How Can I Protect My Team and Customers From COVID-19? This Checklist Will Help.
< Back to COVID-19 Resource Hub for BusinessAs government restrictions adapt to slowly reopen the economy, the way we transition from shutdown to “business as usual” is very important.
Many are keen to reopen their workplaces, while others are reluctant to risk an outbreak. As an employer, it is important to understand your safety obligations and how these are affected by the pandemic.
Has My Legal Obligation As an Employer Changed?
At all times, your obligation as a person operating a business is to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that your workplace is free from risks to health and safety. This baseline legal obligation has not changed. However, the measures you need to put in place may have changed. This is because:
- the level of risk to health and safety is different due to the pandemic; and
- there are additional social distancing laws addressing this risk we now all need to adhere to.
What is Expected of Me As an Employer During COVID-19?
- You are legally required to do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate or minimise the risks to health and safety.
- In this context, it means you need to do what is reasonably practicable to minimise risk of exposure and transmission of the coronavirus. This includes adhering to social distancing measures.
Clearly, many things will dictate what measures you put in place in your workplace, such as:
- the industry you are in (Safework NSW have published some helpful case studies for different industries in NSW);
- what kind of equipment is used and shared;
- how people interact while carrying out business in your workplace; and
- how your workers get to work will also determine the measures you put in place.
COVID-19 Checklist
The following checklist will help you to consider what safety measures you need to put in place to keep your workplace as safe as possible from COVID-19 for employees and customers.
Questions to Consider | Guidance |
Can your employees work from home? |
|
How do your employees get to work? |
|
Have you implemented guidelines and facilities to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in the workplace? | Consider the following:
|
Have you considered how your workplace needs to change to conform to social distancing requirements? |
As at the date of writing, the Department of Health has advised that people should remain at distance of 1.5m from one another, and in a place that may remain open to the public, occupiers and operators of the premises must allow at least 4 square metres of space for each person on the premises. You may need to:
|
If you have not already done so, can you transition to a cashless payment system? |
|
How do your core hours of work operate? | Where possible, you may consider
This would help to achieve sufficient physical space per person and minimise the spread of COVID-19. |
Have you considered appropriate support systems for your employees? |
It is a demanding time for everyone and there is a lot of uncertainty. It is likely that some of your workers may feel a heightened sense of stress and anxiety, whether in connection to job security, mass changes to an industry, social isolation, their own physical health or vulnerability to the virus. Indeed, these factors may be affecting you too, as you manage your business in these very demanding times. There are employee support programs you may consider implementing, which can offer you and your workers access to professional assistance to discuss the issues, implement strategies, and support your workforce’s mental health. |
Do you have operational policies in place to address these new areas of concern? | Consider implementing the following policies which should be actively implemented on a continuous basis:
|
Have any of your workers tested positive for COVID-19? |
|
Have any of your workers been in quarantine? |
|
Do you have the right communications in place? |
|
If you are not sure how to approach any specific scenario in your specific workplace, each state or territory runs a Covid-19 helpline which you can call for further advice. For advice on your legal obligations and policies, contact LegalVision’s employment law team on 1300 544 755 or fill out the form on this page.
Was this article helpful?
Thanks!
We appreciate your feedback – your submission has been successfully received.
About LegalVision: LegalVision is a tech-driven, full-service commercial law firm that uses technology to deliver a faster, better quality and more cost-effective client experience.
The majority of our clients are LVConnect members. By becoming a member, you can stay ahead of legal issues while staying on top of costs. For just $199 per month, membership unlocks unlimited lawyer consultations, faster turnaround times, free legal templates and members-only discounts.
If you would like to receive a free fixed-fee quote or get in touch with our team, fill out the form below.