All businesses and workplaces are now permitted to operate. All businesses operating are required to implement measures to meet the minimum COVID-19 safety standards and record this in a COVID-19 Safety plan. For more information go to COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Framework.

The number of people permitted at businesses/activities (other than households) is now determined by the density of the area, up to a maximum of:

• 250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises; and
• 500 people in an undivided space outdoors.

Maximum density limit is one person per 2 square metres.

Where the number of people permitted according to the density limit is less than the gathering limit, the lower number applies.

All people in any single undivided space count towards the maximum number of people permitted. For example, staff in a restaurant; spectators at a pool; and athletes and coaches at a sporting facility are all counted within the maximum number of people permitted in that space.

For mixed use venues with multiple indoor or outdoor spaces, the gathering cap (250 people for indoor, or 500 people for outdoor) applies separately to each single undivided space. For example, a large hotel with multiple, separate indoor spaces (eg conference room, bar, restaurant, foyer, beer garden), is permitted to have up to 250 people for each of these spaces (the density limit applies).

Exclusions

The limits outlined above do not apply to the following specified premises, but the number of people on these premises should not exceed the total number specified in the occupancy permit for the premises under the Building Act 2016. The specified premises are:

• Airports and premises used for public or commercial transport
• Medical or health service facilities, including veterinary facilities
• Disability or aged care facilities
• Prisons, correctional facilities, youth justice centres
• Courts or tribunals
• Parliament
• Schools, universities, education institutions, childcare facilities, child and family centres
• Premises that deliver services and support to disadvantaged community members eg those providing homeless accommodation, boarding houses, emergency/social housing, child safety services, foodbanks, employment services, and migrant and refugee assistance
• Indoor and outdoor spaces where people are transiting through
• Emergency services.

Read more about Gatherings, density limits and physical distancing.

Additional requirements

• Patrons must be seated in premises where alcohol is sold, meaning activities that are not seated (eg pool, dancing, karaoke, darts) are not permitted. Seated activities, such as quiz nights and bingo, are allowed, as long as patrons remain seated for these activities.
• Where practicable, business operators, staff, volunteers and attendees should maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people.
• The maximum number of people permitted on a premises includes staff, volunteers, children and babies.
• Indoor sport, recreation and exercise facilities must have at least one employee (or other person responsible for the premises) present at the facility at all times while it is being used.

Financial support

State Government financial support

The Tasmanian Government is providing further support and economic stimulus to help businesses affected by COVID-19. See Stimulus and support for more information.

Australian Government financial support

Information about Australian Government support for businesses is available on the Treasury website.

Where to get help

National Debt Helpline

The National Debt Helpline's (1800 007 007) financial counsellors provide free, independent and confidential advice to help you manage your debts or negotiate with creditors. The National Debt Helpline website also has step-by-step guides and useful information on how to deal with specific types of debts.

Business Tasmania

If your business has been impacted by coronavirus, you are encouraged to contact Business Tasmania on 1800 440 026 to discuss your situation and register your impact. You can also fill out the online form on the Business Tasmania website.

Tourism Tasmania

Information for Tasmanian tourism operators is available on the Tourism Tasmania website.

This information has been developed to assist commercial tenants and landlords to understand changes to commercial tenancies as a result of COVID-19 emergency.

On 9 April 2020, the Premier issued a Notice under section 22 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.

Immediate halt to terminations for unpaid rent or other moneys for certain commercial tenants

A landlord cannot terminate a commercial lease for unpaid rent or other moneys with a tenant that has business turnover of less than $50 million where that business is also eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper program.

This applies to any commercial lease that was in place at 1 February 2020 or which commenced prior to 9 April 2020 and will be in place until at least 30 September 2020.

Immediate suspension of rent increases (except for turnover rents) for certain commercial tenants

A landlord cannot increase the rent of a commercial tenant with a business turnover of less than $50 million where that business is also eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper program.

