# 2927
Less than two weeks after releasing interim guidelines on cleaning transit vehicles during a pandemic (see Interim Guidance On Cleaning Transit Vehicles During A Pandemic), the HHS has released new guidelines for the cargo trucking industry.
Guidelines and Recommendations
Interim Guidance for Cargo Trucking Crews for the Prevention of Pandemic Influenza
Topics on this Page
- Implementation of these Recommendations
- Background
- Exposure Risks for Cargo Trucking Personnel
- Limiting Risks of Flu Exposures through Avoidance of Contacts with Other People and General Infection Control Measures
- Risk of Infection from Handling Truck Cargo
- Recommended Practices for Cleaning and Disinfecting Cabs and Trailers
- Crew Awareness of Health Symptoms of Possible Pandemic Flu
- Management of Ill Crew
- Prevention of Illness in Well Crew
Cargo trucking is part of the critical infrastructure essential to maintaining the Nation’s continuity of operations in the event of an influenza (flu) pandemic (a worldwide outbreak of a novel flu virus). This draft interim guidance is meant to inform and educate cargo trucking management and crew personnel about precautions and appropriate work practices to minimize exposure and prevent workplace-related transmission of flu in the event of a pandemic. These recommendations are primarily based on standard infection control practices and information about preventing seasonal flu and specific concerns associated with the potential for an outbreak of pandemic flu.
These guidelines were developed for the three main segments of the U.S. trucking industry: government entities, private cargo carriers, and for-hire motor carriers, but are also applicable for couriers, local delivery enterprises, and other trucking operations such as refuse haulers. These guidelines and recommendations may change as more becomes known about the specifics of a particular flu pandemic, the virus believed to be responsible, and the efficacy of public health control measures.
Although this document, rightfully, states that `management should begin to implement these guidelines and recommendations during the beginning stages of a pandemic’ – it should be pointed out that no one knows how long those two phases will last, and how quickly phase 6 (full blown pandemic) would occur.
Planning, preparation, and practicing are essential steps that must be started today, so that when pandemic phase 4 is announced, companies and their employees will know what to do, and how to do it.
There are many steps that could take weeks or months to implement, such as developing a comprehensive COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan), cross training of personnel, and laying in needed supplies.
