Vehicle Use – COVID-19 Safe Work Procedures for BC Public ...



COVID-19 Safe Work Procedures – Vehicle Use Updated April 29, 2021PurposeSafe Work Procedures for COVID-19 and droplet borne viruses will help reduce the risk of exposure and transmission in the workplace. These procedures apply to staff when traveling by vehicle for work purposes. These procedures are not designed for specialised vehicles such as Sheriff or Corrections Transport vehicles. Work related travel is considered essential and is not affected by Provincial travel restrictions Prior to doing any travel by vehicle, determine if travel is required by discussing with your supervisor. If travelling involves more than two persons and physical distancing cannot be maintained, submit an AskMyHR service request using the category Myself (or) My Team or Organization > COVID-19. For current information on COVID-19, such as the signs and symptoms, transmission and variants of concern, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website.Masks & Shared TravelDue to the increase in COVID-19 cases provincially and the variants of concern, now more than ever we need to remain vigilant in our exposure control protocols. Safe vehicle travel should observe the following hierarchy to prevent transmission, choose the highest option possible on the list: If possible complete the work virtually. Avoid shared travel. Take separate vehicles.Limit the number of passengers in vehicles and maximize spacing.For a regular car or truck with two row seating maximum 2 peopleUse the largest vehicle available. For example, if a passenger car and three row seating minivan is available and two staff are travelling use the minivan and seat the passenger in the third row on the right side of the vehicle. If there is more than one vehicle occupant, all occupants must wear 3-layer procedure masks.Recent studies have shown that properly fitted 3-layer procedure masks (such as the one shown above) offer better, more consistent, and more reliable protection than cloth masks. All passengers wear 3-layer cloth masks.If 3-layer procedure masks are not available, the next best option is a properly fitted 3-layer cloth mask. MasksProper fit is essential to an effective face covering. Regardless of the type of face covering used it should meet the following criteria:Allows for easy breathingFits securely to the head with ties or ear loopsIs comfortable and doesn’t require frequent adjustmentIs large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gapingMask should be changed as needed if damp or dirty.Other ProtocolsComplete the daily health check prior to or immediately upon arrival at the workplace and before travelling.Do a health check each time before getting into a vehicle with other passengers.Plan the trip to make as few as possible stops where staff will be interacting with others or going indoors. For example, if there needs to be a driver change but you don’t need fuel or a meal, stop at a rest stop or park where staff can walk and stretch their legs while distancing from others.Stagger seating to ensure every second seat is vacant to ensure physical distancing. Sit diagonally (e.g. front driver, rear passenger seat) when possible for the most distance between occupants. If a SUV with three-row seating is being used, then the second person must sit in the furthest seat on the opposite side of the driver.Drive with the windows down where possible or use the fresh air setting for the heater or air conditioner. Do not use the recirculate setting. Exercise precautions including avoiding touching your face, covering your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow when coughing or sneezing, ensuring your hands are promptly washed or sanitized afterwards, and minimizing your contact with large crowds or surfaces exposed to a large number of people.Wear face coverings at all times when travelling with more than one person.Do not eat inside a vehicle.Do not share drinking items or utensils.Sanitize or wash your hands prior to re-entering the vehicleEquip the vehicle with:Liquid hand soap and bottled water for washing hands; orHand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes.Paper towel.Facial tissues to use or offer if a passenger is coughing/sneezing.Plastic bags (for garbage disposal). Clean and disinfect high touch areas of the vehicle before and after use (see “Cleaning & Disinfection” below). Ensure you have tagged the vehicle as sanitized. Once cleaning is completed, HYPERLINK "" hang sanitized mirror hanger in vehicle for next user. Follow all other established standard precautions, and procedures.If someone starts experiencing symptoms during the trip:Keep masks on.Open vehicle windows. End the trip as soon as possible.Disinfect the vehicle immediately after use. If no cleaning supplies are available, quarantine the vehicle until it has been disinfected.Cleaning & DisinfectionBefore entering the vehicle, or leaving it at the end of travel, the driver should ensure their vehicle is cleaned and disinfected before and after use. Verify the vehicle has been cleaned and disinfected by the previous user (e.g. looking for the “sanitized” mirror hanger). If this cannot be confirmed, proceed by cleaning the vehicle using the information in the Cleaning & Disinfection section below. Seating areas should also be cleaned when changing roles (i.e. passenger to driver).Cleaning followed by disinfection is a best practice to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It’s important to make the distinction between cleaning and disinfecting:CleaningRefers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. It does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.Single-purpose cleaning products can be purchased or use products that combine cleaners and disinfectants in one solution.DisinfectionRefers to the use of chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.Disinfecting wipes are not recommended for heavily soiled areas and should be discarded if they become dry.Drivers should focus on cleaning and disinfecting key high touch points in their vehicles using an alcohol-based cleaner or disinfecting wipes/spray and paper towel. If these are unavailable, use soap and water.Key contact points are: Window buttonsDoor handles (inside and out)Steering wheel and controlsShifter/parking brakeDash controls and buttonsSun visorVentilation grilles and knobsRear view mirrorArmrestsGrab handles, seat adjustersSeat belt bucklesIf a vehicle requires cleaning due to a biohazard contamination (e.g., vomit, blood, diarrhea etc. in the vehicle), call CBRE and request a “Bio clean.”If a passenger has tested positive for COVID-19, or indicates they have had contact with a symptomatic COVID-19 case and have used a fleet vehicle within the last week, follow the direction of the Provincial Health Officer on cleaning and contact the BC PSA Workplace Health & Safety Emergency Line at 250-952-0911.These resources can also be printed for use in vehicles:Fleet Hygiene Guidelines (PDF)Fleet Hygiene Guideline for in Vehicles (PDF)“Sanitized” Mirror Hanger (PDF)Rental CarsIf a rental car is being used, ask the company if the vehicle has been cleaned and disinfected. If not, using your supplies, proceed to wipe down high-touch points as described above. Are You Performing Other Work Activities?If you’re performing other work activities not covered here, please review the full list of COVID-19 Safe Work Procedures on MyHR. For assistance with additional procedures, submit an AskMyHR service request using the category Myself (or) My Team or Organization > COVID-19. ................
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