Such great suggestions and resources, Fulton have done an amazing job of making tools accessable and visual, I have video envy Jo!

For your policy review Roger, I would recommend expanding the competency to 'Trailer use' to cover relevant risk activities such as; loading, restraining loads, hitching, driving with, unloading and braking/chocking.

Many moons ago I worked for an amazing company who offered a lump sum equivalent to 3 month's salary as an incentive if you agreed to return for at least a year. You also received assistance towards childcare (registered practice or proven direct relation) until the child entered education (5 year's old).

It was an absolute lifesaver for me and I was with the company for 17 year's in total.

Last year the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) prepared guidance for public health authorities in EU/EEA countries and the UK on the ventilation of indoor spaces in the context of COVID-19xxi. This guidance is targeted at public health professionals and serves as a basis for REHVA to provide technical and system-specific guidance for HVAC professionals. The main evidence and conclusions by ECDC can be summarised as follows:
• The transmission of COVID-19 commonly occurs in enclosed indoor spaces.
• There is currently no evidence of human infection with SARS-CoV-2 caused by infectious aerosols distributed through the ventilation system air ducts. The risk is rated as very low.
• Well-maintained HVAC systems, including air-conditioning units, securely filter large droplets containing SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 aerosols (small droplets and droplet nuclei) can spread through HVAC systems within a building or vehicle and stand-alone air-conditioning units if the air is recirculated.
• The airflow generated by air-conditioning units may facilitate the spread of droplets excreted by infected people longer distances within indoor spaces.
• HVAC systems may have a complementary role in decreasing transmission in indoor spaces by increasing the rate of air change, decreasing the recirculation of air, and increasing the use of outdoor air.
• Building administrators should maintain heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems according to the manufacturer's current instructions, particularly concerning the cleaning and changing of filters. There is no benefit or need for additional maintenance cycles in connection with COVID-19.
• Energy-saving settings, such as demand-controlled ventilation controlled by a timer or CO2 detectors, should be avoided.
• Consideration should be given to extending the operating times of HVAC systems before and after the regular period.
• Direct air flow should be diverted away from groups of individuals to avoid pathogen dispersion from infected subjects and transmission.
• Organizers and administrators responsible for gatherings and critical infrastructure settings should explore options with the assistance of their technical/maintenance teams to avoid the use of air recirculation as much as possible. They should consider reviewing their procedures for the use of recirculation in HVAC systems based on information provided by the manufacturer or, if unavailable, seeking advice from the manufacturer.
• The minimum number of air exchanges per hour, following the applicable building regulations, should be ensured at all times. Increasing the number of air exchanges per hour will reduce the risk of transmission in closed spaces. This may be achieved by natural or mechanical ventilation, depending on the setting.

In the guidelinexxxiv ECDC stresses the importance of ventilation by concluding that ensuring the implementation of optimal ventilation adapted to each particular indoor setting could be critical in preventing outbreaks and transmission amplification events. In the guideline the minimum number of air exchanges per hour, in accordance with the applicable building regulations, is required to be ensured at all times. It is stated that increasing the number of air exchanges per hour, by means of natural or mechanical ventilation, will reduce the risk of transmission in closed spaces. Ventilation has seen as a major method because there is no evidence on the effectiveness of methods for decontamination of air (e.g. UV light irradiation) for use in community settings.

Hi Steph,

I work for Northpower and I'd be keen to find out more about the vehicle incident data that you have to classify? I've talked to the key person for the ISNet pre-qualification of contractors and she has indicated that we don't request any vehicle incident data so, (if you don't mind!) would you please contact her or myself so we can better understand your issue? I'll PM you the details.

Many thanks, Julie

Hi Gina, I don't have the Standard to hand but attached is an article by NZ Safety that indicates that both AS/NZS 4602 and AS/NZS 1906.4 has criteria for minimum performance, so you may need to invest in a copy.

Hope it helps! Julie