Safe Operating Procedures for Group Leaders and Passengers

Date Added 21/05/2020

Throughout this pandemic period, and in the transition as we return to normal operation, it is very important that we follow some simple guidelines to protect our staff, our passengers and anyone else that we may come into contact with as we carry out coach travel services.

We want to work closely with our customers to ensure a safe system of work for all passengers and for our staff. Please read this in conjunction with our ‘Passenger Capacity on Coaches’ document. 

We are committed to proactively reducing the spread of any disease and maintain the health of our staff and passengers.  As such please ensure you and your passengers to follow this guide to help maintain the hygiene levels that we currently have in place to reduce the spread of any disease.

Our current system includes cleaning of all floors and seats, cleaning of all glass surfaces, mopping with disinfectant of all floor surfaces, disinfectant wiping of dash areas, driver controls and handles. It also includes cleaning all handrails, hand grabs, seat belt buckles, armrests and floors. It also includes vehicle anti-viral fogging on a weekly basis.  These are the company minimum standards; you may require additional procedures; please advise if this is required.

How do I protect myself and my passengers?

The following Safe Operating Procedure is based on the current official government guidelines and is also based on the measures identified and required through our Covid:19 Risk Assessment, a copy of which can be provided upon request.  The transmission of Corona virus is primarily through people touching surfaces contaminated by the virus and then transferring that contamination to their mouth, eyes or nose. There is also a possibility of breathing in droplets expelled by another person when in close face to face contact.

With these facts in mind, please be assured that your coach will arrive in a sanitised, virus free condition; and that we have the following measures in place prevent the spread of the virus while on board the coach. Furthermore these protocols comply with World Health Organisation guidelines, which are fully achievable on our coaches. Our normal front facing seating arrangements avoids ‘face to face’ proximity and the physical barrier of the high backed seats, plus the use of face coverings and masks will all help to ensure maximum safety.

1.  Our driver will arrive just a few minutes before your departure time, in order to minimise the time that passengers spend on the vehicle once boarded. Please maintain social distancing as your group gathers and when approaching and speaking with our driver. 
2. When your driver arrives, he or she will alight the vehicle and gesture for you and your group to board. He or she will also pass hand sanitiser to your group leader so that your passengers can sanitise their hands before they board. If luggage handling is required our driver will wear protective gloves. Again, please ensure your group observe social distancing while waiting to board.
3. Our driver will ask your passengers to load from the back first and passengers that live together may be seated together. The double seat immediately behind the driver is not available for use.  We would appreciate that you and your group wear face coverings during the journey, preferably their own; however our driver will also have masks available.
4. Once your group have all boarded, our driver will board and then carry out the safety and information briefing before commencing the journey. 
5. As part of our drivers briefing he or she will advise that upon arrival at the destination he or she will be exiting first and that once he or she has left the vehicle then all passengers may safely disembark, starting from the front - and of course must continue to observe social distancing.
6. Our driver will drive with the driver’s window and roof vents open, a plentiful supply of fresh air helps to prevent the spread of germs. He or she will also be wearing a face mask while driving.
7.  Upon arrival at the destination, our driver will put the hazard warning lights on, disembark and wait for your group to alight.  Obviously he or she will maintain a helpful presence but will also observe self-distancing requirements. During your visit our driver will clean all vehicle touch points.
8. During your visit and prior to returning to the vehicle for the return journey, please encourage your group to wash their hands with soap and also to use the hand gel that is supplied on board.
9. With regard to the exchange of such things as lost property, this will be carried out at the end of the hire, having full regard please to observing all social distancing and hygiene requirements.

We appreciate that these precautions and procedures are somewhat onerous, however it is of course in all our interests to do what we can to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Covid:19. Should you require any further information or have any specific considerations and requirements for your group then please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

Would you kindly bring the above procedures to the attention of your group prior to travel.  Thank you for your help and cooperation - and for booking with Johnsons. (This document is dated 21st May 2020)