Electrician Services During Coronavirus
Kenner Electrics is a Melbourne Electrician, and we strictly follow the Safe Work and Safety Laws related to COVID-19. This is for the safety of both our employees and customers.
The model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws require a person conducting a business or undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety and adequate facilities for workers in carrying out their work.
What should a business do to protect workers?
Under the model WHS laws, businesses must have measures in place to eliminate or manage the risks arising from COVID-19.
To do this, we keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 information and advice to ensure that any action taken is appropriate. This includes closely monitoring the information provided by the Australian Government Department of Health, the Smartraveller website and advice from state or territory government agencies, including health departments and WHS regulators.
Though we may not be able to completely eliminate the risk of workers contracting COVID-19 while carrying out work, we must do all that we can to minimise the risk of workers contracting COVID-19.
According to Safe Work Australia, what reasonably practicable measures will depend on the work being carried out by workers and particular workplaces. But generally, we should:
- determine appropriate risk control measures in consultation with workers and their representatives and take account of official information sources
- implement those measures and clearly communicate them to all workers, including providing clear direction and guidance about what is expected of workers
- workers should know when to stay away from the workplace
- what action to take if they become unwell, and
- what symptoms to be concerned about
- continually monitor relevant information sources and update control measures when and if necessary. PCBUs should continue to provide information to workers, including changes to control measures, as the situation develops
- provide workers with continued access to official government sources for current information and advice
- provide workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and facilities, and information and training on how and why they are required to use them
- require workers to practice good hygiene, including:
- frequent hand washing
- limiting contact with others, including through shaking hands and
- covering their mouths while coughing or sneezing
- require workers to stay away from the workplace if they are unwell and not fit for work, and encourage them to seek medical advice as appropriate
- seek advice from health authorities immediately if there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your workplace
- limit access to the workplace by other people unless necessary
- reconsider work-related travel and implement other methods of communication
- for example, rather than requiring employees to undertake air travel to attend face-to-face meetings, facilitate attendance by tele or videoconference
- remind workers that they have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and not adversely affect the health and safety of others.
- provide workers with a point of contact to discuss their concerns and access to support services, including employee assistance programs
- allow workers to access available entitlements in line with safety obligations under any applicable enterprise agreement, award, employees’ contracts of employment, and workplace policies.
However, the model WHS laws require us, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of our workers and others at the workplace. To meet this duty, we must identify risks at the workplace, and do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate those safety risks, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to minimise those risks.
This includes collaborating with the Australian government department to ensure compliance, especially in areas like air conditioning, electrical and heating repair, and other construction projects. Proper management of these construction projects is essential for maintaining a safe environment.
