Metro Melbourne: Stage 4 restrictions:

Can tradies visit people’s homes in order to perform work?

Only if they are providing emergency support. For example, if there has been a burst pipe, there is a leak or the heating has stopped, a tradie can attend. Care services including meals on wheels and other in-home community care can operate. Any worker entering the home of another must wear PPE and follow safety protocols. However, cleaners, gardeners, decorators are not providing emergency support and cannot work at houses. From 2 August 2020, a curfew has been in place in metropolitan Melbourne. From 8am to 5pm people are only permitted to leave their house for work, essential care or safety reasons.

We have a head office with administration staff, is it possible to continue to have people working, if they maintain 1.5m, wear face coverings and sit in separate workspaces?

No, unless you operate a call centre providing critical services (e.g. Police Assistance Line) or provide employment services that cannot be delivered online. All other administrative support roles/functions are not permitted to work in the office and must be performed from home.

I operate in the building and construction industry, what steps can I take to provide and maintain safe work operations?

• Physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres. Employers should consider each work task and whether there is a safe alternative way to undertake the work with an increased distance between workers
• Hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting
• Shared tools, plant and equipment should be avoided, wherever possible. If tools need to be shared, we recommend providing cleaning products (e.g. alcohol spray or solution) where communal tools, plant and equipment are located to wipe down the equipment before and after use. We also recommend directing all employees to sanitise or wash their hands before and after every use
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g. gloves, masks, glasses)
• Staggering shifts and breaks to minimise team members working in the same space.

What industry specific obligations apply to construction industry?

Large scale construction (any building construction project of more than three storeys (excluding basement):

• Maximum of 25 per cent of normal employees on site compared to normal operations.
• Must have High Risk COVID Safe Plan. Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during Stage 4

Small scale construction (Any building construction project of three storeys or less (excluding basement):

• Maximum of five workers (including supervisors)
• Universal COVID Safe Plan
• Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during stage 4

Regional Victoria: Stage 3 restrictions

My administration staff prefer working from the office, can they still come to work?

The Stage 3 restrictions permit an employee to leave their home to attend work if they cannot do so at home. Given this, if staff are able to work from home, we recommend any requests to work from the office are declined in line with Stage 3 restrictions.

I operate in the food manufacturing industry, what actions can I take if one of my employee’s is unable to wear a face mask due to a medical condition?

If your employee has a lawful reason for not wearing a face mask, you can request reasonable evidence confirming the same, as well as details of any reasonable adjustments the business could consider, for example a face shield instead of a mask. If the employee has supplied evidence and alternative face coverings are not possible, the employee is permitted to remain in the workplace without a face covering. We would recommend considering what steps you can take to minimise the risk, including limiting contact with other employees and/or food products.

It is important all staff are informed of the requirement to wear masks as well as appreciating there may be some staff who are exempt due to medical reasons. Staff should remain respectful, continue to observe all other safety protocols and importantly refrain from treating someone who isn’t wearing a mask adversely. If staff have any concerns, they should be encouraged to speak to an appropriate manager or supervisor.

If your employee refuses to provide evidence confirming they have a lawful reason for not wearing a face covering, we recommend you contact the Workplace Relations Advice Line on 03 8662 5222. Additionally, if you operate in the meat, meat product and seafood processing and distribution industry, you will be required to implement industry tailored High Risk COVID Safe plans. For further information click here.