COVID-19 for Workplaces Pack
For the Employer in the My industry isn't here industry

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of masks in the workplace. This information will assist you to assess whether the use of masks for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work.

You will need to review this assessment from time to time.

The use of masks is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of masks that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website

Masks as a control for COVID-19

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures masks are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure that the masks are worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. Masks can also protect people from inhaling the virus. 

Masks can be a critical part of protecting against COVID-19. However, even if your workers use masks, to ensure you meet your duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

When deciding how to control the risks of COVID-19, employers have a duty to consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives about how to use control measures to manage the risks. This includes having administrative workplace policies and procedures related to the use of masks. 

If you have a case of COVID-19 in the workplace, your state or territory health authority can provide you with advice on what you need to do. Follow their instructions. More information about COVID-19 incident notification in the workplace is on the Safe Work Australia website.

Risk Assessment

Under the model WHS laws, employers have a duty to manage the health and safety risks, so far as reasonably practicable, in the workplace. You should always aim to eliminate risks. If you can’t eliminate the risks of COVID-19, you must minimise the risks so far is reasonably practicable. This requires a risk assessment to identify what type of reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measure, such as masks, are needed to protect workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The use of masks will be based on determining the risks of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus and the type of mask best suited to minimise the risks of COVID-19 for your workplace. 

The use of masks in the workplace to manage the risks of COVID-19 may not be the same for all businesses and will depend on a range of factors, including whether public health directions apply (e.g. use of masks), the type of business, the level of customer interaction, the level of community transmission of the virus in the geographic area, business layout (including ability to physical distance) and worker demographics (e.g. people at higher risk of COVID-19 illness). 

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives when identifying the risks and when proposing the use of masks as a control measure. Remember that prolonged use of masks in the workplace may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered in your risk assessment and consultation with workers.

More information about controlling the risk of heat-related illnesses can be found in Safe Work Australia’s guide on Managing the risks of working in heat.

A risk assessment will assist you to:

• identify which workers are at risk of COVID-19,
• determine what sources and processes are causing the risk of COVID-19, 
• identify the control measures that are required to minimise the risk of COVID-19, which may include masks, and
• check the effectiveness of your control measures. 

You must review your workplace risk assessment and control measures periodically, including when new COVID-19 variants emerge and/or as your workplace situation changes, to ensure their ongoing appropriateness and effectiveness based on the latest advice from your state or territory health department and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Even if wearing a mask is no longer required under public health directions, you still have a duty to review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to require masks to be worn in your workplace. 

More information is available about how to prepare a risk assessment on the Safe Work Australia website.

Types of masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure you use the appropriate mask for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is approved for medical use.

P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. 

For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

What are cloth masks? How should they be used?

A cloth mask is a non-sterile, reusable mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment. Cloth masks are not medical grade masks and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. When cloth masks are properly constructed and fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus.

A cloth mask can be made with one type or a combination of fabrics including washable woven and non-woven fabrics such as cotton, cotton/synthetic blends, polyesters and breathable, spun bond polypropylene. The effectiveness of a cloth mask to prevent spreading respiratory droplets will vary, depending on the thickness of the weave and the number of layers. They should be properly constructed with the appropriate fabrics and have a minimum of three layers. 

A scarf or bandana or any other single layer cloth mask does not provide effective protection from spreading the COVID-19 virus and is not recommended.

Cloth masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, retail and online suppliers or homemade. 

Cloth masks are not recommended for high-risk COVID-19 settings but may be suitable for indoor or outdoor settings where there is a low-risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

How to put on a cloth mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over your mouth, nose and chin.
• Check there are no gaps on the sides of the mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day.
• Replace your mask regularly and when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a cloth mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Store used dry cloth masks in a clean plastic bag.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• After removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Wash used cloth masks once a day.

Do not reuse a cloth mask the next day unless it has been washed.

Cloth masks should be washed once a day in the washing machine (water temperature at least 60 degrees), or handwashed using soap and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth. Dry the cloth mask in the clothes dryer or in fresh air. Store in a clean plastic bag. 

The Australian Government Department of Health has instructions on how to make your own cloth face mask, and how to wear and wash them.

What are utility masks? How should they be used?

A utility mask is a non-sterile, single use mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. When utility masks are fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. A utility mask looks similar to a surgical mask, however, utility masks are not medical grade masks and not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus, although the level of protection may not be that of a surgical mask.

Utility masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers.

