The code was put together from online meetings and consultation from nationals, regional and local operator members and fellows of the IOC in the express final mile business. It’s a step to measure best practice during the crisis.

Tracey Worth comments,

This is a code of best practice values for express courier final mile during the COVID-19 crisis, it compliments the IOC campaign to the public to sign and mark the door for safe delivery at the doorstep.

Doing the right thing during the COVID pandemic

1. Health and safety, compliance and behaviour

· Provide key information to all our people about how to spot symptoms:

Detail what they must do if they think they have become infected.

· Implement the government-recommended, sector specific social distancing in the workplace measures for all our people: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance#logistics-businesses

Communicate procedures for staying 2 metres apart during briefings and for all operational procedures such as loading and unloading vehicles.
Consider operating a delivery program which staggers driver start times in waves, to reduce the number of drivers on site at the same time and to minimise the contact between people.

· Prepare remote and distance space policies based on:

Policy in sortation – space around team

Policy for office staff – remote or working from home

· Provide virus PPE to all our people who need it:

In the office and in the van.

Provide hand sanitising gel, anti-bacterial hand-wipes.

Tissues (Use it and Bin It) disposal bags. Gloves & Face masks.

2. Responsibility to consumers and clients

· Provide a procedure for enhanced cleaning:

Sanitising the office.

Sanitising the parcel space of the delivery vehicle

Internal wipe-down of driver space in the vehicle interior at driver exchange.

Sanitising in sortation. Procedures for wipe down of shared equipment such as cages and containers.

· Provide a policy for the delivery point which covers:

Protocol for proof of delivery.

Need for customer signature.

Leave-safe procedure.

Dealing with PDA contact or signature collection systems.

· Revers logistics. Inform consumers on returns procedures matching driver at door policies.

3. Engagement status

· Provide information on engagement and income to team members:

Provide furlough advice to PAYE team members.

Provide information on procedures for working with others during furlough.

Provide self-employment income subsidy detail where appropriate to worker status.