Bayford Studios   COVID-19 Health & Safety Policy

 

Context

 

UK Government guidelines mandates the following actions to mitigate risk in the workplace, in order of priority:

 

• Maximum of eight people in the studio (from different households) 

• Keeping people 2m apart wherever possible

• Increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleansing

• Keeping the activity time as short as possible

• Using screens or barriers to separate people

• Using back-to-back or side-to-side working whenever possible

• Having particular regard if they are especially vulnerable to COVID-19

• Signage re 2m rule and hand sanitiser to be provided.

• Studio to be kept well-ventilated and the door to be opened every 30 minutes.

 

Risk Management

 

To reduce risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level by taking preventative measures.

 

Bayford Studios has implemented continuous assessment of our workplace and operations considering the risks posed by COVID-19. This will be weekly.

 

All projects will be individually risk assessed, in advance, for each session that they operate in the studio. These have been subject to review by appropriate independent bodies e.g. Musicians Union.

 

Staff will work from home if possible.

 

Clinically extremely vulnerable clients/musicians and those who are at higher risk of severe illness (those with pre-existing conditions) are strongly advised not to visit the studio. In this case they may be able to track their session from home at a later date.

 

All personnel will be required to complete an online health questionnaire 24 hours before the start of a project. 

 

OPTIONAL A designated trained marshal will take all personnel  temperatures twice daily. Anyone with a higher temperature will not be allowed to work. All personnel present on-site will be asked to complete a questionnaire as to whether they are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.

 

 

Symptom/Emergency Response Plan

 

If a person shows COVID-19 symptoms they will be sent home or to their accommodation by private transport and instructed to seek medical advice from the NHS and keep the studio engineer updated. 

 

Personnel who have been in close contact (within 2m for more than 15 mins or having had unprotected direct contact to respiratory secretions of the ill individual e.g. cough/sneeze in face) with a suspected or known case of Covid-19 while that individual was displaying symptoms should follow UK Government guidelines and self-isolate for 14 days.

 

 

Social Distancing in the studio

 

A minimum 2m distance between personnel should be observed on-site at all times wherever possible.

 

The following are the only exceptions to the 2m rule. In each case you should minimise the time involved and take all extra precautions set out below, wherever possible:

 

It may be necessary to pass other musicians at a distance of less than 2m e.g. to go to the toilet. This will be subject to the following conditions:

 

1. only one musician will be in motion at any one time

2. the shortest route will be taken to the exit

3. The motion will be taken promptly

4. musicians should face away from anyone passing them

 

If there is a fault with the equpiment, or it requires adjustment:

 

1. the musicians will provide as much distance as possible without infringing other 2m distancing.

2. the musician will face away from staff member or face coverings worn.

3. the engineer will attempt to remedy issue in max 5 mins.

4. member of staff to be equipped with appropriate PPE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Rules

 

Public transport should be avoided where possible, but if it is deemed necessary face coverings should be worn at all times as per UK Government guidelines.

 

Any item of equipment or musical instrument brought in to the studio should be sanitised before entry.

 

Hand sanitiser will be provided at entry points.

 

Each musician has their own designated area within the studio.

 

Brass players will have designated pot or towel for spit collection.

 

Signing in procedures will be non-contact.

 

Toilet access will be limited to one person at a time.

 

Toilet to be sanitised and provided with hand soap and sanitiser, in addition to paper towels, which should be thrown, after use, into the bin (provided).

 

The kitchen area is closed. If required, food should be brought ready-prepared by each musician and eaten either in their recording position or outside in the garden. All personnel are encouraged to remain on-site for the duration of their work at the studio and should bring enough food/drink to sustain them through the sessions.

 

 

Workplaces and workstations

 

 

• All workstations will be a minimum of 2m from each other. It is a room with multiple occupancy, and as such will be marked with tape.

• All workstations are individually assigned.

• When there is a change of personnel workstation will be deep cleaned.

• There is no hot desking and no sharing of equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping the workplace clean

 

The studio will be deep cleaned before each new session, ensuring that the studio and equipment are disinfected for both day to day hygiene and to aid contact tracing. We will also:

 

• Frequently disinfect common touch areas, such as door handles, light switches, taps and dispensers, using apporopriate cleaning methods.

• perform deep cleaning and (optional) anti-viral ‘misting’ of the studio between projects and sessions.

• Particular attention paid to to piano and all studio equipment e.g. Mics, mic stands, headphones, cables, music stands etc.

• Only engineer is allowed to handle studio equipment.

 

Musicians Equipment

 

Each musician will be assigned a set of musician’s equipment for the duration of their session(s) at Bayford Studios. This will be stationed at the seated position and not moved or touched by any other person.

 

Specifically:

• Chair

• Headphones

• Music stand

• Sheet music

• Instrument

• Amplifier (if applicable)

 

Musicians must not touch any items of studio equipment. All microphones, mic stands, cables, electronic equipment etc. must not be touched. 

 

 

Hygiene - Toilets

 

Procedure for use of toilets will be clearly signed and communicated:

 

• Entry: Sanitising station provided, outside WC, used before opening door.

• Hand Washng: Use soap and water provided to wash hands before and after using the facilities.

• Toilet Flushing: Flush with lid closed.

• Hand Drying: Single use paper towels provided.

• Waste Disposal: Pedal bins provided inside and outside WC. Waste disposed frequently.