SCAREFEST HANDBOOK

WELCOME

JM Halloween has prepared this handbook to provide you with an overview of the company’s policies and rules. It is intended to familiarize you with the important information about the company, as well as provide guidelines for your experience with us in an effort to foster a safe and healthy work environment. Please understand that this booklet only highlights company policies and practices for your personal understanding and cannot, therefore, be construed as a legal document. It is intended to provide general information about the policies and regulations governing the workers of the company and is not intended to be an express or implied contract. The guidelines presented in this handbook are not intended to be a substitute for sound management, judgment and discretion.

It is obviously not possible to anticipate every situation that may arise during daily operations or to provide information that answers every possible question. In addition, circumstances will undoubtedly require that policies and practices described in this handbook change from time to time. Accordingly, JM Halloween reserves the right to modify, supplement, rescind or revise any provision of this handbook as it deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion with or without notice to you.

Because safety of our workers and customers is a top priority, we ask that you read through the following pages of information carefully. In the application process you will be asked to sign a document stating that you have read and fully understand this information. If any statements in this handbook are not clear to you, please contact a company officer for clarification. This handbook supersedes any and all prior policies and procedures of the company.

COMPANY PHILOSOPHY

Open Door Policy

In keeping with the company’s philosophy of open communication, all workers have the right and are encouraged to speak freely with management about their work-related concerns.

We urge you to go directly to your manager to discuss your job-related ideas, recommendations, concerns and other issues which are important to you. If, after talking with your manager, you feel the need for additional discussion, you are encouraged to speak with a company officer.

The most important relationship that you will develop at JM Halloween will be between you and your manager. However, should you need support from someone other than your manager, the entire management team, including the company officers, is committed to resolving your individual concerns in a timely and appropriate manner.

Harassment Policy

JM Halloween will not tolerate harassment or intimidation of our workers on any basis prohibited by law, including race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, handicap, disability, marital status or veteran status. It is the policy of JM Halloween that any harassment, including acts creating a hostile work environment or any other discriminatory acts directed against our workers, will result in discipline, up to and including discharge.

Workers must bring any violation of this policy to the immediate attention of their manager or a company officer. JM Halloween will thoroughly investigate all such claims with due regard for the privacy of the individuals involved. Any worker who knowingly retaliates against a worker who has reported harassment or discrimination shall be subject to immediate disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

WORKING AND COMPENSATION

Work on an At-Will Basis

All workers of JM Halloween, regardless of their classification or position are deemed to be working on an at-will basis. This means that each worker contract is terminable at the will of the worker or the company at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice.

Attendance and Reporting to Work

Each worker is important to the overall success of our operation. When you are not here, someone else must do your job. Consequently, you are expected to report on time at the scheduled days that are indicated by you on the form which was filled out by you at the inception of your work experience. Reporting to work on time means that you are ready to work, not just arriving on location preparing to start work.

We are an outdoor attraction. Contractors are expected to work in the elements and should come prepared. Come dressed appropriately for the weather. We will stay open in a light rain and you are expected to arrive at work unless you are specifically directed not to come in.

JM Halloween depends on its workers to be at work at the times and locations scheduled. If you expect to be absent you should notify your manager of your upcoming absence as far in advance as possible. If you unexpectedly need to be absent from or late to work, you must notify your manager prior to the start of your scheduled workday that you will be late or absent and provide the reason for that absence or tardiness. If your manager is not available, you should contact a company officer prior to the start of your scheduled workday. Leave your phone number so that your manager can return your call. Your attendance record is reflective in your bonus pay.

Workday Hours and Scheduling

The season workdays are can be found here.

A workers’ start time varies each workday depending on their classification. End time will vary depending on customer attendance. These start and end times are only guidelines, however, and workers are required to be present for work during the workday established for them by their manager.

This regular schedule may vary depending on such factors as weather, materials supply, etc. If you are unsure about expected starting times on any particular job assignment, ask your manager for clarification.

In case of unplanned conditions, such as bad weather, that may force a schedule change at the last minute, you should contact your manager or a company officer.

Recording Hours Worked

All workers must sign in & out daily with your manager or company officer. Everyone, no matter classification if signing in late or signing out early must do so with a manager or company officer.

Payable hours will be kept by a company officer daily. Payable hours begin when the first attraction opens and end when your attraction closes. All workers begin work at the same time unless otherwise noted by their manager.

Pay Periods and Pay dates

Pay periods start on Friday and end on Sunday. Paydays are the last day of the working weekend.

Workers who are unable to pick up their paycheck during scheduled pay dates will be able to pick up their paycheck any other day of operation at 5:30PM at the ticket booth. NO PAYCHECKS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DURING TICKET BOOTH OPERATION HOURS. The ticket booth hours of operation are from 6PM to close daily.

