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COVID-19 Operating Procedures

want to canoe? COVID-19 OPERATING PROCEDURES – CLIENT INFORMATION

These procedures accompany our existing Standard and Daily Operating Procedures. This is a non-exhaustive list of all the new measures and systems we have in place to keep our clients and team members safe during the Covid-19 Crisis.

COVID-19 – The COVID‐19 virus is a serious and highly contagious disease. The World Health Organization has classified it as a pandemic. Our goal is to provide a safe and Covid 19-Secure environment for our clients and staff, and to advance the safety of our local community whilst working strictly within and adhering to all Government and Canoe Wales guidance. The pandemic and subsequently the guidance are changing, and the situation continues to be fast paced even in 2021. We will be constantly reviewing and updating our procedures and operation in accordance with any changes. At least until the vaccination roll-out is complete for everyone we will be operating in a similar way to 2020.

PRE-DELIVERY OF ACTIVITY

  • all pre-activity booking procedures are now online and/or remote including payment
  • access to the want to canoe? site and Racquety Farm is restricted to appointment only
  • no one with symptoms in their household will be permitted to take part in our activities
  • we have installed a detailed programme of cleaning and making safe the canoes, canoeing kit, PPE and the minibus – this will all be cleaned and/or quarantined daily in accordance with government, manufacturer and Canoe Wales guidelines
  • daily team meetings introduced to include Covid-19 Secure checklist and all systems and processes will be reviewed weekly during peak times

DURING THE ACTIVTY

  • attention to detail has always been our ethos but now more ever our team are focused on being extra vigilant in their roles and extra-visible and attentive to clients at all times
  • team members and clients to maintain a safe social distance as per Welsh Government guidance and if there’s a possibility social distancing can’t be

maintained (example when team members are helping clients in and out of their canoes) then please wear face coverings

  • a British Canoeing qualified team member will over-see all canoe-hire briefings to support with assessment of competence and any extra support (on or off the water) you our clients might need before canoeing down-river unaccompanied
  • a focus on clients assisting each other and team members instructing/giving advice from a safe distance
  • a limited number booking slots in each day using only the closest routes, predominantly Hay to Whitney – client groups will have allocated parking and picnic areas and unlimited use of the site all day
  • extra handwashing and/or hand sanitiser stations around the site and in remote working areas like the minibus
  • we encourage an increase handwashing frequency, avoid touching your face and to cough or sneeze into a tissue which is binned safely, and hands washed after binning, or sneeze into your arm if a tissue is not available.
  • clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets to ensure they are kept clean and social distancing is achieved
  • enhanced cleaning for busy areas and common touch points – we clean between groups
  • special care will be taken for cleaning of the toilet
  • staggered use of all on-site facilities encouraged
  • no clients to enter the office or kit trailer (all check-in and post-trip communication to be undertaken outside)
  • only @wantocanoe team members should go into the office and kit trailer

POST DELIVERY OF THE ACTIVITY

  • follow-up emails sent to clients checking on health, symptoms and feedback
  • weekly review of all new procedures
  • we ask that clients and team members wash all clothing and clean all belongings thoroughly at the end of each day

CANOES AND KIT – CLEANING AND QUARANTINE

  • all canoes and kit will only be used once for one group each day
  • the aim is for all canoes and kit to be quarantined each day then rotated and put back into circulation after 72 hours
  • if specific kit is required that is in quarantine it can be removed, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and put back into circulation
  • any kit or equipment that isn’t being quarantined (team kit, machine washable items, items required in less than 72 hours) will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
  • Where possible we ask clients to return home before getting changed

MINIBUS – CLEANING AND QUARANTINE

  • a clear pvc screen has been fitted to the minibus shielding the driver and two other front seats from the rest of the bus – the rest of the bus is for the sole use of clients
  • only one household/group will travel in the bus at any one time
  • team members will only travel in the front seats UNLESS there are no clients travelling in the bus
  • team members will wear face coverings in the minibus
  • the minibus will be cleaned and disinfected after each use

ETHOS

  • we will provide re-usable, washable PPE wherever it is safe to do so – disposable into landfill will ALWAYS be a very last resort
  • we will thoroughly clean, disinfect and re-use
  • where it is safe to do so we will use biodegradable, cruelty-free, plastic-free products – when plastic is used it will be re-purposed, refilled and/or recycled
  • we will source our products locally and through Suma Wholesale
  • we will work hard to maintain Covid-19 Secure activities and spaces for our clients
  • we ask you our clients to follow all policies and procedures in order to maintain Covid-19 security keeping you, our other clients and our team safe
  • we will remain positive and be safe
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