COVID-19 health and safety plan

This COVID-19 Safety Plan is our business’ step-by-step response to increased awareness around, and our enhanced protocols for, the health and safety for our staff and our customers. 

Our business is committing to following the steps outlined in each of the 6 areas mandated by WorkSafe BC and the official Public Health Order. Our plan includes outlining our physical changes, our increased protocols and our required usage of PPE. We also outline the training we will be providing for our staff to ensure that the processes are followed.

Our goal with this plan is to create a workplace that is aware and responsive to the new protocols and physical changes to our workplace as a result of COVID-19. Through our enhanced awareness, we aim to help the Provincial Ministry of health to reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission through the following 6 measures in order of priority:

1 – Creating more space between patrons and staff in our business.

2 – Reducing the number of people in our business at any one time according to the latest Public Health Order.

3 – Adding physical barriers between people working in our establishment that cannot otherwise maintain physical distancing.

4 – Establishing new rules and guidelines for our staff to follow to help keep people physically distanced and to enhance our cleaning regimens.

5 – Defining what positions and in what situations our staff will safely be using PPE, particularly non-medical masks, to limit exposure to respiratory droplets. This includes training on how to use masks correctly.

6 – Limiting table service to no more than 6 people at a time and no moving between tables in accordance with the PHO.

Our plan is current as of this date:                         Jan 25, 2021

Per the Public Health Order, our capacity has been reduced to 1 person or 1 family at a time.

Risks in Our Workplace

We have worked extensively with our staff and identified the following risk areas in our workplace. We have accessed both physical proximity issues as well as surface contamination issues. 

We have identified that the following kitchen equipment, smallwares and POS terminals are high touch surfaces that must be subject to rigorous cleaning protocols:

·     Cash register

·     Tablet 

·     Debit  / Credit machine

·     Ice cream scoops

We have identified that the following locations as high touch surfaces that must be subject to rigorous cleaning protocols:

·     Walk in freezer door handle in staff room

·     Payment counter

·     Light switches

We have created new protocols for reducing risk

 In collaboration with our entire staff team and in consulting with the WorkSafe BC guidelines for Restaurants and the Public Health Order, we have outlined the following processes for reducing risk in our workplace. 

Our enhanced Front of House Protocols are:

·     Staff will:

o  Be located behind a plexiglass barrier when taking customers order and payments

o  Collect prepackaged items from the freezer for the customer

o  Scoop the gelato and place it in cone holder at the end of the counter for the customer to pick up

o  Provide napkins at the customers request and use a serving tong to pass it to them

·     We will create signage to clearly separate entering and exiting. 

·     We will place 2 m markers for physical distanced standing outside the cafe.

·     Whenever possible, we will prop open guest doors to allow fresh air into our space.

·     Staff will wear an apron that allows the server to have an extra layer between their clothes and the guest.

. Staff are required to wear a face mask at all times during their shift.

We are installing barriers and partitions to protect our guests and staff.

 We are using Barriers and Partitions in the following locations and ways in our business to separate people when physical distance of 2 m cannot be maintained. All our barriers are fixed in place and do not pose a risk to our staff or customers.

Our barriers are included in our cleaning protocol and cleaned every hour.

·     Payment counter (barrier will be no shorter than 60 cm, installed 30 cm above and 30 cm below the average mouth when standing)

 Our People Protocols are changing to respond to COVID-19.

Our staffing protocols have changed as follows:

-       We require staff to declare that they will not come to work if they have had symptoms of COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to their shift. Should staff experience symptoms of COVID-19, they are required to contact Public Health at 8-1-1 and self-isolate if required.

-       We have also required staff to refrain from coming to work if they have had close exposure to a person currently diagnosed with COVID-19.

-       Anyone who is returning to our workplace after traveling must have self-isolated for 14 days while monitoring for symptoms before they can work in our business.

-       All staff must wash their hands upon arrival at work at the beginning of each shift and upon return from any breaks.

-       As we are a cafe, our staff must come in to work however, we are engaging in regular health and safety conversations and ensuring that are staff are bringing forward any concerns about the new work flow or cafe layout in order to improve our COVID-19 response. 

-       We have posted a Health Resource document to orient our staff to COVID-19 and any related health, bullying and mental health resources.

-       We are actively monitoring our social media and our guest feedback online and in person to ensure that we are not experiencing any backlash or negative engagement with customers and managing difficult situations accordingly to assist our staff through this difficult transition. 

Our customer protocols have changed as follows:

• All customers are required to wear face masks when entering the cafe. The mask may only be removed when sitting at a table or counter to eat. Clear signage has been posted on the entrance of the cafe alerting customers that mask use is required.

-       We have a hand sanitizing station for guests and staff when they enter the front door to immediately clean hands.

-       Entrance will be limited to one individual at a time or family groups of no more than 6.

-       Customers will be required to wait at appropriate 2 m distance in all areas where cuing is required.

-       Signage is posted at the entrance of the cafe to ensure that no one with symptoms of COVID-19 or who has contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 will enter the restaurant.

We have posted at the entrance to our business sign that show:

-      our current occupancy limit; 

-      our core hygiene practices for both staff and guests;

-      the core public facing elements of our COVID-19 Safety Plan;

-      our restriction from entering the premises for any visitors or staff with symptoms of COVID-19.

• our restriction from entering the premises without a mask.

 We are committed to Ongoing Training.

Our goal for our training is to ensure that our staff is safe in our workplace. Each staff person has agreed to our health check, as this is our front line defense against COVID-19 in our workplace. Our training covers:

-      Physical distancing measures

-      New sanitation and cleaning processes

-      Sanitation and cleaning product instructions and sitting time

-      Daily cleaning and deep cleaning checklists 

Staff have a designated person to speak to, identified on the cover page of this document, who they can ask COVID-19 related questions to.  

We have enhanced our cleaning and hygiene practices in response to COVID-19. 

 We have selected Health Canada approved methods to clean and disinfect surfaces for all common areas and surfaces of our business.

Hand-washing: We have hand-washing signage at sinks in washrooms, in the kitchen and staff room. To support proper hand-washing, we have done a demonstration of proper hand-washing technique for 20 seconds.

Bathrooms: Our public bathrooms are currently closed.  

 High Touch Locations:High frequency touch locations are cleaned every after every use.

·     Service counters and front door handles are wiped down in 30-minute intervals with approved sanitizers. 

·     Between customers, patio tables and chairs must be cleaned or sanitized between parties. 

·     For counter service, POS machines will be sanitized between patrons who must touch the number pad. 

·     When staff switch positions, any shared equipment will be sanitized. This will  include all repeated contact surfaces such as ice cream scoops, cash register, debit terminal and tablets.

·     Our front of house staff will remove everything from the table after guests leave and clean the table completely.

·     Staff should perform regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds following the official hand-washing guidelines. Hand-washing will be done:

o   Before and after breaks

o   After touching or cleaning tables any surfaces that may be contaminated

o   After sneezing, coughing or nose blowing

o   After touching your face or hair

o   After using the restroom 

o   After touching personal phones

o   After using shared equipment such as gelato scoops, tablets, cash register and debit terminals between different users

We are committed to adapting and changing as required.

Our supervisors are trained to monitor the workplace, engage with staff and ensure that COVID-19 policies and procedures are being followed and that any staff questions are being addressed in a timely manner. Issues that are brought forward that require advice from WorkSafe BC will be addressed accordingly.