Security Involving Service Personnel

Hands and feet can move pathogens from one location to another. Sanitise them before service personnel leave a farm and again before they enter a premise where birds are kept.

Boots should be sanitised inside and outside before using them on another farm. To avoid having to wear wet boots, have several pairs available. Heavy-duty disposable plastic overboots are a suitable alternative.

Service vehicles should always be cleaned inside and out, including vacuuming the interior passenger area and the car trunk. It is important to develop a sensitivity to the presence and spread of micro-organisms.

Caretakers should not ride in vehicles going between buildings or between farms, including feed trucks, chick buses and egg trucks. Each vehicle should have a sturdy bucket, a container with a good brand of disinfectant (preferably phenolic acids), a stiff brush and a supply of water.

Arriving at the farm, a flock supervisor or veterinarian should mix water and disinfectant in the bucket. Even if boots have already been sanitised, wearers should:

• step into the bucket
• brush their boots
• wash their hands before entering the premises.

When leaving the farm, service personnel should:

• wash their boots again, inside and outside
• place boots in a bag with the used coverall
• wash areas where necropsy has been performed
• sanitise hands.

More specific biosecurity information

• Overview
• Traffic control
• Access restrictions
• Litter security