COVID-19 & Larger Offices

Tips on how to keep larger offices and working environments safe from COVD-19

The plan should cover:

• How to manage someone who has been in close contact with confirmed case of COVID-19:
• How to manage the situation if a worker becomes ill at work, i.e.:
  • limiting the number of people who have contact with the sick person
  • provide the ill worker with a disposable surgical face mask to wear to reduce the risk of disease transmission, advising them to go home and immediately call their doctor. (It is essential the mask is worn correctly and disposed of as soon as it becomes moist or after coughing or sneezing. Resources on the correct application, use, removal and disposal of face masks are available from World Health Organization (WHO))
• How to manage a suspected case of COVID-19 awaiting results, i.e.:
  • advising them to remain self-isolated at home and strictly follow their doctor’s advice
  • if NSW Health confirm that the person has COVID-19, the local Public Health Unit will be in contact with close contacts from the workplace, if any, to advise them on what action to take. If the person was infectious while at work the employer must notify SafeWork NSW.

The plan should also cover:

• how to identify persons who may be at risk, and support them, without inviting stigma and discrimination into your workplace. This could include persons who have recently travelled overseas, or other personnel who have conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness (e.g. diabetes, heart and lung disease, older age)
• if arrangements should be made for their transport either to a doctor or to their home, preferably not using public transport
• recording those who become ill and leave the workplace and the people they have had close or casual contact with
• what to do when a person with a suspected infection has left the workplace, ie: ensure the person’s workstation, work area and   any communal areas they have been in are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected

Workers must 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 the risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.