The only exception to this is for leases where rent payable is linked to the turnover of the tenant.

This applies to any commercial lease that was in place at 1 February 2020 or which commenced prior to 9 April 2020 and will be in place until at least 30 September 2020.

Introduction of a Code of Conduct for commercial tenancies

The Tasmanian Government will introduce legislation to give effect to the Code of Conduct for commercial tenancies announced by the Prime Minister on 7 April 2020.

A key principle of the Code of Conduct is that loss associated with the reduction of turnover experienced by tenants should be shared between tenants and landlords.

The Code of Conduct outlines how commercial tenants and landlords will work together during the period it is in effect. This will be until 30 September 2020 and can be extended if necessary.

The Code of Conduct will:

• prevent termination for unpaid rents and rent increases
• allow for the waiver or deferral of rent and other charges, and
• ensures that relief provided by Government and financial institutions is shared by the parties.

The Code of Conduct will be supported by mediation arrangements.

For further information contact the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services on 1300 654 499.

The Government has a plan to ‘Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania’. As part of this plan, all workplaces will be required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that complies with minimum COVID-19 safety standards. The Direction for COVID-19 Workplace Plans sets the minimum standards for workplaces to be COVID Safe. Your Safety Plan is a great way to show how you are keeping your customers, your workers and your community safe.

Workplaces will need to demonstrate their compliance with the Minimum Standards. Templates are available below to support small and medium-sized businesses to assist in the development of COVID-19 Safety Plans based on sector-specific guidelines. Developing a COVID-19 Safety Plan is the best way to demonstrate compliance with the Minimum Standards.

As workplaces reopen, they will need to demonstrate their compliance with the Minimum Standards. When a WorkSafe Inspector visits, you must be able to demonstrate how you are complying with the minimum standards in your workplace. The Inspector will ask to see your COVID-19 Safety Plan. It shows how you have assessed the risks in your workplace and the control measures you have implemented. It is a simple, concise summary that the Inspector will work through with you while looking at the way your control measures are working in practice.

Business are encouraged to register for COVID Ready window stickers and posters once their COVID-19 Safety Plan is developed and in place. This sticker or poster will provide the Tasmanian community with confidence that your workplace is best prepared to manage and respond to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Framework

The COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Framework supports businesses and workplaces in Tasmania to continue to operate, or reopen, while protecting Tasmania's health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Framework is made up of three key parts:

• Minimum Standards to manage the ongoing risk of COVID-19 in workplaces.
• COVID-19 Safe Workplace Guidelines to provide more detail on how sectors and workplaces can meet the Minimum Standards.
• COVID-19 Safety Plans to outline how each workplace complies with the Minimum Standards.

Minimum Standards

Minimum Standards for managing the risks of COVID-19 in all workplaces have been developed in consultation with WorkSafe Tasmania and Public Health and are in place as of Monday 15 June 2020. The Direction remains in force while the Public Health Emergency remains in place, unless revoked earlier. At this time, the Public Health Emergency is in place for 12 weeks, until 30 August 2020.

The Minimum Standards require all workplaces to:

• manage the risks of a person contracting or spreading COVID-19 in the workplace
• implement and maintain a cleaning schedule across the workplace
• have good hygiene procedures and practices (such as washing and/or sanitising of hands)
• ensure workers who have been instructed to quarantine or self-isolate don’t come to the workplace
• make sure physical distancing requirements are met by workers, contractors and others entering, leaving or moving around the workplace.
• provide information, training and supervision on how the risks of COVID-19 are to be managed and ensure all processes and procedures are applied by the workers.
• provide information and instruction to other people who attend the workplace about how they are to comply with your processes and procedures, and make sure they apply them
• all information, recommendations, directions and guidance materials relevant to the workplace (obtained from reputable sources) is reviewed regularly to ensure the control measures implemented are appropriate
• entry into the workplace is managed and controlled in a reasonable manner if someone is suspected of showing symptoms of COVID-19, or of being exposed to COVID-19 within the preceding 14 days, or or being diagnosed with COVID-19
• any workplace records that would assist with notifying people who enter/leave the workplace of any potential exposure to COVID-19 must be kept for at least 21 days.

