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These principles have been approved by the National Cabinet as part of it’s three step “roadmap” plan to re-open business doors and transition workers back to the workplace. The first step in the plan is to ensure workplaces become what the Government called “COVIDSafe workplaces” and each future step is subject to social distancing arrangements and “COVID Safe plans” being developed and implemented in workplaces.
All workplaces, regardless of whether they have been shut down, forced to close, continued as normal or have had staff working from home, will need to develop a plan to manage and implement control measures to manage the risks of COVID-19 and ensure that any future outbreaks are controlled and spread potential minimised.
The 10 National COVID-19 safe workplace principles will underpin the development of further nationally consistent, industry-specific WHS guidance on COVID-19. Much work has already been undertaken to produce this guidance, with Master Builders having input to ensure construction materials is practical and effective. The 10 principles are:
The COVID Safe plans will mean business are to put in place a system to:
For many building and construction industry workplaces, there is unlikely to be a material change as they have likely already implemented measures to continue operations. Those measures should be reviewed given potential heightened interactions as other businesses they deal with reopen.
Regardless, each plan should assess the unique risks posed to workers in their own business and work environment, and those workers at greatest risk due to their duties or being in a vulnerable worker category. They should clearly identify how the risks of exposure of workers to COVID-19 arise, their likelihood, the control measures for dealing with those risks, and how the measures will be reviewed and adjusted either periodically or by a trigger event.
While Safe Work Australia continues to develop nationally consistent work health and safety guidance on COVID-19, we encourage you to consult the raft of very useful resources for business to assist them in ensuring they’ve done everything necessary to protect workers and minimise the risk of future problems.
Regardless of whether you are getting back to business, or have remained in business, everyone has a role to play stop the COVID-19 spread and facilitate the easing of restrictions.