Prevent COVID-19 spreading when performing essential work

This week Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Education Minister Grace Grace announced that while all Queensland schools will be student-free, they’ll remain open to allow children of essential workers and vulnerable children to remain at school. These essential service workers include health workers, supermarket staff, and all other workers required in the workplace. If your work is essential, please ensure your workers are observing social distancing and good hygiene practices to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Ensure all required WHS controls are being adhered to, including the use of PPE, and if anyone is sick, send them home. Social distancing measures at work include:

• stop shaking hands to greet others
• keep 1.5 metres away from others as much as possible
• avoid gatherings and meetings that aren’t essential
• hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible
• promote good hand, sneeze and cough hygiene
• provide alcohol based hand rub for all staff and workers
• eat lunch at your desk or outside rather than in the lunch room
• regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that many people touch
• limit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace
• avoid non-essential travel
• promote strict hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts.

Watch this film on social distancing: 

Support and advice

• Visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/coronavirus or call 1300 005 018.
• Businesses affected by the coronavirus can apply for a relief package to defer lodging and paying payroll tax returns until 31 July 2020. Support information is included on the www.business.qld.gov.au or by calling the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687.
• Business closures: Latest information on non-essential business closures. New restrictions for business commenced 11.59pm, Wednesday 25 March 2020. The 30 minute per patron restriction on barbers and hairdressers has been lifted, effective immediately.
• Queensland border closures: Information about Queensland state border access restrictions, including who is exempt. You can also read the Chief Health Officer directive on border closures for more information.
• Economic relief package: Announced to support Queenslanders' health, jobs and businesses.
• Payroll tax relief package: You may be eligible for one or more of a range of payroll tax relief measures.
• Power bill relief: Your business may be eligible for a $500 rebate off energy bills (PDF, 156KB) if you consume less than 100,000kWh. This will be automatically applied on your business electricity bills.
• Business support fact sheet: Read a summary of Queensland Government support for businesses (PDF, 191KB).