WorkSafe identifies the following employer and employee obligations for health and safety during a pandemic.
- Under the OHS Act, employers have a duty of care and are required to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety at work of their employees. These measures to ensure the health and safety of employees at work have been incorporated into our business continuity planning for pandemic. Detailed plans are included in Sections 4 and 6 of this plan.
- Consultation with employees: Employers must consult with their employees when assessing a risk to the health and safety of employees. Consultation is also
required in the selection and application of control measures. The Shrine’s
Occupational Health and Safety Committee will continue be part of the ongoing evaluation of our COVIDSafe Plan. - Employees also have duties under the OHS Act to co-operate with their employer in
implementing risk control measures. They must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure they don’t do anything that creates or increases a risk to the health
and safety of themselves or others. - The Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance note from the Victorian Public Sector outlines that employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others. Employees
must practice good hygiene and take measures to protect themselves and others against infection including:- washing their hands often, with soap and water, and/or carrying sanitiser and using it as needed
- covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing, but not using their hands to do so
- seeing a health care professional if they start to feel unwell
- if unwell, avoiding contact with others (including shaking hands or other touching)
- practising physical distancing measures.
Updated