Waste Management

Waste Management

The proper management of waste is essential to enteric virus prevention and control as it protects both human health and the environment. This section provides key principles and resources to guide clean-up plans for bodily fluids, proper storage of manure, appropriate handling of animal intrusion on farms and fields.

Narrow your search below by category, keyword or search term. The recommendations are organized by the following categories:

Pre-harvest: Preharvest food safety measures and interventions are implemented on the farm or in the field to prevent or reduce introduction of enteric viruses onto food products.

Harvest: Enteric virus prevention is also important during harvesting. These resources focus on proper use of equipment and tools, effective handwashing techniques, and safe food handling practices.

Post-harvest: Resource materials include management of personnel, proper clean-up and disinfection methods, and food handling education and training materials.

Waste Management Recommendations

Recommendations

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Clean-up procedures related to contamination with Enteric Viruses

Harvest

Develop a clean-up plan to manage release of bodily fluids resulting from vomiting or diarrhea as they are possible source of virus contamination

Facility Clean-Up Procedures (AFFI)

Enteric Viruses Clean-Up Infographic (AFFI)

1. Train employees on procedures to handle clean-up of contaminated surfaces and safe disposal of contaminated products (food and non-food) exposed to bodily fluid to prevent further cross contamination.

Facility Clean-Up Procedures (AFFI)

Enteric Viruses Clean-Up Infographic (AFFI)

Clean-up procedures related to contamination with Enteric Viruses

Pre-Harvest

Develop a clean-up plan to manage release of bodily fluids resulting from vomiting or diarrhea as they are possible sources of virus contamination

Employee Hygiene and Health Training (AFFI)

Facility Clean-Up Procedures (AFFI)

Enteric Viruses Clean-Up Infographic (AFFI)

Facility Clean-Up Procedures (AFFI)

Enteric Viruses Clean-Up Infographic (AFFI)

2. Establish an employee health monitoring procedure

Employee Hygiene and Health Training (AFFI)

Criteria for Fruit Harvesting

Harvest

Criteria for Fruit Harvesting

Food Safety Best Practices Guide (United Fresh)

Berry Safety Implementation Guide – English (Chile)

Berry Safety Implementation Guide – Spanish (Chile)

1. Establish a procedure to prevent harvesting overripe, decayed, or damaged fruits, fruits that have dropped to the ground, fruits damaged by animals, pests, or insects, fruits contaminated by feces.

Animal and Wildlife Monitoring Log (AFFI)

Animal Control Risk Assessment (AFFI)

2. Train workers on criteria for fruit harvesting.

Food Safety Best Practices Guide (United Fresh)

Field Inspection

Harvest

All farms and fields should be inspected prior to harvest.

Field Assessment of Animal Intrusion and Activity (California LGMA)

Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards (FDA)

Food Safety Best Practices Guide – United Fresh

1. Inspect fields for evidence of animal/pest activities, feces, damaged fruits, ripe or overripe fruits dropped on the ground, fruits damaged by flooding

Animal and Wildlife Monitoring Log (AFFI)

Farm Wildlife Assessment Log (AFFI)

Animal Control Risk Assessment (AFFI)

Maintaining Hygienic Conditions in Packing and Processing Areas

Post-Harvest

After harvest, fruits should be packed and processed under hygienic conditions

Post-Harvest Water Use – Decision Tree (Cornell)

Food Safety Best Practices Guide – United Fresh

Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards (FDA)

1. Shield these areas from intrusion by animals, birds and pests.

Pest Control for Buildings (CanadaGAP)

2. Ideally, all cleaning, packing and processing activities should occur in indoor areas which are protected by walls, doors and roof; If these areas are not sheltered appropriately and exposed to the outdoors, then install other barriers such as netting.

Animal and Wildlife Monitoring Log (AFFI)

Animal Control Risk Assessment (AFFI)

Facility Inspection and Cleaning Log (AFFI)

Unusual Occurrence Report (AFFI)

Post-Harvest Sanitation Log (Cornell)

Pest Control for Buildings (CanadaGAP)

Management of Bathroom and Restroom Facilities

Harvest

Proper management of portable toilets and grey water from handwashing

Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards (FDA)

Worker Health and Hygiene Library (AFFI)

Management of Septic Tank Units

Harvest

Documentation of Septic Tank Management

Septic System Inspection Log (Cornell)

1. Records of septic tank pumping should be maintained and completed by an authorized third-party service provider.

Septic System Inspection Log (Cornell)

Monitoring Employee Health

Harvest

Monitoring employee health conditions, especially prior to harvest, helps preclude sick employees from coming to work and potentially infecting other employees and contaminating food

Farm Food Safety Checklist for Worker Health and Hygiene (FDA)

Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan (CDC)

1. Farm management should incorporate active health monitoring systems

Farm Food Safety Checklist for Worker Health and Hygiene (FDA)

2. Operations should develop a detailed employee health monitoring procedure

Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan (CDC)

3. All health monitoring activities should be documented and stored for easy retrieval.

Checklist for Control of COVID-19 in Agricultural Facilities (Health Canada)