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Complete Crewing at the Event Safety Summit

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As a part of our mission to provide highly-trained event professionals to Producers and AV companies throughout the United States, Complete Crewing safety leaders will join the ESA in Lititz, PA for the Event Safety Summit.
Complete Crewing has been a proud member of the Event Safety Alliance for years and we are excited to once again participate at the Summit in person! The ESA has provided valuable resources to our company that helps us to maintain the highest level of safety for our crews, clients, and attendees.
Complete Crewing at ESA Safety Summit
The Summit is the best industry specific safety resource available, and we encourage everyone involved in productions to attend.
“Safety has always been our number one priority at Complete Crewing, and I am particularly interested in seeing the different training techniques and best practices others in the industry have implemented in the post-Covid era, as well as offering guidance to others based on our experiences and extensive training in event safety and pandemic compliance,” said Manchershaw “Munchie” Engineer, Complete Crewing’s Safety Officer.
In addition to the outstanding knowledge sharing, the Summit gives us an ideal chance to reconnect with one another. Having been postponed since 2019, the Summit will offer us the opportunity to be reunited with long-standing clients and become acquainted with new team members joining organizations after the industry interruption.
We hope to see you at the ESA Summit in person; but if time doesn’t allow, the virtual experience is sure to be worthwhile.
Be well, and we’ll see you in Lititz!

Touchless COVID-19 Check-In Procedure Helps Complete Crewing Get Productions Back on Track

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The second half of 2020 isn’t just about getting back to work – it’s about getting back to work safely and intelligently, following all necessary guidelines so that employees and customers stay healthy. As part of Complete Crewing’s COVID-19 safety procedures, we are using a touchless check-in and survey system for all production and labor projects that we support.

The software solution used by all our expert safety and production crew is web-based so that no users need to download an app. It supports health screening and contact tracing so that, in the event of a positive test post-production, follow-up is quick and efficient. It consists of an online form for all users to self-verify that they are healthy and haven’t been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19, as well as a form to collect the aforementioned contact information.

The verification form is customizable, which gives Complete Crewing the ability to ask the specific questions that we need to ask as an event-staffing agency. Thanks to the non-app format of the solution, our touchless check-in procedure can be accessed by all crew members quickly as soon as they arrive onsite, which allows us to streamline the check-in process while still reinforcing an environment of safety and health. As we take all security very seriously, we can also assure all production and event sites that the solution keeps all data private and secure.

We know that the pandemic situation is still one of occasional confusion and change. As guidelines and resources continue to evolve, Complete Crewing is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest best practices, adapting our crews and processes as new technologies and policies appear on-scene. 

In addition to our touchless check-in procedure, we want to provide some more information on our COVID-19 Compliance Officers (C19CO).

Pre-and Post-Production Duties

The duties of a C19CO go beyond onsite monitoring of your event. Your C19CO will work with your producer or technical director ahead of your production to help manage your crew numbers and schedule in a way that minimizes risk; this is one reason why it’s so important to have a C19CO who understands your industry! They’ll work with you and your site/location/venue to form a plan for check-in, make recommendations on break spaces that meet distancing guidelines, and make sure that you understand your obligations to those that enter your site.

Onsite, the C19CO will provide a limited amount of PPE as a default- masks, individually packaged hand sanitizer, extra sets of nitrile gloves, face shields, etc. As we mentioned previously, they will monitor all check-in processes using our touchless solution, and work with your crew and cleaning staff to ensure all high touch surfaces are adequately sanitized and all shared equipment is sanitized prior to and after each use. After each day, your C19CO will send you a report of the day’s events as they unfolded. As well as the information found here, this report will include follow-up information and steps that would be necessary for positive test results in different departments.

Accountability

It’s important to think of the C19CO not as simply another position, but as another department head. This position should not be in addition to other duties; it is a full-time job. C19COs are the first position in and the last one to leave every day of your production. They need to be able to focus fully on their responsibilities, and should be someone that will hold you accountable and save you money in the long run (yes, from potential lawsuits), as well as partners that you can rely on to do their jobs without fear of reprisal. 

