COVID-19 safety

It’s your responsibility to provide a safe work environment for your apprentices or trainees. This includes taking action to protect against COVID-19 at work. It is mandatory for every Victorian business with on-site operations to have a COVIDSafe Plan.

Government advice and directives on how best to manage the risk of COVID-19 in workplaces will change over time, so make sure you are up to date with requirements:

WorkSafe Victoria explains your responsibilities in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace, and provides industry-specific guidance.
The Victorian Government also has up-to-the-minute advice on COVIDSafe settings across the state.

Your apprentices or trainees have the right to be safe at work, as do all your employees. Depending on the kind of industry you operate in, you may need to take steps such as these:

Consult with employees to help identify risks and how to best control them.
Provide info, training or supervision to help your staff do their jobs safely.
Ensure physical distancing in the workplace and follow Victorian Government density quotient rules.
Increase regular cleaning and disinfection practices, especially in high-touch areas.
Provide adequate hygiene facilities or products, such as soap or hand sanitiser.
Provide appropriate PPE where required, with training on how to use it safely.
Follow Victorian Government requirements about keeping records of people who attend the workplace.
Ensure employees know what to do if they feel unwell or think they’ve been infected. You must make sure that unwell employees do not come into work, including employees who are waiting on COVID-19 test results, and those who are confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The symptoms of COVID-19 to look out for

Fever
Chills or sweats
Cough
Sore throat
Shortness of breath
Runny nose
Loss or change in sense of smell or taste

Some people also get headaches, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.

If an employee thinks they might have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or develops symptoms, no matter how mild, they should:

Self-isolate immediately
Get tested then return home immediately
Wait for results – that means stay at home and don’t go to work or to the shops
Seek further advice if needed from their doctor or the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398

You must notify WorkSafe if there is a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the workplace. To find out more about what this means, see rules on Notifiable incidents involving COVID-19.

Want more info?

WorkSafe Victoria

COVIDSafe Settings