Endicott Performing Arts Center
Industry: Low Risk Indoor Arts Entertainment
EPAC Executive Director: Patrick Foti
EPAC Business Manager: Joseph Foti
Physical Distancing: To ensure employees and volunteers comply with physical distancing requirements, EPAC agrees to the following:
✔Ensure 6 ft. distance between personnel, unless safety or core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance. Any time personnel are less than 6 ft. apart from one another, personnel must wear acceptable face coverings.
✔Tightly confined spaces will be occupied by only one individual at a time, unless all occupants are wearing face coverings. If occupied by more than one person, will keep occupancy under 50% of maximum capacity.
✔Post social distancing markers using tape or signs that denote 6 ft. of spacing in commonly used and other applicable areas on the site (e.g. clock in/out stations, health screening stations)
✔Limit in-person gatherings as much as possible and use tele- or video-conferencing whenever possible. Essential in-person gatherings (e.g. meetings) should be held in open, well-ventilated spaces with appropriate social distancing among participants.
✔Establish designated areas for pick-ups and deliveries, limiting contact to the extent possible.
List common situations that may not allow for 6 ft. of distance between individuals. What measures will EPAC implement to ensure the safety of its employees in such situations?
EPAC produces Live Performance Art for paid audience members through community theater productions and offers educational workshops and classes to the general public through the EPAC School of Performing Arts and Kids Theater Workshops. Each show/event is produced by a cast and crew of local artists and technicians of various sizes that rehearse and work together for several weeks. Every known precaution is in place for these volunteer artists and technicians to work together safely, by offering distant rehearsing options through ZOOM and making the shows available on-line for audiences instead of live at the theater. EPAC Digital will allow EPAC to keep performers and audience members safe at home while still enjoying and supporting what EPAC can produce. The EPAC School and Kids Workshop has gone digital as well, offering workshop lessons and group classes through ZOOM on-line, as well as private instructions to keep our instructors and students safe at home.
How will EPAC manage engagement with customers and visitors on these requirements?
EPAC is proud to announce EPAC Digital. The new on-line platform that will allow EPAC to continue its mission by bringing high quality performing arts to the entire community at an affordable price. The general public will be able to gain access to EPAC content ONLY through the EPAC Digital Website! Suggested donations may be recommended for access to some Digital Content. Many EPAC Rep. Co. Productions (old and new), will have Digital Tickets available for purchase.
Eventual Live performances at EPAC will be limited capacity at 1/4 the normal seating capacity of the theater, only allowing a maximum of 82 people to see any given show/event that takes place at EPAC. General Seating Tickets will be sold on-line ONLY, with no option to purchase tickets at the EPAC Box Office located in the lobby of EPAC, eliminating the need for box office personnel. The entrance and exits will be at two different locations clearly marked with signs. This will eliminate the congestion that can be present in the lobby during an event. Patrons will be required to wear face masks while entering and being seated by an usher, to ensure proper social distancing of audience members the ushers will seat each group accordingly.
How will EPAC manage industry-specific physical social distancing?
There will be no concessions available at EPAC shows/events during this time. This will eliminate cash/credit transactions between patrons and volunteer workers. Limited capacity in all common areas, classrooms, rehearsal spaces and studios. All of these areas will be closed off from the public as well as cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Protective Equipment: To ensure EPAC employees comply with protective equipment requirements, EPAC agrees to the following:
✔EPAC must provide employees with an acceptable face covering at no-cost to the employee and have an adequate supply of coverings in case of replacement.
EPAC will provide the proper PPE for identified paid employees. The EPAC Maintenance person will be required to wear PPE during entire work shift at EPAC. This employee is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting all bathroom facilities and public areas in the Endicott Performing Arts Center. These shifts are at non 'open' hours of business and spread across multiple shifts throughout the week to insure proper distancing and PPE requirements are met.
What quantity of face coverings – and any other PPE – will EPAC need to procure to ensure there's always a sufficient supply on hand for employees and visitors? How will EPAC procure these supplies?
EPAC will provide access to PPE in the form of face masks to any and all visitors, volunteers and employees upon request. EPAC will require all visitors to wear Face Coverings when on the premise. EPAC will purchase regulation style face masks as part of its normal ordering of cleaning and maintenance products like cleaners, disinfectants, and hand sanitizers.
✔Face coverings must be cleaned or replaced after use or when damaged or soiled, may not be shared, and should be properly stored or discarded.
