CBT training and Covid-19

CBT training and Covid-19. We take what we do seriously, keeping you and our staff safe throughout the process of learning to ride is paramount. Before we considered offering CBT courses to key workers and then everyone, we carried out a full risk assessment. Read on to see how we looked at every process and adapted what we do to keep you safe!

Risk assessment Overview

The layout of the shop was considered to be large enough and the layout suitable for us to safely conduct socially distanced training. The first consideration was to the ratio and It was assessed to be safe to conduct training at 2:1 maximum and NOT at 4:1 and maintain social distancing.

The training site is approved for 10 students and with the right systems in place it was assessed that we could operate 4 instructors with their 2 students and still maintain social distancing at all times and safely conduct training.

With the above consideration the training rooms were divided into 4 separate training zones and would be signed and clearly marked “Please stay seated in your allocated area 1” (2,3 and 4). Each area to have only 3 chairs, arranged so face to face contact can be avoided. There is adequate space in-between each training area to maintain social distancing of each group of 3 and the rear door is to be left open to allow air-flow / ventilation through the building.

With the above basic risk assessment concluding that it was initially safe to consider training, a step by step approach and more detailed risk assessment was then undertaken. As a result of a full risk assessment of each step and process the following protocols are to be adopted for all and any course that Advantage Wimbledon offer or operate until normal service can be resumed. It is anticipated that the new system may become the “new” normal.

Customer Course Booking, Admin / Shop

The retail side of our business is CLOSED. We cannot sell any stock to members of the public. The front door should be kept locked to restrict access; entry is by Invitation only to enforce 1 person at a time.

Staff should wear PPE gloves and face coverings whilst dealing with all customers.

Basic open face helmets (Sphere) and gloves (nitro) are available for students to buy at a reduced cost of £30, before training only. This is to encourage the prevision of “own” equipment where possible. Any stock touched by a customer but not bought must be set aside and untouched for 5 days. Staff should place potential purchases on a chair for the customer to try, social distance should be carefully maintained throughout the process.

Bookings are best processed over the phone or on-line. Face coverings should be worn at any time a customer is in the shop, only ONE customer is allowed in the shop at ANY time.

Payments should be made / taken using our “virtual terminal” that is through the computer, over the phone. Persons paying whilst in the shop should also make payment through our “virtual terminal” (computer) this will require them to read out their card details so we can input them into the computer. (make sure that no one else is in the building to hear this process)

Cash payments should be discouraged. If cash has to be taken then the customer should count out payment leaving the cash on a chair. Change can be given by also leaving on a chair. Customers and staff should step away from the chair in between the process. Cash should be handled wearing PPE gloves and placed in an envelope, dated, locked in the cash tin and not touched for 5 days.

The table top PDQ machine must not be used unless it is for “contactless” payments of less than £30

Advice to students at time of booking

• Provide own equipment if possible, read the information on the conformation letter.
• Wear a face covering.
• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring own ear-piece, 3.5 mm jack if possible
• Explain our protocols and systems to put students at ease and give confidence that we have taken all reasonable precautions.
• Not to attend if they have any symptoms of Virus.

Customer flow and Induction

• A one-way system was to be instigated with customers entering the front of the shop and exiting the rear of the shop to avoid risk of breaching social distancing.
• Only one student permitted in the front of the shop at any one time, a sign to be fixed to the front door to make this clear.
• Only one member of staff to be in the office at any one time. Magdalena and Michael to restrict activities to their own work station.
• Chairs to be set out to keep customers further away from the desk to maintain social distancing throughout the process of booking in. Latex gloves, attendance sheet and pens set out on individual chairs for each customer due to attend.
• Latex gloves to be worn immediately upon entrance to the building, then the customer signs in. Face coverings also provided for customer and to be worn by office staff. The stationary to be dealt with once all students have been processed.
• Booking in staff must stand away from and remain behind the desk and wear a face covering and gloves at all times.
• Students must hold up their driving license for Identification.
• The student is then given the building and course induction before being escorted to their training area and allocated to a seat and Instructor.

Customer building and course induction

Once the student has been “gloved up” and has signed the capture sheet the Building and course induction should be given and the student given the following information.

• Customers not using own helmets and gloves should be advised on the benefit of purchasing their own at £30 for helmet and £30 for gloves (normally £45)
• There is a one-way system in the premises, students must only enter via the front door and exit through the rear door to avoid coming face to face with other people and breaching social distancing.
• The toilet and hand washing facility are downstairs. Only 1 student is allowed downstairs as the stairway is not safe to pass on and to maintain social distancing. Hand washing is advised and fresh gloves will be provided.
• Should the fire alarm ring the first choice of exit should be the rear door unless this is impractical or the front door if nearest.
• Students will be allocated a training area and seat, please remain seated, their Instructor will be there to meet them and commence the training.
• Please maintain a social distance of at least 6ft / 2m between other students and your instructor at all times.

Meeting the Instructor / course starting

• Once the student has been handed over to the instructor the course has started and responsibility of control for that student is now with their allocated instructor.
• The first student will be allocated a seat in “area 1” the first instructor available will immediately commence the protocol of getting the student kitted up.
• Any of our supplied equipment that is “touched” by the customer but not used must be treated as now contaminated and dealt with following our normal end of course “used PPE protocols” and stored in “area 51 PPE recovery”
• The student should be taken outside and an eye sight test conducted. A reminder explanation of social distancing should be given and the student should wait outside (weather permitting) until the second student has arrived and the course continued.
• The second student to arrive will be allocated training area 1, the same instructor and the above process completed. Both students and instructor should be now away from the building and follow the CBT structure with the use of radios at all times.

