COVID Aware Workplaces – keeping work COVID free and safe
COVID-19 is a health and safety risk. Employers and other duty holders (such as property managers/owners) have legal obligations to ensure the health and safety of workers and others. They must have a plan on what will be done to protect and support workers, and health and safety representatives (HSRs) must be consulted on this plan.
Australian Unions and ACTU Centre for Health and Safety has developed a range of fact sheets for workers, so you can ensure your workplace is COVID-Aware.
Covid Aware FAQs
These FAQs are your starting point for making your workplace COVID aware. They provide information about your rights, the actions you can take and how to conduct a COVID-19 risk assessment.
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Consulting workers
Health and safety law requires a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU)/employer to consult with workers and their HSRs about all matters relating to health and safety.
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Vaccination
A high rate of COVID-19 vaccination is the only pathway to ending this pandemic and rebuilding a fairer economy and more equitable and safe society.
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Understanding COVID-19 risks in your workplace
Employers have obligations to ensure the health and safety of workers and others. They must have a plan on what will be done to protect and support workers from COVID-19. There are a number of essential precautions they must take.
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Ventilation
COVID is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus spreads through the air from infected people, so it is essential that every effort is made to remove and reduce any contamination of the air we breathe.
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Testing for COVID
Testing for virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes illness COVID-19 is done in a few ways, of which two are useful for workers/workplaces.
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Workplace Cleanliness and Hygiene
The best risk control measure for preventing exposure to COVID-19 is physical distancing and fresh clean air, together with other measures, such as cleaning and improved hygiene.
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Safety Gear
Many jobs require the use of safety gear/personal protective equipment. To prevent the spread of COVID 19 increased cleaning and attention to proper fit, storage in cleaned environments is even more important.
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Privacy at Work
Health information about a worker can be particularly sensitive and must be handled appropriately by employers.
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Transport to and from Work
As more people return to work, it will become increasingly difficult to practice physical distancing when travelling to and from work.
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Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment ended on 14 October 2022. Some workers may be eligible for High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment.
Learn MoreDo you have questions or need support?
The Australian Unions Support Centre is available to answer your questions and provide additional support.
Call the Support Centre today: 1300 486 466
The material on this website is presented by the ACTU in the interests of promoting healthy and safe workplaces. The information herein does not constitute legal or medical advice. The ACTU does not warrant that reliance on information contained herein, is a guarantee against the transmission of COVID-19. The ACTU accepts no legal liability arising from, or connected to, the content of any material contained on this website.