When multiple employees share fleet vehicles, hygiene becomes a workplace health consideration. Steering wheels, gear knobs, door handles, and seat belts harbour bacteria and allergens that transfer between drivers. In the post-pandemic workplace, employees are more aware of — and concerned about — shared surface hygiene than ever.
For fleet managers, vehicle hygiene is not just a comfort issue. It is part of your organisation’s duty of care to employees.
The Hygiene Reality of Shared Vehicles
Research has consistently shown that vehicle interiors harbour significant bacterial contamination:
- Steering wheels can carry more bacteria per square centimetre than a public toilet seat
- Gear knobs and handbrakes accumulate contamination from every driver
- Air conditioning systems circulate bacteria, mould spores, and allergens through ductwork
- Seat fabrics absorb moisture, skin cells, and organic matter that supports bacterial growth
In a shared pool car used by multiple drivers daily, these contamination levels accumulate rapidly.
The Employer’s Duty of Care
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees. This extends to the working environment — including vehicles provided for work purposes.
Providing shared vehicles that are visibly dirty or malodorous is, at minimum, a welfare concern. Providing vehicles with significant bacterial contamination could, in certain circumstances, constitute a failure of duty of care.
How Professional Fleet Care Addresses Hygiene
Regular Interior Valeting
Professional interior valeting goes beyond a quick vacuum. MMCC’s fleet valeting service includes:
- Sanitisation of high-touch surfaces (steering wheel, controls, door handles)
- Deep extraction cleaning of seats and carpets
- Air vent cleaning and decontamination
- Dashboard and console cleaning with antibacterial products
Ozone Sanitisation
For a deeper level of hygiene, ozone treatment sanitises the entire vehicle cabin — including areas that manual cleaning cannot reach:
- Air conditioning ductwork: Ozone penetrates the HVAC system, destroying bacteria and mould in the ducts
- Seat foam and padding: Ozone reaches deep into upholstery that surface cleaning cannot access
- Headliner and trim: Every surface in the cabin is treated, not just those that can be wiped
Ozone treatment is recommended quarterly for shared pool cars, or on-demand when specific hygiene concerns arise.
25-Point Inspection
Each valet includes a condition check that notes interior hygiene issues — stains, damage, or contamination that may require additional attention. This proactive identification prevents hygiene problems from going unnoticed.
Supporting Employee Wellbeing
Clean, hygienic fleet vehicles contribute to employee satisfaction in ways that go beyond aesthetics:
- Reduced sick days: Cleaner vehicles mean fewer opportunities for pathogen transfer between employees
- Improved comfort: Employees are more productive when their working environment (including their vehicle) is clean and pleasant
- Demonstrated care: Regular fleet valeting shows employees that the organisation takes their wellbeing seriously
MMCC Fleet Hygiene Programme
MMCC delivers comprehensive fleet hygiene through scheduled waterless valeting combined with periodic ozone sanitisation. Our service covers interior sanitisation, deep cleaning, and odour elimination — maintaining fleet vehicles to a hygiene standard that supports your duty of care.