How to get confirmation you’re a permitted workplace?

For businesses and industries that fall into grey areas when it comes to their operation, the dedicated Industry Coordination Centre within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions will consider their case. They can be contacted through the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.

Employer Obligations Under the Stage 4 restrictions, workplaces that remain open must:

• Have a COVID Safe Plan in place that is regularly updated (unless you are a small business with fewer than 5 employees)
• Ensure that any workers that can work from home are able to do so
• Collect records of all workers, subcontractors, customers and clients attending the work premises for 15 minutes or longer (certain exemptions will apply)
• One worker per four square metres of enclosed workspace or in shared areas
• Unless an exemption applies, ensure that workers do not work across multiple sites, or for multiple employers
• Ensure that workers are in good health – workers cannot work if they are unwell and employers must not require workers with symptoms to work
• If your worker is unwell, send them home and direct them to be tested. They must stay home until they have their result
• Report any positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) to DHHS, Worksafe, Health and Safety Representatives, and notify your workforce
• Regularly clean your facilities, shared spaces and provide additional cleaning supplies
• Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of your workplace in certain situations

Construction:

The construction sector will move to pilot-light levels. For major construction sites, that means the absolute minimum required for safety – but no more than 25% of the normal workforce onsite. Small-scale construction will be limited to a maximum of 5 people onsite.

These workplaces that are continuing to operate will also have additional requirements including extra PPE, staggering shifts, staggering breaks, health declarations and more support for sick workers to ensure they stay home.
Open (for on-site work) – COVID Safe Plan
Construction of critical and essential infrastructure and services to support these projects. Critical repairs to residential premises, are allowed, where required for emergency or safety.
Restricted operations or industry specific obligations

Large scale construction

• Any building construction project of more than 3 storeys (excluding basement)
• Maximum of 25% of normal employees on site compared to normal operations
• Must have a High Risk COVID Safe Plan.
• Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during Stage 4.
• Small scale construction
• Any building construction project of 3 storeys or less (excluding basement).
• Maximum of 5 workers (including supervisors)
• Universal COVID Safe Plan
• Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during Stage 4
• State and civil construction (including time critical new school builds) are exempt from reduction targets but will be required to implement a High Risk COVID Safe Plan.
• Revision 6 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for the Building and Construction Industry have been released.

Manufacturing

Employers for Permitted Work Premises are only permitted to have employees on-site if it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work from home and the employer and employee comply with the Directions currently in force, including the Workplace Directions and the Permitted Worker Permit Scheme Directions.
Where a Permitted Work Premises is able to operate on-site, additional restrictions may apply as listed below and in the Directions.
To avoid doubt, the following are Permitted Work Premises in the following circumstances:
Ancillary and support businesses are able to open on-site to ensure the necessary production, supply, manufacture, repair, maintenance, cleaning, security, wholesale, distribution, transportation or sale of equipment, goods or services required for the operations of a Permitted Work Premises, or for Closed Work Premises where there are safety or environmental obligations. The business cannot operate on-site for any other purpose.
Services and ancillary services that relate to the COVID-19 health response are Permitted Work Premises.
Permitted Work Premises Manufacturing

Food and beverage production manufacturing

Meat and meat product manufacturing

Seafood processing

Dairy product manufacturing

Fruit and vegetable processing

Oil and fat manufacturing

Grain mill and cereal product manufacturing

Bakery product manufacturing

Sugar and Confectionery manufacturing

Other food and beverage product manufacturing

Manufacturing of food and beverage packaging

Manufacturing of medical equipment, consumables and personal protective equipment (PPE), including the manufacturing and supply of cloth masks and required raw materials

Manufacturing of petroleum and coal product

Manufacturing of basic chemicals and chemical products

Manufacturing of coffins and caskets

Aluminium smelting

Manufacturing of cement and lime

Manufacturing of fabricated metal product

Manufacturing of pharmaceutical and blood products

Manufacturing of sanitary products

Manufacturing of telecommunications equipment and infrastructure

Manufacturing of goods and materials necessary for or related to supporting defence or security industries

Manufacturing of building supplies to support construction

Manufacturing of Pulp, paper and converted paper product

Printing and support services

Manufacturing of fertiliser and pesticide

Manufacturing of cleaning compounds and toiletry preparation

Manufacturing of glass and glass products, including lens

Manufacturing of computer and electronic equipment

Manufacturing of heating and ventilation products

Manufacturing of goods to support critical infrastructure public works

Manufacturing of polyethylene and resins

Manufacturing of heavy trucks

Manufacturing of transport equipment (critical to public transport service; spare parts manufacturing critical to continuity of service)

Manufacturing of polymer and rubber production

Manufacturing of basic polymer

Manufacturing of other basic chemical product

Manufacturing of primary metal and metal product

Manufacturing of specialised machinery and equipment

Microelectronics and semi-conductor products

Heating and cooling equipment

Household paper product.