FFLC takes the health of our staff, volunteers, and community members very seriously, and has implemented many COVID-related changes to our practices and policies.
To continue ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees, volunteers, and community members, FFLC will reinforce the following policies when accessing our facilities:
Last Revised March 2022
FFLC Facility Access:
Employees, volunteers, and community members may only access FOOD For Lane County facilities if all of the following criteria are met:
1. Individuals may not be experiencing any of the following COVID-19 related symptoms, within the last 24-hours:
a. Cough
b. Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
c. Fever
d. Chills
e. Muscle Pain
f. Sore Throat
g. Loss of Taste or Smell
h. Congestion or runny nose
i. Nausea or vomiting
j. Gastroenteritis
• This includes symptoms that may be due to COVID-19 vaccinations or booster shots.
• This list does not include all possible symptoms. FFLC will continue to update this list based on CDC recommendations.
2. Individuals must be fever free without the use of medication for at least 24 hours.
If individuals cannot meet the criteria highlighted above, they may not access FFLC facilities.
In the event individuals start to experience any COVID-19 related symptoms after accessing an FFLC facility, they must adhere to the following protocol:
• Employees who are at work and start to experience any COVID-19 related symptoms including coughing, fever, shortness of breath, must notify their direct supervisor immediately and go home. The employee must then contact the Director of Human Resources (or designated back-up) once home to discuss next steps.
o Volunteers may contact their FFLC staff contact to discuss next steps.
o Board Members may contact FFLC’s Executive Director to discuss next steps.
In the event an employee or volunteer is sent home due to illness, the employee’s supervisor or the volunteer’s FFLC staff contact must contact the Director of Human Resources (or designated back-up) to ensure proper communication.
Please note, individuals that disregard the required criteria for accessing FFLC facilities may face disciplinary action.
Trace Contacting:
At this time, we will no longer be tracking employees that access FFLC sites through daily sign-in sheets for trace contacting purposes.
RETURN TO WORK POLICY:
FOOD For Lane County employees or volunteers with any illness or requirements to quarantine may return to work under the following conditions:
If an individual has COVID-19 symptoms but did not have COVID-19 test:
The individual certifies that they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers; AND
The individual certifies that they have been symptom free for at least 24 hours; AND
At least 5 days have passed since individual’s symptoms first appeared.
If an individual has COVID-19 symptoms and will get a COVID-19 test:
The individual certifies that they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers; AND
The individual certifies that they have been symptom free for at least 24 hours; AND
The individual has received a negative COVID-19 test (Medical documentation required).
• Required medical documentation includes negative test results. A statement that the individual is clear to return to work by a medical care provider may be required.
If an individual has COVID-19 symptoms and they receive a positive COVID-19 test:
The individual certifies that they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers; AND
The individual certifies that they have been symptom free for at least 24 hours; AND
At least 5 days have passed since individual’s symptoms first appeared.
If an individual does not have COVID-19 symptoms but they did have a positive COVID-19 test:
The individual certifies that they have been symptom free for at least 24 hours; AND
At least 5 days have passed since they had a positive COVID-19 test.
All decisions regarding testing and return to work after an individual participates in COVID-19 quarantine or isolation activities will be made in accordance with applicable public health guidance and must be otherwise consistent with guidance from the employee’s medical care provider.
Please note that although an individual may be eligible to return to work based on FFLC policy, they must contact the following FFLC contacts to confirm their eligibility prior to returning to work:
• Employees: The Director of Human Resources (or designated back-up)
• Volunteers: Their FFLC staff contact for volunteering.
Physical Distancing:
All employees must maintain a distance of six feet between each other at all times in the workplace. In situations where six feet of distance cannot be maintained, FFLC has implemented the following additional safety measures:
1. Installed physical barriers (i.e. plexiglass) in areas where individuals may be less than six (6) feet apart.
2. Changed the orientation of office equipment and furniture to increase the amount of space between employees, volunteers and guests.
4. Created additional work spaces and break areas to accommodate employees and volunteers who generally work in shared spaces.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES BEING TAKEN:
1. Require employees who can work remotely to do so to limit the number of people at FFLC facilities.
2. Limiting onsite visitors to only those critical to business operations (including volunteers).
3. Secure appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all employees and volunteers (i.e. face masks or coverings, gloves, face shields).
4. Posted signs and other visual markers throughout the workplace to remind individuals of safe distancing and flow of movement.
5. Staggered rest and meal periods to limit the number of people in the same area at one time.
6. Improved access to online/virtual technology to limit the number of in-person meetings.
7. Completed OSHA’s Exposure Risk Assessment and Infection Control Plan.
Face Masks and Coverings:
Employees, volunteers and guests are no longer required to wear face masks while on site at any FFLC location. Mask wearing is optional based on individual preference.
Please note the following:
- Specific FFLC programs and services may continue to require employees to wear face masks due to exposure to vulnerable populations. Program Directors will speak with their departments to communicate requirements.
- If employees, volunteers or guests continue to wear their mask, please be respectful of their decision. Unmasked individuals should continue to maintain 6 feet of social distancing where possible from those wearing a mask.
- Face masks will be available to any employee, volunteer or guess as needed. Extra masks are kept at each site to ensure anyone who needs one has access to them.
Meal and Break Periods
Employees should continue to take safety measures during meal and break periods and only break in designated areas. Designated areas include meal or break areas as identified by FFLC; inside personal cubicles, outdoors where 6 feet of social distance can be maintained, personal vehicles or off-site.
• Only one person should be eating in a designated meal/break area at a time unless 6+ feet of social distancing can be maintained.
• Individuals should be mindful of others that need to take their breaks as there are limited designated meal/break areas and only one individual should be in a space at a time.
Sanitization, Hygiene and Food Safety
We will continue to follow all required sanitization, hygiene and food safety measures as required by OSHA and state and federal laws.
Additional Steps FFLC is taking for Cleaning and Sanitation:
1. FFLC has hand sanitation stations throughout the workplace, including at the entrance of each FFLC location and within each common area.
2. FFLC has installed hand washing stations at a couple sites to ensure proper hand washing that include: W Broadway, the Dining Room, Youth Farm and GrassRoots Garden.
3. We have provided certain high traffic areas with Clorox Wipes.
General Safe & Healthy Practices:
• Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene. Be sure to cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Wearing a face mask can help.
• Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
• Use the hand sanitizing stations frequently. However, this should not replace handwashing.
• Face masks will be provided to any employee, volunteer or FFLC guest as needed. Extra masks are kept at each site to ensure anyone who needs one has access to them.
• Notify the Director of Human Resources (or designated back-up) if you would like a face shield to wear in addition to your face mask or covering for extra protection.
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet as your normal practice in the workplace.
• Avoid close contact with others such as handshaking, hugs, etc.
• Disinfect your work area regularly throughout your shift, including common surfaces.
• To minimize in-person meetings, use phone, email, instant messaging and virtual meetings as much as possible.
• Work remotely from home if your position can accommodate. Employees must receive approval from their supervisor to work remotely.
Thank you all for your diligence in adhering to our safety measures due to COVID-19. Our safety measures are what has kept our organization relatively healthy and safe, and has allowed us to continue to serve our community to make a real difference.