-
1
COVID Safety Guidelines – Transport, Freight and
Logistics
Phase 4, Version 1.0 14 August 2020
The movement of domestic freight via heavy vehicles is critical
to ensuring supply chains
continue to operate smoothly and individuals, businesses and
service providers can access
the goods they need. While freight movements have not been
identified as a source of
community transmission of COVID-19 to date, any movement of
people across the community
needs to be risk-managed to ensure the safety of both the
workforce and broader community.
On 7 August 2020, National Cabinet approved a Freight Movement
Code for the Domestic
Border Controls – Freight Movement Protocol that specified the
measures that should be
implemented across all Australian States and Territories.
The contents of this document reflect the Freight Movement Code
and Protocol, outline the
safety requirements for the freight sector, and provide guidance
on how to complete a COVID
Safety Plan.
Freight and Logistics operators are encouraged to complete a
COVID Safety Plan to mitigate
the risks of COVID-19. Operators need to ensure that all workers
are: familiar with their COVID
Safety plan; familiar with the public health orders in all
jurisdictions in which they will work;
practice good hygiene; and have appropriate training to manage
any risks. Workers also need
to take personal responsibility for minimising their risk of
becoming a vector for transmission,
both in the workplace and when not working.
These guidelines apply to road freight, and do not apply to rail
or air freight.
These guidelines come into effect from 11.59pm 13 August
2020.
Safety requirements
Freight and Logistics businesses and workers operating within
Western Australia must:
be tested for COVID-19 every 7 days;
present for testing within 48 hours of entering Western
Australia if they have not been
tested in the past 5 days;
where practicable avoid contact with others, unless required for
the purposes of work;
wear a face mask while in public;
maintain a record of close contacts;
have no passengers, unless required for the purposes of work
(for example two up
drivers);
not work while symptomatic, unless a negative test result has
been received;
-
2
Maintain hygiene and frequent cleaning of high touch areas
within the vehicle.
We all need to do our part to comply with these requirements and
help mitigate the risks of
COVID-19.
COVID Safety Plan
The purpose of the COVID Safety Plan is to help ensure that
businesses actively mitigate the
risks of COVID-19 in line with the best available health advice.
In the plan, you will need to
explain how your business will take steps to implement the
requirements and advice set out in
these guidelines.
Freight and Logistics businesses are encouraged to self-complete
a COVID Safety Plan for your business and have it available for
inspection upon request by an authorised officer.
You should also display a COVID Safety Plan Certificate in a
prominent location visible to people at your business and ensure
you have your COVID Safety Plan within your freight vehicle. The
certificate is provided at the end of the COVID Safety Plan
template.
State and territory governments have agreed to mutually
recognise COVID safe workplans developed by the relevant
operator.
About COVID-19
COVID-19 is spread from person-to-person through
close contact and droplets with risks including:
direct contact with infected people;
contact with droplets from an infected person’s
cough or sneeze; and
touching contaminated objects or surfaces (like
doorknobs or tables), and then touching your mouth or face.
As COVID-19 is spread person-to-person through coughing,
sneezing, touching contaminated
surfaces, and close contact with infected individuals, there is
a need for businesses to remain
vigilant with cleaning and sanitising regimes and taking extra
care with maintaining and
promoting hygiene practices throughout business operations.
The most effective measures are good hygiene practices,
additional sanitisation regimes,
physical distancing and keeping away from others if unwell.
The most effective measures to prevent the
spread of coronavirus are good hygiene
practices, additional sanitisation regimes
and physical distancing.
-
3
Specific testing requirements for Freight and Logistics
Under the Transport, Freight and Logistics Directions, truck
drivers and support workers
entering Western Australia are legally required to:
Get tested on a 7-day rolling basis for all individuals crossing
the border;
Present for testing at a COVID-19 testing location within 48hrs
of entering if they have
not been tested in the past 5 days; and
Retain evidence of every test they have for COVID-19, and
produce that evidence for
inspection if requested by an authorised officer or certain
healthcare workers.
