How Truck Drivers Can Protect Themselves During COVID-19
How Truck Drivers Can Protect Themselves During COVID-19
Posted on June 23, 2020
As the initial stages of the COVID-19 crisis pass, society is having to find ways of dealing with the new normal, including major changes in working patterns. As a truck driver, it's clearly impossible to work from home, but there are some straightforward steps you can take to reduce your exposure risk.
Read this best-practice guide from Edmonton Heavy Trucks to find out how to stay as safe as possible during your working days.
1) Wearing Masks
Face masks should be worn at any time you can't guarantee to stay at least two metres away from other people. Examples include exiting your vehicle to make a delivery, paying for gas, or using roadside rest facilities.
It's not necessary to use a medical-grade mask to protect yourself and others. Indeed, supplies of these masks should be reserved for use by medics in infection-heavy areas such as COVID-19 wards.
For general use, any mask thick enough so you can't see through it will reduce the spread of potentially contaminated water droplets. Disposable paper masks are convenient, but reusable cloth masks or other face coverings can be used so long as they're frequently washed at at least 60°C.
2) Hand Washing With Soap or Sanitizer?
If available, using soap is the preferred method of hand washing as the rubbing and rinsing helps to remove the virus more quickly. Make sure you wash for at least 20 seconds, and dry your hands afterwards using disposable paper towels.
If hand-washing facilities aren't available, an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol content should be used as needed, but followed up with a regular soap wash as soon as possible.
3) Protective Gloves
While the preference is for frequent hand washing, in some situations this isn't realistic. If you're likely to be handling items whose contamination status you can't guarantee, then protective gloves should be worn.
Examples include pumping fuel, using service station doors, or using any other items frequently touched by strangers. The gloves should be made from a tough material such as latex or vinyl, and disposed of carefully after a single use.
5) Cab Cleaning
Gloves should also be worn when cleaning your cab. Frequently wipe down all the high-touch surfaces using a disposable cloth and a cleaning fluid, disposing of both gloves and cloths in a lined garbage bin immediately after use.
It's not necessary to use heavy duty cleaners for wiping down surfaces: a standard disinfectant suitable for hard surfaces is fine.
6) Eye Protection
If you're entering a situation where there's likely to be high levels of fluid droplets in the air, such as when you're in close proximity to people in an enclosed space, then wearing eye protection is a useful addition for your safety. Either use a standard visor, or a combined visor and mask for all-round protection.
Whichever kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) you use, make sure you're fully aware of how it works, when it needs replacing, and how to clean or dispose of it safely. Following these simple measures will help ensure your truck-driving days pass as safely as possible.