Safety Practices for Truckers During COVID-19

Wabash Canada cares about the healthcare and safety of our frontline workers. With the second wave of COVID-19, it is essential that we all do our part in curbing the spread of the virus. Earlier this year, The Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety announced safety protocols and best practices for transportation employees and passengers. Below are the guidelines issued by the ministry.

Masks/Face Coverings

The first line of defence against COVID-19 is to wear a mask or face covering. Truckers should know what mask/face covering to wear when they cannot maintain a distance of two meters, upon exiting their vehicle, or when they are directed by enforcement officials.

N-95: Truckers are not recommended to wear an N-95 mask as these should be conserved for health care workers and others, providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

Medical Mask: This can be used by truckers depending on their occupational risk assessment. Medical masks provide some level of protection from respiratory droplet transmission and offer protection to those around the user.

Non-Medical Mask/Face Covering: Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering also reduces the risk of coming into contact with respiratory droplets.

Eye Protection

Truckers need to protect their eyes from infectious respiratory droplets. Eye protection, such as a face shield or goggles combined with a medical mask, is recommended for users who cannot maintain a safe two-meter distance when coming into contact with others.

Gloves

Gloves are recommended for truckers that come into contact with passengers or items that might be contaminated. They should also be used when cleaning areas that may be contaminated. The ministry encourages truckers to wear gloves when they exit the vehicle to pump gas, before touching service station door handles, and when performing vehicle maintenance.

Hand Washing/Hand Sanitizer

Hand hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Truckers should wash their hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds and use disposable paper towels for drying. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based sanitizer containing 60-90% alcohol can be used as a temporary measure until hands can be washed.

Truck Cab Cleaning

Truckers are encouraged to frequently clean high-touch surfaces in the cabs of their vehicles, especially at the start and end of each trip. They should use a hard-surface disinfectant authorized by Health Canada to wipe the surface using a disposable cloth. After cleaning, the cloth should be properly disposed in lined garbage bins or stored in a sealed disposable plastic bag. If a reusable cloth is used, it needs to be stored in a disposable plastic bag after each use until it can be laundered. You can learn more about our COVID-19 safety protocols here.

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