The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been considering how and when to start to ‘ramp up’ its operations again and how to do so in an orderly and staged manner that allows us to respond appropriately and provide leadership as the economy starts to recover. The Chamber is conscious that any staged plan to resume operations in the workplace will require us to follow the Government’s rules and any revisions to the rules as they are relaxed, particularly in relation to specific sectors. It will also be necessary for us to continue to comply with Victorian OHS legislation and to revise, renew or create relevant risk assessments dealing with COVID-19 to encompass returning employees to work. Therefore COVID-19 return to work plan(s) must identify the hazards and set out relevant mitigation measures.

When considering a restart, the Chamber reviewed and considered available information and guidance provided by both the Victorian Regulator and the National agency, Safe Work Australia. This included information regarding how to deal with COVID-19 on WorkSafe’s website and Safe Work Australia’s COVID-19 Resource Kit for workplaces; Information for Workplaces – COVID-19; and the National COVID-19 Safe Work Principles agreed to by the National Cabinet on the 24 April, 2020.

As a result, the Chamber has developed a COVID-19 Business Restart Checklist and Guide to address issues such as: site preparedness and social distancing, site disinfection and communication with employees and stakeholders such as the business’s members, clients, supply chain and contractors. These tools also include the employee restart process, hygiene measures, how to manage vulnerable workers, change management and training.

The Victorian Chamber is not only using these tools to prepare to restart our business but can provide similar assistance to businesses of all sizes and all industries to achieve a successful ‘Restart’, once Victorian restrictions start to be lifted.

The COVID-19 Business Restart Checklist is now available for members to access from the member portal. Members who wish to purchase a copy of our COVID-19 Business Restart Guide or engage our expert team of Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) Consultants for more specific assistance and advice can contact 03 8662 5196 or email hsw@victorianchamber.com.au

More information on the Victorian Chamber’s Business Restart Services can be found on the COVID-19 resources for business webpage.

If you are not a member and would like access to these tools, along with all other benefits of Chamber membership join now. To make sure every Victorian business has the best chance of success during this difficult period, the Victorian Chamber is currently providing a 12-month waiver for any new entry level membership (Networker - $350 and Essentials - $700) and credit to all current members, up to $500, which can be used to access any of our Training and Consulting services, including HSW consulting support.