Employers must ensure that the above measures remove or reduce the risk posed by COVID-19 as far as is reasonably practicable and those measures are recorded in writing.

See COVID-19 and discrimination law

COVID-19 Safe Workplace Guidelines

We understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Safe Workplace Guidelines are being developed through consultation with industry sectors as a practical guide on how your workplace can meet the Minimum Standards.

WorkSafe Tasmania has a list of completed Sector Guidelines and targeted complete dates for the remaining sectors. Guidelines can also be downloaded from www.worksafe.tas.gov.au once available.

COVID-19 Safety Plans

Your COVID-19 Safety Plan will depend on the size and nature of your workplace. The person controlling the workplace has the duty to manage the risks in the workplace. They should decide how best to developed a COVID-19 Safety Plan. See the Common work health and safety terms.

Workplace toolbox and resources

Checklists and templates are available to help you develop your workplace COVID-19 Safety Plans. These will provide businesses and workplaces already operating, or those preparing to reopen when safe, a chance to review existing practices and prepare themselves for when restrictions are relaxed.

• Checklist – how to keep your workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19 and to help you to start thinking about measures to include in your COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• Safe Workplace Guidelines – practical guides on how your business can meet the Minimum Standards will be available from www.worksafe.tas.gov.au as they are developed.
• COVID-19 Safety Plan Template for Small Businesses – a practical step-by-step guide to completing a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• COVID-19 Safety Plan Template for Medium-Sized Businesses – This template provides a broader framework for developing COVID-19 Safety Plans and can be used by any workplace that wants greater flexibility in the process of drafting the COVID-19 Safety-Plan. Businesses that are already working to an industry standard for managing COVID-19 may find it easier to use the template for Medium-Sized Businesses. Large enterprises may already have well developed COVID-19 Plans in place for a range of workplaces. Existing plans need to be reviewed to ensure that meet the Minimum Standards.
• How to make a COVID-19 Safety Plan - An online session from Business Tasmania to help you navigate the process of developing your COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• COVID Ready Stickers and Posters – Stickers and Posters are available to promote the existence in your workplace of a COVID-19 Safety Plan.  This is not a Government endorsement or accreditation of your plan. It does, however, help workplaces to communicate with workers and customers that measures are in place to increase their health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will need to provide your ABN and declare that you understand your obligations and have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place in your workplace. Register for COVID Ready Stickers and Posters here.
• Signage and Posters – instructional posters for the workplace, and signage from Safe Australia.
• Fact sheet - An overview of COVID-19 Safety Plans.

For any queries

Visit WorkSafe Tasmania
Contact the Business Tasmania Hotline on 1800 440 026

My workplace is re-opening. Do I need to be tested for COVID-19 or get medical clearance to return to work?

If you are well and have not had COVID-19

No. If you are well and have not had COVID-19, there is no need to be tested or get medically cleared for COVID-19 before return to work unless this is directed by Public Health Services.

If you are unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19

Yes. If you have a fever (or signs of fever eg night sweats, chills) or cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath, even if its mild, it is important to get tested.

Stay away from work and other public places and get tested as soon as possible by phoning your GP or the Public Health Hotline (1800 671 738). Other than to get tested or for urgent medical care, stay at home until you get your test results. Even if the test result is negative, stay at home until you are well.

Get tested every time you get sick with any of these symptoms, even if you’ve had a negative test result before.

For staff who have tested positive for COVID-19

You do not need to be tested unless directed to by Public Health Services.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must stay at home (or your place of isolation) until you receive a letter from Public Health Services stating you can leave isolation and return to normal duties, including work. You can only leave home (or your place of isolation) to access urgent, arranged medical care.

