Archived [2023-12-13] - Guidance to Government of Canada Fleet Managers: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

TBS recommends that departments and agencies identify essential vehicles that are required to maintain order and provide critical services to Canadians.

Use of all non-essential vehicles should be minimized and ideally parked to prevent the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus through those vehicles.

Under the current circumstances, essential vehicles include:

• police and emergency vehicles
• health and safety vehicles
• inspection vehicles
• executive vehicles, if required, and
• any other vehicles that are used to directly assist government officials in dealing with the COVID-19 virus

Non-essential vehicles may typically be the administrative (Category 4) vehicles that have no specific function, other than providing general transportation for employees.

When possible, maximizing the use of log books in pooled vehicles should be considered. Request that people sign in and out, to have a record of those who operated and travelled in these vehicles. In the event that a user or passenger reports getting the virus, this information will make it easier to notify others who may be at risk.

The COVID-19 virus can spread when one touches a surface with the virus on it and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands. For this reason, “high-touch” areas need to be cleaned and disinfected often.

Departments and agencies should advise employees who utilize fleet vehicles to take every precaution to disinfect the “high-touch” areas listed below, before and after every use:

• dashboard
• touch screen
• keys or FOBs
• seat adjuster
• steering wheel
• rear view mirror
• turn signal and wiper stalks
• inside and outside door handles
• radio and climate control buttons
• starter button on vehicles with FOBs
• inside door grab handles, pads and armrests
• power window and power door lock switches
• any other parts that are commonly used and that may have been touched (glove compartment, hood, trunk, van panel door handles, pick-up tailgate handle, for example)

And, of course, if a passenger sat in the back seat, all parts linked to the rear door(s) should be disinfected.

Departments and agencies may recommend that their employees use specific, approved products that are efficient in killing germs and properly disinfecting surfaces, and that are safe for the employees, the environment and the vehicle surfaces.

Some strong products such as bleach and ammonia should not be used to disinfect vehicles as they emit toxic fumes and can damage vehicle surfaces. Employees should carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions before applying any product. In addition, employees should always ensure that there is appropriate ventilation when disinfecting vehicles.

Employees should take precautions such as covering their hands when pumping gas, touching the service station door handles, or handling any automotive products that may be required when performing light vehicle maintenance, such as filling windshield washer fluid or adding motor oil. If it is not possible, employees should wash their hands or apply hand sanitizer immediately afterwards. Hand sanitizer should be made available in every essential vehicle.

Operators and passengers of Government of Canada vehicles should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds as often as possible.

As a general rule, all fleet managers and users of Government of Canada fleet vehicles should follow the Government of Canada’s guidance for federal government employees on Canada.ca.