As the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continues to climb across the nation, now more than ever Gallagher Bassett recognises the importance of helping transportation companies protect the health and safety of their front line essential employees – logistics and freight transportation workers. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, logistics and freight workers keep on keeping on, going to work each day fulfilling a critical role that allows the rest of us access to essentials.

Gallagher Bassett has been following updates to federal and state regulations as well as the daily obstacles logistics and freight workers are facing and in response has created this resource to help transportation companies keep informed and manage potential risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource specifically focuses on:

  • Guidance for logistics and freight companies on WHS policies and procedures to implement
  • Guidance for logistics and freight workers on WHS actions to take during their shifts

Logistics and freight workers are at risk of exposure to COVID-19, they are in frequent contact with different people and workplaces as a part of their daily schedules, increasing their risk of exposure to COVID-19. Companies need to ensure that their workers are educated on all reasonably practicable steps to take to keep a safe physical distance apart of at least 1.5 metres.

In addition, control measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 is implemented alongside other measures to address well known work health and safety risks continue to be implemented; even if implementing control measures result in delays to company and worker schedules.

Control Measures to Protect Logistics and Freight Workers

There are several control measures that companies and workers can take, these are as follows:

Physical distancing

  • Limit physical interactions between workers, suppliers, customers and others
  • Stop or reduce the use of driving in teams as much as possible
  • Prohibit drivers travelling with passengers
  • Use electronic record keeping where possible, if a signature is required, talk to the business about providing a confirmation email instead, or take a photo of the goods onsite as proof of delivery; if a writing instrument is required for signature ensure that the writing instrument is sanitised before and after use
  • Postpone all non-essential gatherings and training or organise through a secure digital meeting platform if reasonable
  • For essential gatherings, conduct in spaces that enable workers to keep the required physical distance of at least 1.5 metres
Company Health and Wellbeing Checks
  • Keep an eye on workers for COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing, fevers, sore throat and shortness of breath.
  • Direct all workers (whether they are at the workplace or not) to report if they are experiencing any symptoms
  • Direct all workers to report if they have been exposed to a person who is suspected or has been diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Stop workers from working if they are displaying symptoms
  • Stop workers who have contracted COVID-19 from returning to the workplace until they provide evidence they are clear of the virus
Workplace Hygiene
  • Monitor availability of amenities and facilities, and cleaning practices at amenities and facilities, through a combination of worker feedback and proactive engagement with the operators of such places
  • Instruct workers to call ahead to ensure amenities and facilities they plan to stop at are available and check that they are being regularly cleaned
  • Plan routes to ensure known availability of regularly cleaned amenities and facilities are scheduled into the route
  • Provide workers with additional cleaning or sanitising agents they can use if amenity and facility stops are not being cleaned to satisfactory levels (e.g. additional detergents, disinfectant wipes to wipe down tables and seats before resting or alcohol-based hand sanitiser)
  • Direct workers to use contactless payment for fuel or supplies
  • Direct workers to use cleaning agents where provided (e.g. where disinfectant or paper towels are provided for use at the petrol bowser) at other workplaces your workers visit in their work (e.g. customer and delivery premises)
  • Talk to your regular customers and other external stakeholders about what measures they have in place to manage the risks of exposure to COVID-19 for their workers and for your workers when your workers visit the site
  • Direct workers to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with customers and deliveries at their premises wherever possible
  • Ensure workers have adequate supplies of handwash or soap, alcohol-based hand sanitiser or disinfectant wipes available in case those things are not provided or easily locatable at the customer or delivery premises
  • Ensure workers’ personal items such as glasses and phones are cleaned and disinfected frequently (e.g. using isopropyl alcohol wipes)
Worker Hygiene
  • Ensure workers wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and that hand washing should be done before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
  • Ensure workers cover their coughs and sneezes with an elbow or a tissue - immediately disposing of tissues
  • Ensure workers wash properly including their body, hair (including facial hair) thoroughly every day
  • Ensure workers are washing their clothing regularly and immediately after coming into contact with someone who appeared to be sick
  • Instruct worker to avoid touching their face, avoid handshakes or any other close physical contact
  • Ensure workers refrain from spitting at all times and put dispose of their cigarette butts into a bin

Ensure information is kept up to date and shared with workers

You must provide all workers information about the risks of exposure to COVID-19. Where required, workers should be trained in infection control.

You need to communicate clearly with workers about control measures. This means providing clear direction and guidance about what is expected of workers. Workers must know:

  • When to stay away from the workplace
  • What action to take if they become unwell
  • What symptoms to be concerned about

You should remind workers they have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others, and workers must be provided with a point of contact to discuss their concerns, and access to support services, including employee assistance programs.

Please utilise our free COVID-19 Resource Centre to assist in strategies and tips for implementing COVID-19 WHS changes within the business.

To download your free customised Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus in the Workplace poster please click here.

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The information contained herein is offered as risk and claims management industry guidance and provided as an overview of current market risks and available programs and is intended for discussion purposes only. This publication is not intended to offer legal advice or client-specific risk management advice. General descriptions contained herein do not include complete definitions, terms, and/or conditions, and should not be relied on for claims management interpretation. Actual claims and risk management policies must always be consulted for full coverage details and analysis.