The ground transportation industry plays a critical role in preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Destination Systems takes very seriously that responsibility and has accordingly implemented a set of policies and procedures at work and in the field transporting passengers that fulfills that objective as summarized here for our customers.
Keeping the Workplace Safe
Employees are expected to stay home if
Safety Practices for Our Critical Infrastructure Employees
Our cleaning staff are considered critical infrastructure workers and may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them, and the community as described below.
Regular monitoring -
If the employee does not have a fever or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of our management’s occupational health program.
Social distance -
The employee should practice social distance by avoiding close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least six feet when possible or as work duties permit.
Disinfect and clean workspaces -
Offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Employees that become sick during the workday -
If an employee becomes sick during the day, they will be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace will be cleaned and disinfected. Information on persons who had contact with the ill employee during the time the employee had symptoms and 2 days prior to symptoms will be compiled. Coworkers with close contact within 6 feet of the employee during this time will be considered exposed.
Exposed employees -
Exposed employees are required
Employees with COVID-19 symptoms -
Employees with COVID-19 symptoms that were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation when the following conditions are met:
Safeguarding Riders and Employees in Ground Transportation
Face covering and nitrile gloves use
Air quality for buses equipped with air conditioning filters systems, filters have been upgraded to MERV 8 or greater, which reduce cabin particulates by 90% between 1 and 5 microns and smaller.
Improved ventilation
Drivers are required to keep the windows open or set the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, maintaining improved ventilation is strongly recommended.
Touching surfaces
Employees are expected to avoid touching surfaces often touched by bus passengers unless they are disinfecting them.
Washing hands
Employees are expected to wash their hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not readily available, to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Employees are reminded that key times to clean hands in general are before, during, and after preparing food, before eating food, after using the toilet, after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing, additional times to clean hands on the job include, before and after work shifts, before and after work breaks, after touching frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails and armrests and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings.
Touching the face
Employees are expected to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Hand sanitizer stations
All buses have hand sanitizer stations located at the entrance door and in the lavatory on vehicles equipped with lavatories.
Communication with customers
We recommend customers provide verbal confirmation to the motor coach operator prior to departure that all passengers have completed a COVID-19 screening questionnaire including a body temperature check and are in good health.
Passenger with COVID-19 symptoms
Drivers have the right to refuse entry if an onboarding passenger that is visibly sick and must report to management immediately passengers that have or develop COVID -19 symptoms which will be managed on a case by case basis accordingly.
Transportation vehicle disinfecting schedules
1. All disinfectant products used are water-soluble EPA approved disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
2. During the service day - Drivers are required to disinfect all handrails for entering and existing the bus, interior surfaces of entry door and stairwell where hands may make contact, all handrails along the length of the aisle, inside the bus, seat armrests, recliner handles, windowsills, seat belts/buckles, headrests, lavatory door handles, all interior lavatory surfaces, handrails of the lavatory, driver area including driver controls, audio/visual equipment, microphones and along the upper storage compartments throughout the workday at every opportunity multiple times per day using disinfecting/sanitizing wipes.
3. At the end of each service day or prior to the start of a new service day – The cleaning crew performs disinfection of the areas identified above as well as additional high touch surfaces including exterior luggage door handles, exterior door handles/surfaces operated by driver/mechanic, all interior hard and soft surfaces, emergency exits (window and roof), entire floor using a disinfectant solution. The exterior of bus is thoroughly washed using a variety of soaps, waxes and polishes.
4. Every 45 days during the preventive maintenance cycle or after a suspected exposure event the maintenance crew shall perform a disinfection that includes HVAC sanitization depending on the model of the vehicle. All HVAC filters are cleaned or replaced, and a CDC approved disinfectant is applied to them.
5. After disinfecting, all drivers, cleaning crew staff and maintenance crew staff are required to dispose of any gloves or personal protective gear used when cleaning the vehicle and to wash their hands thoroughly.
6. Additional items can be purchased at the customer’s request including paper towel rolls, disinfectant spray, toilet paper, tissue, hand sanitizer bottles, trash bags, box of disinfecting wipes, air freshener, box of face masks, and a blood borne pathogen kit.
We will make changes and adjustments to the policies and procedures described above as more information becomes available regarding the prevention of virus.
Destination Systems takes very seriously that responsibility and has accordingly implemented a set of policies and procedures at work and in the field transporting passengers that fulfills that objective as summarized here for our customers.
Keeping the Workplace Safe
Employees are expected to stay home if
- They are feeling sick.
- They have a sick family member in their home.
- Prior to starting work employees are required to answer a series of health questions to access the possibility of any COVID-19 symptoms.
- Prior to starting work, all employee’s temperature will be measured.
- Employees with COVID-19 symptoms or with a fever of 100.4o F or higher will be sent back home.
- Cleaning hands regularly.
- Creating habits to avoid touching the face.
- Disinfecting surfaces like bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment, doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails routinely.
- Increasing ventilation by opening windows.