Does the quarantine period apply to travel by Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) workers?

If you are a Tasmanian resident returning to Tasmania for a period of leave from work interstate, you may quarantine at your residence.

If you are required to leave Tasmania to return to work before the end of your 14 day quarantine period, you may do so, but must:

• Transit directly from your residence to the port of departure; and
• Maintain hand hygiene and physical distancing during transit

If you are travelling to Tasmania for work, you may be exempt from completing a period of quarantine as a Specified Person (Essential Traveller).

Does the quarantine period apply to commercial fishers and recreational boaters?

Commercial fishers and recreational boaters do not need to quarantine if they have not set foot interstate or overseas, and have not taken on crew from interstate and overseas in the past 14 days. See Coming to Tasmania for more information.

Does the quarantine period apply to maritime crew?

The State Controller offers the following class exemptions to eligible maritime crew from being required to quarantine in a government facility for a period of 14 days:

• Class I: Maritime crew ‘signing-off’ a commercial or government vessel in Tasmania.
• Class II: Maritime crew arriving in Tasmania to join a commercial or government vessel.
• Class III: Maritime crew who are Tasmanian residents returning after disembarking at an interstate port.

These class exemptions are available to maritime crew of commercial and government vessels who are not eligible for the Category 3 exemption of the Schedule of Specified Persons. These exemptions do not apply to crew of cruise ships.

See Maritime crew for more information.

Rights at work

Where can I get information about my rights at work, eg being made to use annual/personal leave, being stood down, or being ordered to work from home?

• Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website or call 13 13 94
• Your union can also provide advice

Long service leave

Who can I talk to about accessing my long service leave, or being made to take it?

• Private sector workers: if you are covered by the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (you can check this with Fair Work; see details above) then the WorkSafe Tasmania Helpline can provide advice. Complete WorkSafe Tasmania’s general enquiry form. Make sure you provide a contact number as the Helpline may need to contact you to discuss. Or call the Helpline on 1300 366 322.
• Construction Industry workers: contact TasBuild online or call 6294 0807.
• State Service workers: discuss with your HR team, your union, or the WorkSafe Tasmania Helpline on 1300 366 322.

Superannuation

Who can tell me about accessing my superannuation under 'hardship' circumstances?

• Your superannuation fund or other source of financial advice
• The Australian Tax Office's superannuation information page

Financial assistance

Where can I find the information about financial assistance that is available for workers who have been laid off or stood down?

• Australian Government Treasury Job Keeper payments
• Australian Government Treasury Job Keeper payment - FAQs
• Australian Government Treasury Job Keeper payment - information for employees
• Centrelink (Services Australia)

Workers compensation

Who can help me with my workers compensation claim issues?

• WorkSafe Tasmania's workers compensation page
• WorkSafe Tasmania through its general enquiry form. Make sure you provide a contact number as the Helpline may need to contact you to discuss. Or call the Helpline on 1300 366 322
• Worker Assist: 1300 027 747
• The Injury Management Co-ordinator at the insurance company managing your claim
• Your union

Work health and safety

Where can I find information about being COVID-19 safe at work, including information specific to my industry?

• WorkSafe Tasmania has COVID-19 industry specific resources

All employers

What should I tell my staff?

Employers should provide information and brief all employees and contract staff, including domestic and cleaning staff.

Key information to share includes:

• how to stay informed and the best sources of information (Australian Government Department of Health website and Tasmanian Government coronavirus website)
• how to protect yourself and others
• what to do if they have travelled interstate and overseas in the previous 14 days
• the employer’s expectations that staff will follow instructions provided by Public Health Services
• non-essential meetings or conferences of critical workforces such as healthcare professionals and emergency services should be limited
• physical distancing measures must be adhered to.

My business is re-opening. Should my staff get tested or medically cleared before returning to work?

For staff who are well and have not had COVID-19

No. There is no need for staff who are well and have not had COVID-19 to be tested or medically cleared for COVID-19 before returning to work, unless this is directed by Public Health Services.

