TruckandTrackSummer2020

Truck and Track Summer 2020 www.truckandtrack.com 4 BUSINESS NEWS The Covid-19 outbreak and ensuing lockdown have made logistics and haulage more essential than ever. Kelly Friel, from industrial tool and PPE equipment supplier Zoro, explains how the logistics and transport sector can adapt tomeet the sudden surge in demand while keeping staff and customers safe. Please note: the information in this guide is intended to provide an introductory overview to PPE and social distancing measures, and readers are advised to check the HSE and the government’s Covid-19 advice hub for more information. The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating impact on a huge number of industries, with revenues slumping as businesses make mass layoffs and furlough their staff across the country. But, as brick and mortar retailers shut their doors and consumers stay at home, ecommerce continues to rise and rise. And, as a result, the transport and logistics sector is now in overdrive, working round the clock to keep the country going through the crisis. Plus, there’s also the added challenge of ensuring that your drivers are safe on the job, too. We’re living in unprecedented times, and that means it can be difficult to know how to react to protect your drivers and keep your fleet efficient. In this article, I’ll offer my top tips for doing just that. Keep your fleet in good condition In the current circumstances, a prolonged period of downtime will be more costly than ever, so it’s essential that you’re taking extra steps to ensure your fleet is in roadworthy condition at all times. That means, even though you’re busier than ever, you’ll need to be vigilant about keeping on top of your usual maintenance programmes and vehicle checks. If you outsource maintenance to a third party, make sure your fleet managers are in regular communication with your contacts, to ensure that they can respond quickly to any problems. While garages and vehicle maintenance has been declared an essential service, there’s always the possibility that businesses will close at short notice or that essential staff will be furloughed, so it’s prudent to come up with a contingency plan for what you’ll do if your usual maintenance contacts are affected. Give staff the correct PPE As you’ll already bewell aware, under theWorkplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers have a duty of care to their staff, and must take all reasonable precautions to help keep them safe on the job. But during an extreme situation like the one we’re currently facing, you’ll need to go above and beyond your usual measures by offering additional PPE (personal protective equipment), like disposable gloves, face masks, and visors. While specialist PPE is obviously not something you’d normally need during day-to-day operations, right now it can provide a vital line of defence between your staff and the virus. This is especially important for those in the logistics and transport sector, who risk exposure every time they make a delivery. In addition to providing the correct PPE, you should also make an effort to ensure that it fits correctly. If PPE doesn’t fit properly, it won’t provide effective protection, and if it’s not comfortable enough to wear for long periods, drivers may be tempted to remove it. So, be sure to conduct fit tests to ensure that your masks and other equipment is fit for purpose—you can learn more about this through advice from the HSE. You should also consult your staff regularly to find out whether the PPE is meeting their needs. You’ll also need to provide training on how to use PPE correctly. For example, you shouldmake it clear that drivers shouldn’t wear visors while behind the wheel, as it will impede their ability to drive safely. Additionally, it’s important that your staff understand how to use gloves safely, as contamination can still happen if they handle the same goods or surfaces with bare hands. And, they should still wash or sanitise their hands regularly, even if gloves are worn. Contactless deliveries The government has released guidance for business on social distancing during deliveries, so it’s essential that you follow this as much as possible in your day-to-day operations. Many companies are now looking to reduce the risk of infection by changing the delivery process to reduce face-to-face contact. In cases where deliveries need signing for, many fleets have now started using photographic evidence as proof of delivery in place of signatures, to allow for social distancing. In the new process, the driver places the delivery at the entrance and rings the doorbell (or arrives at the depot and alerts the nearest staff member, depending on the job). They then step back at least two metres to allow the recipient to open the door. The driver then takes a photograph of the delivery on a smartphone or on their handheld computer to confirm receipt, and the recipient takes possession of their goods. Contactless methods can be slightly more time-consuming than traditional methods of delivery, especially as many consumers may not understand the process initially. As a result, you may need to allow slightly longer for each delivery slot. Naturally, this will have a slight effect on overheads, but it’s ultimately the only way to ensure that staff have enough time to perform their jobs safely — and it’s certainly more cost-effective than drivers falling ill. Make time for staff tomaintain good hygiene Staff need to take responsibility for their own hygiene while working, but in order to support them, you’ll need tomake sure they have the right equipment and adequate time to use it. So, you’ll need to provide hand sanitiser so they can disinfect their hands between deliveries. You should also make time to schedule regular hand washing breaks in their shifts. If possible, you should set up hand washing stations at depots and delivery centres so that staff have an opportunity to do so. If your workers don’t have their own designated vehicle, there’s also the risk of contamination spreading from driver to driver. You can reduce the risk of infection by providing time for staff to thoroughly clean and disinfect the cabin between shifts. While regularly hand washing and sanitising after deliveries will also help, you may also want to give each driver their own supply of disinfectant spray and wipes so they can clean the key high-contact areas on their vehicle, like the steering wheel, door handles, and seatbelt. The logistics sector is facing a double whammy challenge at the moment: not only is there a high increase in demand, but there’s the added pressure of keeping staff and customers safe. By ensuring that your vehicles are properly maintained, and by giving staff additional PPE, hygiene products and extra time, you can ensure your fleet remains efficient and safe. How delivery fleets can adapt to increased demand during the Covid-19 outbreak TAILOR MADE VEHICLE & TRAILER SOLUTIONS 01543 420 121 www.deker.co.uk