There is no requirement to continue to be tested after being in
WA for 14 days.
Testing will be available at public hospital emergency
departments and COVID clinics. Other
sites, including private pathology providers may offer tests at
their collections centres. Twenty-
four hour testing only available in some locations.
Further WA Health advice on Testing for Transport, Freight and
Logistics Directions can be
found at
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Infectious-
disease/COVID19/COVID19-Transport-Freight-and-Logistics-Direction-FAQs.pdf
There is no requirement to wait at the testing site for results
or to isolate after having a test,
you can continue your work or go to your accommodation – unless
you are symptomatic. If
you have symptoms you should stop work and self-isolate.
People who have tested positive will be required to quarantine
and will not be permitted to
cross the border into another State until after they have
completed quarantine or been re-
tested and are no longer deemed infectious.
If you fail to present for testing, you are failing to comply
with the Emergency Management Act
2005 s 86(1), and may be given an infringement notice with a
penalty of $1,000, or may be
prosecuted and be liable to imprisonment for up to 12 months or
a fine of up to $50,000.
To support your staff’s understanding of the legal requirements,
you may include information
of the testing requirements and process in section 4.
Compliance, of your COVID Safety Plan.
1. Physical distancing
Physical distancing is one of the most effective methods of
reducing the spread of viruses.
The more space between you and others the harder it is for the
virus to spread.
Physical distancing can be used in the work place to minimise
the risk of transmission. If a
person is found to be positive for COVID-19, the risk of
transmission to others is minimised if
physical distancing has been practised.
Good practice physical distancing principles are to:
maintain 1.5 metres separation between people who are not from
the same household
or groups of other patrons; and
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Infectious-disease/COVID19/COVID19-Transport-Freight-and-Logistics-Direction-FAQs.pdfhttps://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Infectious-disease/COVID19/COVID19-Transport-Freight-and-Logistics-Direction-FAQs.pdf
-
4
maintain a minimum of 2 square metres (2sqm) per patron.
Managing interactions with other people
It is a requirement of the Code that workers have no contact
with other people unless required
for work purposes, and have no passengers in their vehicle. Only
exit the vehicle to access
rest stop facilities, refuelling, accommodation, activities
directly related to the delivery or
loading of freight or to meet required regulated activities,
e.g. work health and safety or fatigue
management. Overnight stays at accommodation should occur only
when necessary to fulfil
fatigue requirements and should not use common areas in
accommodation premises.
If workers are required to move within 1.5m of other people they
should avoid direct contact
and minimise face to face time to reduce the risk of
transmission. If workers do come into
direct contact with people, staff should follow good hygiene
practices such as hand washing
and cleaning.
Instances of close contact should be recorded, which is outlined
in section 5. Response
Planning.
2. Hygiene
Cleaning hands
Regularly washing hands is an effective way to prevent the
spread of germs and viruses.
If cleaning your hands with soap and water:
Lather for at least 20 seconds. Pay attention to the backs of
hands and fingers,
fingernails and the webbing between fingers.
Rinse hands under running water and dry hands with a clean
towel, or fresh paper
towel.
If cleaning your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub (hand
sanitiser):
Apply enough product to cover both hands.
Rub all surfaces of both hands until they are dry.
Consider providing an alcohol-based hand sanitiser in each
vehicle and using it before and
after each stop.
Increased cleaning and sanitation regime
It is important to ensure appropriate cleaning of common contact
surfaces. This is particularly
important prior to changeover of vehicles. Surfaces that have
been touched will need to be
cleaned prior to changeover, particularly ‘high touch’ surfaces
like handles and the steering
wheel. If you think a surface may be contaminated, clean it with
a common household
disinfectant to kill the virus.
Cleaning products should be chosen that are approved for the
surface to be cleaned. In
general, combined detergent/disinfectant solutions or wipes are
acceptable for hard surfaces.
