News

The AMS acknowledges the significant impact the coronovirus (COVID-19) is having on communities and individuals across the world. Our thoughts are with you, your families and communities during this time of uncertainty.

Fortunately, the AMS has in place strong, effective and tested business continuity plans that allow our team to work remotely if required and as such do not expect any significant disruption to the industry services we provide.

We wish you well in remaining safe and healthy and assure you that the AMS will be here to support you throughout the coming weeks and months as much as possible. To assist, we have compiled some information and resources relevant to businesses and the community.

We sincerely hope this is of some assistance and please feel free to contact us if needed.

Kind regards

The AMS Team

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COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resources for businesses & the community

Organisations and employers who are responsible for a workplace or venue should start to take actions now to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus.

The model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws require a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety and adequate facilities for workers in carrying out their work, so far as is reasonably practicable.

What should a PCBU do to protect workers and others at a workplace?

Under the model WHS laws, PCBUs must have measures in place to eliminate or manage the risks arising from COVID-19.

To do this, you should keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 information and advice to ensure that any action taken is appropriate. This includes closely monitoring the information provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, the Smartraveller website and advice from state or territory government agencies, including health departments and WHS regulators. See Information and Resources section below for links to these agencies.

You may not be able to completely eliminate the risk of workers contracting COVID-19 while carrying out work. However, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to minimise the risk of workers of contracting COVID-19. There are many questions with regards to this issue including: 

• What should a PCBU do to protect workers and others at a workplace?
• When can a PCBU direct a worker to stay away from their usual place of work under the model WHS laws?
• What else should a PCBU take into account when deciding whether a worker or other people need to stay away from their usual place of work?
• Do I have to consult my workers about measures I put in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19?
• Do workers or other people need to comply with a direction from a PCBU to stay away from their usual place of work?
• Can a worker refuse to come to work?
• Workers’ Compensation and COVID-19

FOR INFO AND ADVICE ON THE ABOVE QUESTIONS, GO TO THE SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA WEBSITE HERE.

FOR THE LATEST INFO ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO THE OUTBREAK, HOW YOU CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, GO TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE HERE.

More resources

The resources below are designed to support businesses in communicating important messages to their workforce:

NATIONAL

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers

NSW

Coronavirus advice and resources (including posters) for businesses (NSW Health)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice and guidance for NSW workplaces (Safe Work NSW)

Coronavirus advice for the community (NSW Health)

QLD

Coronavirus resources and fact sheets for businesses (QLD Health)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) workplace risk management (Workcover QLD)

Coronavirus facts and resources for the community (QLD Health)

WA

Coronavirus (WA Health)