Elements and Performance Criteria
- Follow biosecurity and infection control procedures for equine work site
- Access and review workplace infection control and biosecurity procedures applicable to own role and work site
- Follow personal hygiene requirements, select, fit and use personal protective equipment and maintain personal vaccinations/immunisations according to workplace requirements
- Maintain knowledge of equine infectious and zoonotic diseases and emerging trends
- Monitor equines for signs of ill health and disease
- Carry out and record routine disease prevention for equines in care, including parasite control and routine vaccinations according to veterinary instructions
- Monitor physical condition and recognise clinical signs of common equine infectious and zoonotic diseases
- Take and record the temperature, pulse and respiration of the equine accurately and communicate abnormal conditions according to workplace procedures
- Check equine housing and outdoor environments and control potential sources of contaminants and disease risks
- Separate sick or suspect equines according to workplace infection control and quarantine procedures
- Discuss incubation and infectious periods, diagnosis and treatment options for relevant diseases with supervisor and seek advice from veterinarian
- Monitor equine movements to minimise disease infection
- Follow instructions and record equine movement to minimise transfer of disease on, off and within the work site
- Check records of visiting equines prior to entry and keep visiting and resident equines separate on site
- Restrict movement of equines to designated zones or pathways relevant to treatment or activity to be carried out
- Prepare equines for travel according to workplace procedures
- Comply with guidelines for monitoring people on site
- Follow procedures for registering and overseeing the movement of people coming into, moving within and leaving the work site to minimise possible disease transfer
- Direct staff and visitors to washing facilities if handling or inspecting equines and their equipment
- Identify risks and explain workplace procedures to people who visit multiple sites or handle ill equines to prevent risk of disease spread
- Monitor movement of vehicles and supplies on-site
- Follow procedures for restricting movements of visiting vehicles and deliveries to reduce the risk of disease and contaminants spreading to property
- Store equine tack, equipment and bedding separately for resident and visiting equines
- Check stock feed, fodder and water and locate away from potential sources of contamination and store in designated areas
- Follow procedures for pest, waste and stock disposal
- Keep infection control and biosecurity records up-to-date
- Complete workplace records related to biosecurity and infection control accurately within required timelines and store in designated location
- Comply with workplace and regulatory requirements for reporting suspicions of notifiable diseases
- Ensure personal training records for biosecurity and infection control are maintained