Information for workplaces - COVID-19
Advice on how to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace.
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COVID-19 resource kit
A range of resources for business to download and display in their workplaces in relation to COVID-19.
National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles
On 24 April 2020, the National Cabinet agreed to the National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles.
Australia is closely monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). You can access the latest information from australia.gov.au.
National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles
On 24 April 2020, the National Cabinet agreed to the National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles.
Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency, that all actions in respect of COVID-19 should be founded in expert health advice and that the following principles operate subject to the measures agreed and implemented by Governments through the National Cabinet process.
The ten Principles can be found here.
Work health and safety guidance for COVID-19
In accordance with the Principles, nationally-consistent work health and safety guidance on COVID-19 is being developed by Safe Work Australia.
Here you will find advice on how to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace and help limit the spread.
To keep workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19, every employer should do the following at their workplace:
- - allow workers to work from home, where possible
- - ensure physical distancing by keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres between people
- - encourage all workers to frequently wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and to practise good hygiene
- - be aware of how to spot COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath) and make sure workers do not come to work if they are unwell
- - make sure your workplace is regularly cleaned and disinfected
- - have signs and posters around the workplace to remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread.
For more information, see the COVID-19 resource kit.
WHS compliance, injury reporting, licensing and compensation claims
You must contact the WHS authority in your jurisdiction. SWA does not enforce or regulate WHS laws or workers’ compensation schemes.
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Latest Updates
Our website has been updated to provide a central information hub of work health and safety (WHS) guidance and tools that Australian workplaces can use to help manage health and safety risks posed by COVID-19.
On 24 April 2020, the National Cabinet agreed to the National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles.
The model WHS Act has been amended to ensure WHS regulators have appropriate powers to deal with prohibited asbestos when it is found in a workplace.
Exposure to COVID-19 is a potential hazard for workers and other people at workplaces.
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$61.8 billion
The cost of work-related injury and disease to the Australian economy.
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76 killed
The preliminary number of Australians killed at work in 2020.
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$480 million
The total amount of workers’ compensation paid each year for work-related mental disorders.