- Employees are expected to use video conferencing for meetings when possible
- When not possible to hold meetings in well-ventilated spaces
Safety Practices for Our Critical Infrastructure Employees
Our cleaning staff are considered critical infrastructure workers and may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them, and the community as described below.
Regular monitoring -
If the employee does not have a fever or symptoms, they should self-monitor under the supervision of our management’s occupational health program.
Social distance -
The employee should practice social distance by avoiding close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least six feet when possible or as work duties permit.
Disinfect and clean workspaces -
Offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Employees that become sick during the workday -
If an employee becomes sick during the day, they will be sent home immediately. Surfaces in their workspace will be cleaned and disinfected. Information on persons who had contact with the ill employee during the time the employee had symptoms and 2 days prior to symptoms will be compiled. Coworkers with close contact within 6 feet of the employee during this time will be considered exposed.
Exposed employees -
Exposed employees are required
- To check their temperature daily before work, practice social distancing in workplace as work duties permit and go home if they become sick.
- The employee should always wear a face mask while in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure. Our management can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings.
Employees with COVID-19 symptoms -
Employees with COVID-19 symptoms that were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation when the following conditions are met:
- At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset
- At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
Safeguarding Riders and Employees in Ground Transportation
Face covering and nitrile gloves use
- Employees driving or operating any of our passenger ground transportation vehicles are always required to be wearing face coverings and nitrile gloves when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, nitrile gloves are still required, and face coverings are strongly recommended.
- Employees exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge if their condition permits it.
- Employees are expected to limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.
- This is accomplished by standing outside adjacent to the entry door at a six-foot distance to assist passengers if needed when boarding and existing the vehicles.
- Passengers are asked to handle their baggage or belongings if possible and to maintain a minimum six-foot distance if the driver’s assistance is needed. Drivers are expected to wash or sanitize their hands after handling passenger’s baggage or belongings.
- The entire first row of seats behind the driver is not available for seating.
Air quality for buses equipped with air conditioning filters systems, filters have been upgraded to MERV 8 or greater, which reduce cabin particulates by 90% between 1 and 5 microns and smaller.
Improved ventilation
Drivers are required to keep the windows open or set the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, maintaining improved ventilation is strongly recommended.
Touching surfaces
Employees are expected to avoid touching surfaces often touched by bus passengers unless they are disinfecting them.
Washing hands
Employees are expected to wash their hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water is not readily available, to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Employees are reminded that key times to clean hands in general are before, during, and after preparing food, before eating food, after using the toilet, after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing, additional times to clean hands on the job include, before and after work shifts, before and after work breaks, after touching frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails and armrests and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings.
Touching the face
Employees are expected to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Hand sanitizer stations
All buses have hand sanitizer stations located at the entrance door and in the lavatory on vehicles equipped with lavatories.
Communication with customers
We recommend customers provide verbal confirmation to the motor coach operator prior to departure that all passengers have completed a COVID-19 screening questionnaire including a body temperature check and are in good health.
Passenger with COVID-19 symptoms
Drivers have the right to refuse entry if an onboarding passenger that is visibly sick and must report to management immediately passengers that have or develop COVID -19 symptoms which will be managed on a case by case basis accordingly.
Transportation vehicle disinfecting schedules
1. All disinfectant products used are water-soluble EPA approved disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
2. During the service day - Drivers are required to disinfect all handrails for entering and existing the bus, interior surfaces of entry door and stairwell where hands may make contact, all handrails along the length of the aisle, inside the bus, seat armrests, recliner handles, windowsills, seat belts/buckles, headrests, lavatory door handles, all interior lavatory surfaces, handrails of the lavatory, driver area including driver controls, audio/visual equipment, microphones and along the upper storage compartments throughout the workday at every opportunity multiple times per day using disinfecting/sanitizing wipes.
3. At the end of each service day or prior to the start of a new service day – The cleaning crew performs disinfection of the areas identified above as well as additional high touch surfaces including exterior luggage door handles, exterior door handles/surfaces operated by driver/mechanic, all interior hard and soft surfaces, emergency exits (window and roof), entire floor using a disinfectant solution. The exterior of bus is thoroughly washed using a variety of soaps, waxes and polishes.
4. Every 45 days during the preventive maintenance cycle or after a suspected exposure event the maintenance crew shall perform a disinfection that includes HVAC sanitization depending on the model of the vehicle. All HVAC filters are cleaned or replaced, and a CDC approved disinfectant is applied to them.
5. After disinfecting, all drivers, cleaning crew staff and maintenance crew staff are required to dispose of any gloves or personal protective gear used when cleaning the vehicle and to wash their hands thoroughly.
6. Additional items can be purchased at the customer’s request including paper towel rolls, disinfectant spray, toilet paper, tissue, hand sanitizer bottles, trash bags, box of disinfecting wipes, air freshener, box of face masks, and a blood borne pathogen kit.
We will make changes and adjustments to the policies and procedures described above as more information becomes available regarding the prevention of virus.