EPAC will provide disposable PPE for paid employees. The PPE will be stored properly and discarded after each use to ensure compliance with PPE recommendations. The EPAC Maintenance person is required to wear gloves when cleaning and disinfecting areas of the EPAC facility. The PPE supplied by EPAC will not be shared, as it is disposable.
List common objects that are likely to be shared between employees. What measures will EPAC implement to ensure the safety of its employees when using these objects?
✔Limit the sharing of objects and discourage touching of shared surfaces; or, when in contact with shared objects or frequently touched areas, wear gloves (trade-appropriate or medical); or, sanitize or wash hands before and after contact.
EPAC props, costumes and tools can often get shared between artists, students and volunteers. EPAC instruments and technical equipment is also shared sometimes with musicians and technicians. All EPAC Props, Tools, Instruments, and Technical Equipment will be disinfected before and after each use when possible. All EPAC Costumes, Hats and Wigs will be laundered, sprayed and disinfected before and after each use when possible.
Hygiene and Cleaning: To ensure employees comply with hygiene and cleaning requirements, you agree that you will do the following:
✔Adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) and maintain cleaning logs on site that document date, time, and scope of cleaning.
The EPAC Maintenance Person will maintain a cleaning log and keep it in the EPAC Cleaning Closet for access to the public if needed. This EPAC Employee is responsible for the cleaning of public areas as well as disinfecting all bathroom facilities and theater seating after every show/event, and on a regular weekly basis. This EPAC Employee always adheres to and complies with NYS DOH Requirements, as well as CDC Guild lines.
✔Provide and maintain hand hygiene stations for personnel, including handwashing with soap, water, and paper towels, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible.
Where on the work location will EPAC provide employees with access to the appropriate hand hygiene and/or sanitizing products and how will EPAC promote good hand hygiene?
EPAC requires hand washing by employees and promotes it with signage to patrons and volunteers. EPAC will provide all patrons, volunteers and employees with access to hand sanitizer stations through the EPAC Facility. Hand Pump Hand Sanitizers will be located at multiple points around the center for easy access to hand hygiene.
✔Conduct regular cleaning and disinfection at least after every shift, daily, or more frequently as needed, and frequent cleaning and disinfection of shared objects (e.g. tools, machinery) and surfaces, as well as high transit areas, such as restrooms and common areas, must be completed.
Communication: To ensure the business and its employees comply with communication requirements, EPAC agrees to the following:
✔Post signage throughout the site to remind personnel to adhere to proper hygiene, social distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
✔Establish a communication plan for employees, visitors, and customers with a consistent means to provide updated information.
✔Maintain a continuous log of every person, including workers and visitors, who may have close contact with other individuals at the work site or area; excluding deliveries that are performed with appropriate PPE or through contactless means; excluding customers, who may be encouraged to provide contact information to be logged but are not mandated to do so.
EPAC will keep record of all signed contracts, release of liability forms and Contact Tracing Questionnaires submitted by all employees and volunteers of EPAC.
✔If a worker tests positive for COVID-19, employer must immediately notify state and local health departments and cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal law and regulations.
If an EPAC worker or volunteer tests positive for COVID-19, Joseph Foti (EPAC Business Manager) will be responsible for notifying state and local health departments.
Screening: To ensure the business and its employees comply with protective equipment requirements, you agree that you will do the following:
✔Implement mandatory health screening assessment (e.g. EPAC questionnaire) before employees and volunteers begin work on each show/event and for essential visitors, asking about (1) COVID-19 symptoms in past 14 days, (2) positive COVID-19 test in past 14 days, and/or (3) close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in past 14 days. Assessment responses must be reviewed every EPAC show/event and such review must be documented.
Contact tracing and disinfection of contaminated areas. To ensure the business and its employees comply with contact tracing and disinfection requirements, you agree that you will do the following:
✔Have a plan for cleaning, disinfection, and contact tracing in the event of a positive case.
Additional details about the EPAC Safety Plan, including specific industry guidance.
Staying up to date on industry-specific guidance:
✔To ensure that you stay up to date on the guidance that is being issued by the State, you will: Consult the NY Forward website at forward.ny.gov and applicable Executive Orders at
governor.ny.gov/executiveorders on a periodic basis or whenever notified of the availability of new guidance.
State and Federal Resources
As these resources are frequently updated, please stay current on state and federal guidance issued in response to COVID-19.
General Information
Workplace Guidance
Personal Protective Equipment Guidance
Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Registered Disinfectants of COVID-19 DOH Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19 CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Facilities
Screening and Testing Guidance