-
5
Some products such as bleach can damage fabrics, stainless steel
and other surfaces.
Businesses will have to continue to comply with any requirements
regarding use of chemicals,
including the use of Safety Data Sheets for chemicals utilised
in the work place.
For most general cleaning tasks, a neutral detergent with pH
between 6 and 8 should be used.
The use of combined detergent / disinfectant wipes is
acceptable, or solutions can be prepared
fresh each day.
If using a bleach solution look for products which give you a
1000ppm (0.1%) bleach solution
either neat or when diluted with water. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions if any
detergent or disinfectant products require mixing with water or
dissolving prior to use.
Remember to never mix different cleaning products as in some
instances toxic gases can be
generated.
Refer to the Environmental cleaning in the workplace factsheet
for further advice.
Payments
Use cashless payments where possible.
After handling money, consider washing hands with soap and
water, or an alcohol-based hand
sanitiser.
Personal protective equipment
It is a requirement for drivers and crew of freight vehicles to
use face masks whenever they
are in public.
Masks need to be applied and removed in the correct way.
o Wash or sanitise hands prior to putting on and after removing
the mask.
o Mask should cover the nose and mouth
o Mask should fit snugly under the chin, over the bridge of the
nose and against
the sides of the face.
o Ensure all staff watch the following Australian Government
instructional video on
the appropriate way to wear a mask to reduce the risk of
cross-contamination.
https://publish.viostream.com/play/bfxgwognhq4t96
The front of the mask should not be touched whilst worn.
Masks should not be worn under the nose or hanging around the
neck.
Masks should be changed when they become damp or soiled.
A sufficient supply of masks should be provided to staff to
ensure they can be worn and
changed when required.
Do not reuse single use masks.
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general%20documents/Infectious%20diseases/PDF/Coronavirus/COVID19-Environmental-Cleaning-for-workplaces.pdfhttps://publish.viostream.com/play/bfxgwognhq4t96
-
6
3. Training and education
Freight operators should regularly communicate restrictions,
policies and
procedures. Consider providing hard copy notices to workers,
electronic communication or a
briefing.
The location of additional resources is listed at the end of
these guidelines. These provide
information that can be shared with workers and could be
displayed in your premises.
The Australian Infection Control training can be promoted where
appropriate.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-training
4. Compliance with existing legislation and regulations
In addition to the legal obligations arising from the Emergency
Management Act 2005 and the
Transport, Freight and Logistics Directions made under that Act,
businesses will continue to
have obligations under existing legislation and regulations,
including Worksafe legislation.
As per the above, there are testing requirements specific to the
Transport, Freight and
Logistics Directions, which should be communicated to staff and
outlined in the COVID Safety
Plans.
Heavy vehicle drivers should continue to observe their
requirements under relevant heavy
vehicle or rail regulations respectively, in particular fatigue
requirements.
Australian Government information on Heavy Vehicle Regulation
can be accessed at:
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/ris/
5. Response planning
Public health officials are responsible for responding in the
event that a worker is confirmed
as having COVID-19, and will do so once notified. Please
consider the following measures
that should be undertaken to minimise further risk and assist
public health officials to respond.
Maintain records of close contacts
Workers should only have close contact with other people for
work purposes. Where close
contact occurs the National Freight Movement Code and the
Transport, Freight and Logistics
Directions under the Emergency Management Act 2005, outline the
following requirements:
Recordkeeping for contact tracing purposes to be kept and
retained:
o for heavy vehicle drivers, in the work diary until lodged with
the record keeper or
in accordance with the legislative requirements of the relevant
state;
o for support workers, by the worker; and
o for rail crew, by the driver or operator.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-traininghttps://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Transport%2C%20Freight%20and%20Logistics%20Directions.pdfhttps://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Transport%2C%20Freight%20and%20Logistics%20Directions.pdfhttps://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/Transport%2C%20Freight%20and%20Logistics%20Directions.pdfhttps://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/ris/
-
7
Written records should include:
o Details of the close contact (including when not working);
name, telephone
number, date, time and location of where the close contact
occurred;Details of
accommodation, and onward and return travel (as per the
Protocol).
