Case Study – Hygiene

John is a taxi driver and has been continuing to drive passengers as an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic. John knows he must make sure he does everything he can to minimise the risk of him or his passengers being exposed to COVID-19. He looks at Safe Work Australia’s guidance for taxi and ride share industry and also considers what he needs to do to meet public health requirements.

To protect himself from the risk of exposure to COVID-19, John frequently washes his hands and when on the road uses alcohol-based hand sanitiser especially after opening and closing doors, exchanging payment or other contact with passengers. He has also increased cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle. For example, cleaning frequently touch surfaces after each passenger including seat belts and clips, door handles and EFTPOS machines.

While it isn’t possible to ensure physical distancing in his vehicle, John asks his passengers to sit in the back seat, use contactless payment and handle their own luggage, if possible. He also places signs in the vehicle asking passengers to practice good hygiene and buys alcohol-based hand sanitiser and tissues for use by both him and passengers. As some passengers may not speak English and there isn’t enough space for signs in multiple languages, John also creates a sign using 3 well-known images – sneezing into elbow, hand washing and staying home if unwell.

John knows he should immediately stop driving if he is feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of COVID-19, have been tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results or have been required by health authorities to self-isolate.