COVID-19 Safe Plan
INTRODUCTION
This is COVID- 19 Safe Work has been developed in line with the Australian Government guidelines.
This company will adhere to the Business and Industry COVIDSafe Principles:
Ensure physical distancing (1.5 metres)
Wear a face mask
Practice good hygiene
Keep good records and act quickly if staff become unwell
Avoid interactions in close spaces
Create workforce bubbles
Implemented Risk Mitigation Actions
1A) HYGIENE - GUIDANCE
Provide and promote hand sanitiser stations for use on entering building and other locations in the worksite and ensure adequate supplies of hand soap and paper towels are available for staff.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
All employees have been provided with instruction regarding good hygiene, and hand washing techniques
All employees must comply to Australian Government Restrictions
All workers will be advised that if they are sick, they MUST stay away from others. Workers will also be advised of the practise of good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
If unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 metres from people).
1B) HYGIENE - GUIDANCE
Where possible: enhance airflow by opening windows and adjusting air conditioning.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Only 1 employee is allowed to travel in the company vehicle and that windows must be down where possible to allow ventilation
If 2 people are required to travel together, the passenger will sit in the rear seats diagonally across from the driver. Windows are to be left open to allow good ventilation. Both occupants are to wear disposable face masks
Ventilation will be set to blow air through the vehicle (not on recirculation)
Vehicle touch points must be wiped down using antibacterial wipes before the start of the day also at the end of the day
If working in an indoor space wherever possible and or practicable, windows and or doors will be left open.
Opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more ventilation where possible
1C) HYGIENE - GUIDANCE
In areas or workplaces where it is required, ensure all staff wear a face covering and/or required PPE, unless a lawful exception applies. Ensure adequate face coverings and PPE are available to staff that do not have their own.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Suitable PPE is supplied to all employees and includes the following recommended COVID-19 PPE:
▪ Face Masks,
▪ Hand Sanitisers
▪ Antibacterial wipes
Face masks supplied on all sites –check supply regularly
Ensure staff trained in how to correctly wear face masks
1D) HYGIENE - GUIDANCE
Provide training to staff on the correct use and disposal of face coverings and PPE, and on good hygiene practices and slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Covid Policy and procedures supplied to all works/builders and sub-contractors with face masks instructions
Safe Work Method Statement updated to include Covid as risk/task
All Employees have been supplied the training and information from the following government websites or WHO (World Health Organisation) sites about the critical topics:
- Social Distancing
- Cough / Sneeze
- Hand hygiene
1E) HYGIENE - GUIDANCE
Replace high-touch communal items with alternatives.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Use methods to physically separate employees in all areas of the building, including work areas and other areas such as meeting rooms, lunch rooms, parking lots, entrance and exit areas, and locker rooms.
Signs, tape marks, coloured tape on the floor, placed 2 metres apart, to show where to stand
Replaced high-touch communal items, such as coffee pots and snacks, with alternatives pre-packaged, single-serving items.
Encourage staff to bring their own water to minimize use and touching of water fountains or consider installing no-touch activation methods for water fountains.
2A) CLEANING - GUIDANCE
Increase environmental cleaning (including between changes of staff), ensure high touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected regularly (at least twice daily).
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Regularly clean facilities, shared spaces and provide additional cleaning supplies
Company vehicles are cleaned at the beginning and at the end of the day.
Hand sanitiser and Antibacterial wipes are provided for vehicles
High touch surfaces are cleaned multiple times per day.
2B) CLEANING - GUIDANCE
Ensure adequate supplies of cleaning products, including detergent and disinfectant.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Check supply regularly; Ensure supply is up to date
Supplies purchased locally and can be supplied from Head Office if required
2C) CLEANING - GUIDANCE
Ensure that all staff that can work from home does work from home.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Majority of office staff are now working from home and will be monitored
Staff who work in the office will be trained how to work to correct requirements
3A) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Establish a system that ensures staff members are not working across multiple settings/work sites.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Employee Site Works Record left on site for daily recording of employees
All records maintained as required
Wherever practicable and possible specific sites and or regions have been nominated to be serviced by an individual technician and thereby minimise crossover of employees
3B) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Establish a system to screen employees and visitors before accessing the workplace. Employers cannot require employees to work when unwell.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Toolbox talk on COVID-19 - POLICY
Workers cannot work if they are unwell If a worker is unwell, we will send them home and direct them to be tested.
Workers must stay home until they have their result.
Employees who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 to notify their supervisor and stay home.
All employees have been instructed to not come to work if feeling unwell and to get a COVID-19 test before returning to work.
If a household member is sick or waiting on test results the employee has been instructed to not attend work
3C) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Configure communal work areas so that there is no more than one worker per four square meters of enclosed workspace, and employees are spaced at least 1.5m apart. Also consider installing screens or barriers.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Posting signs in parking areas and entrances that ask guests and visitors to phone from their cars to inform the administration when they reach the office/site
All employees are instructed not to use communal areas within the workplace and on customer sites.
3D) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Use floor markings to provide minimum physical distancing guides between workstations or areas that are likely to create a congregation of staff.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
All employees have information explaining social distancing and the need to remain 1.5 metres away from other people
Floor marking installed in office areas & on site where practicable
3E) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Modify the alignment of workstations so that employees do not face one another.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Limited staff on site and office
Majority of office staff working from home
Information has been provided for all employees regarding Social Distancing
Information is being reinforced through regular on line team forums
Employees are instructed not to use communal areas within the workplace
3F) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Minimise the build-up of employees waiting to enter and exit the workplace.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Limited staff on site and office
Majority of office staff working from home
3G) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Provide training to staff on physical distancing expectations while working and socialising (e.g. during lunchbreaks).
