Bulletin
Following from yesterday’s communication
Overnight the South Australian Government published a new Direction in relation to the Stay at Home requirements for South Australians. Specific details can be found by clicking this link
Car Wash Businesses Must be Closed
Under Clause 5 (1) of the directions it appears clear that car wash businesses must be closed until 12.01 am 25 November 2020 – “Community activities including business, professional, educational, academic and government activities must stop operation unless it is carried out in line with this direction or does not involve leaving the home”.
Attending A Site to Close Down and Maintain
Provisions in the Directions have been made under Clause 3 (s) allowing car wash operators (and staff) to attend their site to close down the facility and attend to any matter that may cause damage to the site – “A factory or facility that is not able to be shut down without causing damage to plant and equipment, but only those operations that are necessary in order to prevent that damage”
Whilst not a requirement of the Directions, ACWA recommends:
- Any staff member attending the site should be provided with a letter stating that they are an essential worker under Clause 3 (s) of the Stay at Home Directions and are attending the site to undertake work that would otherwise cause damage to plant and equipment. A letter for this purpose is attached.
- A COVID Safe Plan (when site closed) is completed. See attached.
Note: Car wash COVID documentation is available to members by logging into the ACWA Website https://acwa.net.au/members/ and using the left hand navigation by clicking on COVID 19 Member Resources.
Next Steps
There is current media speculation that restrictions on business may continue after 24 November 2020. ACWA will be contacting relevant South Australian Government Ministers and departments outlining car washing’s case for reopening at the earliest possible opportunity. We will be highlighting the following points:
- Car washing is entirely consistent with Health Authority reminders to reduce the spread of the COVID virus by frequently washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.
- Essential service vehicles including medical and food transport vehicles must be cleaned and commercial car washes provide this service.
- Car Washing contributes to community safety and vehicle washing removes germs from touched vehicle surfaces, including door handles and car boots, for example.
- Car washing contributes little to increasing population movement. Whilst a vital product purchase for many, it is not a shopping experience, and data shows us it is rarely something an individual specifically leaves home to purchase.
- Commercial Car Washing is a COVID Safe Industry – washing cars at a commercial car wash is an extremely low-risk, particularly the automated drive-through services where drivers do not have to leave their vehicles.
- The structure and layout of most self-serve and hand car wash naturally enforce the concept of social distancing.
- Soap and detergent appear to be the natural enemies of the COVID-19 virus, and these products are the very products upon which a car wash is built.
- Commercial car washes operate in the lowest possible risk environment – outdoors.
- Car washing is a community necessity with most car maintenance experts recommend washing cars once a week to prevent contaminants from damaging the car’s paint and finish.
- All ACWA members have received a specialist prepared COVID SAFE PLAN (when site is open).
Please keep yourself safe at this time and ACWA will keep you informed of our progress.