Worker Classifications, Job Descriptions and Responsibilities

For the purpose of determining a pay rate, workers are classified as:

Actors. Actors will be assigned to an area by their manager with a particular job that suits the scene site. Their job is to make the customers experience at Scarefest memorable while still being respectful. Their responsibility is to keep the area that they have been assigned clean and to be familiar with safety procedures in their area.
Wagon Attendants. It is your responsibility to be observant and enforce the hayride rules politely and respectfully. If a customer is uncooperative, it is your responsibility to inform security or a company officer immediately.
Make-up Artist. Their responsibility is to make sure that supplies are used effectively without waste and to keep their station clean.
Park Operations. Specific jobs will be designated by their manager. Start and end time to be determined by your manager.
Tractor Driver. Their job is to drive a hayride wagon safely through the trail so as not to jeopardize the workers or customers. Their responsibility is to check the tractor and wagon for safety before departing. Start and end time to be determined by your manager.
Maintenance. Specific jobs will be designated by their manager. Start and end time to be determined by your manager.
Wardrobe Clerk. Their job is to sign in and out all inventoried costumes and props. Their responsibility is to return all costumes and props to their designated areas and tidy the trailer for use the following evening.
Make-up Clerk. Their job is to sign in those workers who require make-up application and schedule those applications accordingly.
Cashiers. Their job is to sell tickets at the ticket booth. Start time begins ½ hour before park open. End time is determined by your manager and will vary depending on customer attendance.
Virtual Queue Attendant. Their job is to operate our virtual queue system by checking in guests to specific attractions. Start time is prior to gate open and end time is when assigned attraction closes as determined by your manager.

Maintaining Your Work Records

It is your responsibility to provide current information regarding your address, telephone number and email address. Please contact a company officer to update your information.

Worker Files

Worker files are the property of the company and do not belong to the worker.

Media/Photography/Videography

JM Halloween, its staff, contractors, agents and/or representatives may take photographs, video, audio recordings or other media and formats of workers, contractors, employees, and vendors (collectively referred to as your “Likeness”) at Scarefest Scream Park activities, events, performances and/or functions for any lawful purpose, including but not limited to publicity, illustration, advertising, marketing, copyrighting, web content and media now known devised throughout the universe in perpetuity and to use and license others to use for such purposes, without any compensation.

Any and/or all present, past, or future materials that include your likeness will become the property of JM Halloween and may be edited, altered, copied, electronically transferred, exhibited, published or distributed without the right to inspect or approve the finished product.

STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE WORKPLACE

Safety

JM Halloween believes in maintaining safe and healthy working conditions for our workers. However, to achieve our goal of providing a safe workplace, each worker must be safety conscious. We have established the following policies and procedures that allow us to provide safe and healthy work conditions. We expect each worker to follow these policies and procedures, to act safely, and to report unsafe conditions to his or her manager in a timely manner.

Reporting Unsafe Conditions or Practices

Workers are expected to continually be on the lookout for unsafe working conditions or practices. All workers shall familiarize themselves with the layout of all the attractions and grounds, exit and emergency corridors, and the path to primary and alternative exits from the particular location in which they are working. Observations of unsafe conditions shall be immediately brought to the attention of your manager.

If you observe a worker using an unsafe practice, you are expected to mention this to your manager.

Maintaining a Safe Work Site

We expect workers to establish and maintain a safe worksite. This includes but is not limited to the following applications:

Maintaining proper fall-protection systems.
Properly lifting and lowering heavy objects.
Inspecting props for defects before use.
Keeping walkways clear of obstructions, debris and trip hazards.
Keeping your assigned work area clean and free of trash.
We are a no touch haunt, workers are not to touch any customer
Observing customers for unsafe behavior and if necessary, reporting it to security. Workers are never to confront visitors themselves, always call for security.
Smoking is prohibited in work areas at all times

Using Equipment/Props

Where needed, JM Halloween provides its workers with equipment, props, and devices. You are required to use the equipment provided in the manner designated as proper and safe by the manufacturer. Failure to properly use equipment may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

If you require equipment that has not been provided, contact your manager before performing the job duty for which you need the equipment.

No outside equipment, props, or devices may be brought onto Scarefest property by a worker without approval and inspection by a company officer.

Reporting an Injury

Workers are required to report any injury, accident or safety hazard immediately to their manager or a security worker. Minor cuts or abrasions may be treated on the spot. More serious injuries or accidents will be treated accordingly. Injuries must be reported on the accident report form available in the ticket booth.

Care of Equipment and Supplies

All workers are expected to take care of all equipment, costumes and props provided to them. You are responsible for maintaining this material in proper working condition and for promptly reporting any unsafe or improper functioning of this material to your manager. You are responsible for returning any costumes and/or props to the wardrobe clerk.

