Under Stage 4 restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne, you are only permitted to conduct on-site operations if you operate permitted work premises for a “permitted industry”.
All public and private health services have been determined by the Victorian Government as a permitted industry, including hospitals, primary health services, mental health services and all AHPRA registered health workers.
As such, all Metropolitan Melbourne public and private health services must have a “COVID Safe Plan” (Plan) implemented in order to be permitted to continue to operate.
The exception to this is where you engage less than 5 workers on site, in which case a Plan is optional. A Plan is also optional for Regional Victoria, however we strongly recommend that if you are a permitted industry, you have a Plan on foot regardless of how many workers are on site and regardless of where you conduct your activities.
Business Victoria in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services have released guidelines on what a Plan should include.
These must be documented, communicated to your workers and include details concerning:
- your actions to help prevent the introduction of COVID-19 in your workplace;
- the level of face-covering or PPE required for your workforce;
- how you will prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your workplace; and
- how you will meet all of the requirements set out by the Victorian Government.
Additionally, the Plan should contain an acknowledgement that you understand your obligations in operating permitted work premises.
We also recommend that as a matter of best practice, you maintain a Workplace Attendance Register which records all people coming and going at your worksite. The Workplace Attendance Register template released by Business Victoria can be accessed here and is freely available for general use.
If you require our assistance in preparing or reviewing your Plan, please contact Josh Flett for a preliminary discussion.
Disclaimer: This article was outsourced. DPM communications are intended to provide commentary and general information. They should not be relied on as legal or financial advice. Formal legal advice should be sought in particular transactions or on matters of interest arising from this communication.
