Safe vending checklist
/We’ve learned a lot in the 2 years since the COVID-19 pandemic started. As the operator of a vending machine, it’s important to stay on top of practices that will increase safety both for you and customers that use your Vive Vending Centre.
The Public Health Agency of Canada tells us “COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols (smaller droplets)…” (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks.html) It also spreads by touching a surface that has the virus on it, and then using unwashed hands to touch the mouth, nose or eyes.
image from pixabay
Other than vaccination, the main preventative measures against COVID-19 that we can carry out day-to-day are to:
Decrease our interactions with other people.
Make contact with surfaces safer.
Here’s a review of how you can follow through with these COVID-19 safety measures when you operate a vending machine.
Limit interactions with people outside of your bubble
Vive Healthy Vending Centres are equipped with technology that allows you to monitor your sales and inventory from home or anywhere else you like on a computer or a smart phone. Before you go to locations, you’ll know exactly what snacks and drinks you need to restock. This allows you to make a shorter, more efficient visit to each location. Since you’re there for less time, you’ll encounter fewer people outside of your bubble.
Similarly, if you visit a cash and carry outlet to purchase snacks and drinks, you’ll know exactly what you need. Once you’re at the outlet, you’ll be able to collect and pay for the items you need efficiently. You’ll avoid unnecessary return trips. Again, you’ll be there for less time and come face to face with fewer people.
Customers that use vending machines are choosing a very safe unattended retail experience. There is no cashier, no manager, no jostling with other people. They’re not isolating at home, they get a treat they likely don’t normally have, and all of it happens without interacting with anyone outside of their bubble.
image from pixabay
Stay home when sick
It’s simple. It might be you just have a cold or flu, it might be you’ve contracted COVID-19, the wisest choice is to stay home. You don’t want to take a chance you might infect someone else. To read more about the guidelines in your area, please see the paragraph below beginning “Each province has their own guidelines …”
Wear a mask
The Canadian government site has a thorough section on mask use here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html#a8
For your own safety
For the safety of others
For the sake of your business image
image from pixabay
Use social distancing
As mentioned above, since you can check your sales and inventory remotely from the safety of your home, you can arrive at locations prepared with the right products in the right quantities to restock your machine. You’ll only do necessary trips to your vehicle. Walking in, out and through buildings, keep the 2-metre social distance in mind. If you’re in a hallway, for example, just step aside to allow others to pass. Duck into doorways or other hallways to maintain that social distance. Make way for others as a matter of course. Especially if they’re carrying something.
Vending is the only form of food service that consistently fulfills social distancing standards, because just one person uses the machine at a time. If it’s busy, the people can follow social distancing norms and leave 2 metres between themselves as they line up.
Practice hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is a habit people have already formed. Vive Vending Centres make it easy to keep this good habit, with the first machine-mounted hand sanitizing stations on vending machines in Canada.
When you’re on location and you switch tasks from machine maintenance to restocking, for example, always wash your hands first. This is for your own safety. It’s also important to maintain strict standards for the safety of your customers.
An operator who is seen carrying out safe practices is held in higher esteem, and gets more customers, than one who is perceived as less than careful.
Clean and disinfect surfaces often
Keep your Vive Centre clean. A sparkling vending machine attracts more customers. It also runs better. Remember to remove dust from under the unit and from between the unit and the wall. If you can’t reach the top of the machine to dust it, bring a portable step stool to help you.
Keep the hand sanitizing station looking tidy, and fill up the canister each time you visit.
To disinfect the glass on the door, you can use a commercial window-washing spray. To disinfect the rest of the machine, use a solution of 70% alcohol—on the keypad and near openings, this should be used very sparingly. Remember to never spray liquid directly onto your machine, always dampen a lint-free cloth with the solution first, and then wipe the surface of the machine.
Conclusion
Each province has their own guidelines and rules for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It’s a good idea to skim the guidelines for the province you live in with your vending business in mind. You may discover a way you can enhance the public perception of the safety of your vending machines.
Image from Pixabay
Here is a list for all provinces where you can find this information. You can also find this material for Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. It’s a good idea to check back to your province’s website regularly. As you probably already know, these rules can change.
Alberta: https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-public-health-actions.aspx
British Columbia: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions#pho-order
Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/prs/orders/index.html
New Brunswick: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/covid-19.html
Newfoundland Labrador: https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/updates-resources/public-health-orders/
Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/
Ontario: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-measures
Prince Edward Island: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/covid19
Quebec: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus
We hope this post contains helpful information on safety that you can use when operating your vending machine route during the COVID-19 pandemic. But please remember, we aren’t epidemiologists, public health experts, or law-makers. Please consult these experts as necessary.