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Greenhouse Vegetable Sector Biosecurity Guide
4.0 Education, Training and Communication

Target Outcome:

People entering or working within a place of production respect the biosecurity measures in place.

Benefits: A well developed, communicated and implemented training program will provide employees with an understanding of the importance of proactive biosecurity. Communicating the necessary biosecurity measures to visitors entering the place of production will allow them to complete their work while minimizing the risk of pest spread.

Risks

Employees

All employees, regardless of whether they are working in the packing house or the production area, are part of the team and should be provided with the basic knowledge of biosecurity. It is also important to train all employees, as pests may spread from the production area to the packing house or the reverse. All employees should be provided with a general knowledge of pests so they can identify pests and know the protocol to report a pest detection. Periodic training should be given to employees to provide updated information regarding emerging pests and any changes to the biosecurity plan.

It is also important for all employees to have a general understanding of the pathways of pest transmission. This will help employees implement the necessary biosecurity measures to mitigate the risks of pest introduction and spread throughout their day-to-day activities. It may also be important for employees to know the pathways of transmission so they can implement biosecurity measures between their place of residence and the place of production. For example, if an employee shares living space with an employee from another greenhouse, nursery or floriculture place of production biosecurity measures may be required.

Specific employees of the place of production may be given training to manage pests detected in the place of production. This may include working with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist, confirming the identification of a pest, deciding on and implementing the treatment of the pest.

Visitors

Prior to their entry into the place of production visitors should be given a briefing to communicate the necessary biosecurity measures that are required for the completion of their work.

Employees and Visitors

Signs are also a useful tool to help communicate biosecurity measures to both visitors and employees. Signs and any educational material should be written in plain language and translated, when necessary, to the appropriate language(s) for employees.

Make biosecurity a part of your business culture.

Education, Training and Communication Self-Assessment Checklist

Employees
Biosecurity Measure Yes Sometimes No Not Applicable
Employees are included in the process to design the biosecurity plan, as this may result in them taking more "ownership" of the plan, which may help with implementation.
Biosecurity protocols are included in the training program.
All employees are trained at the start of their employment and/or the start of the season.
All employees are provided with a general knowledge of pest identification and the protocol to report a pest detection.
All employees have a general understanding of the pest pathways of transmission.
Specific employees are given training to manage pests detected in the place of production.
Periodic training and awareness updates are given to employees to provide information such as emerging pests.
The biosecurity plan and training program are monitored, reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.
Education and communication materials are provided in the appropriate language for employees.
All employees who attend the training sign a sheet to indicate they were present.
Pest identification posters are placed in common areas such as the lunchroom and the packing house.
Employees are given education and training on the protocols for movement of equipment, people and vehicles through the place of production.
Periodic meetings are held with employees to review hand wash, footbath and wearing clean clothes protocols.
Visitors
Biosecurity Measure Yes Sometimes No Not Applicable
Visitors are briefed on biosecurity protocols that are necessary for them to complete their work.
Signs and visual aids are used to communicate biosecurity protocols within the place of production.
Plain language is used in education and communication materials and on signs.
Visitors respect the biosecurity measures for the areas of the place of production they visit by using templates or checklists to verify whether biosecurity measures have been completed.
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