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 or injured workers handling food and/or food packaging. Any volunteer who is diagnosed with or showing symptoms of a food borne illness must not handle food or work in food contact areas. All volunteers must acknowledge that they have read and agree to comply with the Volunteer Health and Hygiene policy before attending a BAG volunteer trip.
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 or injured workers handling food and/or food packaging. Any volunteer who is diagnosed with or showing symptoms of a food borne illness must not handle food or work in food contact areas. All volunteers must acknowledge that they have read and agree to comply with the Volunteer Health and Hygiene policy before attending a BAG volunteer trip.
- I will not attend BAG volunteer trips 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 Norovirus until cleared by a medical provider with written instruction.
- If I am diagnosed with any of these illnesses after attending a gleaning trip I will immediately notify the BAG Gleaning Program Manager and Executive Director.
- If I begin to feel sick, or experience any of the symptoms listed below, while attending a BAG volunteer trip, I will immediately notify an attending BAG operations staff member and will not handle fresh produce. I will accept all directions from BAG staff to mitigate any food safety risk.
- I will not handle food or work in food contact areas if I have been experiencing any of the following symptoms in the past 72 hours:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Jaundice (when the whites of the eyes are yellowish and the skin has a yellowish tinge)
- Sore throat with fever
- Lesions containing pus (including boils or infected wounds, however small) on the hand, wrist, or any exposed body part
- If I experience any of the conditions listed above, I will not handle fresh produce or work in food contact areas until I am symptom-free.
- If I injure myself during a volunteer trip, I will notify a BAG operations staff member immediately. This includes any cuts, abrasions, or other injury that happens while working.
- I understand that if any attending BAG operations staff member witnesses signs of a foodborne illness or suspects that a volunteer presents a risk of contaminating product, that volunteer will be instructed to abstain from food-handling responsibilities.
- I understand that the Trip Leader reserves the right to deny me entry to a volunteer trip, require me to leave during a volunteer trip, or may remove me from the registration list if I do not agree to and comply with this Health and Hygiene Policy.