Based on:
This COVIDSafe Plan both answers the questions from the template, and in doing so also provides essential information for TTS Staff to know and follow regarding COVID-19 in the workplace.
This is how you will keep your workers and customers safe
| ITEM | DETAIL |
| Business name + Trading name | Apical Vista Pty Ltd t/a The Talk Shop Australia |
| ABN | 35 006 622 402 |
| Contact person | Matthew Vella |
| Contact number | 0418 994 830 |
| Date reviewed | 2022-03-25 |
| Next review | 2022-04-29 |
Document how you will manage a COVID-19 case at your business
Requirements
Workers must get tested at the first sign of symptoms.
If a worker who has tested positive for COVID-19 has worked in the work premise during their infectious period, they must inform their workplace as soon as possible.
When you become aware of a case of COVID-19 at the workplace, you must follow government advice on what to do.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/case-workplace for the latest information and advice, and resources to help you manage the situation.
If you need help with any of the steps, call the Department of Health on 1300 651 160.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Do your workers know to get tested and isolate at the first sign of symptoms? | At the first sign of symptoms, you must get tested and isolate while waiting for the result.
You must not come into the workplace if you have symptoms, are waiting for a result, or during your infectious period if COVID-positive
You must inform Practice Management as soon as possible upon receiving a COVID-positive test result. |
| Who will identify workplace contacts? | Practice Management |
| Who will notify workplace contacts and advise on actions to follow? | Practice Management |
| Who will notify your health and safety representative? | N/A |
| Who will document the actions taken? | Practice Management |
| Who will notify the Department of Health? | Practice Management |
| What will your business do if you or your workers need to isolate? | Summary of key items from https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/case-workplace (current as at 2022-03-25):
1.a Worker to return directly home immediately (if at workplace) and self-isolate for 7 days.
1.b If unable to return home immediately (e.g. not well enough), worker to isolate at the office and:
* wear a mask
* maintain 1.5m distance from others
Colleagues and/or Practice Management to assist getting the worker home safely
.
2. Identify workplace contacts, being those who have been:
* face-to-face (< 1.5m) for more than 15 minutes total in a day
* in a small indoor space (<100m²) for more than 2 hours total in a day
Note that all TTS consult rooms and the common areas in most TTS offices are small indoor spaces
This tool can also help identify contacts: https://au.openforms.com/Form/719314db-8200-4707-9ff5-8927827e7a0f
.
3. Practice Management to identify and contact the workplace contacts and inform them that they may have been exposed to COVID-19
.
4. Practice Management to inform all workers to be vigilant about the onset of COVID-19 symptoms
Note: currently not required to deep clean the workplace after a case at the workplace |
Recommendations
Where practical, consider rostering workers into groups (workplace bubbles). Avoid overlap of workers during shift changes.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafeworkplaces for the latest advice.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Have you rostered your workers into groups? | N/A |
| Is there an overlap of workers during shift changes? | N/A |
Make sure workers are fully vaccinated if working outside their home
Requirements
To work on-site, many workers need to provide evidence to their employer that they are fully vaccinated or have a valid proof of medical exemption.
If there is a vaccine requirement for your sector or facility, sight and record the vaccination certificate for all workers who are working outside their homes.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/workervaccination-requirements for the latest information and advice.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Who will check the vaccination status of your workers? | Practice Management |
| How will you manage the records of vaccination status? | Copies of vaccination certificates are stored in the staff member’s Staff profile |
| If your business operates across multiple sites, how will the records be managed — centrally or by location? | Centrally |
Make sure customers check-in and are vaccinated if required
Requirements
Register a Victorian Government QR Code for each workplace at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/register-to-use-vic-gov-qrcode-service
Businesses must display Victorian Government QR Code posters at each public entrance to the premises (both indoor and outdoor) and at points of sale (in a retail or food and drink premises).
Make sure everyone checks in.
- If someone cannot check themselves in, the Service Victoria Kiosk check-in service allows businesses to use their smartphone, tablet or computer to check people in.
- Businesses in sectors with a customer vaccination requirement must check customers over the age of 18 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a valid medical exemption.
For information on:
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Who is responsible for checking the location of QR Code posters? | N/A |
| Who is responsible for making sure customers have checked in (if required for your business)? | N/A |
| Who is responsible for confirming customers are fully vaccinated? | N/A |
Record keeping
Requirements
In addition to records on worker vaccination information and QR Code processes, businesses are required to maintain detailed records of worker attendance, areas of work and contact details.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafeworkplaces for the latest information and advice.
Consider alternative record-keeping methods if you lose power or wi-fi access.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Describe how you will keep records of this information. | Worker attendance
* Staff access pass logs
* Face-to-face appointment records in the TTS Practice Management system
Area of work (which office/s)
* Clinicians are only permitted to attend work in an office for which they have a room allocation
* Room allocations are documented in each office’s Room Allocation page in TTS Community
Staff contact details
Stored in the staff member’s Staff profile |
| Who will keep records up to date? | Practice Management
Staff can update their own contact details in their Staff profile |
Wear face masks to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission
Requirements
Ensure all workers follow the current face mask requirements.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks-when-wear-face-mask for the latest information and advice.
In settings where face masks are required, businesses and venues must display face mask posters at each public entrance. These are available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ signs-posters-and-templates.
For information on sectors requiring additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) obligations, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sector-guidance for the latest information and advice.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Do workers know the face mask requirements for your business? | Yes, see Clinician Handbook COVID-19 – Hygiene |
| Who will make sure workers understand how to wear face masks correctly and when they need to wear them? | Practice Management ensures staff are aware of the mask requirements via:
* COVIDSafe Plan, which staff must read, agree to and sign in order to work in an office
* Clinician Handbook COVID-19 – Hygiene |
| If required, who will provide workers with face masks? | Staff provide their own masks |
| Are face mask posters required to be displayed in your business setting? | Masks are required for allied healthcare settings, so yes |
| Where are face mask posters displayed? | * Front entrance door
* Internal entrance door
* Kitchen / common area |
Recommendations
It is recommended you provide training, instruction and guidance on how to correctly fit, use and dispose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if it is required.
Visit health.vic.gov.au/worker-healthwellbeing/protective-personalequipment-ppe for the latest information and advice.
Masks should be worn for up to four hours and replaced after this time.
| ACTION | TTS RESPONSE |
| Do your workers understand the risk of airborne transmission? | N/A |
| Do you provide training, instruction and guidance on PPE use and disposal? | Face masks guidance is in Clinician Handbook COVID-19 – Hygiene |
Improve indoor air quality
Recommendations
Improving indoor air quality can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.
This can be improved by:
- opening windows
- leaving doors open in hallways and corridors
- adjust the settings on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems or air conditioning units to increase the proportion of outdoor air.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ventilation for information on how to improve ventilation systems in the workplace.
