COVID-19 Safety Plan

Christina De Melo Photography, Video, and Design is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment to all my clients and associates. As your photographer / videographer, I have a safety plan in place to indicate what steps I am taking to protect you, me, our families, and our community from transmitting the virus. To ensure that, I have developed the following COVID-19 Safety Plan in accordance with government guidelines. This information is important and could affect the coverage of your session / booking or wedding day, so please read carefully.

Christina De Melo Photography, Video, and Design – COVID-19 Safety Plan

Business name: Christina De Melo Photography, Video & Design

Date completed: August 15, 2020

Revision date: March 5, 2021

Measures we’re taking

How we’re ensuring workers know how to keep themselves safe from exposure to COVID-19:

• I will check for any changes to COVID-19 safety precautions (per www.ontario.ca ) as they develop, checking information before any photo/video session or wedding, and adjusting protocol as required.

• I will stay up-to-date with the latest information, advice and guidelines from the federal, provincial, and municipal government and public health officials. This includes educating myself on the evolving information pertaining to:

  • Signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

  • How COVID-19 is spread.

  • Physical distancing recommendations.

  • Cleaning routines and hygiene controls (including respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette and handwashing).

  • Use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and medical equipment (e.g. thermometers, disposable gloves, masks, and disinfectants) as relevant.

  • What to do if a client or myself becomes unwell and believe they have been exposed to COVID-19.

  • What to do if a client or myself have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

• Protocols and action plans will be discussed with clients beforehand.
  

How we’re screening for COVID-19:

Worker / Self-Screening

I will complete workplace screening checklist using provincial list of COVID-19 symptoms before going into the studio or leaving for any on-location booking: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/screening/worker/.

Client Screening

Clients and subcontractors will be screened by Christina De Melo using a questionnaire identical to the customer screening questionnaire recommended by the provincial government (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/screening/customer/). The questions will include:

• Do you currently have COVID-19, or are you awaiting COVID-19 test results?

• Have you travelled outside of Canada (including the USA) in the past fourteen (14) days?

• Have you been in close contact with anyone who has travelled outside of Canada in the past fourteen (14) days?

• Have you been in close contact with anyone with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 in the past fourteen (14) days?

• Are you experiencing any of the following new or worsening symptoms or signs (not chronic or related to other known causes or conditions):

  • Fever or chills

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • Cough

  • Sore throat or trouble swallowing

  • Runny nose, stuffy nose or nasal congestion

  • Decrease or loss of smell or taste

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

  • Feeling unwell, extreme tiredness or sore muscles

For studio and outdoor sessions (portraits and lifestyle):

• Each client will be required to complete the screening questionnaire 24hrs before their session, and they will be asked the screening questions again upon arriving for the booking but before entering any enclosed space.

For wedding clients:

• The couple will be required to complete the screening questionnaire 24-48 hrs before the start of wedding coverage, and will be asked the screening questions again upon the photographer’s arrival at their first wedding location.

• The couple will be asked if they anticipate that they might like for anyone in their family to be photographed indoors (ie: parents of the bride or groom). If so, they will be required to complete a screening questionnaire. The photographer will not enter any enclosed indoor space with an unmasked person who has not completed the screening questionnaire. Please see below for more details on masking protocols.

For corporate clients and businesses with their own workplace screening protocols in place:

• Commercial / corporate clients may have their own Covid Safety Plan and screening protocols in place. In such a case, I will review their covid safety plan and complete any screening they require of me.

For subcontractors:

• Any subcontractors utilized will be required to complete the screening questionnaire
  
  

How we’re controlling the risk of transmission in our workplace:

All in-person meetings moved online

• In-person meetings will all moved to online zoom meetings until further notice.

Masking / PPE

• I will wear a mask at all times when working with clients, even if outdoors, as my clients may periodically remove their masks for photos/video of themselves unmasked.

• I will wear a mask and safety glasses or a face shield in any situation where I will be in an enclosed space with unmasked subjects or where social distancing is not possible.

• Clients will be asked to wear a mask anytime they are not being photographed.

• Anyone being photographed indoors without a mask on and in close proximity to each other must be part of the same household, in accordance with government regulations and public health guidelines during the pandemic.

