1. Biosecurity Training Module 4
Line of Separation
September 2015
Employees play a very important role in securing the health of the birds on a poultry site. By following specific biosecurity steps, employees can minimize the risk of infecting the birds on the site.

2. Lesson Objectives Describe the role of the Line of Separation (LOS)
List the steps to be taken when crossing the LOS
The objectives of this module include informing employees about the purpose of the Line of Separation or LOS as well as the biosecurity measures which need to be taken before and after crossing the LOS. These biosecurity measures will help prevent avian influenza virus from crossing the LOS and infecting the birds onsite.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

3. Line of Separation (LOS)
Reduces the risk of avian influenza infecting birds on a site
Respecting the LOS will reduce the risk of avian influenza virus infecting the birds onsite. By following specific biosecurity measures, employees reduce their risk of transmitting avian influenza into the barns.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

4. Line of Separation (LOS)
All animals, including wild birds, are excluded from crossing the LOS and contacting birds
Employees can ensure the LOS acts as a barrier to prevent all other animals from coming in contact with the poultry. Other animals can transmit avian influenza to the birds on a poultry site. For example, dogs entering buildings or wildlife contacting areas where poultry are housed can introduce avian influenza.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

5. Line of Separation (LOS)
The LOS is established to isolate birds from possible sources of infection. This line is normally the walls of the building plus a line in the entry to the building. A site may have as many Lines of Separation as there are buildings, or buildings connected by a hallway may all be within one Line of Separation. The LOS is represented by a red line on both diagrams. The shaded area around the LOS is the Perimeter Buffer Area.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

6. Single Entry Point
Employees and visitors use a single entry point when crossing the LOS
The LOS and biosecurity protocol for each building should be clearly defined with a single entry for employees and visitors. While the layouts of poultry sites differ, in this example, employees and visitors enter through the door and cross the line of separation. By having only one entry for crossing the LOS, it is easier to maintain compliance. In addition, coveralls or clothing and footwear can be provided at only one entrance.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

7. Biosecure Entry Biosecure entry protocol must be followed
People
Equipment
The LOS should be easily identified
Shower stall or bench are great crossover points demarcating the LOS
When people or equipment cross the LOS at the employee entry point, biosecure entry protocols need to be followed. Biosecure entry protocols are described in more detail on the following slides.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

8. Biosecure Entry: ‘Danish Entry System’
This slide demonstrates the use of a “Danish entry system” to cross the LOS within a poultry barn. The LOS is represented by a bench or a line on the floor where employees must take off their outer clothing and change into site specific clothing and wash their hands.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

9. Biosecure Entry Shower (if available) Change into site-specific:
Coveralls or clothing
Boots
Wash hands
Biosecure entry protocols for employees and visitors include changing into site-specific coveralls or clothing and boots and washing hands when crossing to the bird side of the LOS. Individuals should shower when crossing the LOS if showers are available at the site.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

10. Biosecure Entry Clean and disinfect site-specific boots
Allow boots to soak
Replace disinfectant daily
Boots should be cleaned by removing organic material. They should be soaked in disinfectant to be sanitized. To maintain the effectiveness, the disinfectant should be changed daily or more frequently if it becomes contaminated with organic matter.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

11. Multiple Buildings: Crossing the LOS
Put on site-specific clothing or coveralls and boots, wash hands
Change boots when crossing the LOS inside each barn
LOS demonstrated by red lines
When a site includes multiple poultry buildings and there is no room to store coveralls in each building, site-specific clothing or coveralls and boots may be put on in a biosecure area crossing into the PBA and the boots changed again at each barn when crossing the LOS. This protocol allows for employees to change into site-specific clothing or coveralls and boots and wash hands at one location within the PBA where room is available to store these items. However, boots still need to be changed again when crossing the LOS at the entry point to each building.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

12. Objects Crossing the LOS
All equipment and other objects that cross to the poultry side of the LOS
Must be cleaned and disinfected OR
Come from a known clean source
Employees need to follow protocols making sure all equipment and objects crossing the LOS have been cleaned and disinfected or have come from a known clean source. For example, tools entering the barn need to be cleaned and disinfected as they cross the LOS. In some instances, items ordered from a known clean source may be double boxed before arrival at the site. When the item arrives, the person on the outside of the LOS opens the outer box and empties the inner box to a person on the poultry side of the LOS.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

13. Personal Items Crossing the LOS
All personal items must be cleaned and disinfected
This applies to:
Cell phones
Jewelry
Electronics
Avian influenza can be transmitted on fomites such as cell phones, watches and keys. Therefore, these items should not be brought into poultry buildings. They either should be left in your vehicle or cleaned and decontaminated using disinfectants or heat. Cell phones may be equipped with cases which allow disinfection. They can be damaged by excessive heat.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

14. Restocking Birds Load-in area
Clean and disinfect load-in area prior to unloading birds if it extends beyond the normal LOS
Before unloading birds into a building, designate and prepare a controlled access point. If this controlled access point extends across the LOS, the area should be cleaned and disinfected prior to unloading cages containing birds and dollies. Employees should provide site-specific or disposable footwear to delivery personnel before they begin to load-in birds.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

15. Restocking Birds Unloading birds After delivery trailer leaves
Trailer carrying birds remains outside of the LOS
Interior of trailer and controlled access point into barn considered a modified LOS
After delivery trailer leaves
Controlled access point in LOS closed
Building walls reinstituted as the LOS
The trailer delivering the birds remains outside of the LOS, but the interior of the trailer and the controlled access point into the barn would be considered a Modified LOS. The cages, dollies and floor of the trailer have the same risk of introducing disease as the footwear. Personnel responsible for entering the trailer to transport birds in cages should wear task appropriate clothing and footwear. Personnel, birds, and cages should only cross the LOS at the controlled access point. Once the delivery trailer leaves, the controlled access point is closed and the LOS reinstituted at the building’s perimeter.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

16. Restocking Birds
Clean and decontaminate poultry rooms and buildings between groups of birds when the LOS has potentially been breached
Cleaning and decontamination (using disinfectants or heat) of poultry rooms and buildings between groups of birds is required when the LOS has potentially been breached. The breach could have occurred when a visitor, employee or service personnel did not follow biosecure entry protocols when they crossed the LOS or when service personnel brought equipment that was not cleaned and disinfected prior to crossing the LOS.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015

17. Next Steps This concludes the series of four biosecurity modules
Please frequently refer to biosecurity handouts and signs to remember the important biosecurity procedures
Thank you for completing the four biosecurity modules. Please frequently refer to biosecurity handouts and signs to remember the important biosecurity procedures.
Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, 2015