How to put on a utility mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip).
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a utility mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are surgical masks? How should they be used?

A surgical mask is a non-sterile, single use, medical grade mask regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration that covers the mouth and nose but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. They can help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises that surgical masks do not provide the wearer complete protection from viruses in airborne droplets. However, they can help protect the wearer from splashes, large droplets and aerosols reaching their mouth or nose.

Surgical masks have different grades of filtration that must comply with the Australian Standards 4381:2015 and/or equivalent international standards. They are graded as level 1, 2 or 3 based on the level of protection and fluid resistance. The grading level would be clearly labelled on the packaging. Level 1 surgical masks are acceptable for general use/patient care and level 2 or 3 surgical masks are used when there is a higher risk of exposure to body fluids. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for surgical masks. This has resulted in poorly made and non-compliant masks entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical mask is approved for medical use.

Surgical masks are available for purchase at pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers, including manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment.

When using a surgical mask, ensure you always follow the manufacturer’s instruction for use. If you do not have these, see the general instructions below for how to put on a surgical mask.

How to put on a surgical mask 

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser (or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip) and the inside of the mask (usually the white side) towards the face. If available, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Hold the mask by the ear loops and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a surgical mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are respirator masks? How should they be used?

A respirator mask is a P2/N95 (or equivalent) medical grade mask that provides protection against airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria in aerosols or respiratory droplets. P2/N95 medical grade respirator masks must meet the Australian/New Zealand Standards 1716:2021 and/or equivalent international standards and are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

P2/N95 respirators should form a very close seal around the nose and mouth and are recommended for use in high-risk workplace settings such as health care and quarantine sites.

Surgical P2/N95 respirators must meet the same performance requirements as a standard P2/N95 respirator but also meet the Standards for fluid resistance against bodily fluids, which may occur during high-risk medical procedures. Surgical P2/N95 respirators are also regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator or surgical P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

It is essential that a P2/N95 respirator is properly fitted to the wearer’s face by performing a fit test and fit check. 

Fit testing

The purpose of a P2/N95 respirator fit test is to match the correct size and style of the respirator to the individual. Fit testing of a P2/N95 respirator masks must be done in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1715:2009 and should be repeated each time a new style of P2/N95 respirator is used. A fit test can be carried out by a competent person, manufacturer, supplier, or service provider. A correct facial seal ensures that the respirator fits the individual’s face without gaps between the skin and the respirator that could allow respiratory particles to bypass the filter.

Fit testing methods are either:

• Qualitative - relies on the individual’s ability to taste or smell a test agent. The chosen respirator should fit snugly on the face to create a seal, which can be checked by gently inhaling and exhaling. If the mask is not drawn towards the face, or there are air leaks around the face seal or nose, readjust the mask and repeat the fit test until no leaks can be felt.
• Quantitative - requires using specialised equipment used by a trained operator to measure how much air leaks into the respirator.

Facial hair, including a 1-2-day beard growth, can affect the seal between the respirator and the wearer’s face. The face must be smooth and/or clean shaven to achieve a tight seal. NSW Health has published more information about facial hair and respirator fit.

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that a fit test does not guarantee that the chosen P2/N95 respirator will not leak during future use because of changes in facial shape. Therefore, a fit check should be done each time it is used. 

Fit checking

A fit check ensures the P2/N95 respirator fit the individual’s face snugly against the skin, creating a seal to minimise exposure to airborne biological particles. A fit check should be carried out each time a P2/N95 respirator is worn by gently inhaling. If the mask is not drawn in towards the face, or air leaks around the face seal, readjust the mask and repeat process or check for defects in the mask.

If available, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to carry out a fit check.

More information about P2/N95 respirators is available on the Infection Control Expert Group website.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for P2/N95 respirators for medical use. This has resulted in fake or non-compliant P2/N95 respirators entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

Read SafeWork NSW’s and WorkSafe Qld’s alerts about what to check to ensure that P2/N95 respirator meet the required standards and what to do if you come across one that is not fit for purpose.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has published guidance about face masks and respirators that are regulated in Australia.

P2/N95 respirators for medical use are available from online suppliers, including manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment. 

