HATCHERY ▶▶▶
Keeping hatcheries safe during COVID-19
BY AVIAGEN I
f there is one link in the poultry supply chain that knows how to implement the best practices when it comes to hygiene, it is in the hatcheries. However, to shift focus from the birds to the workers requires a different mind-
set. The following points provide the basis for best-practice hygiene to protect hatchery workers. All measures should be applied in accordance with local government guidelines which may differ per country and can change if the spread of the coronavirus increases or subsides. • The hatchery manager should be aware of and communi- cate the latest local restrictions and advice to team mem- bers. One effective communication tool is to have a presentation on display in a communal area, such as the break room.
• All visits by non-hatchery personnel should be prohibited and normal hygiene practices heightened, including fre- quent hand washing.
• Anyone who is not feeling well and has symptoms similar to COVID-19 (which are not unlike flu symptoms) should stay away from the workplace, immediately seek medical attention and inform the hatchery manager. See the World Health Organization website for a full list of symptoms.
• It is essential to regularly sanitise all surfaces frequently touched, showers should be disinfected with antiviral and antibacterial disinfectants between each use. Toilets, in- cluding door handles, should be cleaned at more frequent intervals using antiviral and antibacterial disinfectants. Special hand-sanitising door handles (and even self-disin- fecting push door panels) are very useful.
• Signs should be placed around the hatchery and at every hand-wash station to remind everyone to follow the rec- ommended hygiene practices.
• Employees should be provided with new face masks at the beginning of each shift (and whenever required) and should wear them at all times.
• Supplies arriving at the hatchery should be treated with the greatest care as they may have passed through many hands and have come from different locations. Disinfecting all goods by fumigation, UV light or disinfectant spray is essentially recommended.
• If chickens are being dispatched to farms in plastic boxes, ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 5, 2020
Barriers can be installed at workstations where people cannot keep their distance.
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Whilst hatcheries already operate at the highest levels of bio-security to protect the birds from harmful pathogens, extra preventive measures are required to safeguard workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and beyond. Extra care is vital to protect workers, business continuity and the vital role of hatcheries in the food supply chain.
the boxes must be disinfected before they are brought back into the hatchery. Ideally, they should be washed and disinfected off site. An alternative would be to deliver birds to customers in cardboard boxes for the duration of the pandemic.
Social distancing The World Health Organization has identified social distanc- ing as the best defence against COVID-19. Different govern- ments prescribe different distances, ranging from 1 to 2 me- tres between individuals. Local government social distancing guidelines should be respected. To prevent close contact the following points can be used as a guideline.
PHOTO: AVIAGEN
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