Quick Response (QR) codes require a Smartphone with an enabled app – recommend “RedLaser Barcode Scanner”. Access to SharePoint also requires the Cisco 

AnyConnect app on your Smartphone to establish a VPN connection. 

Please note: These procedures may be revised as the situation develops. 

QUICK RESPONSE CARD 

Ensuring responder safety is the first priority at all times. 

Always know the hazards of the job, and how to protect yourself – read the SOP 

Buddy system – know where your buddy is during on-farm activities 

Care – take care of yourself – ppe, rest breaks, water, food, cool off 

Defensive Driving – seat belts, no use of any communications devices while driving. Carry a vehicle 

accident kit and a first aid kit. 

EAP – Employee Assistance Program – (800) 222-0364 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week) 

Fatigue – get plenty of rest and sleep – don’t drive when you’re tired 

Get the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and understand them 

Program phone numbers for your Incident Supervisor and the Safety Officer into your phone. 

Make sure Location Services is enabled on your phone. Know the location of the nearest hospital. 

See your Safety Officer or Incident Supervisor for more information on:

http://sp.we.aphis.gov/vs/sites/SPRS/NPIC/SiteAssets/SitePages/HPAI/Responder%20Safety%20%20Health%20for%20ICS%20Deployment_20

%20May%202015%20Final.pdf  (requires a VPN connection) 

Heat stress 

Rest breaks – take them! 

Accident/injury/illness reporting 

Workers Compensation (OWCP) 

Check-out/check-in procedures 

Respirator use 

Weather 

Chemical safety 

 Medical clearance 

Respirator training and fit testing 

Personal protective equipment 

Daily briefing 

Incident action plan 

Emergency procedures 

Uncooperative individuals 

Standard operating procedures 

Other Important Stuff 

o Tell your Incident Supervisor or Safety Officer immediately if you’re injured or feel sick. 

o Report hazards immediately. 

o Don’t work more than 12 hours without specific supervisor instructions. 

o Take breaks at least every 2 hours to cool off and drink fluids. 

o If your urine is yellow, drink more water. 

o Watch for weather, ticks, mosquitos, dogs, deer on the highways, hostile owners. 

o Practice biosecurity: prevent contamination, clean, disinfect. 

o Watch your step – booties can be slippery. 

o Campylobacteriosis and Salmonellosis are among the zoonotic diseases of concern when 

working with poultry. Wash hands with soap after contact with animal feces. All food and water 

are to be consumed on the clean side of the clean/dirty line. 

o Don’t enter barns during/after CO2 operations until Incident Supervisor or safety officer declares 

it’s safe. Stay out of foam during foaming operations. 

o Shower and shampoo as soon as possible. Clean and disinfect the vehicle before leaving 

infected premises, and wash the vehicle after leaving the premises. 

o Biosafety is very important, but don’t forget about other hazards: 

HPAI Outbreak 2014-2015

Safety, Health & Environmental Protection

May 20, 2015 
 

Quick Response (QR) codes require a Smartphone with an enabled app – recommend “RedLaser Barcode Scanner”. Access to SharePoint also requires the Cisco 

AnyConnect app on your Smartphone to establish a VPN connection. 

o Electrical, machinery/vehicles, enclosed spaces/tanks/silos/pits, chemicals including 

disinfectants/detergents, high pressure sprayers, ammonia, walking and working 

surfaces. 

o Wear visible ID while conducting surveillance. 

o Wash hands frequently. Don’t share food or drink. 

o Try to get a healthy diet. Minimize alcohol intake, especially in hot weather. Build up heat 

resistance over a period of several days. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job you are doing. Don’t remove your PPE until 

you’re back at the clean/dirty line. Full PPE is required for work done on infected premises: 

o Tyvek coveralls (Tychem coveralls for foam depopulation) 

o Rubber boots or boot covers 

o N95 respirators as a minimum 

o Safety goggles or safety glasses with sideshields 

o Gloves (double) (e.g., inner latex gloves; outer glove) 

o Head bonnet and/or hardhat 

o Hearing protection (disposable ear plugs) where noise is a hazard 

What to do if your PPE is breached or compromised: 

o If your PPE is breached (torn or obviously damaged), take your buddy with you and leave the 

work area, doff PPE, decontaminate yourself, and don new PPE. A minor tear might be “fixable” 

with duct tape after you’ve used alcohol gel on your skin. If your skin was cut or scraped, you 

should shower, then apply first aid. Let your Incident Supervisor know as soon as you can, but at 

least by the end of your shift. 

o If you think your PPE is compromised (possibly damaged or not working properly) at any time the 

work being done, stop work immediately. Contact your Incident Supervisor and/or the Safety 

Officer for guidance. If this requires leaving the work area, take your buddy with you. 

 

More on the Buddy System

While in the Hot or Exclusion Zone, use the buddy system. Work in pairs and stay in close visual contact 

and summon rapid assistance in case of an emergency. The responsibilities of workers using the buddy 

system include: 

o remaining in close visual contact with their partner, 

o providing their partner with assistance as needed or requested, 

o observing their partner for signs of heat stress or other difficulties, 

o periodically checking the integrity of partner’s PPE, and 

o notifying the site manager or other site personnel if emergency assistance is needed. 

All responders must follow safety and health guidelines to protect themselves and everyone 

around them. You risk more than your own health and safety, as well as biosecurity, if you do not. 

APHIS Emergency Mobilization Guide, APHIS 1050, March 3, 2014 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/emergency_response/downloads/APHIS%20Emergency%20Mobilization%20Guide.pdf 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Standard Operating Procedures: 8. Health and Safety & Personal 

Protective Equipment, FADPReP, USDA APHIS, January 2014 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/sop/sop_hpai_health_safety.pdf 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Response Plan -- The Red Book, FADPReP, USDA APHIS, 

September 2012 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/hpai_response_plan.pdf