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Can I Take Your Order Please? OSHA Releases COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup

5/8/20

By: Travis Cashbaugh

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all industries across the country, perhaps none greater than the restaurant, food and beverage industry. Faced with widespread closures, many retailers in the food and beverage industry modified their business models for the new post-crisis world to include in-store takeout and curbside pickup. Each method of delivery offers convenient, quality, fresh products for the consumer. More importantly, both offer minimal-touch pick-up options consistent with the “socially-distanced” goals of COVID-19 prevention for all involved—customers and employees.

To maintain the safety of such services on both customers and employees in the restaurant, food and beverage industries, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued guidance for restaurants and beverage vendors offering takeout or curbside pickup. Through its May 1, 2020 safety alert publication, OSHA identified the following tips to help reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus:

  • Encourage workers to stay home if they are sick.
  • Avoid direct hand-off, when possible.
  • Display a door or sidewalk sign with the services available (e.g., take-out, curbside), instructions for pickup, and hours of operation.
  • Reserve parking spaces near the front door for curbside pickup only.
  • Train workers in proper hygiene practices and the use of workplace controls.
  • Allow workers to wear masks over their nose and mouth to prevent spread of the virus.
  • Provide a place to wash hands and alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment with Environmental Protection Agency approved cleaning chemicals or that have label claims against the coronavirus.
  • Practice sensible social distancing by maintaining six feet between co-workers and customers. Mark six-foot distances with floor tape in pickup lines, encourage customers to pay ahead of time by phone or online, temporarily move workstations to create more distance, and install plexiglass partitions, if feasible.
  • Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.

In addition to remaining alert for further guidance from OSHA, employers in the restaurant, food, and beverage industries should be aware of specific guidance from state and local governments, as states across the county begin preparations to reopen. In Georgia for example, Governor Brian Kemp recently issued an Executive Order that provides new and extensive guidance for businesses across Georgia, including restaurants. FMG provided a detailed overview of that Executive Order and its impact on businesses, here.

With new habits and behaviors forming, those in the food and beverage industry that fail to pivot will likely find themselves struggling to compete. Employers that are planning on reopening—or continuing to operate, perhaps modifying their business model to include takeout or curbside pickup—should immediately begin assessing the health and safety protocols they have in place now and what additional steps they need to take consistent with OSHA’s guidance and state and local requirements.  Further, we recommend that employers consult with their counsel to evaluate any industry or location-specific measures that should be taken to reduce any concerns by customers or employees of contracting COVID-19 when on the employer’s establishment. 

Additional Information:

The FMG Coronavirus Task Team will be conducting a series of webinars on Coronavirus issues on a regular basis. Topics include real estate issues, business interruption losses, and more. Click here to view upcoming webinars.

FMG has formed a Coronavirus Task Force to provide up-to-the-minute information, strategic advice, and practical solutions for our clients.  Our group is an interdisciplinary team of attorneys who can address the multitude of legal issues arising out of the coronavirus pandemic, including issues related to Healthcare, Product Liability, Tort Liability, Data Privacy, and Cyber and Local Governments.  For more information about the Task Force, click here.

You can also contact your FMG relationship partner or email the team with any questions at coronavirustaskforce@fmglaw.com.

**DISCLAIMER:  The attorneys at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP (“FMG”) have been working hard to produce educational content to address issues arising from the concern over COVID-19.  The webinars and our written material have produced many questions. Some we have been able to answer, but many we cannot without a specific legal engagement.  We can only give legal advice to clients.  Please be aware that your attendance at one of our webinars or receipt of our written material does not establish an attorney-client relationship between you and FMG.  An attorney-client relationship will not exist unless and until an FMG partner expressly and explicitly states IN WRITING that FMG will undertake an attorney-client relationship with you, after ascertaining that the firm does not have any legal conflicts of interest.  As a result, you should not transmit any personal or confidential information to FMG unless we have entered into a formal written agreement with you.  We will continue to produce education content for the public, but we must point out that none of our webinars, articles, blog posts, or other similar material constitutes legal advice, does not create an attorney client relationship and you cannot rely on it as such.  We hope you will continue to take advantage of the conferences and materials that may pertain to your work or interests.**