Benalla Business Network Benalla Business Network 
The Benalla Business Network through our COVIDSafe page to provide the information and resources to enable you to operate in compliance with COVIDSafe best practices.
You will find information in the PDF's attached on the authorised work places, workers and helth providers, check that you comply to these guidelines.
If you need assistance please contact us via email here
The impacts of COVID-19 continue to evolve. WorkSafe is focussed on your health, safety and wellbeing and is regularly monitoring developments and Australian and Victorian Government guidance.
Information for injured workers about your claim and COVID-19
You may be entitled to workers compensation if you contract COVID-19 at work.
Under legislation, a disease such as COVID19 suffered by a worker would be regarded as being due to the nature of employment, if that employment gave rise to a significantly greater risk of the worker contracting the disease. Examples include where employment involves duties that include interaction with people who have contracted the virus.
WorkSafe is committed to ensuring all workers who contract COVID19 in the workplace receive timely and appropriate supports.
If you are lodging a claim for COVID-19, please provide details of the exposure to the virus and the link to employment.
Improving ventilation and encouraging air flow from outside can help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the workplace.
To improve ventilation, businesses can:
1/ bring outside air inside
- open windows and doors to increase air flow into a space from outside
- adjust the settings on heating and air-conditioning systems to bring in more fresh air
2/ increase air flow
- turning on ceiling fans, heating, or air-conditioning
3/ improve air quality
- service heating and cooling systems regularly
- consider using portable filtration units
- limit the number of people in a space
4/ move activities outdoors if possible.
coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ventilation
The Victorian Government has announced a number of changes to pandemic orders and public health recommendations from 11:59pm on Friday 25 February 2022.
- The recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will be removed.
- Face masks will no longer be needed in most indoor settings.
- Face masks will still be required indoors in some settings including, unless an exemption applies:workers in hospitality, retail and the court system
people working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending.
- Face masks are recommended for other workers serving or facing members of the public, for example, if you are at reception, meeting guests or serving customers.
- A number of vaccination deadlines for workers required to receive three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been extended.
The Victorian Government has announced COVID-19 restrictions are being updated to ensure Victorians enjoy more freedoms this festive season, while the Omicron variant is monitored and investigated.
The pandemic orders will take effect from 11.59pm, Wednesday 15 December and will be in place until 11.59pm on 12 January 2022. The changes include:
The mandatory vaccination requirement:
-will be removed for all customers in retail, except hair and beauty services, and will also be removed in real estate, places of worship, weddings and funerals.
-Face masks will be still required for customers and workers in retail settings.
-Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are still only open to fully vaccinated patrons and staff. Workers are required to wear face masks.
-People under 18 will no longer be required to show proof of their vaccination status at all venues, including hospitality.
-Face masks no longer need to be worn at weddings, funerals or ceremonial settings. If these events are held at places of worship, there will not be any vaccination requirements or limits on participants, nor any requirement to check vaccination status. If the ceremony is at a hospitality setting, vaccine requirements will apply.
-Workplaces exposed to a positive COVID-19 case will no longer need to be deep cleaned.
-Tour and transport operators, gyms and creative arts premises will not need to clean equipment between users.
-Workplaces still need to maintain their COVIDSafe Plan.
More Information www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/business-and-work
Covid-19 Data 
Creating a COVIDSafe Plan
It is mandatory for every Victorian business with on-site operations to have a COVIDSafe Plan.
To ensure compliance, random spot checks are occurring throughout Victoria.
Your COVIDSafe Plan must demonstrate:
Check out your industry catergory, there may be a template that will assist you to put your plan in place.
Note COVIDSafe Plans in other languages are available.
As an employer, when you become aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace, you must respond quickly to limit further exposure and contain potential outbreaks.
If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at your workplace, you must:
Immediately
- Direct the worker to return home and isolate immediately, whether or not they have symptoms. Once home, the worker must wait for further instructions from the Victorian Department of Health.
- Notify the department by completing the Employer COVID-19 notification form (See attached form) and emailing . If the Department of Health has not contacted you within 24 hours of notification please call 1300 651 160.
- Notify your workers, suppliers and customers that there is a confirmed positive case.
- Notify WorkSafe and other relevant industry bodies.
It is important that as a business you act quickly and in a positive way.
For full details follow the link below
All workplaces require all visitors and workers to check-in using the free Service Victoria QR Code app with limited exceptions. This is to ensure that if a positive case visits the workplace, contact tracers can simply and rapidly access the details of everyone else who was there at the same time. Contact tracers can then let these people know they have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19, and what actions to take.
To find out what exceptions there are and further information follow the link below:
From 11.59pm on Thursday 21 October, there will be new settings for businesses across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The Phase B settings under the Roadmap mean some businesses and venues can accommodate more customers and patrons, if all workers and customers are fully vaccinated. Preparation work may include cleaning, organising, arranging, ordering, setting up and implementing COVIDSafe measures ahead of attendance by customers.
For more information on industry restrictions, visit Business and Work or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
It is important to ensure that your COVIDSafe plane ahs been reviewed and is up to date.
Find the latest updates related to COVID-19.
Covid-19 Data COVIDSafe workplaces
Information and resources to help you and your employees stay physically and mentally well in the workplace during coronavirus (COVID‑19).
It is important that you are aware of your compliance responsibilities in the workplace, visit the COVIDSave Workplaces for more information you will find this by following the link: