To give companies and employees in the sector more guidance during the corona crisis, sector parties have drawn up a Transport and Logistics Corona Protocol. The protocol shows employers, clients, self-employed workers and employees how to continue working safely in road transport and logistics during the corona crisis and the one-and-a-half-meter economy.
The protocol has been drawn up by trade unions and sector parties such as TLN and evofenedex in consultation with the central government and should provide a "clear set of agreements". The initiators want logistics workers to be able to continue working as much as possible without compromising worker safety. "Maintaining work and income and preventing bankruptcies is the challenge we face together. Without endangering the health of workers," said Willem Dijkhuizen, FNV Transport & Logistics director.
Starting point of the Corona Protocol are the applicable advice and measures of RIVM, the government and the European Commission. The agreements include:
- Appoint a coordinator within the company to be a central point of contact for questions, and announce to employees who that is.
- Ensure that adapted customer procedures are known to drivers in advance. Provide disinfectant and disposable gloves to employees for use on the road.
- Prevent employees from coming together in large numbers. Separate incoming and departing colleagues from each other by, for example, widening the bridging shift or establishing modified walking routes.
- Clean the cabin with water and a household detergent when changing occupancy. Think about: steering wheel, gear lever, instrument dashboard, door handles and seat belt connection point.
- Wait outside if the waiting area is not suitable to keep 1.5 metres distance or wait in the cabin.
- Treat employees of service providers the same as own employees.
- Make toilet facilities available for visiting drivers and clean them more intensively than usual.
"The transport sector is working hard from day one during this period to keep the transport of important goods going," Minister van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management) said of the protocol. "I have a lot of respect for the drivers who make sure our stuff gets delivered. It is good that all people in transport now have extra gripes to keep working as safely as possible."
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