COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
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Workers who have tested to positive to COVID-19 should talk to their employer about when they should return to the workplace. This may vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of industry and workplace.
Managing the risks of exposure and transmission in the workplace
Under WHS law, all employers or businesses (and other persons conducting a business or undertaking – PCBUs) are required to manage the risks of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 to workers and others in the workplace.
COVID-19 must be managed in the same way as any workplace health and safety hazard – by using a risk management approach to eliminate and/or minimise the risks in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
First things first
While the COVID-19 pandemic is active, the risks of exposure and transmission in the workplace will continue to change based on conditions such as emerging variants, outbreaks and the level of virus transmission in the community.
PCBUs must:
- Monitor and follow advice and guidance from the NSW Government and comply with relevant public health orders and rules for your industry or workplace.
- Review and, if necessary, update risk assessment(s) in consultation with workers and/or their health and safety representatives (HSRs) to determine the level of risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace and ensure that the control measures implemented to manage COVID-19 risks are effective.
- Review emergency plans including how to manage and respond to a confirmed case or potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the workplace.
- Notify SafeWork NSW if a worker has contracted (or is likely to have contracted) COVID-19 at work and meets the requirements outlined below.
A COVID-19 Safety Plan Checklist template is available to assist PCBUs consider how they will manage COVID-19 risks in the workplace and keep workers and others safe.
The risk of exposure to other seasonal respiratory illnesses in the workplace may also increase during winter and other periods of peak transmission. COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold and influenza, share similar routes of transmission. Exposure and transmission risks can be minimised by practising COVID-safe behaviours and implementing the control measures outlined in this guidance.
Notify us
Notification to SafeWork NSW is expected where a worker has contracted, or is likely to have contracted, COVID-19 at the workplace that has required hospitalisation (where treatment as an in-patient in a hospital is required), or has resulted in a fatality.
SafeWork NSW will take a practical approach to enforcing the reporting requirements in relation to COVID-19, in line with the Statement of Regulatory Intent.
Notification can be completed through the online COVID-19 notification portal.
You may use the approved template (XLSX, 23.65 KB) to upload the information of multiple workers. Please use the approved template only (do not alter, add or remove any cells or provide additional information). The template should not be emailed.
Identify hazards and assess the risks
PCBUs must identify hazards and assess the risks of COVID-19 entering and spreading in the workplace (in consultation with workers and/or their HSRs) by considering the:
- size and layout of the premises
- work being carried out by workers
- interaction with others such as customers.
Control the risks
Where a risk to health and safety is identified at the workplace, PCBUs must implement control measures to eliminate the risks of COVID-19 exposure and transmission in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
When elimination is not possible, the risks must be minimised by using the hierarchy of control measures.
A combination of control measures will usually be required to minimise the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace, so far as is reasonably practicable. The type of control measures required to manage the risk will depend on the level of risk, and the availability and suitability of controls for each workplace.
Control measures may include:
COVID-19 vaccination
SafeWork NSW considers vaccination a high order risk control measure against disease.
A COVID-19 vaccine is one of the available control measures for COVID-19 and should be considered in the context of a range of control measures.
A PCBU may require workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to do so.
Read more on the SafeWork NSW COVID-19 vaccination webpage.
Workers are encouraged to ensure they stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
Improve ventilation
Poorly ventilated indoor areas have been confirmed as a transmission risk of COVID-19 as poor air quality and movement can cause the build-up of contaminated air.
Use outdoor areas (undercover or shaded areas to protect against exposure to UV radiation) or large well-ventilated indoor spaces for work tasks and activities (including meetings, meal breaks, etc) where possible.
Improve air quality and movement in indoor areas that use heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems by:
- limiting the volume of recirculated air
- increasing fresh air intake and natural air flow
- regularly inspecting and maintaining HVAC systems.
Workplaces without HVAC systems should consider:
- improving natural ventilation of indoor area/s by opening windows and/or doors where practicable
- rearranging work areas and tasks for better ventilation where practicable.
Physical distancing
PCBUs should design the workplace and work activities to enable 1.5 metre physical distancing between workers and others where reasonably practicable.
Physical distancing can be enabled by:
- supporting flexible work arrangements such as work-from-home and other hybrid ways of working to reduce the number of workers in indoor environments and on public transport
- using technology such as virtual meetings and gatherings
- installing physical barriers (e.g. sneeze guards or Perspex screens) between workers and/or customers
- modifying the layout of the workplace to enable workstations, tables, seating, etc to be at least 1.5 m apart
- limiting the number of people in enclosed spaces such as lifts
- installing measured floor markings, signage and/or other items to manage pedestrian traffic flow (e.g. bollards with extendable tape/rope)
- reducing worker/customer physical contact where possible.
