Purpose
The purpose of this article is to serve as a guide to take better precautions and to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations. The recommendations and guidance that you find in this article are subject to change, based on the evolution of transmission of COVID-19, as well as risk assessments and advice from local and national public health officials.
For Fleet Managers:
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You should minimize the number of vehicles shared by the employees so that you can limit the spread of the virus between the drivers of the same vehicles.
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Make sure that drivers are equipped with appropriate disinfectants, personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, and other material needed to clean high-touch surfaces in their trucks.
How to Better Protect Commercial Vehicle Drivers:
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Drivers of commercial vehicle who are federally regulated for Occupational Health and Safety should make sure that their Hazard Prevention Program is up to date to address the hazards of COVID-19 in their workplace. Employees must be provided training on these measures, the labour program has posted general information on how to assist employers with these practices.
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Drivers must diligently monitor themselves. If they have mid cough or low-grade fever (37.3c or more) then they should self-isolate and stay home.
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Based on available information, it is estimated that coronaviruses can survive on hard surfaces from 24 hours to several days.
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Wash hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with plain soap and water, as it is an effective method at removing visible soil and microbes.
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Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) as a temporary measure if soap and water are not available.
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Drivers should cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend in the arm, not in hands and dispose of any tissues and wash/sanitize hands for 20 seconds.
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Respect the social distancing requirements and face-to-face meetings should be kept to a minimum.
Before Each Trip
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Drivers should monitor their health prior to starting a trip. If a driver is experiencing any symptoms, they should notify their superior right away and stay home and follow the steps recommended by the employer.
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The following equipment should be available for cleaning:
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Disinfectants
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Paper towel and absorbent materials
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Waste disposal bags, labels and tape
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Disposable cloths
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Personal protective equipment (as required by the operator’s health and safety protocol)
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Cleaning agents
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During the Trip
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Drivers should take precautions when pumping gas by covering their hands, touching the service station door handles, or handling any automotive products when doing vehicle maintenance, such as adding motor oil and filling windshield washer fluid. Drivers should wash their hands and apply sanitizer immediately thereafter, if available.
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Drivers should not come in close contact with anyone and maintain social distancing and keeping distance of at least two metres (or six feet) from others.
At the End of the Trip
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A thorough cleaning of high touch surfaces with the appropriate disinfections should be done as described above.
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After completing the trip, drivers who experience symptoms should stay home and self-isolate and notify their superiors immediately.
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While commercial drivers are exempt from the 14-day quarantine requirement for business purposes, they should follow the recommendations of the local and national public health authorities, including practicing social distancing.
