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Implementing Control Measures
Target Objectives
- Determine and implement short-term control measures
- Suggest long-term control measures and collaborate with the establishment ownership/management to implement
Strategic Check
Short-term control measures
- Review your agency's authority to implement and enforce short-term control measures
- Control measures typically take the form of public notifications, removal of the food from distribution, and/or facility modification/closure
- Determine if the outbreak is severe enough to require temporary or permanent closure of the establishment. Considerations may include:
- Is the outbreak still ongoing?
- Is the source of the outbreak still present at the establishment?
- How severe is the disease? Hospitalizations or deaths?
- Have previous outbreaks occurred at this establishment?
- Implement specific short-term control measures under the following circumstances:
- The outbreak source, primary exposures, or etiologic agent has been identified and can be remedied or removed (i.e. embargo or destroy the food item, repair broken equipment, norovirus bleaching protocol)
- Implement non-specific control measures if no particular source or etiologic agent was identified to encourage general health and hygiene practices. May include:
- No bare hand contact/proper glove use
- Proper handwashing
- Monitoring and maintaining cooking and holding temperatures
- Cleaning and sanitization
- Explain the reasoning behind the short-term control measures with the establishment management
- Follow-up with the establishment to ensure and enforce (if needed) the implementation of the short-term control measures
Long-term control measures
- Review the contributing factors and associated environmental antecedents to inform potential long-term control measures (i.e. purchasing of new kitchen equipment, employee trainings, programs, paid sick leave)
- Prioritize the long-term control measures and review them with the establishment manager and/or owner
- Work with the establishment manager and/or owner to develop or revise the HACCP plan
Tips
- Depending on your agency, short-term control measures may be enforceable by law and could include temporary or permanent closure, administration of fines, suspending licensure, etc.
- Long-term control measures generally do not fall within public health's power of authority, making it even more critical to encourage collaboration with the establishment's management
Toolkit
Norovirus Bleaching Guidelines (PDF)
(click on the document below to download it)
Recommendations for Disease Control of Enteric Pathogens (PDF)
(click on the document below to download it)