Signage and physical barriers are eligible items for the $1000 SafeWork Small Business Rebate.
Promote good hand and respiratory hygiene
PCBUs should encourage increased hand and respiratory hygiene in the workplace. This can be facilitated by:
- providing handwashing facilities with running water and soap
- providing alcohol-based hand sanitiser at various locations in the workplace
- avoiding the sharing of equipment. Where this is not possible, ensure equipment is cleaned appropriately between users
- displaying posters and signage, such as correct hand washing protocols, to remind workers and others of workplace hygiene requirements
- avoiding intentional physical contact such as shaking hands
- encouraging the use of electronic paperwork and payment options.
Hand sanitiser dispensers and hands-free rubbish bins are eligible items for the $1000 SafeWork Small Business Rebate.
Workplace cleaning and disinfection
PCBUs should have appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures in place to minimise the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19 in the workplace. It is recommended that:
- hard surfaces are regularly cleaned with warm soapy water and disinfected
- high touch surfaces such as door handles, counters, phones, debit/credit card payment machines, lift controls and amenities should be cleaned more regularly
- shared equipment should be cleaned after each use.
COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting guidance is available from Safe Work Australia.
COVID-19 policy and safe work procedures
PCBUs must have policies and procedures in place to minimise COVID-19 exposure and transmission in the workplace. PCBUs may consider developing a COVID-19 management policy that outlines how their organisation is managing COVID-19 exposure and transmission risks.
While it is no longer mandatory, SafeWork NSW encourages the use of the COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist to outline the actions being taken to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the workplace.
Workplace policies and procedures for COVID-19 should consider:
- the COVID-19 vaccination status required for staff to work
- monitoring workers and others for COVID-19 symptoms
- ensuring workers do not come to work if they are unwell
- testing or screening workers and others in the workplace for COVID-19 (such as rapid antigen testing) if required
- any requirement for workers and others to wear face masks at work
- any flexible work arrangements implemented
- planning how the workplace will respond to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the workplace including ensuring the workplace is appropriately cleaned and disinfected
- notifying SafeWork NSW if a worker is hospitalised or dies as a result of contracting COVID-19 at work.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
The use of PPE to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace must be determined by undertaking a risk assessment in consultation with workers and/or their HSRs.
The PPE required will depend on factors such as the:
- type of business or industry
- size, layout and location of the premises
- type of work being carried out
- interaction with others (such as customers or patients)
- level of community transmission
- existing control measures in place to manage the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
Where PPE is used as control measures to minimise exposure to health and safety risks in the workplace, PCBUs must:
- ensure PPE complies with relevant Australian Standards (or international equivalents where relevant)
- provide workers with PPE that is suitable for the task being undertaken
- ensure PPE is a suitable size and fit for the workers who are to use or wear it
- provide workers with information, training and instruction in the proper use, storage and disposal of PPE.
Examples of PPE used to minimise COVID-19 exposure and transmission include:
- single-use surgical masks
- fit-tested disposable P2/N95 respirators – for more details visit the Safe Work Australia Masks page and select 'What are respirator masks? How should they be used?'
Additional PPE such as disposable gloves, eye protection and face shields may be required in health care settings and other high-risk industries and occupations to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
PCBUs must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as improving ventilation, practicing physical distancing, promoting good hygiene, and increasing workplace cleaning to manage COVID-19 risks in the workplace.
Review your risk assessment
PCBUs must review and update their risk assessments regularly to ensure the control measures implemented are effective at managing the risk of COVID-19.
Business should also monitor for any new risks that may emerge or as advice and guidance changes.
Further information
For more SafeWork information on COVID-19 go to nsw.gov.au. There's information on:
- COVID-19 Business information and resources
- Keeping workers safe
- COVID-19 safety plan checklist
- COVID-19 vaccination and businesses
- Vaccination requirements for workers
- Guidance for businesses with a worker who tests positive for COVID-19
- Advice for business: Managing household or close contacts in the workplace
- COVID-19 guidance on ventilation
- Rapid antigen testing information for businesses
- Working from home guidance
- COVID-19 and mental health at work
- Financial assistance for businesses and employers
- NSW Government: Grants and funding
- SafeWork small business rebate: eligible safety items
General
- COVID-19 rules
- Guidance on wearing face masks
- COVID-19 support
- Together we can stay COVID safe
- COVID-19 advice for parents, students and children
Translated resources
Safe Work Australia
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems
- Improving ventilation in indoor workplaces: COVID-19
- Masks
Australian Government
- COVID-19 resources for business
- Coronavirus information and support for business
Statement of regulatory intent
This statement of regulatory intent sets out the enforcement approach that SafeWork NSW will take to ensure compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.