Mar 30, 2020
- COVID19
- Health, Safety, Environment, Quality
- Rubbish Truck Driver
- Waste Management
Frontline members of our Melbourne Waste contract team have taken the initiative in developing a sanitised equipment deployment process to protect the health and wellbeing of their colleagues.
With the Coronavirus public health emergency rapidly escalating, crew leaders on one night shift last week quickly devised a system that would fast-track incoming shift drivers onto their rounds and avoid the depot, amid increasingly stringent social distancing measures.
Operations Leader Abs Ramen explains the process:
“Mick Powell had the idea of getting the guys to go straight to their vehicles and avoid them coming into the operation unless absolutely necessary.
“We set up a preparation table, labelled by each driver’s route to allow the nightshift supervisor – appropriately wearing latex gloves - to prep each run with relevant PPE, paper work and sanitised vehicle keys.
“The Night Supervisor would then organise each run to have keys and equipment placed in the vehicles 30 minutes prior to commencement of the shifts.
“Night supervisor would then man the front gate directing the crew straight to their vehicles upon their arrival.
“All crew were directed to use the Kronos mobile app to sign on, thereby avoiding touching on and off using the communal Kronos clock in the depot, then proceed to conduct their Chain of Responsibility duties.”
The operational building was locked down to a single point of entry, staffed by another supervisor to ensure only two people were entering the building at any given time: either to use the facilities or to speak to the Morning supervisor for any further instructions or issues, Abs said.
“The morning supervisor would operate out of the kitchen, only allowing in two people at a time. This was to avoid having any of the crew physically access the office space.
“At the end of their shift, all crew are required to wipe down their vehicles and return keys and equipment into a dedicated tub, while the supervisor is to debrief out in the yard. Should any crew need to come back into the building, the ‘two-at-a-time’ process is maintained.
“All keys and equipment are then sanitised and made ready to repeat the process for the following shift.”
Early into the COVID-19 emergency, Citywide quickly mandated strict social distancing measures, including minimum of two metres separation distance; no more than two crew members per vehicle and, staggered shift start times to reduce the risk of too many staff at close quarters at any time.
Media Contact:
Simon Mossman - Group Corporate Communications
M 0427 307 216
E simon.mossman@citywide.com.au
