Updated KCBS Procedures and Safety Guidelines for KCBS-Sanctioned Activities

Emergency Addendum to KCBS Sanctioning Agreement
 
Effective June 30, 2020 Until Further Notice
 
We continue to face unprecedented times. As we have previously stated, the Contest Organizers are the entities responsible for their contests. KCBS will work with Organizers to support them in their decisions to postpone or to proceed with their events, depending on when they are scheduled and based upon their direction from local health authorities in their area. Each Organizer has final authority over the continuation or postponement of their events.
 
KCBS, being recognized as the world leader in barbeque, has a responsibility to promote and ensure a safe and healthy environment for the activities it sanctions and officiates for its members as well as the community of BBQ enthusiasts. As the dynamics of this pandemic change, so must the KCBS mandates that protect the people, the integrity of the event and KCBS as the worldwide leader in promoting Barbeque. This Global Pandemic makes it necessary for KCBS to require precautionary measurements above and beyond general public recommended guidelines within all processes of KCBS sanctioned activities.
 
KCBS expects Organizers to follow any standards or procedures put in place by their local health organizations or government, as well as our procedures during the period of the KCBS-sanctioned event where KCBS Reps, Teams, Judges or Contest Personnel are on the site. Only Local or governmental standards that EXCEED KCBS Required Procedures may be substituted for the KCBS Required Procedures, as maintaining the safety and well-being of our members and those involved in our sanctioning activities is paramount.
 
Organizers may have additional protocols and practices that they mandate all Cooks, Judges, Volunteers follow beyond these KCBS requirements.
 
KCBS has looked to the U.S. Center for Disease Control for their suggestions on "Steps to Plan, Prepare, and Proceed with a Mass Gathering.” CDC  In addition, we are monitoring Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Corona Virus Resource Center for daily changes and trends.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases-50-states
 

 
Please see below for the proactive measures that KCBS expects all parties involved in a KCBS-sanctioned contest to follow moving forward. KCBS Reps responsible for each event will work with Organizers to ensure all processes and safety procedures are being followed.
 
**KCBS Reps will have the authority to pull KCBS sanctioning of the contest should they find that processes and safety procedures are not being followed. **
 
Meat Inspection:
  • During Meat Inspection, Team’s prep area must appear sanitary.
  • Teams must show possession of Masks, Disposable Gloves, Sanitary Wipes or Spray, and Hand Sanitizer.
  • Inspector will inspect for compliance and if a team fails to meet requirements, Organizer shall refuse participation with no refund. 
  • Meat inspection should be done outside of the cook’s trailer rather than having the Inspector come into the cook’s trailer.
 
Team Interaction:
  • KCBS contest Cooks Meetings are now MANDATORY until further guidance has been provided.  This is when additional local guidance and last-minute instructions will be communicated and it is imperative that all teams receive this communication.
  • Organizers are asked to make as much separation as possible of team spaces.
  • Teams MUST keep ample personal space while on the contest site.
  • Communal toasts are PROHIBITED unless each participant provided their own beverage and drinking vessel. The wearing of masks and social distancing guidelines shall be observed.
  • Refrain from hand-shaking or high fives. Share welcomes and congratulations via non-physical means.
 
Turn-In Process:  
  • Teams are Required to wear Masks and Gloves when turning in entries.
  • It is recommended to create as much distance as possible between Cooks and Volunteers accepting the turn-ins.
  • Anti-bacterial wipes supplied by the Organizer will be at the turn-in table and the team must wipe the external surface of the box at the table. This will not degrade the Styrofoam box.
  • No Team shall wipe another Team’s box
  • Teams Must Plan to allow for extra time to make the KCBS window and wipe their box.
  • The turn in boxes should arrive to the Number Changer already sanitized.
  • The KCBS Rep or volunteer that changes box numbers at the turn in table may be exempt from wearing gloves if it inhibits the application of the stickers, so long as they disinfect hands prior to changing numbers.
  • Hand sanitizer must be available to the Number Changer and used between each category.
  • The turn in boxes shall not be handled by the Number Changer, boxes shall only be handled by gloved volunteers. 
Judging Procedures:
  • All judging surfaces sanitized before judging and between each category (Rep Verified and accepted).
  • Anyone walking into the judging tent must immediately use hand sanitizer prior to putting on gloves. (exception of those bringing in the trays for turn-in but they must wear gloves.)
  • All judging participants shall use disposable gloves while handling turn in boxes and while receiving their samples from the turn in box.   (Single-use gloves can help keep food safe by creating a barrier between hands and food.)  Single use gloves that are FDA or Medical use approved (examples are such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nitrile, polyurethane or latex) shall be used and shall be supplied by the organizer. Judges and Volunteers may also bring their own if preferred.
    • Judges will need a clean pair of disposable gloves per round of judging entries. (i.e. 4 pairs minimum in a Master Series contest).
    • The use of disposable utensils if provided by the organizer is encouraged and changing of the single use gloves between categories is mandatory.  Never reuse your gloves, do not reuse disposable utensils between categories. -Gloves can be removed by the judge while judging samples and filling out comment cards. Please use hand sanitizer before filling out comment cards.   
    • New gloves must be applied before handling the next category.
    • -Do not touch your face, cell phone or other foreign objects while you are wearing the gloves.  If you do, please change the gloves before proceeding. 
    • Only essential personnel allowed into the tent.  All Judge/Team meetings held as Open Air as possible.  If possible, any judging tents used should have at least one open wall.
    • Table Captains will not take a seat to create more separation between the judges. Organizers and Reps should coordinate in advance to determine ample space and table configuration to ensure judges are kept 6 feet from one another.
    • Leftovers automatically disposed into trash. No Extras tables.
    • Trash carried out of tent between categories.
    • Adequate Toilet facilities for the use of Judges exclusively are REQUIRED and must be within a reasonable distance from the Judging area given the limited time available, a minimum of 1 unit for 10 judges and if portable hand washing stations are used, one wash station for every 12 judges as well. If the toilet facilities are not portable or adjacent to the judging area, Portable Wash Stations are REQUIRED with ample supply of Bacterial Soap. Water supply, and Disposable Towels. 
 
 
Masks / Facial Covering:
  • It is Mandatory that masks or a Facial Covering are worn:
    • When Teams are turning in boxes to the turn-in table.
    • During any meetings or gatherings (i.e. Cooks and Judges meetings,  etc.)
    • During Awards; including during group photos
    • When outside of their own personally assigned Team Space
    • When within six feet of another person
    • Reps, Table Captains, Volunteers MUST wear Masks at all times in the Turn-In and Judging area
    • Judges MUST wear at all times other than when judging Taste and Tenderness during each round of entries
    • Meat and Cleanliness inspection
 
We appreciate your understanding of the need for these requirements that are necessary for the continuance of sanctioning of the events to remain as well as the responsibility to our membership and the general public during this unprecedented time in our history.
 
These guidelines must be transmitted to the Teams and Judges by the organizer at least 48 hours prior to Team arrival verified by the Rep via copy on email. We recommend that Organizers request an acknowledgement of receipt from all Teams and Judges that they have received and reviewed the Guidelines prior to the start of the event.