Owner/Driver #328

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
Experts advise on truck cab hygiene
Transport and medical experts
share knowledge on keeping
vehicles coronavirus free
A STRONGER focus on the essential
value of truck drivers is driving a
greater appreciation for keeping them
out of coronavirus harm’s way.
Well-understood by the cream of
professional drivers, the top tips for
implementing stringent cleaning
measures to stay safe during the
Covid-19 outbreak is being shared by
transport and medical experts.
And it doesn’t stop at trucks.
Many families still need their car to
get to work or pick up groceries, and
transport and logistics insurer NTI
notes it is important drivers know how
to protect themselves from Covid-19.
Dr Ryan Harvey, clinical director of
national telehealth service 13 Doctor,
says the first priority has to be hygiene.
“The best practice a person
can employ is general hygiene,”
Dr Harvey says.
“Washing hands regularly with
soap and water for a minimum
of 20 seconds and regularly using
hand sanitiser is the best way to
combat germs and stop the spread of
any virus.
“In your vehicle, consider having
hand sanitiser in your centre console
so it’s easily accessible.
“You’ll also need to regularly clean
the interior of your vehicle. No special
formulations are required, just soap
and water and general cleaning
products.”
National Transport Insurance
business relationships and operations
manager Paul Burke points out that
this is what Australia’s truck drivers
have been doing.
“Truck drivers are regularly cleaning
the interior surfaces, focusing on areas
they touch the most,” Burke says.
“The steering wheel is an obvious
one but it’s important to also
concentrate on the gear stick, door
handles, seatbelts, radio controls,
window switches and fuel filler caps.
“You can use disinfectant wipes
for areas like the steering wheel
if you wish but you want to make
sure you don’t damage the vehicle’s
interior, so steer clear of bleach or
ammonia-based products.”
If the vehicle is still being used
regularly, drivers should consider an
air-conditioning sanitiser clean once
a week.
“For peace of mind, drivers might
consider sanitising their vehicle’s air
conditioning system using a sanitiser/
cleaner pressure pack,” Burke says.
“To do this, put the air con on the
recirculate mode with the fans on full.
“Wind your windows up and release
a can of sanitiser spray inside the car.
Shut the car door and leave the engine
running for about 10 minutes so the
disinfectant can make its way around
the car’s interior.
“We’ve also seen many truck drivers
opt for protective plastic seat covers
and disposable floor mats so they can
make sure the vehicle stays clean.
“This might be worth considering
for motorists, especially if there’s more
than one driver using the vehicle.”
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12 MAY 2020 ownerdriver.com.au