As restrictions slowly get lifted, businesses need to consider implementing a COVID Safe environment as part of the road to recovery. A COVID Safe Plan supports and protects a businesses staff, customers and visitors by preparing the business for a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a workplace. For some states, a plan along with registration is mandatory for specific industries. Still, all organisations will benefit from having a comprehensive COVID Safe Plan to aid with ongoing risk management and assessment.
A COVID Safe Plan needs to demonstrate how a business will meet all the health and safety requirements set by each state. The plan must be reviewed and updated routinely, and when restrictions or public health advice changes.
When preparing a COVID Safe Plan, a business should consider the following:
- Physical distancing and density requirements (such as 1.5 metre distancing and 4 square metres of space per person).
- Face covering or personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
- What are hygiene, cleaning, and signage requirements?
- How to prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace.
- Procedures for keeping records of contact details for contact tracing.
- Is the business a high-risk industry: construction, warehousing and distribution, supermarket and medical distribution centres, abattoirs, and meat processing facilities?
- Do staff need training on how to follow public health directions?
Keep up to date with COVID safe industry plans via the Queensland government website.
