COVID-19 Safety Plan for Foxtrot Winery ULC and related entities
Foxtrot is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for its employees and contractors.
Background: The Company’s primary activities are viticulture and vinification, which are conducted primarily from its premises at 1201 Gawne Rd., Naramata, BC, and it has few full-time employees. The majority of its operations during the growing season are carried out out-of-doors, with some operations in the wine cave and a small percentage in its adjacent office and laboratory space. In addition, during warmer weather, visitors are allowed by appointment for tours and tastings, which take place out-of-doors, as well as in a reception area and in the wine cave.
This policy, which has been amended and restated as of May 21, 2021, has been reviewed by and discussed with all employees.
Our plan is built on the following key elements:
1) Distancing:
-Employees whose work does not require their presence at the winery or in the vineyards are strongly encouraged to work from home. The Company has provided communications tools where they are necessary to make this feasible.
-Both in the vineyard and in the winery and while engaged on company business off-premises, employees, contractors, and others should observe proper distancing, working at least 2 meters apart.
-Personnel whose duties do not require them to be in the wine cave or offices should remain outside. A washroom will be provided for the use of vineyard workers.
2) Use of Protective Equipment:
-All employees and contractors should wear masks while working indoors on the premises, and while engaged in company business off-premises in locations where masks are required by applicable government policy or by the operator of the premises.
-The Winemaker and Hospitality Manager each have the authority to bar any visitors to the Company’s premises who refuse to wear masks indoors or as required by this policy.
3) Cleaning and Disinfecting:
-Hand sanitizing products will be provided in convenient locations. Employees are particularly encouraged to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
-The Winemaker shall have authority to determine which surfaces and equipment within the wine cave are in frequent use by multiple individuals and in consultation with the President will establish a cleaning and disinfecting protocol as necessary, based on current applicable scientific guidance.
4) Potential Illness:
-The following individuals will not be permitted to enter the premises:
-Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of sense of taste or smell, and new muscle aches or headaches.
-A worker who has been in close contact with another person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
-If a worker develops symptoms during the workday, he or she should inform the Winemaker or President and depart the premises. Any such individuals will only be permitted to return to the premises after testing negative for the disease or authorized by a doctor to return to work, and with the consent of the Winemaker or President. Foxtrot employees will receive regular pay during any period of absence while self-isolating or as a result of contracting COVID-19.
-Anyone directed by Public Health to self-isolate or who has arrived from outside of Canada must self-isolate for the period prescribed by Public Health or by the regulations of the BC Department of Health in effect.
5) Receiving Visitors:
Foxtrot is committed to the health and safety of its guests and staff. Once the winery reopens to visitors for tours and tastings, all applicable BC Health Department guidance should be observed. In particular:
–Visitors are limited to tours and tastings only, which will be conducted outdoors to the full extent practicable, plus the reception room and the wine cave. When either in the wine cave or the reception room, doors will be left open to promote airflow. No food may be served to visitors or consumed on premises.
–tours and tastings are by appointment only. Only one group, of no more than six people, may be received at any one time.
–at the time of making the appointment, contact information must be collected for at least one person in the party, including first and last name and telephone number or email. This information is to be retained for at least 30 days.
–In accordance with current best practices guidelines, as long as only one group is on premises at a time, physical distancing among the group is not required. However, the Hospitality Manager or representative should observe physical distancing and remain masked at all times while in proximity to visitors, and guests should be strongly encouraged to wear masks when not tasting.
–visitors will be asked on arrival to confirm that they have not had any Covid or flu-like symptoms within the last 3 days.
–although the US CDC has advised that SARS-Cov2 is only rarely transmitted by surface contacts, the staff will observe the following protocols unless and until current guidance is changed:
–all surfaces in the reception room and other surfaces in high-touch areas will be cleaned and sanitized between appointments;
–plastic or other single-use spittoons will be used;
–hand sanitizer will be displayed and available for use by guests and staff in the reception area and wine cave;
–glassware will be cleaned in the dishwasher between uses;
–wines will be pre-poured for tasting where possible, and bottles should not touch a guest’s glass; and
–contactless payment will be used insofar as practicable, and the use of cash discouraged.
5) Other:
-Employees who are meeting with contractors or others entering the property are responsible for apprising visitors of the Company’s relevant Covid protocols.
-This policy will be updated periodically as events change and as more information about the disease becomes available. The President of the Company will assure that its tenets are communicated to all employees and will monitor changes in governmental guidance and health policy in order to determine what changes in this policy should be made in light of changing government policies and emerging scientific guidance, consistent with maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
-We are a small company, and the senior managers are working remotely. Adherence to this policy must therefore be a matter of individual responsibility of all employees, contractors, and others. Any person observing an unsafe condition should report it immediately to a senior on-site manager. The Company shall in no event be liable for any loss or claim that may occur as a result of an individual’s failure to adhere to this policy.