The Western Cape Government has issued a circular informing businesses and organisations of the necessary occupational health and safety arrangements in these current times. Guidelines on how to keep both employees and customers safe, along with preventing further spread of the coronavirus, are detailed in the resource.
The circular focuses on the transport, retail, petrol stations, banking, the post office and essential services sectors.
Fuel Stations:
Staff members at fuel franchising sectors should urge all customers to remain in their vehicles unless they need to enter the shop to purchase essential goods. Petrol attendants are encouraged to keep at least 1.5 meters away from the vehicles window unless they are collecting payment or handing over a card machine. Attendants are also encouraged to clean card machines, pumps and surrounding equipment, along with offering customers alcohol-based hand sanitiser when they have finished assisting them.
Retail, Banks and Post Offices:
All retail stores, Banks, and post offices are urged not to allow their establishments to become overcrowded and only allow a limited amount of people to enter their business at a time. Businesses are also encouraged to promote social distancing in queues outside of their stores, for example, marker lines that serve as an indication to consumers on where to wait. In terms of goods on display, products should be spread out in aisles to prevent people shopping too close to one another. Once a customer has paid for their goods, the counter top and credit card machine must be wiped before the next customer is assisted.
Public Transport:
All taxi drivers and personal are urged to clean buses and taxi ranks with soap and water at the end of the business day. All passengers must keep a minimum distance of 1,5 meters from each other whilst waiting for their taxi or bus. Markers can be used to guide passengers on where to wait while maintaining appropriate distancing. Doors should be left open until the taxi has reached its maximum capacity, at which point either the driver or his assistant will close the door. No customer should touch any vehicle door handle. Social distancing, even inside the bus/minibus should be practiced; meaning enough space should be allowed between passengers. Once a trip has been completed, all surfaces including door handles, window ledges and seats must be cleaned before the next load of passengers.
E-Hailing services:
In the E-hailing sector, which includes Uber, Lyft and Bolt, drivers are to open and close the doors when a passenger enters and exits the vehicle. Depending on the size of the vehicle, no more than 3 people should be transported at a time. Windows should be kept open throughout the trips to allow dirty air to escape, particularly when passengers cough or sneeze. Each door handle and window ledge must be disinfected twice a day.
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