WorkSafe Victoria have amended the Incident Notification reporting requirements due to COVID 19. The changes commenced on Tuesday 28 July 2020 and are for a 12 month period.
The changes require duty holders to notify WorkSafe immediately after becoming aware that:
- an employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has received a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) and;
- the employee, independent contractor, employee of the independent contractor or self-employed person has attended the workplace within the relevant infection period.
To notify WorkSafe call 13 23 60 and lodge details of the “incident” and then WorkSafe will email you a link to an online incident notification form which must be completed within 48 hours.
WorkSafe may send an inspector out to ensure that duty holders are looking after the health, safety and welfare of workers with regard to safe systems of work due to COVID 19. A penalty will apply for failing to notify WorkSafe under section 38 of the OHS Act – up to $39,652 (240 penalty units) for an individual or $198,264 (1200 penalty units) for a body corporate.
Note that the existing Incident Notification requirements still exist and, amongst a variety of reasons for notification, still require a duty holder to notify WorkSafe Victoria of any infectious disease in the workplace where there has been immediate inpatient treatment or the disease is the cause (or suspected cause) of a death.
If you need safety assistance please call the Farm Safety Extension Officer on 0499 772 472. This service is free.