The Director of Public Health has now issued a new Public Health Direction to manage the threat to public health posed by the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

The Direction sets out the minimum standards that businesses need to meet to manage the risk of COVID-19 spreading and protect both workers and customers.

The new minimum standards require a workplace to:

• manage the risks of a person contracting or spreading COVID-19 in the workplace
• implement and maintain a cleaning schedule across the workplace
• have good hygiene procedures and practices (such as washing and/or sanitising of hands)
• ensure workers who have been instructed to quarantine or self-isolate don’t come to the workplace
• make sure physical distancing requirements are met by workers, contractors and others entering, leaving or moving around the workplace.
• provide information, training and supervision on how the risks of COVID-19 are to be managed and ensure all processes and procedures are applied by the workers.
• provide information and instruction to other people who attend the workplace about how they are to comply with your processes and procedures, and make sure they apply them
• all information, recommendations, directions and guidance materials relevant to the workplace (obtained from reputable sources) is reviewed regularly to ensure the control measures implemented are appropriate
• entry into the workplace is managed and controlled in a reasonable manner if someone is suspected of showing symptoms of COVID-19, or of being exposed to COVID-19 within the preceding 14 days, or or being diagnosed with COVID-19
• any workplace records that would assist with notifying people who enter/leave the workplace of any potential exposure to COVID-19 must be kept for at least 21 days.

Employers must ensure that the above measures remove or reduce the risk posed by COVID-19 as far as is reasonably practicable and those measures are recorded in writing.

The Government has worked with stakeholders to develop industry specific guidelines to provide examples of the sorts of measures to suit businesses in each sector.

A COVID Safety Plan is a great way for businesses to document measures and show how they are keeping their customers, their workers and the community safe.

WorkSafe Tasmania has also developed templates to help small and medium businesses to prepare their COVID Safety Plans.

Find COVID Safety Plan templates.

See the industry specific guidelines.

See other industry specific resources.

Current Restrictions

Stage Three – 26 June 2020 at 12 noon

Gatherings

The number of people permitted at businesses/activities (other than households) is now determined by the density of the area, up to a maximum of:

• 250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises; and
• 500 people in an undivided space outdoors.

Maximum density limit is one person per 2 square metres.

Where the number of people permitted according to the density limit is less than the gathering limit, the lower number applies.

The limits outlined above do not apply to the following specified premises, but the number of people on these premises should not exceed the total number specified in the occupancy permit for the premises under the Building Act 2016. The specified premises are:

• Airports and premises used for public or commercial transport.
• Medical or health service facilities, including veterinary facilities
• Disability or aged care facilities
• Prisons, correctional facilities, youth justice centres
• Courts or tribunals
• Parliament
• Supermarkets, grocery stores, retail stores or markets
• Shopping centres, office buildings, factories mining sites or construction sites
• Schools, universities, education institutions, childcare facilities, child and family centres
• Premises that deliver services and support to disadvantaged community members
• Indoor and outdoor spaces where people are transiting through
• Emergency services.

Read more about Gatherings, density limits and physical distancing (external link).

Business restrictions

Businesses permitted to reopen:

• Indoor amusement parks, play centres, arcades
• Saunas, spa baths, flotation tanks and bath houses
• Garage sales, car boot sales, second-hand goods sales
• Strip clubs
• Casinos and gaming venues
• Zoos
• Stadiums
• Markets and food vans at markets
• Provision of services to a person by a sex worker, within the meaning of the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005
• Food courts (now includes dine-in)
• Night clubs

Patrons must be seated in premises where alcohol is sold, meaning activities that are not seated (eg pool, dancing) are not permitted.

Patron numbers at these and other businesses will be determined by gathering limits, where the maximum density limit permits.

Where practicable, business operators, staff, volunteers and attendees should maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people.

The maximum number of people permitted on a premises includes staff, volunteers, children and babies.

Read more about Gatherings, density limits and physical distancing (external link)

Read more about Business restrictions (external link).

Sport, exercise and recreation

Gathering limits will be 500 people (including athletes and support staff) in an undivided space outdoors and 250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises, or a maximum of one person per 2 square metres under the density limit, whichever is less.

Sporting activities permitted based on Level C of the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport, meaning the following are permitted:

• full contact training
• full competition sport (contact and non-contact)
• use of change rooms and other shared facilities.

Larger teams should consider maintaining some small group separation at training and non-essential social gatherings should be limited.

For further information go to coronavirus.tas.gov.au (external link).