It’s strongly recommended that a C19CO comes from a neutral third party rather than your organization – or worse, from a venue that does not hold your interests above their own. The C19CO should have no special interests except for a deep focus on public safety. We also recommend working with a company rather than a freelancer. If your C19CO has an emergency or can’t provide services due to a positive test result or symptoms before or during your production, a company can more easily ensure the hand-off of duties to another compliance officer for seamless transition.

Benefits

The benefits of a C19CO are profound. On top of being a layer of protection for your organization in the event of an outbreak, the C19CO is an onsite enforcer who will demand that your production adhere to the strictest guidelines possible while helping you complete the work that you need to in the safest way possible. They’ll show your stakeholders – your clients, crew, and others in the industry – that you take the COVID-19 threat seriously and that a return to work is possible because of companies like you. They’ll keep you up-to-date with regulatory changes and help you make adjustments to better plan for compliance, especially in states where guidelines shift based on positive cases. Your C19CO is your partner and your best friend.

If you have any questions on staffing an event, finding the best C19CO possible, or our touchless check-in solution, please reach out. Complete Crewing is a trusted and experienced event-staffing agency, and we are happy to help you in any way that we can. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Essential COVID Compliance Officers for Events and Productions

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Chicago-based Complete Crewing, your trusted and experienced event-staffing agency, has added a new and essential position to our safety and production crew offerings: certified COVID Compliance Officers (CCO).  CCOs present on production sites are responsible for overseeing all COVID-19 safety protocols.  These officers serve as a liaison between the heads of individual crew departments, the production facility, and the Health Department.  All of Complete Crewing’s labor coordinators are trained as compliance officers, in addition to being OSHA-30 certified.  

As this is a new position for a new environment, we wanted to take the time to explain our CCO’s responsibilities.  Whether Complete Crewing provides only the CCO or an entire highly skilled crew, we want to give everyone we work with the confidence that all health protocols are being followed, and assure all location and facility managers that they can feel safe holding meetings, events, and productions of all types.  

Each CCO provides a daily written report for every job site with details on safety guideline compliance.  Here is an excerpt from a report of a recent Complete Crewing job in Chicago:

“Arrived on site just before 7am.  Processed facility staff arrivals as workplace safety signage was being set in strategic locations throughout the venue. The majority of the crew arrived at 8am.  There were no red flags from self-certification questionnaires, nor were any temperatures taken outside of the normal range.  All crew entering wore masks and remained socially distant while awaiting check in.  Upon entry, they were given a wrist band to indicate they had been screened, as well as a personal bottle of hand sanitizer.  The facility placed ample sanitation stations throughout the building. The restroom facilities had adequate soap in the dispensers.  Catering was provided as individually packaged items.”

In addition to monitoring screening practices and reviewing the facility, the CCO will:

  • Ensure that the staff at a site falls within the limits established by state and city guidelines
  • Provide his or her contact information to all event attendees and post important information and safety guidance throughout the venue
  • Manage and coordinate information from department heads in the event of a post-event positive COVID result
  • Confirm that quarantine rules are followed by all who worked within 6 feet of each other, in the event of a positive result
  • Follow-up with the Health Department in the event of a positive result
  • Ensure the privacy of all collected information and questionnaire responses

The safety of our crews, all attendees, and our communities is a top priority for Complete Crewing.  Our crew coordinators have a long history of excellence and consistently provide service above and beyond what was requested.  We know how important safety is! We have the skills needed to prioritize safety  in this new environment even while working with multiple crews, shifts, and schedules.  We are always up to date on local, state, and national recommendations and regulations, and are dedicated to providing the best service  for any event.  

Please review this post for more information on our safety protocol guidelines, and contact us with any questions.  The Complete Crewing team is equipped and prepared to help get the Chicagoland area back to work!