You must implement a process consistent with any privacy
obligations you have for obtaining
and safely maintaining records. If records are taken, then they
must not be used for purposes
other than contact tracing (i.e. contact information is not to
be used for marketing purposes).
Responding to a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 incident
If a worker is confirmed as having COVID-19, ring the COVID-19
Public Hotline on 13COVID
(13 26843) and follow the advice of public health officials.
If someone is confirmed as having COVID-19 or is getting tested
for COVID-19 because they
have symptoms, they should already be self-isolating. However,
there may be circumstances
where you, or a person in your workplace, is displaying
COVID-like symptoms, such as a fever,
cough, sore throat, shortness of breath and/or loss of
smell/taste, or shares information (e.g.
they have been in close contact with someone that has the virus)
that causes you to have
reasonable concerns about your/their health.
When this occurs:
1. Call public health and follow their advice, and inform your
manager immediately
If there are serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call
000 for urgent medical help.
Otherwise, call the state public health unit by contacting the
COVID-19 Public Hotline on 13
COVID and follow their advice. People who are unwell may be
asked to seek the advice of a
healthcare practitioner and, if appropriate, attend a COVID-19
clinic.
Advise the health officials that you are a freight and logistics
driver and the conditions of your
entry into WA.
2. Keep away from other people
Take steps to prevent the potential to spread the virus by
keeping away from others.
3. Transport
If transportation is required, follow the advice of public
health staff. When transportation is
required for known or suspected cases of COVID-19, private
vehicles are the preferred method
of transportation. Further information related to the management
and cleaning of vehicles used
for transportation can be found in the Department of Health’s
Infection Prevention and Control
information for public & private transport guideline
4. Clean and disinfect
Follow all public health advice about closing off affected areas
and prevent access until they
have been cleaned and disinfected. Information on cleaning for
non-healthcare settings during
the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can be found in the
Department of Health’s COVID-19
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Infectious-disease/COVID19/COVID19-Information-for-public-private-transport.ashxhttps://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Infectious-disease/COVID19/COVID19-Information-for-public-private-transport.ashx
-
8
Infection control advice for COVID-19 environmental cleaning in
non-healthcare settings
(home and workplace) factsheet.
5. Assisting public health to identify close contacts
Public health may ask for your attendance records. The manager
is to provide these records
to public health upon request. In the event a positive case is
identified, public health officers
will conduct interviews with the confirmed case to determine
their contacts.
Review risk assessment
In addition to the measures in these guidelines, if there is
concern about the risk of staff being
exposed to the virus at work, a risk assessment should be
carried out with reference to the
latest information available. Employers should develop
prevention and control strategies
appropriate to the workplace in consultation with their staff,
and ensure that all staff are aware
of and follow these strategies.
Regularly review your COVID-19 risk management controls in
consultation with your staff and
their representatives, and assess and decide whether any changes
or additional control
measures are required. Consider having regular discussions about
safety and health issues,
for example during staff meetings, or by setting up a safety
committee.
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general%20documents/Infectious%20diseases/PDF/Coronavirus/COVID19-Environmental-Cleaning-for-workplaces.pdfhttps://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general%20documents/Infectious%20diseases/PDF/Coronavirus/COVID19-Environmental-Cleaning-for-workplaces.pdf
-
9
Key Contacts
13COVID: For information about coronavirus measures and
restrictions, and what they mean for you.
COVID-19 Public Hotline: 1800 020 080: If you suspect you, a
staff member, or a customer may have COVID-19 coronavirus symptoms
or may have had close contact with a person who has COVID-19
coronavirus.
