Managing COVID-19 risks in the workplace

Physically remove the hazard

It may not be practicable to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace at times of significant community transmission. 

Isolate the hazard from people 

• Work at home and use virtual meetings instead of face-to-face meetings.

• In health care settings, assess patients for COVID-19 illness, or consult other patients or clients, using telehealth (virtual) appointments instead of face-to-face appointments.

• Use quarantine or isolation systems while individuals are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19; e.g. workers who have recently travelled from an area with high levels of community transmission could work at home for a week rather than interacting with other workers in person. This control requires a risk assessment for the specified travel. 

• Ensure those with COVID-19 do not attend the workplace (where practicable, noting some workplaces accommodate or treat people who may have COVID-19).

  This control is more effective where systems of early identification of cases are in place, which may include the use of TGA approved Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for workers, on a risk basis.

It is unlikely to be practicable to require visitors to undertake a RAT. 

• Use CCTV to monitor higher risk areas of the workplace rather than monitoring in person using workers.

Physical controls

• Promote the uptake of vaccination among workers and visitors. WA’s mandatory vaccination policy no longer applies, however individual employers, workplaces, and certain professions may require their employees and visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

• Optimise ventilation and air quality, including:
  • Fresh air intake
  • Air flow rates
  • Air filtration systems
  • Use of air purifiers
  • Identify alternative or supplementary ventilation options for workplaces ventilated only by reverse cycle heating/cooling systems to manage air quality, as these do not introduce fresh air.
  • Check on ventilation outcomes, for example use a carbon dioxide monitor (noting that outdoor carbon dioxide levels are around 400 ppm).
  • Use negative pressure rooms for COVID-19 positive patients or residents.
  • Neutral pressure rooms should be used if negative pressure rooms are not available.
  • Do not use rooms under positive pressure for COVID-19 positive patients or residents as air containing viral particles will move away from their room and potentially towards work areas.
  • In workplaces where patients/residents may have COVID-19, ensure airflow in workstations moves air away from the worker towards patients/residents.
• Use counter screens (e.g. acrylic screens) to reduce the risk of small particles from a client or member of the public being inhaled by a worker; e.g. from a cough/sneeze/speech.
• Locate workstations to reduce risk; e.g. away from areas frequented by higher risk people.

Designate someone to lead the management of COVID-19 risks at the workplace.

Regularly review procedures as new or updated guidance or new control measures become available.

In higher risk workplaces (eg hospitals, ports), designate workplace zones based on risk, and ensure appropriate controls are used in each zone.

Develop a vaccination policy for workers and visitors if required based on risk. 

Implement procedures in relation to a good standard of cleaning.

Implement policies and procedures on training requirements, based on risk.

Ensure appropriate information is provided to external clients, visitors and other stakeholders who interact with the workplace. This may be via signage, email, advertising or other communication methods. 

Implement a policy on not attending work when unwell. Such policies are more successful when supported by suitable pay and leave arrangements.

Implement a requirement for workers to notify the PCBU immediately if they:

• test positive for COVID-19
• have been a close contact, for example a member of their household has COVID-19.

Implement a plan for managing a positive case at the workplace.

Implement a plan for a workplace outbreak. 

Implement a policy in relation to proactively testing workers in higher risk situations; e.g. prior to and after higher risk travel, before attending a vulnerable location/workplace, where the worker conducts high risk work tasks (such as caring for or working with COVID-19 positive people), or where there are other individual risk factors. If you, as a PCBU, determine that the use of RAT is required to implement a safe system of work, you need to supply the RAT kits. 

Keep COVID-19 positive and other patients or residents separate. 

Manage visitors, clients and other external people based on risk.

Provide hand hygiene facilities and supplies and consider supplying masks where appropriate based on risk. 

Provide information to workers and others about safe mask use, mask handling and disposal, hygiene measures and physical distancing. 

Maintain physical distancing and provide information to people at the workplace on this requirement. This may include floor marking, signs or other communication. It should also include a review of the maximum capacity for meeting rooms and lunch rooms. 

The PCBU’s response to COVID-19 cases in the workplace should include:

• define the affected work area 
• direct COVID-19 positive workers to leave the workplace (avoid public transport) and self-isolate at home    
• communicate with other workers if needed based on risk.  
• Arrange for the affected areas of the workplace to be thoroughly cleaned.
• Contact workers in isolation to check in with them.
• Let workers in isolation know the timing for their return to the workplace, in line with Department of Health advice.
• Provide access to an employee assistance program, if practicable.

• Employ sufficient workers to avoid excessive workload, or consider what tasks may be deferred if workload is too high and more workers cannot be obtained.
• Provide workers with regular breaks.
• Implement policies and procedures on required standards of conduct and how to raise and resolve workplace or interpersonal issues; e.g. grievance procedures, contact persons who can help workers identify options to resolve a concern.
• If a worker is required to stay in employer provided accommodation while symptomatic with COVID-19, ensure you conduct regular welfare checks in relation to their physical and mental well-being, and provide means for them to communicate with work and personal contacts.

Conduct a risk assessment of different workers’ requirements, based around the tasks that they undertake, the potential for exposure, duration of higher risk tasks, other risk factors such as locations worked, and the controls currently in place. 

Use the risk assessment to identify PPE requirements. You may need to review this frequently as circumstances change; e.g. the local rates of community transmission increase or decrease. 

Where respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is required to protect workers from airborne hazards, PCBUs should have a respiratory protection program in place.

Training on the use and limitations of respirators must also be provided in workplaces using this control. More information on respiratory protection programs can be found in the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment.

For higher risk work, a P2/N95 respirator (or higher) should be selected where reasonably practicable. Guidance on buying P2/95 masks is available from the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH).

The respirator should be appropriate for the task, the correct size and fit-tested before use.

These respirators also need to be put on and taken off correctly, and user seal checked (fit checked) before each use. Further guidance on the respirator removal is here. 

P2/N95 respirators that have unfiltered exhalation valves or vents do not protect others in the vicinity of the wearer as aerosols may be exhaled. 

If it is not reasonably practicable to undertake fit testing prior to use, workers must do the following every time an N95/P2 respirator is worn:

• follow the instructions on how to put on the respirator
• perform a fit check
• ensure that they are clean-shaven where the respirator touches the face
• make sure no clothing or jewellery gets between the respirator and the face

Manufacturer’s instructions typically advise to replace P2/N95 respirators after each use, and other guidance indicates they should be discarded when they are dirty, damaged, or difficult to breathe through.

Half-face or full-face tight-fitting respirators consist of face pieces made of synthetic or natural rubber material. These respirators can be repeatedly used after appropriate cleaning, disinfection, storage and changing the replacement cartridges according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Some types of non-disposable half- or full-face respirators offer higher protection than disposable P2/N95 respirators provided they are used correctly, including-fit testing. Reusable respirators also have adjustable straps that may accommodate a better fit.

Re-usable respirators that have unfiltered exhalation valves or vents do not protect others in the vicinity of the wearer as aerosols may be exhaled.

A PAPR is a battery-powered device that provides filtered air under positive pressure into either a loose-fitting hood or helmet or a tight-fitting face piece. Because the filtered air is delivered under positive pressure, the device can compensate for an imperfect seal. For this reason, a PAPR is regarded as potentially providing a higher level of protection than other RPE.

PAPRs with loose-fitting hoods do not need to be fit-tested and they can be used by workers who cannot achieve an acceptable seal due to facial hair or other reasons. PAPRs are often reported to be more comfortable than other forms of RPE.