SWA updates its COVID-19 central hub with further resources

As coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease across Australia and businesses reopen, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has added new, industry-specific guidance and resources to its COVID-19 central information hub, to help workplaces stay safe and manage the risks from COVID-19. “The Safe Work Australia website continues to be the central hub for COVID-19 work health and safety information for Australian workplaces,” SWA Chief Executive Officer Michelle Baxter said, “with new resources and guidance continuing to be added to help workplaces to operate safely.”

New resources

Industry guides

Safe Work Australia has published COVID-19 dedicated work health and safety (WHS) industry guides for beauty salons and day spas, cinemas, cultural institutions, gyms and fitness centres, hairdressing and barbers, mobile consultants and client engagement services, and real estate — industries that include many businesses that are now reopening following the easing of restrictions. “As state and territory governments relax COVID-19 restrictions, Safe Work Australia has published new guidance to support industries that have had restrictions in place to get back to work safely,” Baxter said. “In total, the Safe Work Australia website now has COVID-19 WHS guidance for 31 different industries, with more guidance and resources being developed and existing guidance regularly updated as the environment changes.

“As state and territory governments relax COVID-19 restrictions, Safe Work Australia has published new guidance to support industries that have had restrictions in place to get back to work safely,” Baxter said. “The guidance helps businesses understand their WHS duties and know what steps to take to manage risks from COVID-19, covering key topics such as risk assessments, physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning.” A number of practical tools and resources, including checklists, posters and infographics, are also available via the ‘COVID-19 business resource kit’.

Planning tool

“Safe Work Australia has also developed a new tool to help small businesses plan and prepare to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Baxter said. The small business planning tool is designed to help small businesses to work through the key steps to take and the information they need to consider to ensure their workplace is safe, Baxter said, “from understanding and following public health rules and WHS laws, to assessing and managing risks, and ongoing review and monitoring of work health and safety”.

Future resources

New information and guidance is being developed and the central information hub will be updated with new information and resources as the COVID-19 situation evolves, Safe Work Australia confirmed. “Work is currently underway on new guidance for the tertiary education, theatre and performance and accommodation services industries,” Baxter said, expecting that this further guidance would be published before 23 June. “All guidance is developed in consultation with Safe Work Australia members, comprising representatives from the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, employer groups and unions,” Baxter added.

SWA’s full suite of COVID-19 guidance and resources can be accessed via its central information hub.

For the latest information on Australia’s whole-of-government response to COVID-19, visit www.australia.gov.au.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/New Africa