If more courses are running (max 4) the above process should be followed. This should mean that, weather permitting we can keep the number of students and courses in the whole building at any one time to an absolute minimum (ideally 1 group of 3 max). The above measures and natural time and order of the booking in and kitting up process should maintain a steady flow and minimum occupancy.

We have a maximum of 4 training areas in the premises, should demand arise.

Running the course

The CBT course should be conducted following the normal procedures but social distancing maintained throughout. Radios should be used during ALL elements to help facilitate this. Any student that takes repeated warnings of failure to maintain social distancing should have their training terminated in the Interest of public health and safety. This warning is clearly stated in our new conformation letter.

• Instructors should remind students to maintain social distancing when walking to and from the training site.
• Once at the site the instructors should add into their normal site safety briefing a reminder on social distancing.
• Hand washing / sanitising should be encouraged and used at natural points in the course and Instructors should carry spare PPE gloves and hand sanitiser.

Course Ending

At the end of the road training sessions the instructor should use the anti-viral spray (under the seats of all bikes) on all contact points of the machine used including keys. Students should be brought back into the shop, via the front door, one at a time. Students should keep PPE gloves on until they have left the building.

• Hi-Viz jackets and any loan bike gloves to be zipped up and put in the bin marked “Soiled Hi-Viz and bike gloves” these will be taken away and washed daily.
• Used helmets to be sprayed liberally internally with the Dettol anti-viral laundry spray. The date last used should be written in “wipe-able” pen on the shell and the external shell sprayed with Anti-Viral spray. The helmet should then be placed in “area 51 PPE recovery” for a minimum of 3 days / 72 hours before a final Anti-Viral cleaning, removal of the “last used date” and made available for re-use. 5 days should be possible with current stock levels
• Jackets and trousers PPE should follow the same process as helmets. be sprayed with Dettol Anti-Viral spray and also dated with paper on the coat hook and places on the clothing rack in “area 51 PPE recovery, again for a minimum of 3 days / 72 hours before a final re-treatment and returned to stock for re-use. 5 days should be possible with current stock level.

Signing Certificates / Storing Bikes.

• Students should leave their license on the surface that separates training area 1 and 3 and remain seated until invited to sign their certificate.
• The instructor should complete the certificate at the normal desk. The certificate book then placed on the surface next to the license, the license Number can then be added. The student can then be invited to sign whilst the Instructor steps back to the desk. Once the student has signed and returned to their seat the Instructor can tear out the certificate and leave on the surface for the student to collect before leaving via the rear door.
• The instructor should sanitise the desk once finished with.
• There is a bin next to the rear door for students to dispose of their PPE gloves.
• The second student can then be processed in the same way.
• The bikes should sprayed again with Anti-Viral spray before storing at night and first thing in the morning before first use.

Regular premises sanitation

To minimise any potential surface spread or build up in the premises of Virus there are 7 “Surface Sanitation Stations” These are located at: Office, Toilet, Training areas 1-4 and Instructor desk. Each station should always have: Kitchen towel, Anti-Viral surface cleaner and Dettol Anti-Viral “spray and wear”

There are 4 Bins located at: Office, Hand washing station, Training area 1 and Next to the rear door identified as “Soiled PPE, rubber gloves, face coverings and general waste”.

Sanitation Schedule and Routine

All instructors should wash hands upon arrival and then wear PPE gloves and face coverings throughout. Office staff must wash hands on arrival, wear PPE gloves before sanitising their work station and wear face coverings and gloves when dealing with the public.

On top of our normal day to day cleaning routine the premises must have all: Surfaces, Handles, Hand rails, seats and obvious points of contact sanitised by using the nearest “Surface Sanitation Station”. The number and location of these stations should make the process simple and serve as a constant reminder of the Importance to carry out regular sanitation.

Gloves and face coverings must be worn throughout sanitation and hands washed at completion. The extra sanitation should be carried out by the office staff and the routine should be:

• Upon arrival
• Once all AM students and staff have left the premises (about 07.45)
• Once AM course has ended and before PM customers arrive.
• Once all PM students and staff have left the premises (about 12.45)
• Once all students and staff have left the premises at the end of the day

The premises should be sanitised from front to back. This process should take no longer than 10 minutes, the process should be completed without interruption (answering phone) to make sure it has been systematically completed. The points of contact to be sanitised by area are:

Office

• Front door interior and exterior handles, door and frame.
• Clip boards and stationery.
• Work station, keyboard, mouse, desk and seat.

Area 4

• Handrail on stairs
• Surfaces and seats
• Door handles

Hand washing and toilet

• Door handles, doors and frames both sides
• Surfaces
• Taps and sink
• Toilet seat and flush

Area 1 and 2

• Surfaces, tables, instructor desk and seats.

Area 3

• Surfaces and seats
• Door handles, doors and frames interior and exterior

Additional Information / Resources

• Government web sites including DVSA.
• DVSA news updates and circulars.
• Daily Government briefings.
• MCITA “ATB Best Practice Guidelines”