Taking steps to slow the spread of illness including through handwashing and physical distancing is important. For more information, see the COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Framework.

For staff who have symptoms of COVID-19

Yes. For staff who have a fever (or signs of fever eg night sweats, chills) or cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath, even mild, it’s important to get tested.

These staff should stay away from work and other public places and get tested as soon as possible by phoning their GP or the Public Health Hotline (1800 671 738). Other than to get tested or for urgent medical care, they should stay at home until test results are known. Even if test results are negative, encourage staff who are unwell to stay at home until they are well.

For staff who have tested positive for COVID-19

Staff who have tested positive to COVID-19 will receive a letter from Public Health Services telling them when they can leave isolation and return to normal duties, including work.

Can staff who have travelled go to work?

All non-essential travellers arriving in Tasmania will be required to quarantine for 14 days. If they do not get sick in that time, they can then return to work and normal duties. They do not need a clearance certificate.

Employees who are in quarantine should alert their employer. Depending on the type of work, and provided the employee is well, they may want to discuss alternative arrangements such as working from home.

Are my staff Essential Travellers?

See Essential Travellers for more information.

General workplace cleaning

The following information is about general workplace cleaning; not for healthcare settings and confirmed cases.

Cleaning is an important way to slow the spread of viruses like the one that causes COVID-19.

For frequently touched surfaces like door handles, tabletops, desks, light switches, railings, shared keyboards and mice, taps and handles:

• Clean these surfaces frequently, making sure you remove any visible dirt and organic matter so that the disinfectant can work well.
• Regularly wipe the surface using your normal household or workplace detergent/disinfectant, following the instructions on the label.
• It’s okay to use detergent wipes, as long as the cleaning process is thorough and removes visible dirt/organic matter.

Surfaces that are less often touched:

• Clean these surfaces at least when they start to look dusty or dirty and immediately after any spillage or contamination.
• Use your normal household or workplace detergent, following the instructions on the label.
• It’s okay to use detergent wipes, as long as the cleaning process is thorough and removes visible dirt/organic matter.
• Damp mopping is better than dry.

Tourism operators

Support for cancelled bookings

If your business has been impacted by cancellations both now and in forward bookings due to the coronavirus, you are encouraged to contact Business Tasmania on 1800 440 026 to discuss your situation and register your impact.

Information for Tasmanian tourism operators including business assistance information is also available on the Tourism Tasmania website.

Advice for travel, transport and hotel industries

The Australian Government Department of Health has issued a fact sheet for Hotel Management and Hotel Staff about preventive action staff and guests should take. There are also other resources for people in the travel, transport and hotel industries.

For more resources specific to tourism in Tasmania, see the Tourism Tasmania website.

Hire car businesses

Hire car companies are encouraged to support the implementation of the current quarantine actions to support community safety especially when it is clear the use of their vehicles is contrary to current health directions. The following advice is provided by Department of State Growth to support this decision making by operators:

• Hire and drive accreditation does not place a positive obligation on an operator to hire a vehicle.
• Refusal to accept a hirer will only be an offence if the refusal is due to grounds established under anti-discrimination legislation.
• There are no measures that the Transport Commission would invoke against a hire and drive operator for refusing a hirer who is required to be in quarantine.

State Growth are encouraging industry to work with travellers who may need to get to place of quarantine whilst reinforcing industry standard cleaning procedures.

State Growth will be providing information directly to operators to confirm these details.

Building and construction

Building and construction remains an essential activity under Public Health guidelines. The Government asks that all those involved in the sector - businesses, contractors and employees - have a strong focus on measures to minimise risk of contracting COVID-19.

WorkSafe Tasmania provides links to COVID-19 health and safety resources including industry specific resources for those working on and around building and construction sites.

