COVID-19 in the workplace – Information for employers and employees

Information for employers

The following strategies will assist in reducing the impact on the workplace should a person with COVID-19 attend your workplace:

• Have a business continuity plan and/or an outbreak management plan and ensure plans for workforce and supplies are in place to respond to an outbreak with limited additional support.
• Review the layout of the built environment and whether it is feasible to reduce the use of shared break areas.
• Consider alternative ways to travel, and encourage social distancing, where possible.
• Review stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Follow current WA Government mandates for mask requirements to minimise the risk of exposure, and of staff being identified as a close contact. Read guidance for the use of masks (PDF 230KB).
• Encourage staff to take lunch outside, rather than in lunch rooms.
• Limit face-to-face meetings and desk sharing, where possible. Where desk-sharing is implemented, encourage staff to wipe down their desk at the end and beginning of their shift.
• Consider implementing split shifts to separate the workforce into two or more work streams. This may reduce the number of staff who might be identified as close contacts and required to quarantine if a person with COVID-19 attends the workplace. Review work from home policies, where practicable.
• Have a COVID Safety Plan
• Promote infection prevention and control principles, including:
  • Unwell staff members must not attend work
  • Good personal hygiene and physical distancing in the workplace, including provision of alcohol-based hand rub (containing between 60-80% alcohol)
  • Frequent cleaning and disinfection of the environment with attention to high-touch surfaces
  • Follow advice for use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Ensure posters and signage in the workplace with infection control messaging.
• Keep physical distance
  • Avoid all physical contact with the case or close contact (including touching, kissing, hugging and intimate contact).
  • Stay and sleep in a separate room
  • Use a separate bathroom if available, or clean a shared bathroom after use.
  • Do not be in the same room as the case or close contact.
  • Do not use shared living spaces, such as the kitchen or loungeroom.
  • Do not share household items, including dishes, cups, towels and bedding (after using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap).
  • Have meals delivered to outside the room of the case or close contact, who must wait until the person walks away before opening the door to collect the meals.
• Optimise ventilation and filtration in the workplace – see information on COVID-19 and building ventilation and information on COVID-19 and air purifiers/cleaners.
• Promote COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible staff and contractors.

If a staff member develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (such as fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or loss of taste and/or smell) they should:

• get tested for COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild, and isolate at home while awaiting test results – read guidance for the use of RATs in workplaces (PDF 221KB)
• follow testing and isolation protocols for a person with symptoms
• if the COVID-19 test is positive, they should continue to isolate and inform their employer
• employers should follow guidance for the management of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Guidance for the management of COVID-19 in the workplace provides more detailed information and a step-by-step guide to assist workplaces with contact tracing. Actions that should be undertaken are summarised below:

• A business or employer might be notified that someone who has attended the workplace has tested positive for COVID-19 by the person who tested positive, or by WA Health.
• Businesses should take reasonable steps to identify and inform other workers who may have been exposed to a case while at work and advise them of their testing and quarantine requirements.
• Privacy and confidentiality of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 must always be maintained. The employer cannot disclose the identity of the case to other employees, unless the person gives them permission to do so.
• There are very few circumstances where workplaces may need to temporarily close if a COVID-19 positive person has attended the workplace during their infectious period. This will be determined by whether all potential contacts have been identified, and whether a risk assessment has been done to determine if there are enough staff for operations to continue safely.
• All areas accessed by a COVID-19 positive worker during their infectious period should be cleaned and disinfected, with attention to high touch surfaces.

Advice for specific industries and settings

• Abattoirs and meat processing facilities
• Congregate Living Facilities
• Education Settings
• Industrial Facilities
• Mining and Offshore Facilities
• Secure Facilities
• Managing COVID-19 in a Residential Aged Care Facility – guide for clinicians
• Managing COVID-19 in a residential disability facility – guide for clinicians
• Managing COVID-19 in a mental health hostel – guide for clinicians

Useful information

• TTIQ (Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine) Plan
• Identifying close contacts in the workplace
• Guidance for the management of COVID-19 in the workplace
• Infection prevention and control advice on cleaning and disinfection in the workplace
• COVID-19 updates for business: information to help you manage the impact of COVID-19
• Close contacts (HealthyWA)
• Quarantine and isolation (HealthyWA)
• What to do if you're a positive case (HealthyWA)
• Looking after yourself (HealthyWA)

• Be aware of COVID-19 symptoms and encourage staff to stay home if unwell and get tested.
• Be aware of the different support service providers you can share with an employee who is isolating or anxious.
• Advise employee to call 13 COVID (13 268 43) for information on a range of individual issues and queries, including welfare services.

• TTIQ (Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine) Plan
• Advice on how to access Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Managing COVID-19 Staff Communication Guide – Resources for small and medium business
• Staying safe (HealthyWA)
• COVID Safety Plans and guidelines
• Information on COVID-19 and building ventilation
• Information on COVID-19 and air purifiers/cleaners
• General cleaning principles
• Face masks (HealthyWA)
• COVID-19 WorkSafe resources
• Stay safe – Be prepared for COVID-19
• COVID-19 for Business, industry and local government
• Vaccination information
• Mandatory Vaccination information
• Wa.gov.au – ServiceWA app (external site)
• ServiceWA frequently asked questions (external site)

I have COVID-19. Can I get written evidence of the positive test result to show my employer/workplace?

No, employers should not rely on written evidence from their employee that they are a case. This is not something the Department of Health (WA Health) will issue.

You can use the SMS result as evidence of a positive PCR test or photographic evidence of a positive RAT result.

You may also be able to access your test result through your My Health Record.

Workplace management of cases and close contacts should align with the TTIQ (Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine) Plan.

I manage a business and I am required to undertake contact tracing to identify close contacts of a COVID-19 positive employee. Can I request SafeWA check-in data to assist this process?

No, you cannot request SafeWA check-in data. Businesses, facilities and service providers are required to play a more involved role in managing communications in their workplaces. Staff, customers/clients and other visitors should be wearing masks, which should limit the number of close contacts in the workplace.

See:

• Close contact definition.
• TTIQ (Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine) Planfor guidance and resources for businesses, facilities, and service providers
• Guidance for the management of COVID-19 in the workplace.