While the emergence of COVID-19 interferes with the daily operation of the towing industry, the top priority of businesses remains to ensure the health and wellness of their team members, customers, and community. To achieve this, it is important to implement precautionary measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Here are some health and safety tips and recommendations to navigate you through these unprecedented times to protect yourself and those you are in touch with:
- Avoid direct contact whenever possible, stay at least two arms-length away from a customer.
- Have drivers or tow operators stay in a vehicle when responding to a distressed call. Conduct the conversation via cell phone as both tow operator and a driver stay in their vehicles or have the driver stay in the vehicle and speak through the closed or slightly open window to the operator, standing at least three feet away.
- If the driver and the tow operator must be outside of vehicle together, have them keep a safe distance.
- If the operator has to check the customer’s BCAA member card, have the member hold the card up but don’t actually handle it. If the tow operator needs to look more closely, have the driver place it down, step back and then the tow operator step forward and look.
- Avoid cash payments and use contactless payments whenever possible.
- Wear gloves and make sure to use them properly to guarantee your protection. (Check WorkSafeBC’s website listing potential risks.) Don’t touch your face.
- If going into a yard or office, restrict staff so they are spaced out, and don’t go into areas unnecessarily. If they don’t have to go into the office, they shouldn’t. Minimize the contact with others to prevent the virus spreading.
- Encourage employers and workers to think about ways they can modify their work to minimize contact for their work situations by using their work experience and common sense.