Farm access represents the first critical control point for entry of an infectious disease organism into the farm. It is essential, therefore, to have a perimeter that discourages or prevents unauthorized entry by people and their equipment, while allowing authorized entry when certain conditions have been met. All visitors, including casual and professional, and equipment entering the area behind the access control, referred to as the Controlled Access Zone, should be subjected to conditions and procedures that will minimize the chance of a disease infecting the flock.

While all producers will agree that keeping disease out of their flock is the ultimate goal of a biosecurity program, it is equally important to keep any pathogen that may make its way onto the farm contained within the farm. Biosecurity is a two-way process.

All visitors should be strongly encouraged to comply with the entry and exit procedures required by the farm’s biosecurity procedures when entering the Controlled Access Zone. Those refusing to comply can be refused entry. Vehicles should also be kept out of the Controlled Access Zone unless absolutely necessary. If a vehicle or equipment is required to enter the Controlled Access Zone, procedures to be followed should include cleaning and, when necessary, disinfection.

People accompanying the vehicles or equipment should be required to pay attention to personal sanitation, which includes wearing clean protective outerwear, especially foot covering, and washing and sanitizing hands as much as possible. Visitor entry into the Controlled Access Zone should be through the primary access. Secondary accesses should be limited to farm use only as much as possible.

Technical Service Personnel and allied trades (hatchery, feed, veterinarians, inspectors, government regulators, equipment representatives, etc.) are important but also pose a significant threat to the biosecurity of the farm and poultry industry. The reality is that these individuals have to move from farm to farm in order to conduct their jobs. Significant efforts should be made in order to ensure that they adhere to biosecurity protocols. The producer should attempt to monitor this to ensure it is happening.

The following are recommended practices relating to farm access that enhance biosecurity on non-supply managed poultry operations:

SIGNAGE

The security of the Controlled Access Zone is strengthened by effective signage.

1. Signs should be readily visible, clean, legible and attached to the secure barrier in a location where they can be easily viewed.
2. The sign for secondary accesses should include instructions to locate the primary access.
3. The intent of the sign is to clearly communicate that the zone to be entered is a biosecure area.

Signs should be readily visible, clean, legible and attached to the secure barrier where they can be readily seen. The signs can clearly indicate that biosecurity is in effect and that access is controlled. Contact information should be part of the primary access signage and instructions to locate the primary access should be included on the secondary access signage.

VEHICLE CLEANING AND DISINFECTION SITE

All primary accesses to the Controlled Access Zone should have a cleaning and decontamination site for vehicles and personnel.
Accumulations of organic matter can harbour and protect infectious organisms that can then be transported onto or off of the premises. These accumulations should be removed to reduce the risk of disease transmission. In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, disinfection may be required to further reduce the opportunity for disease to spread to or from the premises.

1. The cleaning site should include the availability of a source of pressurized water.
2. The decontamination site should provide the potential to undertake disinfection measures as deemed necessary.
3. Contaminated wash water and disinfectants that may pollute should be contained and disposed of in a manner consistent with regulatory requirements.
4. Procedures should be available that describe how vehicles and personnel are to be cleaned and/or decontaminated.

It is important to differentiate between “Cleaning and decontamination” and “disinfection”. Cleaning and decontamination removes any dirt or organic debris that may carry disease-causing organisms from vehicles and equipment. Disinfection is another step in which the vehicle or equipment is treated with a chemical that is designed to kill viruses and bacteria. During routine operations, when there is no specific disease threat, only cleaning and decontamination is required. During a disease event, such as a Notifiable Avian Influenza outbreak, however, the additional step of disinfection will be required.FA3 “One-way traffic flow helps to prevent the transportation of pathogens.

DRIVEWAY

Where possible, all primary accesses to the Controlled Access Zone should be constructed of hard surface or gravel that prevents any persistent accumulation of pooled water.
Standing water can harbour infectious diseases that may be transported to or from the premises by vehicular traffic and people. Such protected pathogens also serve as a reservoir that may re-infect the farm after cleaning and disinfection.

1. Persistent standing water should not be evident on the driveway.
2. All driveways, particularly gravel driveways, should be maintained to prevent grades or potholes that allow the persistent accumulation of pooled water.

Driveways should be properly graded and maintained at all times. The test for an effectively maintained driveway is that there will be no standing water evident at any time. All driveways, and particularly gravel driveways, should be maintained to prevent potholes and grades in which water may accumulate.
The construction of the driveway should be adequate for the area and conditions under which it will be used. It is recommended that the driveway be planned and constructed by a reliable company. A well-constructed and engineered driveway will mean significantly less ongoing maintenance.

PERIMETER FENCE

• A perimeter fence significantly improves the ability to control access to the Controlled Access Zone, as it reduces the ability to enter the zone via any way other than designated primary and secondary entrances.
• Where feasible, farm residences should be accessed from outside the Controlled Access Zone, via a separate driveway.
• An occupied residence in the vicinity of the poultry operation is useful to provide security and to ensure that there is no inappropriate access.

GATE

• A gate is very useful in order to restrict unwanted vehicular traffic and discourage unauthorized foot traffic. Ideally, it should remain closed and latched, other than when a vehicle is passing into or out of the Controlled Access Zone. Regardless of the structure used, the barrier should be lockable. While it is not always necessary to lock the gate, it should be locked in times of biosecurity emergencies.

The preferred barrier is a fixed gate. The gate should be high enough to be visible from a car or truck cab and to prevent the vehicle from moving through without opening the gate. It should be made of sturdy, rust-resistant metal with permanently fixed posts (e.g. set in concrete) at both the hinge and latching ends. Approved biosecurity signage should be securely fixed to the gate and clearly visible to approaching traffic.

• If a gate is not feasible, then the next option could involve the use of a metal chain. The main idea here is to ensure that individuals approaching the site recognize that they are entering a different zone in terms of biosecurity. The chain should be high enough to be visible from a car or truck cab, yet low enough to prevent small vehicles from passing under it. A height of approximately 1 metre at the lowest point should be sufficient. The biosecurity signage should be securely fixed to the chain or right hand post and clearly visible to approaching traffic. If the sign is attached to the post, a reflector or sign should be attached to the chain to make it highly visible, especially at night.

LOCKED BARNS

• All poultry barn entrances should remain locked at all times that the barn is unoccupied by farm personnel. Barn entrances are high disease transmission risk areas and are the last line of defence in preventing disease transmission. It is therefore necessary to prevent inappropriate access.
• Locks need not be sophisticated items. For most doors, through which routine entry is not required (e.g. load-out doors), barrel bolts or bars operated from the inside would be sufficient. On the main entry, however, a door that is lockable from the outside is required and lockable from both sides is recommended. A simple keyed passage set would be all that is required. Once inside, it is not necessary for the worker to lock the door. For emergencies, it is advisable to have two doorways near opposite ends of the barn that are easily opened from the inside to allow rapid escape if required.