#Whatsinyourlunchbag Dan Kantor

Impacts of Nutrition, Activity, Sleep and Health on Occupational Safety

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It’s holiday time, which means frightful weather, figgy pudding, and plenty of rockin’ around the Christmas tree! Or something like that, anyways. We think we can all agree that it definitely means a lot of activity and little rest – even when we have visions of pajamas and lazy mornings dancing in our heads. We’re huge fans of a good time, but too little focus on nutrition and rest can lead to an overworked brain and body, which affects on-the-job judgment and energy. We’re invested in the safety, health and welfare of people at work, so what can be done to enhance our health during this chaotic, but wonderful season? Read on for tips on improving safety and productivity, while still having a grand old time.

Sleep

We don’t know about you, but sometimes we crave some good, old-fashioned hibernation. John Peever, director of the Systems Neurobiology Laboratory at the University of Toronto, and Brian J. Murray, director of the laboratory at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center said that sleep reenergizes the body’s cells, clears waste from the brain, supports learning and memory, and plays a vital role in regulating mood and appetite. Sign us up. Especially when we consider the opposite – that a lack of sleep can affect judgment, mood, and the ability to learn and retain information. No, thank-you.

In the workplace, a lack of sleep might result in reduced productivity, analytical errors, short-tempers, and accidents. None of us want to be on the giving or receiving end of that mess. Ideally, you should go to sleep when you’re tired and wake up on your own. If that sounds like an unattainable dream, don’t stress it, just do the best you can. Take naps if necessary, and provide the body with food and activity that nurture restful sleep.

Nutrition

Wow your co-workers with this exciting trivia. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, and mediate moods. Around 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract. Mind blown? What if we told you that it shares that space with billions of good bacteria that play a large role in your body’s health, including the activation of neural pathways that travel directly between the gut and the brain? Bottom line? Healthy guts support healthy brains. And the answer to a healthy gut lies in feeding it premium fuel.

Eating isn’t usually an issue during the holidays. We’re practically drooling thinking of grandma’s pecan pie, dad’s leftover turkey casserole, and frosted sugar cookies. However, if we’re being honest – and our goal is your health after all – we wouldn’t consider any of that premium fuel. So, we recommend you mix it up. Go after all sorts of brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating too many processed and refined foods and sugars. How about a smoothie, vegetables and hummus, or some whole-grain toast spread with nut butter and coconut oil? We all have our favorite holiday snacks, and there’s nothing wrong with sharing in food and community. Smile, relax, and rejuvenate. Then help out your brain and body by adding in key nutrients. It will pay off during vacation time, and when you need to report to the office.

Activity

Okay, we know the couch is calling your name, but it’s not going anywhere. Before you stretch out, head to the great outdoors for some blood-pumping activity. Exercise reduces insulin resistance, stimulates the release of chemicals that help grow new brain cells, and improves mood and sleep – among many other positive direct and indirect benefits. In other words, exercise makes you physically more capable and can reduce cognitive impairment. #Winning.

If you don’t like the idea of lifting weights or running on a treadmill, then don’t. Make it your goal simply to move more. How about walking, hiking, biking, or mountain climbing? Or maybe yoga, Tai Chi or rowing? Group sports? There’s no end to creativity here, just remember to consistently move. Think about it this way. It’s recommended we brush our teeth twice a day. Now, if we brush our teeth eight times one day, and then zero times over the next few days, does that really achieve the same results? Of course not. The same is true for exercise. Find something to do every day, even if it’s only for a short while.

Let’s Wrap it Up

Health is complex and it’s impossible to expect one body system to work at an exceptional level if another is feeling sluggish and overworked. If we want to reduce brain fog and the spread of illnesses, we’ve got to combine diet, exercise and sleep. When we’re talking about winning the health jackpot, those three areas are the answer to vitality. When you’re at your best, you give your team your best and enable them to do the same. This holiday season, pay attention to how your nutrition, exercise and sleep can make for a safer environment for all.