COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Alaska Charters and Adventures LLC is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our workers and guests. To ensure we have a safe and healthy workplace, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our managers and crews are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and community, and that requires full cooperation among ourselves and clientele. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our clientele, workers and workplaces.

Management, our crew and our clients are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

Our workers are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our workers working. Worker involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our crews in this process by working collaboratively to be prepared for each tour and specific vessel. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State of Alaska mandates/guidelines and addresses:

• hygiene and respiratory etiquette
• engineering and administrative controls for social distancing
• cleaning, disinfecting, decontamination and ventilation
• prompt identification and isolation of sick persons
• communications and training that will be provided to managers and workers
• management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.

Screening and policies for employees exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19

Workers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms. If an ALASKA CHARTERS & ADVENTURES LLC staff is feeling ill with any symptoms of COVID-19, they will be required to stay home, and seek medical help/testing through the SEARHC clinic or hospital. Any worker who is experiencing symptoms 24-72 hours prior to any Tour/Charter scheduled with Alaska Charters and Adventures must contact Owners Brenda Schwartz-Yeager and/or John Yeager. All staff who report symptoms must follow direction from SEARHC medical staff regarding isolation/quarantine.

ALASKA CHARTERS & ADVENTURES LLC has implemented policies that promote workers staying at home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household.

ALASKA CHARTERS & ADVENTURES LLC will inform workers and clients if they have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 at their workplace and require them to quarantine for the required amount of time.

Handwashing

Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our workplaces at all times. Workers and clients are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day when available but especially at the beginning and end of their tour, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All customers and visitors on vessels will be required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon beginning any tour/charter. Backcountry settings may require an alternative method at the discretion of your guide. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at entrances and locations on vessels so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.

Respiratory etiquette: Cover your cough or sneeze

Workers, customers and visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers, customers and visitors. Guests will be advised upon entering vessels to the locations of sanitizer and/or handwashing stations, as well as tissues.

Social distancing

Social distancing of six feet will be implemented and maintained between workers, customers and visitors on vessels if possible. Vessel occupancy may be reduced to help facilitate adequate social distancing. Each vessel may have its’ own safety practices in place that may require any of the following prior to entering their vessel; wearing of masks, assigned seating, reduced capacity administration of gloves, etc.

• All staff will minimize any physical contact with passengers.
• All staff and guests will wear face coverings at the direction of the captain of the vessel while sitting/standing near passengers and crew. Guests must board the vessel with face covering.
• Members of the same household or traveling group may sit next to one another inside the vessel on the same seat.

Cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation

Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, and areas in the work environment, including restrooms with the exception of remote out houses (Clients and crew will use handwashing and/or hand sanitizers). Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as door handles, seats, and railings. All vessels will be thoroughly sanitized and disinfected upon disembarkation of passengers, to maximize timing of sanitation between multiple tours. Whenever possible the vessel will be rotated out of service.

Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfectant supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product. The maximum amount of fresh air is being brought into the workplace, through operating all vessels with windows open (when possible and appropriate), encouraging air recirculation within the vessel. Steps are also being taken to minimize air flow blowing across people. Guests will be advised prior to their tours to dress warm.

Clients are encouraged to bring your own binoculars, clothing, food and beverages whenever possible.

Communications and training

This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated via email to all workers and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing and provided to all workers who did not receive the initial training. Instructions will be communicated to customers and visitors about: how drop-off, pick-up, and movement about the vessel will be conducted to ensure social distancing between the customers and workers; and required hygiene practices for the duration of their tour.

Customers and visitors will also be advised not to enter any vessel if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19. Management and workers are working through this new program together and updated training as necessary.

Each client will be required to complete a post tour questionnaire.

All Clients and crew will be immediately notified of any crew or passenger with any symptom of COVID-19 or a positive COVID-19 test result.

This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by Alaska Charters & Adventures LLC management and was disseminated to all staff. We reserve the right to change the policies as necessary.

Alaska Charters & Adventures
PO Box 1996
Wrangell, Alaska 99929
info@alaskaupclose.com
(907) 874-4157
Owners Brenda Schwartz-Yeager & John Yeager