New Draft WHS Code for COVID-19 Released

New guidance outlining best practice for managing the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace has been released by the Federal Government. The guidance includes information on a PCBU’s duties to consult with workers, health and safety representatives, and other businesses.

The draft model work health and safety (WHS) code of practice provides an example for state and territory governments, which can be adopted if required according to their individual level of risks.

“It’s essential that Australian businesses continue to operate safely during these challenging times and the draft model code provides clear, non-binding guidance on how best to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 entering or being spread within workplaces,” Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Christian Porter, said.

The draft code builds on the National Cabinet’s COVID-19 safe workplace principles, which included establishing Safe Work Australia as a central source of practical guidance and tools on managing the WHS risks of COVID-19.

“Until there is an effective vaccine or treatment, there can be no return to business as usual for many workplaces. Workplaces must find a new normal. Following control measures to reduce the spread of the virus is not only a feature of how we now work, but how we live,” the 20-page draft code states.

The draft code reminds businesses that, along with consulting workers, they must also co-operate and co-ordinate their activities with other duty holders.

“In these situations, each duty holder should exchange information to find out who is doing what and work together in a co-operative and co-ordinated way so risks are eliminated or minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.”

“For example, for office-based work, the property owner, property manager and tenants in a building or workplace all have a duty in relation to workers and other persons who enter that office building or workplace.”

“Each of these duty holders must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate activities with the others in relation to managing the risks of COVID-19 in that workplace, such as cleaning of shared facilities (toilets and lifts), determining how lifts will be used, cleaning of stairwells, provision of signage and controlling access to the building.”

A substantial amount of detailed and practical guidance specifically tailored to 36 different industries has been published on Safe Work Australia’s COVID‑19 website. It includes guidance on how to implement key preventative measures such as physical distancing, exemplary hygiene and protocols for responding to positive cases in the workplace.

You can download the draft code here.