Tradie COVID-19 Infection Control Induction

The impact of coronavirus is wide ranging within the building industry, from effects felt within the supply chain, through to the inevitable questions about its impact on employment conditions and safety.

It is critical that building company supervisors and employees train their staff in strict hygiene

In addition to physical wellness, employers should consider mental health, too, because employers report anxiety among workers as one of the top issues brought on by the coronavirus.

Under the WHS laws, employers must have measures in place to eliminate or manage the risks arising from COVID-19.

To do this, you should keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 information and advice to ensure that any action taken is appropriate. This includes closely monitoring the information provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, the Smartraveller website and advice from state or territory government agencies, including health departments and WHS regulators.

You will not be able to completely eliminate the risk of workers contracting COVID-19 while carrying out work. However you must do all that is reasonably practicable to minimise that risk.

What control measures will be reasonably practicable will depend on the work being carried out by workers and particular workplaces. Generally, you should:

• determine appropriate control measures in consultation with workers, their representatives and taking account of official information sources

• implement those measures and clearly communicate them to all workers, including providing clear direction and guidance about what is expected of workers

• workers should know when to stay away from the workplace

• what action to take if they become unwell

• what symptoms to be concerned about

• continually monitor relevant information sources and update control measures when and if necessary

• employers should continue to provide information to workers, including changes to control measures, as the situation develops

• provide workers with continued access to official government sources for current information and advice

• provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and facilities, and information and training on how and why they are required to use them

• require workers to practice good hygiene, including:

• frequent hand washing

• limiting contact with others, including through shaking hands

• covering their mouths while coughing or sneezing

• sterilising any tools that are shared, or providing employees with seperate tools kits

• providing clean and sterilised toilet facilities and cleaning products such as soap and/or hand sanitiser

• require workers to stay away from the workplace if they are unwell and not fit for work, and encourage them to seek medical advice as appropriate

• seek advice from health authorities immediately if there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your workplace

• limit access to the workplace by other people, unless necessary

• reconsider work-related travel and implement other methods of communication

• remind workers that they have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others

• provide workers with a point of contact to discuss their concerns, and access to support services, including employee assistance programs

• allow workers to access available entitlements in line with obligations under any applicable enterprise agreement, award, employees’ contracts of employment, and workplace policies​

To assist you to do this quickly and efficiently, the Green Building Institute has created an easily understandable and affordable on-line course, in association with the Australasian Infection Control Society. It contains important facts and information from the World Health Organisation, the Federal Department of Health, and WorkSafe Victoria, and is created in such as way to ensure that employers and employees understand the information. Topics covered include:

• Who is at risk?

• How to carry out proper hygiene practices

• How to disinfect surfaces

• How to self-isolate

• Business continuity planning

• Safe Travel procedures
• Risk Assessment and COVID-19 SWMS

• On-site Social distancing principle

We recommend putting all your staff through this course as soon as possible. Although a lot of information is freely available on the internet, employers should not rely on their employees finding the correct information themselves, and simply reading it. It is vitally important that they show they understand it; it could be a matter of life or death for some people.

The course can be completed from home on any internet connected device, including phones, tablets, laptops or PCs, and can translate into over 35 languages.

Employers who complete the course are issued with a certification. The course takes about 2 hours to complete. Certification is issued by the Green Building Institute, and the Australasian Infection Control Society.