Activities concerned by this safety charter
Safety is paramount at Keolis, and so all our transport activities are concerned by this safety charter:
- Specialized regular services (school transport, company shuttles, etc.)
- Occasional transport
- Transportation by taxi, car and minibus rental with driver
- Regular public transport
We can provide any transport in Belgium and even abroad, by coach or taxi, within the limits of the Belgian governmental measures and the countries crossed.
This charter is a standard, a minimum which we guarantee to our employees, customers and passengers in order to enable them to travel in complete safety. Additional measures can also be put in place depending on the client.
Social distancing measures
Keolis is committed to complying with social distancing measures adapted to the pandemic situation. This means in practise:
- A limitation of the vehicle load
- On-board signage (posters, barrier tape) to orient passengers
- Organization when getting in and out of the vehicle to avoid proximity between passengers and the driver
- Limitation of the vehicle load
In this period of social distancing, the load capacity of our vehicles is adapted to avoid any contamination between passengers or with the driver. The maximum load has therefore been revised according to the type of vehicle.
- Distance upon boarding and alighting
General rules
In order to allow sufficient distance between passengers and driver when boarding and alighting, some rules depend on the number of doors:
- If the vehicle has 2 doors, boarding and alighting is always via the rear door. To this end, the following message will be displayed on the front door: "Use only the back door of the bus."
- If there is only one door, the driver will get off the bus and let the passengers get on or off before getting back on the bus him/herself
The social distancing must be kept to a maximum when passengers are travelling. Thus, only passengers getting on or off the bus should be standing. If there are several passengers in the same place, a distance of 1.50 metres must be observed between each one.
For luggage
If there is luggage to be collected, the driver goes out first to unload it and place it side by side on the ground.
Passengers take turns getting up and if applicable taking their belongings from the luggage racks above the seats.
They maintain a safe distance of 1.5 metres when exiting the vehicle.
They line up to collect their luggage, and they approach it one by one after the driver has given their permission.
No personal belongings, masks or gloves may remain in the vehicle.
Pre-defined seats
Wherever possible for occasional and tourist transport, a seating arrangement will be agreed in advance with the organiser or group leader. For example, passengers from the same "social bubble" will be grouped together.
For people with reduced mobility
When boarding a person with reduced mobility, the driver is the only one who may handle the wheelchairs, the securing of the wheelchairs and the door handles. If the passenger does not need their wheelchair on board but assistance is nevertheless required, the driver is the only one who may assist them. They will be equipped with gloves.
As a reminder, the driver and passenger must wear a mask.
- Moving about on board
When boarding the vehicle, we recommend that each passenger gets into the seat furthest away from the door, so that the vehicle fills up in an orderly manner, avoiding any proximity to already-seated passengers .
We would also like to remind you that moving about on board a coach is prohibited during the journey. It is very important to respect this rule in order to maintain social distancing during the journey.
Cleaning measures
The protection of the passengers and the driver is also ensured by the regular disinfection of the vehicles. To this end, suitable cleaning equipment is available to each driver and a cleaning procedure has been put in place.
Protection and disinfection equipment
Each driver is provided with protective and cleaning equipment which they must use according to the safety procedures communicated internally. This is their equipment:
- Disinfectant cleaners
- Disinfectant gel for washing hands before each service and after each contact with passengers or passenger equipment.
- Protective masks (disposable or reusable).
- Gloves are worn by the driver, especially when loading and unloading luggage and when handling wheelchairs.
Cleaning procedure
The vehicle disinfection procedure does not change the fact that each vehicle is cleaned according to the usual guidelines. This procedure concerns additional cleaning to disinfect areas which are regularly touched by the driver or passengers.
- Rules
A mask and protective gloves must be put on by the driver before any cleaning of the passenger area.
The vehicle is first cleaned according to the usual cleaning rules.
At least once a day, all the fittings listed below are also disinfected with a suitable product, supplied to the driver by the company.
In the driver's area
In the driver's cab, the following items are disinfected daily and between each driver.
- Steering wheel
- Handrails
- Control buttons
- Dashboard
- All hard surfaces
In the passenger area
The following fittings of the passenger area are disinfected daily:
- Bars and handrails
- Seat handles and armrests
- Door handles
- Stop and door button
- Belt fasteners
- And all other hard surfaces
Application of preventive gestures
Whether it concerns the driver, the passengers, the management staff or the conveyors, on board, preventive gestures are expected from everyone.
Mask
Every person aged 12 and over must wear a protective mask in all our vehicles. The driver also wears a mask for the full duration of their entire passenger service.
For the safety of everyone on board our vehicles, access will be denied if a person aged 12 or older is not wearing a mask.
Antibacterial gel
The driver is equipped with antibacterial gel which they must use before and after contact with passenger luggage, wheelchairs or a passenger.
Gloves
The driver is equipped with gloves which they will use in the following situations, among others:
- when loading / unloading luggage
- for assistance to a person with reduced mobility
- for the cleaning of their vehicle
- for any other physical interaction with a potentially contaminated element
They also disinfect their hands immediately after using the gloves.
Other actions expected from the driver and passengers
Paper tissues
The use of tissues is recommended. After use, it should be disposed of in a closed rubbish bin.
Coughing and sneezing
When coughing or sneezing without a tissue at hand, you should sneeze or cough into the crease of the elbow.
Adapted onboard communication
The customer has been informed of the safety measures at Keolis. However, in addition and unless the customer has provided their own signage, the information is also communicated on and/or in the vehicle.
- If the vehicle has 2 doors, the following message is displayed on the front door : "Use only the back door of the bus."
- On the door used by passengers, a message reminds them that "masks are mandatory on board for children aged 12 and over. “
- Only a limited number of seats may be occupied, for which purpose stickers or signs making seating off-limits shall be affixed to the seats concerned.
- A sign on the door of the coach toilets reads "The toilets are closed for safety reasons. Breaks can be taken at the request of passengers”.