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Toolbox talks on physical distancing expectations while working and socialising
Information has been provided for all employees regarding Social Distancing
Information is being reinforced through regular on line team forums
3H) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Review delivery protocols to limit contact between delivery drivers and staff.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Posting signs in parking areas and entrances that ask guests and visitors to phone from their cars to inform the administration/foreman when they reach the office/site
Systems have been implemented to ensure that there is no contact between delivery drivers/deliveries and employees
On completion of work the business has implemented a non-contact sign off of work by the customer
3I) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Review and update work rosters and timetables where possible to ensure temporal as well as physical distancing.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
All work rosters have been designed to mitigate risk of exposure to COVID-19
Employee Site Works Record left on site for daily recording of employees
3J) PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND LIMITING WORKPLACE ATTENDANCE - GUIDANCE
Where relevant, ensure clear and visible signage in areas that are open to the general public that specifies maximum occupancy of that space, as determined by the ‘four square metre’ rule.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Signage installed on sites and office
All staff will be separated in the office by a space of no less than 4 metres
All employees will sign off to and follow recommendations of the host business while at their site
4A) RECORD KEEPING - GUIDANCE
Establish a process to record the attendance of customers, clients, visitors and workplace inspectors, delivery drivers. This information will assist employers to identify close contacts.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Employee Site Works Record left on site for daily recording of employees
Deliveries to site recorded
All employees’ activities during the day are recorded which included dates and times at any location.
4B) RECORD KEEPING - GUIDANCE
Provide guidance to staff on the effective use of the workplace OHS reporting system (where available).
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
All employees have been instructed and provided with tools to report any OHS incidents and near misses.
All employees have been supplied information regarding hand washing, sanitising, use of face masks, social distancing and cleaning of vehicles
Regular OHS & Team Meetings are used to update the business regarding COVID-19 changes
5A) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Provide guidance to staff on the effective use of the workplace OHS reporting system (where available).
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
REPORTING A CONFIRMED COVID 19 DIAGNOSIS
Company will ensure all employers and self-employed persons, with management or control of a workplace notifies WorkSafe immediately after becoming aware that:
An employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has received a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) and;
The employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has attended the workplace within the relevant infection period.
We will Notify WorkSafe immediately: We will comply with Option A: Complete the COVID-19 reporting form OR Option B: Call WorkSafe on 13 23 60. WorkSafe will then record details of your incident and send you an email with a unique link for you to complete the last stage of notifying us of the full details in writing. It is mandatory that you complete the full details in writing within 48 hours. If you are unsure of your obligations, contact WorkSafe on 13 23 60. Reporting Form.
5B) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare or update the business continuity plan to consider the impacts of an outbreak and potential closure of the workplace.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of the workplace
Keep accurate records of all employee movements are kept and will be made available as needed to assist with contract tracing.
Ensure a continuity plan is developed and all staff involved in the impact & outbreak and processes to follow
5C) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare to assist DHHS with contact tracing and providing staff and visitor records to support contact tracing.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Employee Site Works Record left on site for daily recording of employees, deliveries
Accurate records of all employee movements are kept and will be made available as needed to assist with contract tracing.
5D) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare to undertake cleaning and disinfection at your business premises. Assess whether the workplace or parts of the workplace must be closed.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of the workplace
If required, deep cleaning of site premises can be undertaken by our external cleaning contractors. However as most work is conducted on customer sites, they will undertake required cleaning
5E) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare for how to manage a suspected or confirmed case in an employee during work hours.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of the workplace
A suspected or confirmed case will obtain testing and will self-isolate for 14 days
Any person within the business who has had contact will also be required to isolate for 14 days and get testing.
Worksafe will be notified immediately in line with requirements if a test is positive.
5F) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare to notify workforce and site visitors of a confirmed or suspected case.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Employee Site Works Record left on site for daily recording of employees, including deliveries
All communication processes are regularly tested to ensure that we can quickly contact all impacted employees.
5G) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Prepare to immediately notify WorkSafe on 13 23 60 if you have a confirmed COVID-19 case at your workplace.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
All confirmed cases will be reported as requested
Employers and self-employed persons, with management or control of a workplace will notify WorkSafe immediately after becoming aware that:
An employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has received a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) and
The employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has attended the workplace within the relevant infection period.
An employer will be considered to be 'aware' of the incident when they have been notified of the confirmed diagnosis by either the employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor, or by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
5H) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Coronavirus (COVID-19) roadmap for reopening; Company to continually monitor and adhere to RoadMap conditions
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
Understand the ‘trigger points’, which are a point for review by the public health team to consider any potential changes to the restrictions, based on coronavirus (COVID-19) case numbers, testing numbers and other factors. Public health advice is also provided at each step.
Continue to:
Ensure physical distancing (1.5 metres)
Wear a face mask
Practice good hygiene
Keep good records and act quickly if staff become unwell
Avoid interactions in close spaces
Create workforce bubbles
5I) PREPARING RESPONSE TO A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE - GUIDANCE
Confirm that your workplace can safely re-open and workers can return to work.
ACTION TO MITIGATE THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19
DHHS will contact the facility or workplace if an employee or visitor has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been considered infectious while on the premises. The facility or workplace will need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before it can be re-opened and staff can return to work.