NatRoad has been advised that there has been an update to workplace obligations for the Victorian Freight and Logistics Industry where Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions are in place. NatRoad members working in this area advised to familiarise themselves with the changes outlined below.
The Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 3) are now in force and apply to workplaces in metropolitan Melbourne where Stage 4 restrictions are in place. Melbourne supermarket and perishable food warehouses and distribution centres must not operate with more than 67 per cent of their daily peak and daily total workforce across all their premises. The revised restrictions allow those supermarket and perishable food warehouses and distribution centres to calculate their daily and peak capacities across all premises rather than just the warehouse or distribution centre.
Melbourne medical supply, pharmaceutical supply and personal protective equipment supply facilities must not operate with more than 67 per cent of their daily peak and daily total workforce across all their premises. For medical supply, pharmaceutical supply and personal protective equipment supply facilities that means the businesses can calculate their daily and peak capacities across all premises rather than just the warehouse or distribution centre.
Example: If a supermarket or medical supply distribution facility has a daily peak workforce of 300 workers and a daily total workforce of 600 workers, then the employer must reduce the daily peak workforce by 100 workers and the daily total workforce by 200 workers. However, these reductions can be made across any part of the supermarket work premises, not just at the distribution facility.
Pharmaceutical warehouses that are licensed under the under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 of New South Wales for the supply of medicines listed under Schedules 2, 3, 4, and 8 and warehouses that distribute medical devices and consumables that are registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods are exempt from the requirement on level of operation (i.e. operating with no more than 67 per cent of their daily peak and daily total workforce).
Other warehouses and distribution centres may now operate with 90 percent of their daily total workforce, however, only a maximum of 67 percent of the normal daily peak number of defined workers may be on site at any one time. This can be achieved through split shifts, as long as there is no overlap between the shifts and deep cleaning occurs between shifts. This reduction applies to each warehouse or distribution centre. The new directions also confirm that line haul and delivery drivers (including drivers employed by or delivering to a warehouse or distribution centre) are not included in daily or peak workforce calculations.
For more information, please contact Business Victoria (Local call) on 13 22 15.