Primary producers and processors

Ensuring food produced in Tasmania's primary production and processing sectors is safe to eat is an important step in ensuring the wellbeing of consumers. It is also important to the protection of Tasmania's reputation as a producer of safe and clean food.

To help slow the spread of coronavirus, it is important that Tasmania’s primary production and processing sectors comply with their obligations to enforce physical distancing and maintain good hygiene practices.

Biosecurity Tasmania has developed a factsheet to support primary producers and processors that provides advice on ensuring good food safety practices and plans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To find out more, see the Biosecurity Tasmania section on DPIPWE's COVID-19 Response page.

Does the quarantine period apply to maritime crew?

The State Controller offers the following class exemptions to eligible maritime crew from being required to quarantine in a government facility for a period of 14 days:

• Class I: Maritime crew ‘signing-off’ a commercial or government vessel in Tasmania.
• Class II: Maritime crew arriving in Tasmania to join a commercial or government vessel.
• Class III: Maritime crew who are Tasmanian residents returning after disembarking at an interstate port.

These class exemptions are available to maritime crew of commercial and government vessels who are not eligible for the Category 3 exemption of the Schedule of Specified Persons. These exemptions do not apply to crew of cruise ships.

See Maritime crew for more information.

You cannot go to work as a healthcare worker if:

• you have direct patient contact AND you develop a fever (≥38°C) or history of fever (eg night sweats, chills) OR an acute respiratory infection (eg shortness of breath, cough, sore throat); you fit the definition of a suspect case of COVID-19 and need to be tested*
• you meet any criteria for quarantine and have not been given exemption from quarantine to attend work; you need to stay at home
• you had unprotected close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days^; you need to quarantine for 14 days from your last contact with the confirmed case.

*This does not include contact you may have with confirmed cases while using recommended personal protective equipment and infection control measures as part of your work.

^Early detection of COVID-19 in healthcare workers is an important protective mechanism for the higher risk population that we care for. For this reason, healthcare workers that provide direct care have a lower threshold for being a suspect case.

If you need to stay away from work but cannot do this in your own home, you may be eligible for emergency accommodation.

For more information for health and aged care workers head to the Resources page.

Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other people. This includes having measures in place to eliminate or manage the risks arising from COVID-19.

To do this WorkSafe Tasmania advises:

• to keep up to date with Tasmanian Government advice on controls to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including any restrictions on normal business activities, and respond accordingly
• if there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your place of business, you should seek advice from Public Health Services by calling the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738
• if Public Health Services becomes aware of a positive diagnosis, it has procedures in place to track the movements of the person and will provide advice on what action should be taken
• current legislative requirements remain in force; however, if you are unable to meet your regulatory obligations because of COVID-19 then WorkSafe Tasmania will take a reasonable and proportionate response.

If employers need to make changes to usual working hours/days or systems of work, they must do a risk assessment and control any risks found. Issues that could arise include fatigue, work breaks, workers' training/skill levels, and providing information, training and supervision to insure workers' safety. WorkSafe Tasmania’s website has guidance on how to manage these issues.

The Tasmanian Government’s COVID-19 Safe Workplaces Framework supports workplaces as they re-open or expand their business activities during the pandemic, while ensuring the health and safety of all Tasmanians. WorkSafe  Tasmania have published a series of  COVID-19 Safe Workplace Guidelines. These will help you complete your COVID-19 Safety Plan.

For more COVID-19 specific guidance and resources — including workplace safety, pandemic planning, industry-specific guidance (including construction, retail, transport and more), working safely from home, and COVID-19 incident notification requirements — see WorkSafe Tasmania’s COVID-19 advice. Please check this website regularly for updates.

Workers compensation

Under the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, employers are required to pay compensation to a worker who has contracted COVID-19 and their employment contributed to this to a substantial degree. The issue is one of determining that the worker’s employment is the major or most significant factor in them contracting COVID-19.

For more COVID-19 specific guidance on workers compensation, for employers and workers, see WorkSafe Tasmania's website. Please check this website regularly for any updates.