How to put on a P2/N95 respirator mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser (or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Only touch the outer edges of the mask.
• Separate the edges and straps.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the nose piece (has a metal strip). If available, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Slightly bend the nosepiece to form a gentle curve.
• Hold the two headbands in your fingers and position the mask under your chin with the nose piece up.
• Pull the headbands over the top of your head. The top strap should sit high at the back of the head and the bottom strap positioned below the ears. 
• Using both hands, press down on the metal strip to the shape of your nose to create a seal.
• The mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• To check for a positive seal, exhaling sharply to ensure there are no leaks around the mask. If there are leaks, adjust the position of the mask and straps for a tighter fit.
• To check for a negative seal, inhale deeply to ensure the mask is pulled towards your face. If there are leaks, adjust the position of the mask and straps for a tighter fit.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a P2/N95 respirator mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Queensland Health has published an infographic on how to fit a P2/N95 mask.

Do I need to provide masks to workers?

Following a risk assessment and consultation with your workers, if you determine that masks are a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19, then you must provide them to your workers.

However, COVID-19 public health directions can be issued by governments for workplaces to wear face masks. If so, you must provide them to your workers. It is important that you keep up to date with the public health directions that apply in your state or territory, and ensure that these are followed at your workplace.

The Australian Government Department of Health has published information on when masks should be worn in the community and general COVID-19 information on face masks and who should use them. 

If your workers are required to wear masks, you must provide them. Single use masks, disposable masks (e.g. utility and surgical masks) or properly constructed cloth masks may be used. You must provide appropriate training and instruction on how to put on, wear, remove, clean and maintain (as necessary) or dispose of the mask. Information about using a mask would be provided by the manufacturer. Checking that the mask forms a close fit with the face is very important to ensure that the mask used is effective. In some workplace settings, a risk assessment may identify that a P2/N95 respirator is required to minimise the risk to the COVID-19 virus. If a P2/N95 respirator is required, it must be approved for medical use and users must be trained in the correct method of fitting, fit testing, fit checking and removing of P2/N95 respirators. If a worker has been provided training and instruction about using a mask, they must comply with that training and those instructions. 

For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

Can I direct a worker to wear a mask?

You can direct a worker to wear a mask if you, in consultation with those workers, decide it is necessary to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Be aware that the inappropriate or incorrect use of masks may increase the risk of COVID-19 and may result in new work, health and safety risks. Workers required to wear a mask must be trained in how to wear, remove and dispose of masks, including performing good hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol) before fitting the mask, and before and after taking it off. Masks need to be replaced frequently and for re-usable cloth masks stored correctly between uses. 

You will need to ensure that appropriate facilities are provided if masks are used at the workplace. This includes appropriate hand washing or sanitising facilities and a closed bin to dispose of used disposable masks.

Single use, disposable masks may be a good option for most workplaces. However, properly constructed cloth masks may be considered if they are replaced frequently, and appropriate laundering arrangements are in place. Single use masks should not be washed and reused.

What else must I do to protect workers?

Masks alone will not provide complete protection from exposure to COVID-19. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

How do I put on and remove a mask?

If a mask (single use or cloth mask) is going to be used at the workplace you must provide workers with instruction and training on how to use them safely. If workers are also wearing gloves, they will need to put their mask on before their gloves. 

It is important to be mindful of how you put on, remove and dispose (e.g. single use mask) or store (e.g. cloth mask) your mask. Your mask may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carries in respiratory droplets and aerosols. This is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When using masks, you should:

• Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
• Take your time, don’t rush.
• Always perform hand hygiene prior to putting on, after removing, and disposing or storing your mask.
• Ensure your mask avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing or storing.

Follow all instructions for effective use of the mask that is provided by the manufacturer. If you do not have these, see instructions for how to use a:

• cloth mask,
• utility mask, 
• surgical mask, or
• P2/N95 respirator.

How to dispose of single use masks?

Single use, disposable masks can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the mask inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, masks should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene after removing and disposing of your masks. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

For information about the disposal of masks in health care settings, you will need to refer to the Australian Government Department of Health and state and territory health authorities.

Can masks that are past their shelf-life date be used?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration provides advice on surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommends not using surgical masks that are past their shelf life. However, if there is low supply and high demand, these masks can be used if they are past their shelf life if: 

• the ear loops, ties or bands are intact, and
• there are no signs of visible damage.

Further Information

• For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of masks in the workplace. This information will assist you to assess whether the use of masks for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work.

You will need to review this assessment from time to time.

The use of masks is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of masks that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website

Masks as a control for COVID-19

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures masks are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure that the masks are worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. Masks can also protect people from inhaling the virus. 

Masks can be a critical part of protecting against COVID-19. However, even if your workers use masks, to ensure you meet your duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

When deciding how to control the risks of COVID-19, employers have a duty to consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives about how to use control measures to manage the risks. This includes having administrative workplace policies and procedures related to the use of masks. 

