Perimeter Buffer Area (PBA) (2-page handout)

This 1-page handout available in both English and Spanish is meant to accompany the Understanding the PBA video.

Line of Separation (LOS) (2-page handout)

This 1-page handout available in both video English and Spanish  is meant to accompany the Understanding the Line of Separation video.

Example Poultry Biosecurity Arrival Agreement (1-page template)

This 1-page template agreement is an example document that visitors would read and sign before entering the farm. The document contains identical text in both English & Spanish

Example People Entry Log (1-page template)

This 1-page template documents entry of visitors entering the farm.

Example Vehicle / Equipment Entry Log (1-page template)

This 1-page template documents entry of equipment entering the farm.

Example Animal / Product Entry Log (1-page template)

This 1-page template documents entry of animals of visitors entering the farm.

Danish Entry–The Hog Barn’s Physical Line of Defenses (2-page handout)

Created by the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture this 2-page flyer describes how to implement a Danish Entry system on a commercial hog facility. Operation of Danish Entry are identical between poultry and swine facilities

Danish Entry–The Hog Barn’s Physical Line of Defenses (Poster)

Created by the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture this poster for employee area contains the same information as the handout above.

Biosecurity for All (Poultry) (2-page tri-fold)

This 2-page, tri-fold flyer Developed by California Department of Food and Agriculture was developed as an introduction to biosecurity for poultry farm employees. The flyer is also available in Spanish.

Personnel

The biosecurity program and/or the site-specific biosecurity plan should include provisions specifically addressing procedures and biosecurity PPE for site-dedicated personnel. The plan should likewise address the procedures and biosecurity PPE for non-farm personnel. The plan should also specify procedures which all personnel having had recent contact with other poultry or avian species should follow before re-entering the PBA.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards. Examples of PPE include gloves, hair nets, face masks, rubber boots, shoe covers, lab coats, eye protection, and full-body coverall suits (either disposable or reusable). PPE can be either disposable or reusable. All reusable PPE must be cleaned and disinfected between uses. PPE is necessary to help reduce the possibility of transferring infectious agents between facilities, or from one biosecure area on the premises to another.

Footwear Disinfection Station

A footwear disinfection station is a designated area where footwear can be cleaned and disinfected. This is commonly referred to as a foot bath and can be either wet or dry. The proper use and maintenance of footwear disinfection stations will help prevent the spread of contaminated material onto the premises, or between different bio-secure areas throughout the premises.

Shared Employee

A Shared Employee is an employee who works at multiple premises.

Visitor

A Visitor is anyone arriving at the premises who is not a designated employee as defined above and includes haulers of essential items, veterinarians, and regulatory staff.