Stay calm and stick to your plan. In partnership with the Victorian Government, we lay out a step-by-step guide.
It’s not a situation any business owner wants to deal with, but there’s always a risk of having a confirmed Covid-19 case in the workplace. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide on what to do if you’re faced with a positive case in your restaurant, bar, office and everything in between.
You’ve probably already heard, but all businesses must now use the Victorian Government QR Code Service for record keeping, unless an exemption applies. Any workplace outbreak can be dealt with swiftly and easily if your employees and guests are checking in using the app. Once you have your unique QR code; download, print and display it in your venue. It’s free, easy to use and makes contact tracing simple for health authorities. It’s the starting point for all workplace Covidsafe plans. You should also ask staff members to encourage customers to check-in on arrival, and check their phones for the green tick.
You’ll have to instruct the affected employee to return home immediately, then notify the Department of Health by emailing this form to covidemployernotifications@dhhs.vic.gov.au or calling 1300 651 160. Then, you’ll need to notify your other employees, supplier sand customers. It’s also a good idea to notify Worksafe and other relevant industry bodies.
Identify workplace close contacts by checking who was working with the employee who tested positive. If you can, identify customers and any other parties who were at your venue or workplace at the same time as the employee. Make a note of as many of these as you can.
It’s a good idea to close your venue or office for deep cleaning following a confirmed Covid-19 case. There are a number of cleaning companies that can undertake Covid-specific cleaning, or you can follow this guide if you decide to do a deep clean yourself. This will greatly reduce the risk of staff and the community becoming infected and allow you to reopen more quickly. If you do leave it to the professionals, you may be eligible for the Covidsafe Deep Cleaning Rebate to help you cover the cost of hiring a professional cleaning service.
It’s important to support your staff member, as well as find support for your business. Your employee may be eligible for a $1500 payment while they isolate. A $450 Covid-19 Test Isolation Payment is available for your workers, as well as their guardians and parents, who need to self-isolate while waiting for test results. Use the financial assistance finder to see what support is available to your business based on your circumstances. For further support, you can also access this Covid-safe plan template, some information on infection prevention, and information on Covid-safe plans in industries with additional obligations. There are more resources on the Victorian Government’s coronavirus website.
Once you’ve got the situation under control, it’s a good idea to review your Covidsafe practices. Ask yourself what you’re doing well and what you could do better, then take steps to reduce the risk of future infections. Provide and promote hand sanitiser use and regular hand washing, including at building entrances. Increase cleaning between shifts and provide adequate supplies in change rooms so workers don’t share items such as towels and soap bars, and encourage workers to wash their hands after changing. You can also implement some cost-effective safety practices straight away, such as opening widows to increase airflow, ensuring everyone wears a fitted face mask where required and by creating workplace bubbles for less crossover of staff between shifts.
Remember to have an up-to-date Covidsafe plan in place.
For more details, visit the Victorian Government’s website here.
You can register for the free Victorian QR Code service here.
Photography: Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
