Display of Low-Risk Exotic Invertebrates Self Assessment Checklist

The information provided in this checklist will help you evaluate the physical and operational components of your facility as described in the Addendum for Containment Zones where Low-Risk Exotic Invertebrates are Displayed.

Facility:

Postal Address:

Tel:
E-mail:
Fax:
Website:

Room(s) / Building(s):

Type of Facility:

check box Greenhouse
check box Laboratory
check box Other:

Contact Information:

1) Facility Supervisor

  • Name:
  • Title:
  • Department:
  • Address:
  • Phone number:
  • Fax number:
  • E-mail:
  • Language preference: check box English / check box Français

  • Signature:   Date:

2) Biosafety Officer (or equivalent)

  • Name:
  • Title:
  • Department:
  • Address:
  • Phone number:
  • Fax number:
  • E-mail:
  • Language preference: check box English / check box Français

  • Signature:   Date:

Physical and Operational Components

The following tables describe physical and operational containment requirements for displays, such as conservatories, public displays and mobile exhibits, where low-risk exotic invertebrates are held for public display purposes.

The following symbols are used:

Required Required
Recommended Recommended1

Structure, Location and Access
Q# Components Display Yes No Comments
1 Appropriate security should be provided for the building. Recommended check box check box  
2 Signage should be installed at the containment zone point(s) of entry indicating contact information and entry requirements. Recommended check box check box  
3 Signage should be posted on the display case(s) indicating contact information and list of organism(s) including species. Recommended check box check box  
4 Access to the containment zone should be provided via self-closing doors.
NOTE: not applicable for mobile exhibits.		 Required check box check box  
5 Access to the containment zone should be provided via lockable doors. Recommended check box check box  
6 Access to the containment zone should be provided through an anteroom or via a darkened corridor in order to deter insects from exiting the containment zone. Inner anteroom door should be fitted with a forced-air curtain. Multiple sets of overlapped flaps hung from the ceiling (at least 1m apart) can be used to create an anteroom. Recommended check box check box  
7 Audible alarms that are activated when emergency exit doors are opened should be provided when applicable. Alarmed emergency exit doors that open only from the inside should be provided. “Emergency Exit Only” signage should be posted on the exterior and interior of the emergency exit doors to deter unauthorized access.
NOTE: not applicable for mobile exhibits		 Recommended check box check box  
8 Dedicated clothing for authorized personnel, if worn, should be stored separately from street clothing. Recommended check box check box  
9 Containment zones, including greenhouses and screenhouses, should be designed to withstand extremes of local weather (i.e snow and ice loads, as well as wind, windborne debris and hail). Recommended check box check box  
10 Work and/or rearing/eclosion areas must be located within the containment zone. Required check box check box Specify
check boxwithin display zone
check boxoutside display zone
11 Display cases (e.g. terrarium) to be screened, sealed or kept closed. Required check box check box  

 

Containment Perimeter
Q# Components Display Yes No Comments
12 Effective and acceptable means of waste treatment/disposal (e.g., hot/cold treatment) are to be located within the containment zone, or procedures are to be in place to safely transport waste to the treatment/disposal area. Required check box check box  
13 The containment perimeter to have continuous floor, ceiling and wall surfaces to form a barrier against the ingress or egress of invertebrates, including all windows, doors and service penetrations into the area. Required check box check box  
14 Adequate supplies (i.e., spare window panels, glazing and screening materials) should be available for emergency repair of greenhouse and display case(s) panels. Recommended check box check box  

 

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Q# Components Display Yes No Comments
15 Containment zone air supply and exhaust vents are to be equipped with appropriate mesh screening to prevent escape of invertebrates.
NOTE: not applicable for mobile exhibits.		 Required check box check box  

 

Facility Services
Q# Components Display Yes No Comments
16 A handwashing sink should be located within, and near the point of exit, of work and/or rearing/eclosion areas.
NOTE: not applicable for mobile exhibits.		 Recommended check box check box  
17 Soil traps, or other means to prevent escape of invertebrates, to be installed in drains as required. Required check box check box  
18 Containment zone personnel to comply with all conditions specified on permits to import. Required check box check box  

 

