Maintain site hygiene and biosecurity
Overview
This standard covers reducing the potential for pathogenic organisms or Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) to enter or leave a site by maintaining site hygiene and biosecurity.
Effective hygiene and biosecurity arrangements are essential for curbing the spread of diseases and INNS in the land-based sector. The exact arrangements for maintaining hygiene and biosecurity will depend on the activities that are carried out on site. Maintaining biosecurity is the responsibility of everyone who enters the site, and you should encourage others, particularly visitors, contractors or customers to follow established procedures.
When working with machinery and equipment or chemicals, you must be appropriately trained and hold current certification, where required, in line with the relevant legislation.
When carrying out your work you must consider any impact it may have on the environment.
This standard is suitable for those who work in a situation where site hygiene and biosecurity must be maintained.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
- assess the risks associated with the site and the activity to be carried out
- wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- maintain the correct hygiene and biosecurity procedures for the site, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
- maintain hygiene and biosecurity measures for personnel, equipment and vehicles
- check that visitors and the drivers of vehicles use the correct hygiene and biosecurity procedures when entering and leaving the site
- follow the correct cleaning and hygiene measures in accordance with instructions and specifications
- use cleaning equipment that is suitable for the work safely and effectively
- use chemicals according to the manufacturer’s specifications regarding dilution rates, uses and health and safety precautions
- store all chemicals safely and correctly after use, in accordance with instructions and specifications
- use hygiene and biosecurity measures to avoid contamination and cross-contamination and to reduce spread while on site
- use quarantine and isolation to minimise the risk of disease introduction and spread
- recognise concerns regarding hygiene and biosecurity and take the required action
- use appropriate methods to maintain communication with colleagues and others regarding hygiene and biosecurity
- follow industry guidance and organisational procedures to prevent or minimise the impact of hygiene and biosecurity measures on the environment
- deal with waste and surplus materials from hygiene and biosecurity measures safely and correctly, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
- complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out
- the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW)
- the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the activity
- why hygiene and biosecurity are important to your industry and organisation and the consequences of not maintaining effective hygiene and biosecurity
- the industry codes of practice and organisational procedures for maintaining hygiene and biosecurity
- the importance of everyone following hygiene and biosecurity procedures
- the appropriate personal hygiene measures at work, and the consequences of not following these
- the hygiene and biosecurity procedures for visitors and vehicles entering and leaving the site
- the methods of cleaning and disinfecting the work area and equipment, in accordance with instructions and specifications
- the types of equipment required to maintain site hygiene and biosecurity and how to use these safely and correctly
- the correct and safe handling, storage and usage of chemicals, in accordance with instructions and specifications and the potential impact of the use of chemicals on the environment
- the warning signs required, their correct location and use
- how pathogenic organisms and INNS are spread, and the possible consequences for crops, animals, human health and the environment
- the use of quarantine to minimise the risk of disease introduction and isolation to minimise the spread of disease
- the possible concerns for breaches of hygiene and biosecurity, and the action to take
- why it is important to maintain effective communication with colleagues and others regarding hygiene and biosecurity
- the potential impact that hygiene and biosecurity measures could have on the environment and the ways in which these can be minimised
- the correct methods of dealing with waste and surplus materials from hygiene and biosecurity measures in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
- your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
- the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Hygiene and biosecurity procedures:
• personal hygiene procedure
• cleaning procedure
• vehicle access procedure
• personnel access procedure
Instructions and specifications:
• drawings/plans
• schedules
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturers’ guidelines
• customer requirements
• verbal instructions
Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)
Site is used to describe all parts of the work area