powder  Creek  lodge  Covid-19  plan

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Preamble 
Since 1998, Powder Creek Lodge has been providing unforgettable powder skiing adventures to our guests from Canada, US and other countries.  Since we took over operations in 2014, we have had the privilege to share powder turns with many beautiful people, make life-long friends and work with some amazing staff.  Right now, more than ever, we appreciate all of you, our Powder Creek family!
 
As a result of the worldwide pandemic, we ceased operations in March 2020. We have not had any COVID-19 cases at the lodge and none of our staff have been knowingly exposed or infected. We do not normally operate in the summer months and the lodge will have been vacant from March until December (except for routine maintenance). This has allowed us ample time to prepare a solid COVID-19 Response Plan.
 
We understand that many of you have questions and concerns regarding the current COVID-19 situation and how this will impact your upcoming travel and backcountry ski vacation. Please know that we are taking all the necessary steps to be at the forefront of operating in a manner that adheres to all local, provincial and national guidelines and we are working closely with our Backcountry Lodge Association (BLBCA).  We will specifically adhere to and enforce the following 5 principles:

  • Personal Hygiene
  • Stay at Home if you are Sick
  • Environmental Hygiene
  • Safe Physical Distancing
  • Physical Modification
 
​Five Principles for Every Situation Five Principles for Every Situation

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Physical distancing remains the most important criterion to comply with standing WorkSafe BC Updates and the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Orders, but while the controls are listed in order of effectiveness, all of the controls should be considered, as they often work best in combination.
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We are only taking bookings this winter from Canadian guests that have not traveled outside of Canada within 14 days of their trip date. We ask you to seriously consider minimizing your contacts in the 14 days prior to your trip as well.
 
We are continually reviewing and updating our policies to make sure we are ready for you.  Any new information we receive will be passed along to you as soon as we get it and will also be posted on our website. You will receive a thorough email with all your pre-trip info a few weeks before your trip as well.
 
This document serves to delineate our approach for preventing the communal transmission of the COVID-19 virus at Powder Creek Lodge during the current crisis.
 
Note that we feel we need to point out that, no matter how many precautions and measures are taken, we cannot guarantee with certainty that COVID-19 will not find its way into the lodge. As you read through this document you will see that we have spent a lot of time thinking through this and are implementing many new protocols. We will do our very best to ensure that you have a safe and memorable ski vacation. But, YOU must also do your part too! Once we are all at the lodge we are in the ultimate bubble away from civilization. We ALL need to do our part by showing up healthy, minimizing our social contacts prior to the trip and strictly following the measures we have laid out in this document. We are asking you to put your trust in us and we are going to trust you to do the right things to keep everyone healthy.
 
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please refer to BC Centre for Disease Control website (http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/).
 

Backcountry Lodge Operations
 
PCL Policies and Expectations 
PCL Responsibilities
  • PCL will communicate with employees about potential exposure to COVID-19. Employees will participate in staff training and will be well-versed in knowing and understanding their workplace health and safety responsibilities - and those of others
  • PCL will regularly assess all the hazards within their operation, taking appropriate steps to eliminate or control them. Such controls will include adhering to current public health orders, public health advice as well as implementing best practices to keep your employees and guests safe 
  • PCL will establish a workflow in the workplace that is consistent with current industry best practices and compliant with directives from the BC PHO.  This workflow will cover all areas of the operation including but not limited to PPE requirements, sanitation, food handling, laundry and housekeeping procedures
  • In situations where a worker has the symptoms of COVID-19 they will be required to stay home and not spend any time around guests or other staff until cleared by an appropriate medical professional
 
Staff Responsibilities
  • All staff at PCL will undergo a detailed training session on the current workflow procedures upon being hired for the season (at annual staff training).  Any new safety guidelines or procedures will be immediately conveyed to all staff
  • Staff are expected to exercise all reasonable measures to limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus while not at work. Prior to beginning of a work shift each worker will conduct the self-assessment tool (Appendix 4) and fill out a health screening questionnaire which includes current health status, recent travel, recent illness or contact with others who may have the COVID-19 virus.
  • Any employee at PCL experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 while at work will immediately report to the onsite custodian and begin isolating from guests and other staff members.  Any employee who experiences symptoms associated with COVID-19 while away from work will notify the supervisor and will not be permitted to come to work until they are past the recommended isolation period and/or tested
Employees Will
  • Practice physical distancing by working more than 2 metres (6 feet) apart from co-workers and guests whenever possible;
  • Stay home if they are sick. Use the BC Ministry of Health for self-assessment tool (Appendix 4):
  • Avoid touching their face
  • Wash their hands at the start of their shift, before eating or drinking, after touching shared items, after using the washroom, after handling credit cards, after touching common items, and at the end of their shift.
 