Operational Practices
Q# Components Display Yes No Comments
19 Access to rearing/eclosion areas to be limited to authorized containment zone personnel only. Required check box check box  
20 A contact person to be designated for the containment zone. Required check box check box  
21 Records of all imported invertebrates in the containment zone to be kept up-to-date and maintained for three years. Required check box check box  
22 Personnel to be trained on invertebrate-associated hazards and the precautions necessary to prevent their release. Personnel to demonstrate evidence that they know and understand the required precautions. Required check box check box  
23 Training records to be documented. Required check box check box  
24 Refresher and retraining programs to be provided as appropriate. Required check box check box  
25 Dedicated clothing, properly fastened, should be worn by containment zone personnel in work and/or rearing/eclosion areas. Recommended check box check box  
26 Containment zone personnel to remove dedicated clothing, if worn, when exiting the work and/or rearing/eclosion areas. Recommended check box check box  
27 All invertebrates to be rendered non-viable prior to disposal. Required check box check box Specify method:
28 Good practices to be employed to prevent the escape of invertebrates (i.e., inspecting for hitchhikers on exit). Required check box check box  
29 Doors to be kept closed to reduce the potential movement of invertebrates. Required check box check box  
30 Containment zone should be locked when unoccupied. Access to receiving and rearing containment zone should be limited to authorized containment zone personnel. Recommended check box check box  
31 Display case(s) to be kept locked when used as a public display exhibit.
NOTE: not applicable for butterfly exhibits.		 Required check box check box  
32 Eating, chewing gum, drinking, smoking, storing of food and utensils, storing of personal belongings, applying cosmetics, and inserting or removing contact lenses should not occur in work and/or rearing/eclosion areas. Recommended check box check box  
33 For personnel in work and/or rearing/eclosion areas, long hair is to be tied back or restrained so that it cannot come into contact with hands, specimens, containers or equipment. Recommended check box check box  
34 For transportation out of the containment zone, all invertebrates must be moved or transported in containers that are secure, leak-proof and not easily broken. The containers may only be opened within a containment zone that provides the appropriate containment level for the invertebrate(s) in question. Required check box check box  
35 Contaminated materials and equipment are to be properly cleaned and decontaminated before leaving the containment zone for servicing or disposal. Required check box check box Specify method of decontamination:
36 All unintentionally introduced invertebrates are to be rendered non-viable as soon as they are detected. A follow-up to determine how the introduction occurred and implementation of measures to prevent future introductions is recommended. Required check box check box  
37 Good sanitation practices should be implemented when working with invertebrates. These practices include:
  • treating all plants and soils as if they are infected/infested;
  • minimizing entry of personnel into work and/or rearing/eclosion areas;
  • wearing gloves when handling invertebrates in work and/or rearing areas, or when cleaning insectariums, as appropriate;
  • washing hands before leaving the containment zone work and/or rearing/eclosion areas, and at any time after handling invertebrates and/or materials known or suspected to be contaminated with plant invertebrates, if this poses a risk of inadvertently spreading invertebrates;
  • cleaning and decontaminating work surfaces as appropriate with a suitable disinfectant;
  • cleaning and decontaminating display case(s) after use, or using disposables that are decontaminated and discarded after use;
  • eliminating unwanted invertebrates using a validated and acceptable means of waste treatment/disposal (i.e., hot/cold treatment, autoclave);
  • inspecting for, and removing and destroying, host plants infected or infested with unwanted invertebrates;
  • using good housekeeping practices to keep the area neat, clean and free of dead plant material and unwanted plants and invertebrates; and
  • using dedicated cleaning equipment (e.g. brooms, mops, garbage cans) within the containment zone.
 Recommended check box check box  
38 Autoclave, if used for the destruction of invertebrates, is to be regularly monitored using biological indicators to ensure efficacy (i.e., consider weekly or monthly monitoring, depending on the frequency of use of the autoclave). Monitoring records must be kept for three years. Required check box check box  
39 Accidental release or escape of invertebrate(s) from the containment zone must be reported to the containment zone supervisor in addition to the Plant Health Science Division (CFIA), and remedied as soon as possible. Written reports of such incidents must be maintained for three years, and the results of incident investigations used for continuing education. Required check box check box  
40 An effective bird, rodent, weed and plant pest control program is to be maintained to prevent entry and eliminate undesired pests from the containment zone. Required check box check box  

1Recommended items are optional, depending upon the nature of the pest(s) requiring containment.