Hidden Harvest Ottawa: COVID-19 Guidelines for Volunteers, June 2021

Please review this document prior to attending every harvest event as changes may have been made.

Hidden Harvest Ottawa (HHO), has established the following Guidelines to help ensure the health and safety for everyone involved this season. The Guidelines outline the minimum standards to be followed. Changes may be made at any time in response to new information from Ottawa Public Health.

All attendees must indicate their agreement to abide by the following COVID-19 Guidelines. Being fully vaccinated does not excuse an attendee from following all of the Guidelines. Minors aged 14 and older can attend if registered in advance, however, they must be fully able to follow these guidelines and be accompanied at all times by a caregiver who accepts responsibility for their actions.

BY INDICATING MY AGREEMENT TO HHO’s COVID-19 GUIDELINES, I AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. I will only attend an event if I am symptom-free and low-risk

• I have reviewed the Ontario Government Self-Assessment Tool^[1] and declare that I “do not have symptoms” at this time.
• I acknowledge that registering for an event is committing to attend.
• If there are any changes to my status I will cancel my spot by clicking the cancel button in the confirmation email.

2. I will maintain physical distance and personal hygiene practices, and wear a mask at all times

• I will maintain a physical distance of 2m or 6ft when it is possible to do so while maintaining physical safety.

• I understand that due to the nature of picking fruit there are times that physical distancing will not be possible due to physical safety concerns, such as holding a ladder.
• I understand that clean, bare hands are best when handling fruit.^[2] If I choose to use gloves, I will follow Volunteer Best Practices below.
• I will sanitize or wash my hands upon arrival and practice good personal hygiene by not touching my face (mouth, nose, eyes, mask), coughing or sneezing into my arm, and re-sanitizing or washing my hands if I do touch my face or mask.

3. I understand attendance will be taken and my contact information may be shared with authorities should contact tracing be required at a later date.

4. I understand that those who do not follow these Guidelines will be asked to leave, and will be removed from the Hidden Harvest volunteer list for a minimum of a full year.  I may also be warned or fined by bylaw enforcement officers.

5. I have reviewed and understand the ‘Volunteer Best Practices’, and ‘Further efforts in place to provide a safe volunteering environment’, below.

Volunteer Best Practices

Please be kind, and err on the side of caution: Please be supportive and respectful of each other and these Guidelines that we ask everyone to uphold. The strength of our group is in the trust and dependability between every autonomous individual involved. We trust each other to use common sense and err on the side of precaution during this pandemic and its aftermath.

• Bring your own face mask if possible, and put it on prior to arrival on site. Consider bringing an extra mask in case yours becomes too damp to be effective during the event. A facemask will also be available if you do not have your own.

1. Wear your face mask properly. Review this how-to if needed: How to wear a non-medical mask or face covering properly^[3]
2. “The Public Health Agency of Canada now recommends that Canadians choose masks made of at least three-layers with one of the layers being a filter to add an extra layer of protection against COVID-19”^[4] 

• Please consider bringing your own hand sanitizer, or, if you prefer, your own hot soapy water in a thermos. Hand sanitizer will be available if you do not have your own.
• Bring your own containers to take home a share of the fruit. Where possible, volunteers will be asked to keep only the fruit that they handle.
• Keep personal belongings together and do not share belongings with others (water bottles, sunscreen and personal towels/cloths for sweat)
• You will not be required to use a ladder - it is your choice. If you choose to use a ladder, safety must be maintained by having a second person secure the base of the ladder. 
• Take regular breaks for water and snacks. Leave the area prior to removing your mask and replace the mask and sanitize your hands prior to returning.
• Plan for washroom use prior to the event, there is no access to the tree owner’s home.
• Regarding glove use, “Gloves are not a substitute for proper hand hygiene, as they do not guarantee that foods or surfaces are not contaminated. Gloves should always be worn when someone handling food has a break in their skin or has a bandage that is covering a wound” - Ottawa Public Health^[5].
• In the event you should need to or choose to wear gloves:
• Wash your hands properly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before you put on gloves
• Do not touch your face or mask with your gloves on
• Do not touch personal items, such as a cell phone, while wearing gloves
• After glove use, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Do not reuse gloves that are made for one use

Further efforts in place to provide a safe volunteering environment:

• Further information regarding our operations and Guidelines for Neighbourhood Leaders, Tree Owners, and Food Agencies can be found on our website:

• Neighbourhood Leaders: https://go.hiddenharvest.ca/nl-guidelines
• Tree Owners:  https://go.hiddenharvest.ca/tree-owner-guidelines
• Food Agencies: https://go.hiddenharvest.ca/partner-guidelines

• Neighbourhood Leaders (NLs) are volunteers who have accepted the responsibility to organize the Harvest Event with the Tree Owner. The NL will:

• Sanitize HHO harvesting equipment prior to the event.  The virus is easily inactivated by using simple disinfectants or a diluted bleach solution prepared daily.^[6]
• Confirm that all volunteers can the self-assessment requirements
• Read aloud a list of Safe Harvesting Practices and ensure all volunteers understand the precautions that will be taken.

• Take and record attendance.

• Tree Owners will:

• Sterilize any equipment they provide before the event
• Open the harvest site in advance, and make equipment easily accessible
• Stay in the house during the pick and not offer refreshments or interact with the volunteers. If absolutely necessary, any directions or instructions must be provided from at least 6 feet away.

DIY Disinfectant for Equipment: You can use a sanitizing solution of either 75% or higher alcohol based product or bleach at a concentration of 1 teaspoon (5 mL) per cup (250 mL) or 4 teaspoons (20 mL) per litre (1000 mL). Diluted bleach has a shelf life of 24 hours.  See Health Canada for more information.^[7]

Key Resources Used in the Development of HHO COVID-19 Guidelines

Ministry of Health: Safe Food Donation Reference

Ottawa Public Health: Guidelines for Food Banks, Donation Centres and Volunteers; Guidelines for Farmer’s Markets

        Volunteer Ottawa: Safety Protocols and Volunteer Resources

Government of Canada: How to Use Hand Sanitizer; How and When to Wear a Mask

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association: Resources for Growers and Workers

        Workers Health and Safety: Gloves at Work - Safeguards for workers for confronting COVID-19?