Neglect, theft and/or destruction of the company’s materials are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Smoking at the Workplace

The company’s policy is to provide smoke-free environments for our workers, customers and the general public. Smoking of any kind is prohibited inside the attractions, hay wagons, inside any tents or structures. Workers may smoke on breaks as long as they do so outside the worksite. Preferred area for workers to smoke is the actor’s area.

Violence and Weapons

JM Halloween believes in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, in part by promoting open, friendly and supportive working relationships among all workers. Violence or threats of violence have no place in our business. Violence is not an effective solution to any problem. Workers are strictly prohibited from bringing any weapons, including knives, pistols, rifles, stun guns, Mace, etc. to the worksite. Neither threats of violence or fighting will be tolerated. Furthermore, if you have a problem that is creating stress or otherwise making you agitated, you are encouraged to discuss it with your manager or a company officer.

You are expected to immediately report to your manager any violation of this policy. Any worker found threatening another worker, fighting, and/or carrying weapons to the worksite will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

The company reserves the right to spot check personal belongings brought onsite by any worker.

Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace

The company does not tolerate the presence of illegal drugs, the illegal use of legal drugs or alcohol in our workplace, The use, possession, distribution or sale of controlled substances such as drugs or alcohol, or being under the influence of such controlled substances is strictly prohibited while working, while on the company’s premises or worksites or while operating the company’s equipment or vehicles. The use of illegal drugs as well as the illegal use of legal drugs is a threat to us all because it promotes problems with safety, customer service, productivity and our ability to survive and prosper as a business. If you need to take a prescription drug that affects your ability to perform your job duties, you are required to discuss possible accommodations with a company officer. Violation of this policy will result in immediate termination.

The company reserves the right to spot check personal belongings brought onsite by any worker.

Responding to Customer Inquiries and Problems

At JM Halloween, customer satisfaction is the measure of our success. It is the responsibility of each worker, within reason, to interact with the customers to achieve this goal. Customer questions should be directed to the appropriate personal. Sometimes customers will become too afraid to continue through to the end of the attraction or want to leave without completing. If possible, customer should be escorted to nearest exit. In the event you are touched by a customer or witness a customer touching props or company property remind them of no touching. If the touching is intentional or in an aggressive manor or customer is damaging props or property, note clothing, appearance, and other identifying characteristics, move away from customer to an area of safety and notify safety personal immediately. Under no circumstance are you to engage, retaliate, or try to detain customer. In the case of an emergency, refer to the Emergency Action Plan, notify safety personal.

Inspection or Loss/Damage of Personal and Company Property

The workers use the property and equipment the company owns and provides and many also use the company’s materials and other supplies. The company reserves the right to search any company property at any time. The company also reserves the right to inspect personal property (knapsacks, purses, backpacks, etc.) during the workday or as workers leave their worksites. Refusal to allow inspection may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

The company reserves the right to replace any lost or damaged company property at the expense of the worker who lost or damaged the property by willful neglect.

Leave all valuables or personal items you do not need at home or locked up. Do not leave any personal items on the premises. The company is not responsible for the loss or damage of workers’ personal items.

Rules of Conduct and Progressive Disciplinary Procedure

JM Halloween expects each worker to present himself or herself in a professional manner. If a worker is not considerate of others and does not observe reasonable work rules, disciplinary action will be taken. It is within the company’s sole discretion to select the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken. Notwithstanding the availability of the various disciplinary options, the company reserves the right to discharge a worker at its discretion, with or without notice.

The following is not a complete list of offenses for which a worker may be subject to discipline, but it is illustrative of those offenses that may result in immediate discipline, up to and including dismissal, for a single offense:

Dishonesty.
Fighting, disorderly conduct or any other behavior which is dangerous or disruptive.
Possession of, consumption of, or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages while on company premises.
Illegal manufacture, distribution, dispensation, sale, possession or use of illegal drugs or unprescribed controlled substances.
Reporting for work with illegal drugs or unprescribed controlled substances in your body.
Possession of weapons, firearms, ammunition, explosives or fireworks on company premises.
Failure to promptly report a workplace injury or accident involving any of the company’s workers, customers, equipment or property.
Willful neglect of safety practices, rules and policies.
Use of profane language during hours of operation.
Stealing, misappropriating or intentionally damaging property belonging to the company or its customers.
Insubordination, including failure to comply with any work assignments or instructions given by any manager or officer with the authority to do so.
Interference with the work performance of other workers.
Grabbing or touching the customers
Failure to cooperate with an internal investigation, including, but not limited to, investigations of violations of these work rules.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

This Emergency Action Plan was developed to be an introduction and training manual for the workers participating in the Scarefest attractions and work sites.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Communications
Fire Prevention
Fire Emergency
Weather Emergency
Medical Emergency
Power Failure
Threats
EAP Training Statement

Introduction

This plan sets for the policy and procedures to be followed in various types of emergencies. The plan purpose is to prevent and minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage, which may result for emergency situations.

