Six things businesses must do in stage three

Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed six things businesses must do when work resumes as the state emerges from stage four. It comes ahead of a detailed “road map” of Victoria’s reopening to be unveiled on Sunday.

Premier Daniel Andrews will reveal Melbourne’s “road map” out of stage four on Sunday, following talks this week with industry, unions and community organisations.

Declining to reveal more specifics, he said his aim was to lock in a plan that would last for many months.

This is a hint of how the proposed plan will look for Victorian businesses and workplaces.

ENSURE PHYSICAL DISTANCING

All people in the workplace should be 1.5m apart and there should be no overcrowded areas.

This means:

• Staff should work from home if possible

• Ensure staff and customers are 1.5m apart at all times

• Limit the total number of staff and customers in an enclosed area

• No carpooling

Staff must wear masks in the workplace if they cannot work from home. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

WEAR A MASK

Staff and customers should always wear a mask in the workplace.

This means:

• Provide masks to employees throughout the shift

• Ensure all staff wear masks while working

• Do not take masks off when talking on the phone or with

others

• Use full PPE for high risk settings

PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE

Regularly clean high touchpoints and encourage staff to regularly wash their hands.

This means:

• Make soap and hand sanitiser available for all staff

and customers throughout the workplace

• Schedule regular cleaning of common touchpoints

ACT QUICKLY IF STAFF BECOME UNWELL

Have a strict policy that any staff who feel unwell must stay at home.

This means:

• Support staff to stay home and get tested even if they only have mild symptoms

• Have a plan to immediately close down if there is a COVID-19 case

• Keep records of staff and customer details for contact tracing

A “road map” for Victoria’s reopening will be unveiled on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

AVOID INTERACTIONS IN ENCLOSED SPACES

Wherever possible, move activities outside or to well-ventilated areas.

This means:

• Open doors and windows wherever possible

• Do not recirculate air

• Move kitchens, tearooms and lunchbreaks outside

• Hold meetings outside

CREATE WORKFORCE BUBBLES

Limit the number of people staff have prolonged close contact with.

This means:

• Keep pools of staff rostered on the same shifts and geographic areas within a site

• Reduce staff working across multiple sites

• No overlap in shift changes

Originally published as Six things businesses must do in stage three