Transportation 
Physical Distancing & Protective Equipment 
Helicopter Transfer:
  • Our helicopter transport company, High Terrain Helicopters, complies with the Order to Prevent Certain Persons from Boarding Flights in Canada due to COVID-19, pursuant to sub-section 6.41 (1) of the Aeronautics Act, effective April 17, 2020.
  • All passengers (pilot, staff and guests) will be required to undergo temperature testing, fill out our screening questionnaire, wear a non-medical mask and eye coverage, and that they must wear the mask and eye coverage at all times during the flight.
 
Staging Area and helicopter safety briefing:
  • Physical distancing is paramount and will be conducted outside
  • When disembarking from the helicopter, ample time will be given to allow passengers to adequately distance themselves to prevent crowding
 
Loading/Unloading Helicopter:
  • In conditions where it is impossible to maintain physical distancing, passengers will be required to wear a face mask
  • Incoming guests will be unloaded and separated from the outgoing guests
  • Handwashing facilities or sanitizer will be made available before and after helicopter travel
 
Gear Handling:
  • Staff will respect physical distancing and wear appropriate protective equipment while handling gear, bags, etc.
 
Transportation:
  • When more than one staff member is traveling to the staging area, physical distancing practices apply. Shared travel with more than one person must be minimized and, if it cannot be minimized, face masks must be worn
  • Guests must drive independently or else only with those whom they will share their accommodation
 
Engineering - Sanitation of Helicopter:
  • At the start of each working day and throughout the day, staff will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the helicopter using an alcohol-based cleaner or disinfecting wipes.
 
High touch or key contact points include:
  • door handles (inside and out);
  • seats, seat adjusters, seat belt buckles;
  • headset radio and communication devices will be removed from the helicopter and guests and staff will be required to bring their own ear protection (eg ear plugs)
 
 
Communications 
Pre-trip screening and Communication
  • Screening and training of guests will take place in a two-step process, including a prescreening questionnaire and an on-site orientation. This communication will be emailed to all guests at the time of final payment for your review, 2 weeks prior to their trip and also be available on our website
  • It will be mandatory that all staff and guests complete the prescreening questionnaire 2 weeks prior to the trip and again at staging prior to flying into the lodge. Temperature testing will be performed before entering the helicopter. In addition, the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool (Appendix 4) and temperature testing will be completed each day by the custodian. A copy of these forms will be provided to guests in advance and will also be on our website. You can also review in Appendix 4 at the end of this document. It should be noted that anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of their trip will be not be permitted on the helicopter or the premises unless they can prove a negative COVID test.
  • We will also be collecting detailed contact information for each guest that will be used for tracing purposes if necessary. We will require a final guest list (with email address and phone number of each guest 1 month prior to the trip). Guest substitutions after 1 month prior to the trip date must be requested in writing and approved by PCL.
  • Please note that the Backcountry Lodge Association legal team has produced a new waiver this year that you will be required to sign. A copy is attached to this document, is available on our website and will also be emailed to you prior to the trip for your review. Specifically, the new waiver has wording releasing PCL from liability in the case of “infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact”
  • Guests must bring a mask for helicopter transportation with them and have one on their person at all times during the trip for situations where physical distancing is not possible (eg administering of first aid to another group member). Note that a buff or bandana is not an acceptable face covering.
 
Signage
  • Signage and posters will be put up in the lodge to serve as guidance and reminders for guests and staff
 
Guest briefings
  • An in-depth briefing on the lodge-specific COVID management plan will be conducted at the beginning of the trip
  • A daily safety briefing must be conducted to remind guests of the guidelines and to confirm the absence of symptoms (BC self-assessment tool). Guests will be required to immediately bring any symptoms to the attention of staff members
 
Daily symptom checks
  • All staff and guests will complete a daily symptom check and temperature screen.
 
