Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare to check brood
- Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected and checked prior to use.
- Tools and equipment required to open a hive are selected and checked prior to use.
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with opening a hive are identified and actions are taken to minimise risk to self and others.
- Assess health and condition of brood
- Brood is inspected for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is observed, appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.
- Brood is inspected for evidence of pests and parasites and, where found, appropriate action is taken and appropriate authorities are notified as required by legislation.
- Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected, and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.
- Hive is inspected for signs of diseased brood being ejected from hive at entrance or bottom board.
- 3 Assess health and condition of adult bees
- Flight paths around hive entrance are observed for signs of poor or irregular flight patterns, and for dead or dying bees at hive entrance.
- Adult bees and brood combs are observed for signs of disease and, where notifiable disease is present, appropriate authorities are informed as required by legislation and appropriate action is taken.
- Signs of disease or pest are identified, appropriate samples for testing are collected and evidence is gathered to support a diagnosis according to relevant standards and protocols.
- Biosecurity measures are implemented according to enterprise biosecurity plans and instructions from appropriate authority.
- Results of inspections and any remedial action taken are recorded and used as the basis for future beekeeping operations.