As businesses look for ways to adapt to the new normal, many have turned to offer delivery services in order to keep turning a profit. Industries like retail or restaurants that are new to providing delivery services as part of their business model establish a safety program to manage this exposure. While many businesses kickstart offering this service, they should be aware of many risks that were not previously an issue. To help protect your business, take a look at these risk management considerations for restaurant and retail delivery services during the time of COVID-19.
Delivery Services Risk Management
Driver selection
- For any new employee that will be driving on company business, their driving record should be reviewed before getting behind the wheel. Look for any potential red flags that could put your business in danger.
- Review their license regularly to ensure that the driver maintains a good driving record.
- Clearly define the number of violations an employee can have before losing the privilege of driving for work, and provide training where indicated.
Driver agreements
- Every driver should be presented with a contract and a list of procedures to agree to and follow when driving on behalf of your business.
- When driving employee-owned vehicles, every employee should understand how to operate the vehicle and agree to drive the vehicle safely.
Vehicle standards
- Ensure that all company-owned vehicles are kept in good working order.
- Regularly service the vehicles, ensuring all lights, brakes, engine, and safety belts are in good operation.
- Secure reliable commercial auto insurance so that your employees and vehicles are protected on the roads.
Accident reporting
- When an accident occurs, investigate it thoroughly and document all findings.
- All crashes, regardless of severity, should be reported to the employee’s supervisor as soon as possible after the incident.
- Company traffic safety policies and procedures should clearly guide drivers through their responsibilities in a crash situation.
- All crashes should be reviewed to determine their cause and if the incidents could have been prevented.
- Understand the root cause of the crash. From there, educate drivers and enforce safety practices to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
Adequate training
- Provide continuous driver safety training and communication. Even experienced drivers benefit from periodic training and reminders of safe driving practices and skills. It’s easy to become complacent and not think about what could happen. All drivers should be aware there are consequences of their actions on the road.
COVID-19 safety
- Regularly clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Focus on those high-touch points of the car, such as the steering wheel, buttons, and levers. Sanitize regularly and provide alcohol-based hand gel for employees who are on the road.
When your business starts delivering, be sure to keep in mind these risk management considerations. These practices will keep your business safe so that you can focus on moving your company forward.
ABOUT RMS Insurance Brokerage, LLC
At RMS Insurance Brokerage, LLC, our expertly crafted policies are written specifically for the hospitality industry. We offer custom-tailored solutions to meet any venue’s specific needs. For more information, contact our knowledgeable experts today at (516) 742-8585.