Covid-19 Procedures

How to act in the annex during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is not a replacement for the official risk assessment. This is simply a list of advice that will help you keep within the risk assessment.

This page is out dated, our current general risk assessment, including COVID-19 measures can be found here, this page will be updated as soon as possible.

There should be a set of hand sanitisers kept in small store, ensure these are easily accessible while people are in the annex. Hand sanitiser should be used when entering and exiting the annex, before and after using shared equipment, and before and after eating.

Facemasks must be worn at all times while inside the annex, unless an externally approved medical reason has been given.

Follow the one way/priority systems as laid out. Where an individual has a mobility impairment making following the one-way system difficult, they should be given the right of way.

A maximum of one person can be in any of the stores at any one time, with the exception of big store where up to three people can enter if required to ensure accessing items/putting items away is safely done.

Separate households must remained distanced while travelling, either by taking separate modes of transport, or avoiding travelling. If separate households have to travel together, they should remain separated as much as possible and appropriate PPE must be worn.

All surfaces should be wiped down before and after use using the provided cleaning equipment, stored in small store by the hand sanitiser, as should any shared equipment (such as the sound and lighting desks).

Any often touched hard surfaces, such as the lecture benches and the doors, should be wiped down with alcohol based disinfectant before/after the audience enter/leave.

Society members should be advised to disclose if they fall into the “at risk” category so that extra measures can be taken. Discuss with each individual (ideally using remote communication such as instant messaging or calling) how best to accommodate them and their specific risks.

Audience members who fall into the “at risk” category, and would like reasonable measures to be put in place to accommodate for them, must request so with reasonable notice (at or before the point of sale) for such measures to be implemented.

In the event that first aid needs to be provided, this is the highest priority. Facemasks should be worn where possible, and all parties should wash/sanitise their hands and the surrounding area, but only if it doesn't impede the application of first aid.

Society members should, in some way, sign in to the annex upon arrival such that they can be contacted if someone develops symptoms/receives a positive test result. If anyone displays symptoms while present in the annex, everyone is required to pack up and leave and to isolate in accordance with the government guidelines.

Do not attempt to do a task by yourself, if it requires multiple people to be done safely (such as carrying heavy loads). Either find alternative methods, or avoid the need to perform the task in the first place.

If the task cannot be avoided, ensure that there are sufficient people to perform the task safely, wear masks, and use hand sanitiser immediately afterwards.

During a show week, only one person should be operating any equipment (such as the sound and lighting desks) as any one time. Crew members sat at the back of the annex should distance from each other as much as possible.

Before a show week, a rota should be created to dictate when crew should show up. This will either be drawn up by the technical director, or by the lighting/sound/stage directors depending on which makes the most sense per show.

Rows/seats should be marked off to ensure audience members are at least 2 distance from the actors, the crew, and other audience members not part of their ‘bubble’.

During the interval, require the audience to wait outside the foyer to maintain social distancing, unless the weather is deemed too bad, when the technical director(s) for the show may decide to let them stay seated.

Place 2m markers on the ground for the audience to queue when entering the auditorium.

When the audience is required to enter or leave, they will be required to do so one row at a time. This will be directed by a member of the crew.

Reduce the size of the band/increase the size of the band pit, such that there are 2m of space between each band member (or 1m with robust mitigations methods, such as screens, in accordance to the UK government guidelines). In addition, band will be required to