• All attendees over the age of 2 will wear a mask when entering the studio, and while being directed to where they are to be seated. They should only remove their mask during the time they are being photographed, at the instruction of the photographer. Anytime that I am not taking the subject’s photo (ie. adjusting lighting), I will ask that the subject puts their mask back on.

Physical distancing and separation

• While this is going to be difficult, especially with my repeat clients, there will be a no handshake / no hugging policy for the foreseeable future.

• Studio sessions will proceed in accordance with government capacity restrictions so as to allow for social distancing.

• In order to eliminate any unnecessary risk, subjects will not be allowed to bring a guest into the studio until further notice.

• Large group photos with multiple households will not be possible until further notice.

Hand-washing, cleaning & sanitizing

• I will practice diligent hand-hygiene, washing hands before beginning any in-studio or on-location assignment, and when moving between locations. Where not possible to wash my hands, I will use hand-sanitizer.

• I will sanitize during the session after touching an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, etc.

• I will avoid touching doorknobs, toilet flush handles, and faucets after washing my hands.

• I will have alcohol-based (60% minimum) sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in my car and camera bag at all times

• I will sanitize my camera & lenses before & after every job/session with appropriate products.

• I will frequently sanitize high touch surfaces inside my vehicle.

• Touch surfaces, props and clothing items will be cleaned between uses.

• Clients will be asked to wash their hands / hand sanitize upon arriving at the studio.

Special considerations - Wedding Day Practices (in addition to all safety measures outlined above)

• I will bring at least two masks with me, to be changed out before they reach saturation.

• Brides and grooms will be asked to plan their pre-wedding preparations so as to use a getting-ready space that allows room for social distancing, and not to include any people beyond those who are absolutely required.

• Brides and grooms are informed that the photographer reserves the right to stop coverage at any point when social distancing protocols are not being adhered to. If this occurs, I will immediately request that the action be moved to a larger room, that some occupants step out of the room, or that we use an outdoor space.

• Any photos that can be done outside will be moved to an outdoor location. Photos that cannot be done outdoors (ie bride getting into dress) will remain indoors with limited room capacity so as to allow for social distancing, and should not include any people beyond those who are absolutely necessary.

• Photographer(s)’ meal breaks will not be taken seated with wedding guests, and photographers will maintain social distance while unmasked.

• Any person not being photographed in an indoor/enclosed location must wear a mask.

What we will do if there is a potential case, or suspected exposure to, COVID-19 at our workplace:

• In the event that I develop symptoms, I will contact clients as soon as possible to reschedule their booking to 14 days or more. If I were to test positive for Covid-19, I would keep clients informed and not return to work unless deemed fit by my doctor.

• If a client’s booking is time-sensitive and cannot be rescheduled, I will have a list of reliable backup photographers who will have a style and level of quality similar to me. I will do my best to find a replacement, even at short notice. If finding a backup is unfortunately not possible, the client can choose to either get a refund of their deposit or use it towards a new booking within 12 months.

• In the event that a client answers “yes” to any question on the screening form, they will be asked to re-schedule future date within 12 months, free of charge.

• If the client is still going ahead with an event while having symptoms, or is entirely cancelling the event, they can choose to use their deposit towards a new booking within 12 months, as long as I’m available on that date.

• If there is reason to believe that someone on-site or in attendance at an event/wedding has symptoms of covid-19, coverage ceases immediately. This interruption is covered under the safe workplace clause in my contract.

• Photographer(s) will make immediate contact with healthcare professionals and/or complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/). Based on recommendations, photographer(s) will make appropriate arrangements for a COVID test.

• Questions about protocols will be directed to the Stop the Spread hotline: 1-888-444-3659.

How we’re managing any new risks caused by the changes made to the way we operate our business:

• I will do regular risk assessments over the course of studio session and on-location assignments/ wedding days to review existing critical risks and whether venue changes affect the existing risk management strategy.

How we’re making sure our plan is working:

• At the end of each studio session or on-location photo or video assignment, I will will assess whether any new risks presented themselves, requiring revision to existing protocols.

Related Articles