Delivery Driver Hygiene

Hi all, looking to get some advice from those working in distribution sites regarding vehicle drivers' handwashing and general hygiene. We've been asked to clarify in our hygiene policy how drivers are to eat, drink or smoke while on the road and maintain good hygiene (i.e. clean their hands) and now I'm a bit stumped.

Drivers aren't allows to smoke inside company vehicles and we send our drivers out with hand santiser but we all know this doesn't do the same job as proper handwashing under running water and certainly wouldn't be enough to remove allergens. What sort of policies do you guys have in place for this?

Thanks,

Andy

"We've been asked to clarify in our hygiene policy" to try to determine intent behind this request, who asked and why?

Are the drivers handling uncovered product? Do they enter other facilities' production area? 

I don't see the importance of this.

Hi Andy, hand washing is fundamental: it is required by Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and explicitly demanded by GFSI standards such as BRCGS Issue 9 paragraph 4.5 and IFS Logistics v2.3  paragraph 4. Technical guidelines (best practice) recommend following the five classic steps—rubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds, using warm water around 30–40 °C and drying with disposable material—to achieve maximum effectiveness. These steps are essential for removing allergens, something that disinfectant gel does not do well; therefore gel may be used only after washing or in emergencies when hands are visibly clean.

The operator must wash their hands mandatorily before starting loading/unloading operations, after breaks or meals or smoking, after using the restroom, after touching dirty or potentially contaminated surfaces, after completing loading/unloading operations, and after removing potentially contaminated PPE. Specific precautions, including single-use gloves (to be changed at least every hour, after each loading/unloading operation, if damaged, or when changing significant tasks), must be selected according to a documented risk matrix based on objective criteria such as product type, packaging, destination and other relevant factors.

To ensure access to water, the operator should have either portable sinks on board (minimum capacity 20 L, equipped to keep water warm even in winter—at least 25 °C—with documented maintenance and water replacement every 24 hours or at shift end) or an up-to-date map of rest areas with facilities. Rules on food, drink and smoking are strict: these activities are allowed only during designated breaks, never during operations; smoking must occur at a safe distance (minimum 10 m) and hands must always be washed afterward.

For high-risk loads, certain foods must be banned from the cabin and a thorough cleaning must be carried out according to the sanitization plan, which defines minimum frequency (e.g. Class A: daily; Class B: at least twice a week; Class C: weekly), appropriate products (e.g. alkaline detergent followed by at least 70 % alcohol-based disinfectant or compliant with EN 1276/13697) and provides for periodic checks (e.g. ATP test or allergen swab every three months on critical points), documenting everything in a dedicated log.

A standard hygiene kit must be implemented and training (at least one hour per year covering basic hygiene, allergens, PPE use, with learning verification) must be effective and recorded (specifying how, who archives, and stored for at least three years). Inspections (checklists, quarterly internal audits) must be carried out systematically and measured with KPIs with clear targets (e.g. minimum 95 % audit compliance), analyzing data periodically. There must be a clear non-conformity procedure (e.g. 1st critical NC = training reminder; 2nd NC within six months = temporary suspension with mandatory specific course and evaluation before returning to service). Clearly define who does what. Every driver must be trained and comply with these rules. A clear policy is essential to ensure product safety and maintain customer trust.

Are the drivers handling uncovered product? Do they enter other facilities' production area? 

I don't see the importance of this.

Yeah, neither do I.   The above post says they need to have portable sinks on their rig?  Seriously?   

We unload our own trucks, the driver touches nothing anyway, but even if he did, is this suggesting truck drivers have a responsibility to monitor their handwashing at all times outside our facility?   Because if I were a truck driver, I'd laugh at this.....

The key thing for me is providing toilet facilities with handwashing at sites.  Beyond that, how is it more relevant than an employee driving to work?

Yeah, that's why I was trying to figure out who asked him to do this. FS scheme auditor? Let's dig into the code they reference. Customers auditor? What was the exact requirement/wording and was it on an audit report or just something they mentioned in passing.

I can't imagine this being anything more than your typical customer auditor trying to 'find something' to write up to show they performed a 'thorough' audit.

This seems a bit extra to me (I have a couple customers who asks stuff like this occasionally) and I tend to push back on some of it. It's okay for some stuff to be common sense.  I'd definitely ask whoever asked this what regulation or standard they are referring to.

At our facilities, everyone (drivers, visitors, employees) is required to wash their hands when entering our warehouse, so what they do in their truck doesn't really matter.

I had a customer wanted to see our policy stating that employees are supposed to report broken windows.  I showed them where they are trained to report glass and brittle plastic breakage, showed we had the windows listed on our GBP map and that they are shatter proof, and showed them the inspection schedule, but they wanted to see where it said "Employees are required to report broken windows immediately." 

Another wanted to know, in writing, what we'd do if someone came in with a fake ID.  No context behind it, just "What would you do if someone comes in with a fake id."  I pushed back with we are not qualified to determine if an ID is fake and visitors are usually scheduled and no visitor, even unscheduled regulatory visitors, are allowed in the warehouse without an escort.