Volunteer Health and Hygiene Policy
Last updated May 31, 2022
Please note that Boston Area Gleaners is continuing to implement a number of special volunteer safety standards for the 2022 season in consideration of COVID-19 risk. This includes completing a health screening survey upon signing up for a trip as well as requirements for face coverings and social distancing in the field. Volunteers can review these practices here.
Food borne illnesses can be extremely contagious. Cross contamination can occur from sick workers contaminating food supplies. Any volunteer involved with handling food who is diagnosed or is showing symptoms of a food borne illness must refrain from harvesting or handling food. All those who attend a gleaning trip with Boston Area Gleaners must agree to comply with our Volunteer Health and Hygiene policy, as written below:
Last updated May 31, 2022
Please note that Boston Area Gleaners is continuing to implement a number of special volunteer safety standards for the 2022 season in consideration of COVID-19 risk. This includes completing a health screening survey upon signing up for a trip as well as requirements for face coverings and social distancing in the field. Volunteers can review these practices here.
Food borne illnesses can be extremely contagious. Cross contamination can occur from sick workers contaminating food supplies. Any volunteer involved with handling food who is diagnosed or is showing symptoms of a food borne illness must refrain from harvesting or handling food. All those who attend a gleaning trip with Boston Area Gleaners must agree to comply with our Volunteer Health and Hygiene policy, as written below:
- I will not attend a gleaning trip if I have been diagnosed with or if I have been in contact with a household member diagnosed with Hepatitis A., E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and/or Norovirus until cleared by a medical provider with written instruction. If I am diagnosed with any of these illnesses within 1 year of attending a gleaning trip, I will immediately notify the Boston Area Gleaners Staff Member/Trip Leader of that gleaning trip.
- I will not sign up for nor attend a gleaning trip with Boston Area Gleaners if I have experienced symptoms of a food borne illness (listed below) in the past 72 hours.
- Common food borne illness symptoms include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- persistent stomach cramps or pain
- fever
- chills
- skin infections
- wounds or sores containing pus
- cold
- runny nose
- frequent coughing or sneezing.
- I will not handle food or work in food contact areas if I have been experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. I understand that food handling, as defined here, includes: harvesting, packing, washing, handling and/or transporting food.
- If I experience any of the above symptoms while in attendance on a gleaning trip, I will immediately notify the Boston Area Gleaners Staff Member/Trip Leader on duty, and I will accept all directions from Boston Area Gleaners Staff to mitigate any food safety risk.
- I understand that Boston Area Gleaners, Inc. and its staff members reserve the right to deny me entry to a gleaning trip, may require me to leave any gleaning trip, or may remove me from the registration list if I do not agree to and/or comply with this Health and Hygiene Policy. Boston Area Gleaners Staff reserves the right to ask any relevant questions regarding health and hygiene that he/she considers may pose a food safety risk while on a gleaning trip.