I. PURPOSE

This directive provides information on the use of Quick Immersion Training modules for food inspection program personnel hired during an emergency. The modules address quick immersion training on food safety inspection for ready-to-eat and not-shelf-stable products, livestock slaughter inspection, and poultry slaughter inspection.

II. (RESERVED)

III. (RESERVED)

IV. ABBREVIATIONS

The following appear in their shortened forms in this directive:

CFL Center for Learning

EIAO Enforcement Investigation and Analysis Officers

OOEET Office of Outreach, Employee Education and Training

V. DEFINITIONS

A. Emergency. A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action.

B. Quick Immersion Training Modules. Materials used by the Agency to train employees who are hired as food inspectors and consumer safety inspectors during emergency situations.

VI. APPLICABILITY

This directive applies to field inspectors hired during an emergency, district office employees, and OOEET staff members.

VII. BACKGROUND

A. FSIS, OOEET, CFL, and the Office of Data Integration and Food Protection developed Quick Immersion Training modules to help the Agency prepare newly hired field employees to effectively perform inspection activities during an emergency (example: a human influenza pandemic).

B. Quick Immersion Training modules provide food inspectors and consumer safety inspectors with the basic knowledge and skill sets necessary to perform their jobs during an emergency, for up to 6 months, until regular classroom training can be provided.

C. The training modules are self-paced because the nature of the emergency may require newly hired employees to operate with minimal field supervision for a limited period of time. Based on previous training assessments, it is anticipated that the modules can be completed within the employees’ first work week

VIII. EMPLOYEES

The food inspector and consumer safety inspector positions will be filled during an emergency by:

A. Employees deputized to work for FSIS from another USDA agency (example: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) or another regulatory agency (example: Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration).

B. Retired Agency employees or employees with previous field experience who have returned to service during the emergency. These employees would work regular inspection shifts at FSIS-regulated establishments.

C. Current FSIS employees (examples: EIAOs, district office staff). D. New hires.

IX. CFL

CFL distributes the Quick Immersion Training modules to the district offices. CFL will issue, as needed, detailed instructions to the district offices about how to implement the training when employees are hired under emergency conditions.

X. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. Attachment 1 contains questions and answers addressing the quick immersion training.

B. Contact CFL via email at CEDL@fsis.usda.gov or by telephone at 1–800– 336–3747.

See full PDF for attachments.

• QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS—QUICK IMMERSION TRAINING