Hygiene in cultivation under glass
- Wednesday 29 April 2020
- By: BOONS FIS
- Category: Hygiene equipment
Good hygiene is important in numerous sectors, so also in the greenhouse cultivation sector. The impact of a plant disease on for example a paprika, cucumber or rose crop can indeed be enormous. Taking hygiene measures will reduce the likelihood of contamination of the crop and the chances of contamination getting inside. But what do you have to remember? And what do good hygiene measures exactly involve? We’ll take a closer look at all this in this blog.
In industrial hygiene there are four major risk areas: people, materials and tools, propagation materials and water. Establishing the strengths and weaknesses for each risk area by a scan or hygiene audit means changes can be made where necessary. The results obtained in this way can be combined and lead to a hygiene plan. A hygiene plan comprises a description of the hygiene measures taken at your horticultural business, how often and at what times these measures must be taken, while providing for regular checks. There is no uniform hygiene plan, considering each type of cultivation entails different risks. It is the case, however, that the personal hygiene of employees and visitors is of great importance to any type of cultivation.
A well-equipped hygiene lock greatly reduces the risk of bacteria, viruses and moulds. Such a hygiene lock provides for effective washing and disinfection of the hands and soles, so micro-organisms from outside do not get into the greenhouse.
The measures taken in such a hygiene lock nicely match the official rules for GSSP companies (Good seed and plant practices).
A correctly carried out hygiene protocol consists of five steps: soaping the hands, washing the hands, drying the hands, disinfecting the hands and cleaning and disinfecting the soles.
BOONS FIS offers numerous dispensers, hand dryers, hand wash basins, hand washing sinks and sole cleaners to assist here. One can also opt for a more automated procedure by providing hand soaping stations and hand disinfection stations.
We also offer hygiene stations that combine disinfection of the hands and soles. All appliances are provided with a turnstile that only gives access when the procedure has been correctly followed.
Before such a hygiene protocol is followed it is also important that visitors to the greenhouse are given suitable disposable clothing such as guest’s coat, hairnet, gloves and overshoes. BOONS FIS also offers dispensers for this purpose. When the greenhouse may only be entered if suitable overalls are worn, changing rooms can be provided that are fully equipped with stainless steel furniture (for example lockers, storage cupboards and benches). The most stringent hygiene requirements can be met thanks to this specific plant equipment.
A well-developed hygiene plan is also important for the other risk areas of materials and tools and propagation materials. For example, it is also important that after each crop change thorough cleaning and disinfection take place to remove organic dirt, algae and bacteria. The barrels must also be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, all this automatically or otherwise. We will shortly explain everything about this in a new blog!
Do not hesitate to contact our sales team if you have any questions about our products. They will be pleased to assist you!
