The House of LaRose Safety Plan for COVID-19


On March 22, 2020, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code §3701.13, issued a “Director’s Order that All Persons Stay at Home Unless Engaged in Essential Work or Activity” (the “Order”). Because the work of our Company has been deemed essential, and perhaps even more significant, because our Company is supporting the infrastructure of other essential businesses in the food/beverage supply chain, it is our intention to remain open and continue operations as circumstances allow.

THESE ARE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SAFETY PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES WHILE WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE:

We will aspire to abide by the Social Distancing Requirements set forth in the Order, which includes the following directives:

We value the safety of our employees and their families. Therefore, we will continue to take precautions to help keep our employees healthy and well. In addition to the Social Distancing Requirements we are communicating to employees, please take note of the following:

New Guidelines for Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

April 16, 2020

New guidelines have been implemented for employees who may have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. A potential exposure means being in contact or having close contact within 6 feet of an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The timeframe for having contact with an individual includes the period of time 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic.

If you have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, but remain asymptomatic you should adhere to the following practices prior to and during your work shift:

If you believe you may have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, then you should contact Al Scott.

If you exhibit COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue):

  1. Contact your medical provider immediately and follow their guidance.
  2. Quarantine as directed by your medical provider.
  3. Stay home when you are sick and report off to your manager.
  4. Protect others from potential exposure.
  5. Report your situation to Human Resources, in addition to your manager.
  6. Fully recover and be non-contagious before returning. CDC standard is below:

Individuals must remain off until all the following three things occur:

  1. No fever for at least 72 hours (without the use of medicine that reduces fever), AND
  2. Other symptoms have improved, AND
  3. At least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.

If you are diagnosed with coronavirus:

  1. Follow all guidance of your medical provider for your health and well-being, including quarantine instructions.
  2. Report your situation to your manager and Human Resources. Be prepared to identify coworkers that were in direct contact in the previous two weeks. The House of LaRose will contact potentially exposed employees but will not reveal your identity.
  3. Protect others from further exposure.
  4. Fully recover and be non-contagious before returning. CDC standard is below:
    1. Close off and clean potentially contaminated areas
    2. Identify other employees/people that were in direct contact with positive employee
    3. Diagnosed individuals must remain off until all of the following three things occur:
      1. No longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fever), AND
      2. Other symptoms have improved, AND
      3. You receive two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart.

IN ALL OF THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING PAID TIME OFF AND/OR OTHER BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT (FFCRA)

Additional measures we have taken, or are in process:
For our Operations Teams

  1. We have hand sanitizer on order, and/or other disinfectant, and/or gloves for use by all operations personnel.
  2. We have ordered UV lamps to disinfect delivery hand-held devices and printers. Until they arrive, we have disinfectant for personnel to clean daily.
  3. We have hand sanitizer on order and/or other soap products at our receiving docks for Over-the-Road drivers.
  4. We have provided gloves to delivery drivers and other employees coming into contact with outside materials.
  5. We have reduced collecting signatures from customers where possible, as well as reduced exchange of paperwork and electronic devices.
  6. We are using appropriate disinfectant to clean material handling equipment after use.
  7. We are utilizing staggered lunch breaks and appropriate social distancing in our warehouse.
  8. We are taking temperatures (or requiring verification of no fever) to ensure no one is coming to work with a fever or symptoms.
  9. We have reduced delivery days, routes, stops, and we’ve made other delivery adjustments as appropriate.

For our Admin/Management Teams (working on-site)

  1. We are only allowing essential employees to work onsite from our facility to maintain operations.
  2. We have hand sanitizer pumps/or soap throughout our facility for use by employees on site.
  3. We are using appropriate disinfectant to clean high-traffic areas (traffic has been limited) including bathrooms on a regular, consistent basis throughout the day.
  4. We have limited access to our building to essential employees only (no visitors are allowed).
  5. We are taking temperatures (or requiring verification of no fever) of all employees at start of shift to ensure no one is coming to work with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19.

For our Sales Teams

  1. We are only allowing essential employees to work onsite from our facility to maintain operations.
  2. We are in the process of providing hand sanitizer wipes and/or bottles, cleaning supplies, and/or gloves to all sales employees (as supplies are received).
  3. We have temporarily discontinued any in-person meetings, supplier work-withs, and other onsite sales meetings.
  4. We have encouraged communication with customers by telephone when available.
  5. We have communicated and encouraged off-hour sales call windows as retailers have made available.

We will continue to evaluate our current practices with an eye towards enhancing protection to our employees as circumstances evolve.

This safety plan is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Public Health as well as other administrative guidance with the advice of counsel and is subject to change based on any additional guidance the State of Ohio or other administrative bodies may provide in the days ahead.

For questions, contact: Al Scott at: (440) 746-7500