Biosecurity Guidance - business visitors, contractors and utility workers
The below guidance is aimed at business visitors, contractors and utility workers on or near a farm or similar premises.
1. Visitors to farm properties and/or buildings where farm animals or crops, etc are kept, for example business visitors, contractors, and utility workers, need to be aware of their role in helping the community combat the transmission of animal and plant diseases. Visitors to farm properties and/or buildings where farm animals or crops, etc are kept, for example business visitors, contractors, and utility workers, need to be aware of their role in helping the community combat the transmission of animal and plant diseases. Visitors to farm properties and/or buildings where farm animals or crops, etc are kept, for example business visitors, contractors, and utility workers, need to be aware of their role in helping the community combat the transmission of animal and plant diseases.
2. The term biosecurity describes the working practices adopted to prevent disease occurring or spreading between farm or similar premises e.g. livestock markets. The term biosecurity describes the working practices adopted to prevent disease occurring or spreading between farm or similar premises e.g. livestock markets. A common sense approach is required.
3. There are two broad farm types - livestock e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs, farmed deer and arable e.g. crops and plants. A mixture is also possible. The following precautions form the basis of guidance followed by Officials of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department in the absence of an outbreak of a notifiable animal and/or plant disease. The detailed guidance followed by officials is available in Annex A. Business visitors, contractors and/or subcontractors are encouraged to follow these guidelines.
4. It is very important to avoid careless behaviour by business visitors, contractor and/or sub-contractors' employees. It is very important to avoid careless behaviour by business visitors, contractor and/or sub-contractors' employees. The risk of spreading disease must be minimised; the consequences for Scotland and further a field can be significant.
General Guidelines
5. Business visitors, contractors and/or sub-contractors should contact the farmer or representative first to arrange the visit and follow the biosecurity advice given in respect of the relevant land/premises.. Business visitors, contractors and/or sub-contractors should contact the farmer or representative first to arrange the visit and follow the biosecurity advice given in respect of the relevant land/premises..
6. Establish what washing and disinfection facilities are available, and seek information from the farmer on the precautions to be taken at the location concerned.
7. Establish whether there are any Separation Areas for controlling the movement of animals. These areas are governed by stricter disease control measures.
8. If you are visiting the farm premises as a representative of any organisation, you should ensure that your clothes are not muddy and that your shoes/boots have been cleaned and then disinfected. If you are visiting the farm premises as a representative of any organisation, you should ensure that your clothes are not muddy and that your shoes/boots have been cleaned and then disinfected. This is particularly important if visiting a number of farms.
9. Business visitors, contractor and/or subcontractor vehicles, including those shared/hired, should be kept clean (inside and outside) to reduce the risk of spreading any disease when travelling to and from farm premises. Business visitors, contractor and/or subcontractor vehicles, including those shared/hired, should be kept clean (inside and outside) to reduce the risk of spreading any disease when travelling to and from farm premises.
10. Vehicles should be parked on hard standing, not in any fields containing livestock and should not be driven through fields which have or have recently had stock in them, to the extent that this is feasible without severely limiting access. Vehicles should be parked on hard standing, not in any fields containing livestock and should not be driven through fields which have or have recently had stock in them, to the extent that this is feasible without severely limiting access.
11. Ensure that gates are left as they are found, as per the Scottish Executive's Biosecurity Code.
12. Never feed animals or leave food, litter or associated packaging around where animals can eat it, including in adjacent fields.
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