Dedicated Police Number (non-urgent): 131 444
Further information
Coronavirus - public information:
www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus
COVID-19 industry information: www.health.wa.gov.au
Resources on physical distancing:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-your-distance
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/coronavirus-video-social-distancing
Occupational safety and health information is available on the
WorkSafe website
www.dmirs.wa.gov.au
Freight and Logistics Council of WA resources:
https://freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au/resource-library
WA Freight, Logistics and Transport Industry Declaration for
COVID-19:
https://freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au/FreightandLogisticsCouncil/media/ResourceLibr
ary/Final-Checklist.docx
Additional resources
How to Handwash poster – World Health Organization
How to Handrub poster – World Health Organization
Keeping Your Distance poster – Australian Government
Change of Business Hours poster – Australian Government
COVID-19 information for business, industry and local government
– WA Department of
Health
http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirushttp://www.health.wa.gov.au/https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-your-distancehttps://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-your-distancehttps://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/coronavirus-video-social-distancinghttp://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/https://freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au/resource-libraryhttps://freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au/FreightandLogisticsCouncil/media/ResourceLibrary/Final-Checklist.docxhttps://freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au/FreightandLogisticsCouncil/media/ResourceLibrary/Final-Checklist.docxhttps://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandWash_Poster.pdf?ua=1https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdfhttps://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-your-distance.pdfhttps://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-change-of-hours-poster-for-businesseshttps://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus/COVID19-information-for-business-and-industry
-
10
APPENDIX A – Checklist: Items to consider for Transport, Freight
and Logistics operators and staff
1. Physical distancing
Physical distancing. o Have you considered how you will manage
breaks and accommodation to
comply with the requirement to effectively self-isolate? o Have
you identified all situations, tasks and processes where staff and
others
interact closely with each other and made any modifications if
required? o Have you put in place measures to communicate and
remind staff of the need
to practise physical distancing? o Have you reminded staff to
ensure physical distancing is maintained during
break times? 2. Hygiene
Good hygiene o Are adequate hand washing and hand sanitising
products provided? (hand
sanitiser in each vehicle) o Has signage about hand hygiene been
provided? o Are processes in place to regularly monitor and review
hygiene
stations/measures? o Has there been education on respiratory
hygiene?
Cleaning and sanitisation
o Have you considered the frequency of cleaning for vehicles? o
Are procedures in place for thorough and regular cleaning of
common
surfaces, ‘high touch’ items and shared amenities e.g. handles,
chairs etc? o Have communal items been removed where possible? o
Does your business have appropriate cleaning products and equipment
to
perform cleaning and disinfection e.g. detergent, disinfectant,
food grade sanitiser, PPE where appropriate?
o Have you instructed staff to clean personal property e.g.
phones and keys?
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) o Do you have an adequate
stock of masks? o Have staff been adequately trained in how and
when to wear masks?
3. Training and education
Have you provided information to staff on your COVID safety
procedures and what is expected of them?
Where appropriate, have staff completed training? Have you
provided clients with information on your COVID safety procedures,
and
how to interact with your drivers? Have you provided education
to your staff on what symptoms to look for and not
coming to work when unwell?
-
11
4. Compliance with existing legislation and regulations
Are your staff aware of their obligations to present for
testing? Are they aware of the frequency of testing, the process to
get tested and the requirement to ensure they can produce evidence
of their tests?
Is your business continuing to meet obligations under existing
legislation? Have you contacted your local government authority,
the Department of Health, or
WorkSafe if you are unsure of public health or occupational
health and safety requirements?
5. Response planning
Monitor symptoms o Have you put up signs about the symptoms of
COVID-19 in the workplace? o Have you advised staff to seek a
COVID-19 test if they are unwell? o Have you advised staff to
disclose if they have been in close contact with a
person who has or is being tested for COVID-19?
Contact tracing o Are you maintaining a record of close contacts
for the purposes of contact
tracing? o Are you maintaining a record of staff working on the
premises?
Incident response
o Does your business have written instructions for staff about
how to respond to a COVID-19 related incident?