 
Food Service 
  • Staff will help the guests maintain good infection control and physical distancing
  • Self-serve food will not be permitted
  • Meals (breakfast, apres, dinner and desert) will be plated by the chef and served to guests by staff
  • Lunches and field snacks will be provided to guests in a pre-packaged format
  • Seating will be rearranged to allow guests to spread out while eating
  • Access to fresh water for guest’s personal water containers will not be in or through the kitchen. Specific designated common use water access locations will be more frequently disinfected. 
  • Approved sanitizers and disinfectants will be used
  • Food contact surfaces, dishware, utensils, food preparation surfaces, will be sanitized frequently
  • Surfaces repeatedly touched by staff or guests, such as door knobs, equipment handles, condiments, dining tables and counters etc, will be frequently cleaned and sanitized
  • Floors, counters and other facility access areas, such as bathrooms, will also be cleaned and sanitized frequently using authorized disinfectants
 
Kitchen procedures
  • Only designated lodge staff will be allowed in the kitchen, serving meals and cleaning the table
  • Guests participating in dishwashing will be required to sanitize first and after
  • Staff and guests will practice proper hygiene including frequent handwashing & proper cough and sneeze etiquette
  • Authorized cleaning products will be used
  • We will increase the cleaning and disinfection frequency of high traffic areas and hand contact points, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.  Cleaning responsibilities will be assigned to ensure that the level of cleaning meets the requirements set out in the cleaning schedule
 
Lodging 
Guest Accommodations
  • Every attempt will be made to allow guests from a different ‘bubble’ to have their own bedrooms
  • In cases where this is not possible, shared accommodations will be arranged in such a fashion that beds are at least 2m apart. We have large bedrooms at PCL where it is easy to spread people out
  • Fresh laundry is provided every week to each guest and pillows will not be used in back to back weeks.
  • No individuals in a shared accommodation can be ill or meet criterion that requires self-isolation requirements. Any individuals that are ill or require self-isolation will not share accommodation
  • Staff will not enter guest rooms unless authorized
  • Cleaning/sanitizing supplies will be supplied in each bedroom for guests to use during the week
 
Common Areas
  • The lodge has 14 square metres of space per-person, including staff (the required minimum is 5 square metres of space per-person). In addition, the 4 staff members will stay in a separate staff building from the guests (as per usual)
  • Where possible, groupings of any size will be structured so that those present can maintain a reasonable physical distance from each other
  • Sauna/shower time will be scheduled so as to have a maximum of 4 people in the sauna at any one time
 
General Disinfection Protocols
  • Our standard strict cleaning and sanitizing protocols will be continued and frequency increased
 
Handwashing Stations
  • Handwashing stations will be frequently used by guests and staff
  • Hand sanitizer bottles will be available throughout the premises
 
Cleaning of Shower and Toilet Facilities
  • Shared shower facilities will be cleaned and disinfected daily
  • Guests and staff will disinfect the sauna after their use
  • If a shower or toilet stall is used by an individual in self-isolation, it will be cleaned and disinfected after each use
  • If an individual is ill or in self-isolation, attempts will be made to have them use a separate bathroom where possible
 
Cleaning of Bedrooms 
  • Guests will be required to clean their own bedrooms and staff will not enter unless authorized
  • Each room will be given a separate laundry bag for their stay
  • All guest rooms will be fully cleaned and disinfected at the end of every trip
 
Cleaning of Common Areas
  • There will be daily cleaning and disinfection of all common areas and surfaces
  • High touch surfaces will be cleaned at least twice daily. This includes doorknobs and handles, radios, light switches, tables, chairs and washrooms
  • Garbage cans in common areas will be emptied and cleaned regularly
 
 
Equipment, Tools and Supplies 
  • Contact with another individual’s personal items poses risk of indirect transfer of the virus. All personal items should be kept in locations where there is no risk of incidental contact by other workers or lodge guests (i.e. personal bedroom)
  • Staff will have their own radios and guests will be assigned a PCL radio for the week.  After the week radios will be collected, cleaned and sanitized.
  • Mobile phones, water bottles, coffee mugs, headlamps, reading materials, and other personal items may have droplets on them and could transmit infection to another worker or lodge guest. These items must not be left in common areas.
  • Lodge books and games will not be available for guest use this winter. Instead, guests will be required to bring their own games, cards, books, etc and keep them in their bedroom when not using them.
  • Personal gear and clothing, including Gore-Tex outer layers, insulating layers, leather gloves, backpacks, etc will be stored in each individual’s bedroom or on designated hooks outside their rooms in the hall
  • A credit card number will be collected at staging from each guest and kept on file for the week (not held after the trip is complete). We will not be accepting cash for purchases.
 
