Due to the number of restaurants discontinuing the dine-in experience, there has been a significant increase in food delivery activities. According to OSHA, every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, every 10 seconds an injury occurs, and every 5 seconds a crash occurs. Many of these incidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work, which could include delivery drivers. Transportation is actually the most frequent cause of death in the workplace, so OSHA requires employers to have a driver safety program in place. Check out their resource, Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes. Here are some additional tips and guidance to help keep your delivery drivers safe on the job.

Violence and robbery prevention:

• Always request a call back number from the customer and verify the number prior to delivery.
• Ask the customer to turn on an exterior light and let them know the driver will only deliver to the front door of the dwelling.
• Always park as close to the dwelling as possible.
• Drivers should always carry a flashlight at night.
• Activate the vehicle panic alarm if you feel threatened.
• Limit the amount of cash being carried by delivery drivers.
• Consider a magnetic sign for delivery vehicles that reads “NO CASH CARRIED IN THIS VEHICLE.”

Safe driving tips:

• Conduct motor vehicle record checks for all delivery drivers and establish acceptable criteria.
• Always conduct a vehicle pre-trip inspection at the beginning of the shift.
  • Check tires, lights, blinkers, windshield wipers, and windshield fluid.
• Properly adjust your mirrors and scan them continually while driving.
  • For proper mirror adjustment tips check out this Safety Net post. To better understand how our eyes work, take a look at this blind spot demonstration.
• Avoid distractions, especially cell phones.
• Always adhere to your employer’s motor vehicle policies.
• Stay within the posted speed limit and adjust accordingly for adverse weather conditions.
• Secure the load/food items whenever possible to keep from moving around during transport.
• Always know directions and review GPS maps before starting your trip.

Ergonomics:

• Perform stretches at the beginning of each shift.
• Adjust the seat and steering wheel to the proper height and distance to prevent overreaching.
• Get out of the vehicle before retrieving food items to help avoid twisting and overreaching.

Slip, trip, and fall prevention:

• Avoid distractions while getting in and out of your vehicle.
• Park in a location free of walkway hazards whenever possible.
• Choose the proper footwear for the weather conditions.

COVID-19 considerations:

• Encourage customers to pay with a credit card instead of cash.
• Always wash your hands prior to, and after, all deliveries.
• Hand sanitizer should be made readily available to delivery drivers.
• Use a disinfectant on your steering wheel and shifting lever as necessary.
  • This is extremely important if it’s a shared vehicle between drivers.
• Use your upper sleeve to cover your mouth for coughing or sneezing. 

Workplace safety is the responsibility of all employers.  It is especially important when workers are asked to do something new or unusual.  If you have employees delivering food for the first time, please make a concerted effort to keep them safe. These may be extraordinary times, but the fundamentals of workplace safety should not be overshadowed by current events. For more information, check out these additional MEMIC resources:

Ergonomic Tips for Drivers

Transportation Resource Page

Putting Rear-End Collisions Behind Us

Space Cushion- Your Margin for Error on the Road

 

Written by Jennifer Campbell and Jeremiah LaCross