Communications

At all times when open to the public, the following shall remain in contact via two-way radios: Company Officers, Managers, Tractor Drivers, Wagon Attendants, Operations, Security and select Actors inside attractions. Company Officers, Managers, Operations, & Security are all part of Safety Personal at the park.

Emergency instructions and announcements shall be made by word of mouth, over radio, or PA system.

Fire Prevention Plan

Emergency Exits & Means of Egress. All building emergency exit signage is clearly marked & battery operated. At no time shall access to exits be obstructed by any props, stored materials, construction, or barrier. Pathways to the exits shall be unobstructed and free from tripping hazards.

Electrical Hazards. All electrical equipment, lighting fixtures, extension cords, props and accessories shall be inspected prior to use. Damaged or otherwise unsafe electrical equipment shall be removed from service to be repaired or replaced.

Combustible Materials. Combustible waste materials shall not be allowed to accumulate at any work site. Trash shall be removed daily. As feasible, combustible scenery, props, and decorations shall be treated with fire retardant materials. Open flames are prohibited inside haunted house and maze at all times.

Smoking. Smoking is prohibited inside attractions at all times. All workers and customers are prohibited from bringing smoking paraphernalia into the work site.

Portable Fire Extinguishers. Fire extinguishers are located throughout the haunted house, maze, haywagons, and buildings per fire code requirements. Workers shall be instructed that the portable fire extinguishers have been placed for use by trained individuals and for fire department use. Workers shall not be permitted to use unless they have been trained to do so.

Fire Suppression/Inspections. All structures whether permanent or temporary will meet fire and safety code. Appropriate Fire Suppression/alarm systems will be put in place. Lenox Township Safety Director shall be notified prior to opening day to schedule all required electrical, fire, and building inspections.

Fire Emergency Plan

In the event of a fire:

Workers discovering a fire or smoke shall immediately notify responsible management or safety personal
If fire alarm or suppression system is activated all house lights shall be turned on, all scene lighting and audio turned off automatically or manually if necessary
All workers and visitors shall evacuate via the primary exit for their location
Workers shall assist all visitors in their area to emergency exit
If primary exit is blocked or unsafe, proceed to nearest alternate exit.
If smoke makes it difficult to see or breath, get on hands and knees and crawl.
Once out of the building, workers are to report to actor area, managers shall account for each worker that was present in building
No one is permitted to re-enter the building until all clear is given

Weather Emergency Plan

In the event of a severe storm or tornado:

Weather will be monitored at the ticket booth and on site at each attraction.
A Company Officer will determine if attractions will shut down if weather becomes such as the conditions become unsafe to operate.
If tornado is sighted the Company Officer will order an evacuation of the attractions and instruct workers and visitors to seek safety in low laying area.

Medical Emergency Plan

In the event of a medical emergency:

Workers discovering a medical emergency shall immediately notify management or safety personal.
Call for assistance to 911 if needed
Persons unconscious or seriously injured should not be moved or repositioned if possible
Injured or ambulatory persons should be assisted out of the attraction.
Incident report shall be filled out and witnesses’ statements taken

Threat Emergency Plan

In the event that a threat to the park is received:

Any worker receiving a threat to the park that could compromise the safety to workers &/or visitors shall immediately notify safety personal.
Upon notification of a threat safety personal shall inform 911, the fire and police departments or appropriate authority and initiate evacuation of the park

If you find yourself in an active shooting event, remember:

RUN if a safe path is available. Always try to escape or evacuate even if others insist on staying.
Encourage others to leave with you, but do not let the indecision of others slow down your effort to escape.
Once you are out of the line of fire, try to prevent others from walking into the danger zone and call 9-1-1.
If you cannot get out safely, find a place to HIDE.
When hiding, turn out lights, remember to lock doors, and silence your ringer and vibrations mode on your cell phone.
As a last resort, working together or alone, act with aggression, use improvised weapons, and FIGHT.
Clearance to reenter shall be obtained only when an all clear has been given

EAP training

All workers shall be trained on the contents of the EAP. Prior to each attraction opening, safety personal shall walk through the attractions and visually inspect for any safety hazards and test all equipment to make sure it is in good working order. Mangers shall ensure that each worker is familiar with the means of egress, proper use of equipment, and safety concerns in the particular are they are working. Each worker is required to read the Handbook and EAC provided to them during the online application process and will have to sign a statement confirming that they have read it.