COVID-19 UPDATE: How to Keep Your Delivery Drivers Safe April 14,2020

From our partners at Pinnacol

Colorado restaurants were already struggling under the weight of minimum wage changes and other challenges in 2020. But the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed some to the brink.

To adapt, many restaurants are pivoting their operations by introducing or expanding delivery services to keep workers employed and customers served. That means employees who previously performed other tasks are taking on delivery roles.

Here are a few ways you can protect your new delivery drivers:

1. Make sure they are qualified to drive.

Take these steps before allowing an employee to drive (either a company vehicle or personal vehicle):

• Pull their Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
• Note the number of moving violations and points.
• Determine how many points in a given period will disqualify an employee from driving.

2. Remind them to keep the phone away.

Drivers should never be texting and should avoid talking, even in hands-free mode. Don't contribute to the problem by contacting your drivers while they are out, and make clear that you don't expect them to return your call until they can do so safely.

3. Hold a daily safety briefing.

A short check in every day will keep safety top of mind.

• If your employees are mainly covering a limited service area around your town, brush up on community-specific driving laws and remind them of various speed limits on the routes they're likely to be taking.
• Note the weather before each shift and remind them of special precautions to take in rain, sleet, or snow.
• Remind them to slow down on residential streets and watch for kids and pets.
• Just like in the kitchen or dining room, employees should wear non-slip footwear to accommodate the weather fluctuations common in Colorado.

4. Set guidelines for safely interacting with customers.

Here are some ways to make the delivery itself safe.

• Verify the phone number provided by the customer.
• Ask for directions to the home if it's unusual and request the customer leave a porch light on.
• Have your driver park in a well-lighted area and use a flashlight to illuminate their path for steps, curbs, or other hazards.
• Offer “contact-free" porch delivery; have the employee photograph the delivery as they leave it.
• Use cash-free payment methods and add a notice to your website that the driver carries no cash.

5. Check your employee's vehicle.

Assuming you have already checked your employees' driving records, you need to turn your attention to their cars. Give your employees a checklist for ensuring their vehicle is ready:

• Their lights and flashers are operational.
• Their fluids are topped off.
• Their gas tank is adequately filled.
• They have emergency equipment, such as flares, water, food, and a blanket in the car. Provide each employee with a kit if you can.

6. Implement special COVID-19 cleanliness standards.

Running a restaurant, you know how to keep things clean. But hygiene is more important now than ever.

• Remind drivers to wash hands before and after deliveries.
• Provide latex gloves for drivers to wear.
• Equip each driver with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes for the car. (If you are sharing a company car, make sure that employees wipe down the steering wheel and all high-touch surfaces, buttons, and knobs between shifts.)
• Recommend “contact-free" deliveries to limit interaction.

7. Double-check insurance requirements.

If an employee gets in an accident when they are driving on the clock, you could be liable— even if they are driving their own cars. If you have any questions about how it could affect your worker's compensation, please contact us at safetyoncall@pinnacol.com.

Today's uncertain business climate has brought out an all-hands-on-deck spirit that encourages new roles and increased teamwork in Colorado restaurants. By giving your new delivery drivers adequate safety information, you can breathe easier as they head out on the streets.

Want more health and safety information? Pinnacol Assurance has you covered with additional driver resources here and COVID-19 specific information here.

Read the CRA's guide to delivery here.