 
Activities 
Physical Distancing
  • Physical distancing of 2m between all workers and guests will be maintained during guided field activities
  • Care should be taken to avoid following too closely behind one another when touring
 
Administrative
  • Itineraries may be shortened to decrease the risk of injuries or unplanned overnights (especially in early-season when the days are shorter) as this would entail close contact and potentially place a burden on the healthcare system of our remote area
 
Protective Equipment
  • If physical distancing cannot be safely maintained in the field (e.g. guide administering first aid) then all involved individuals (guides and guests) will wear Protective Equipment (gloves and non-medical mask)
  • Guides will ensure that all guests are carrying a set of Protective Equipment during field activities and will carry several extra sets in their first aid kit
 
Managing COVID-19 Symptoms & Signs 
COVID-19 Symptoms
  • The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses, including the flu and the common cold.  Commonly these are fever / chills, cough, sneezing, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Additional symptoms may include muscle aches, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, runny nose, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of sense of smell or taste.  Almost everybody that has COVID has fever and cough (new or worsening). Shortness of breath and chest pain can be signs of severe illness.
  • People infected with COVID-19 may experience little or no symptoms, with illness ranging from mild to severe, but still be a carrier
  • Some people are more vulnerable to developing severe illness or complications from COVID-19, including older people and those with chronic health conditions
  • The typical incubation period is 5-6 days.
 
What if someone shows symptoms of COVID-19?
  • Staff or guests who are determined they may have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 based on the self-assessment tool (Appendix 4) will:
  • Immediately report to the designated COVID-19 coordinator (lodge custodian)
  • Follow the self-assessment tool pathway (Appendix 4)
  • The affected person should proceed directly to self-isolation in their bedroom (sole occupancy)
  • If the symptoms are severe such as shortness of breath (e.g. struggling to breathe or speak in single words) or chest pain, emergency evacuation will be arranged at the earliest possible time (weather and daylight permitting as all evacuations are done by helicopter)
 
What if a staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
  • Any staff who tests positive will be not be able to return to active duty until they are free of the COVID-19 virus as deemed by an appropriate health care provider
  • Any team members who work closely with the infected team member will also be removed from the workplace for at least 14 days (and/or be tested) to ensure the infection does not spread further
 
Isolation procedures
  • PCL will provide safe isolation, monitoring and care for staff or guests that become ill, as well as to protect the staff and guests on site from transmission
  • If a staff member or guest needs to be isolated, they will be sent home where practicable, or provided a separate room (and bathroom wherever possible) and follow all self-isolation guidance as provided by the BCCDC Self-Isolation Guidelines
  • If symptoms worsen while in self-isolation (eg becomes harder to breathe) an immediate evacuation will be arranged.

Waivers and Questionnaires
Pre-Screening Questionnaire
​Acknowledgement of Risk Waiver
Powder Creek Lodge Waiver
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

​BC CDC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool
https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en
 
Province of British Columbia Restart Plan
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/bc-restart-plan#:~:text=The%20BC%20Restart%20Plan%20takes,of%20the%20Provincial%20Health%20Officer.
 
BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
 
BC Centre for Disease Control Travel Recommendations
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/travel
 
BC Centre for Disease Control Self-Isolation
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation
 
WorkSafe BC: Accommodation: Protocols for returning to operation
https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-returning-safe-operation/accommodation
 
 
PCL COVID 2020/2021 Booking/Cancellation Policy:

Final payments will be non-refundable for the 2020/2021 season (as in our regular cancellation/refund policy).  If you need to cancel your trip for any personal reason including but not limited to, testing positive for Covid-19, being in contact with someone who is positive for Covid-19, personal illness/injury, family emergency, etc. you will need to contact your insurance provider for reimbursement.  Alternatively, if we can sell your spot, we will offer a refund.  Please contact your travel insurance provider prior to booking your trip. 

If we are required to cancel your trip (eg travel restrictions imposed by government, stay at home orders, etc) then you would be entitled to a credit or a refund, minus our admin fee of $350/person. This admin fee covers our costs that we must incur prior to your arrival and we cannot recover. Think of this as an insurance policy for you. This is the most you would potentially lose (about 11% of your trip cost). 

Note that final payment for your ski week will be due October 1st, 2020. If final payments are not received by October 1, 2020 we will cancel your spot and make it available for rebooking.  Your deposit will not be refunded unless your spot is rebooked (less our administration fee).