If you have a case of COVID-19 in the workplace, your state or territory health authority can provide you with advice on what you need to do. Follow their instructions. More information about COVID-19 incident notification in the workplace is on the Safe Work Australia website.

Risk Assessment

Under the model WHS laws, employers have a duty to manage the health and safety risks, so far as reasonably practicable, in the workplace. You should always aim to eliminate risks. If you can’t eliminate the risks of COVID-19, you must minimise the risks so far is reasonably practicable. This requires a risk assessment to identify what type of reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measure, such as masks, are needed to protect workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The use of masks will be based on determining the risks of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus and the type of mask best suited to minimise the risks of COVID-19 for your workplace. 

The use of masks in the workplace to manage the risks of COVID-19 may not be the same for all businesses and will depend on a range of factors, including whether public health directions apply (e.g. use of masks), the type of business, the level of customer interaction, the level of community transmission of the virus in the geographic area, business layout (including ability to physical distance) and worker demographics (e.g. people at higher risk of COVID-19 illness). 

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives when identifying the risks and when proposing the use of masks as a control measure. Remember that prolonged use of masks in the workplace may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered in your risk assessment and consultation with workers.

More information about controlling the risk of heat-related illnesses can be found in Safe Work Australia’s guide on Managing the risks of working in heat.

A risk assessment will assist you to:

• identify which workers are at risk of COVID-19,
• determine what sources and processes are causing the risk of COVID-19, 
• identify the control measures that are required to minimise the risk of COVID-19, which may include masks, and
• check the effectiveness of your control measures. 

You must review your workplace risk assessment and control measures periodically, including when new COVID-19 variants emerge and/or as your workplace situation changes, to ensure their ongoing appropriateness and effectiveness based on the latest advice from your state or territory health department and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Even if wearing a mask is no longer required under public health directions, you still have a duty to review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to require masks to be worn in your workplace. 

More information is available about how to prepare a risk assessment on the Safe Work Australia website.

Types of masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure you use the appropriate mask for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is approved for medical use.

P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. 

For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

What are cloth masks? How should they be used?

A cloth mask is a non-sterile, reusable mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment. Cloth masks are not medical grade masks and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. When cloth masks are properly constructed and fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus.

A cloth mask can be made with one type or a combination of fabrics including washable woven and non-woven fabrics such as cotton, cotton/synthetic blends, polyesters and breathable, spun bond polypropylene. The effectiveness of a cloth mask to prevent spreading respiratory droplets will vary, depending on the thickness of the weave and the number of layers. They should be properly constructed with the appropriate fabrics and have a minimum of three layers. 

A scarf or bandana or any other single layer cloth mask does not provide effective protection from spreading the COVID-19 virus and is not recommended.

Cloth masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, retail and online suppliers or homemade. 

Cloth masks are not recommended for high-risk COVID-19 settings but may be suitable for indoor or outdoor settings where there is a low-risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

How to put on a cloth mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over your mouth, nose and chin.
• Check there are no gaps on the sides of the mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day.
• Replace your mask regularly and when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a cloth mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Store used dry cloth masks in a clean plastic bag.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• After removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Wash used cloth masks once a day.

Do not reuse a cloth mask the next day unless it has been washed.

Cloth masks should be washed once a day in the washing machine (water temperature at least 60 degrees), or handwashed using soap and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth. Dry the cloth mask in the clothes dryer or in fresh air. Store in a clean plastic bag. 

The Australian Government Department of Health has instructions on how to make your own cloth face mask, and how to wear and wash them.

What are utility masks? How should they be used?

A utility mask is a non-sterile, single use mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. When utility masks are fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. A utility mask looks similar to a surgical mask, however, utility masks are not medical grade masks and not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus, although the level of protection may not be that of a surgical mask.

Utility masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers.

How to put on a utility mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip).
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a utility mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are surgical masks? How should they be used?

A surgical mask is a non-sterile, single use, medical grade mask regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration that covers the mouth and nose but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. They can help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises that surgical masks do not provide the wearer complete protection from viruses in airborne droplets. However, they can help protect the wearer from splashes, large droplets and aerosols reaching their mouth or nose.

Surgical masks have different grades of filtration that must comply with the Australian Standards 4381:2015 and/or equivalent international standards. They are graded as level 1, 2 or 3 based on the level of protection and fluid resistance. The grading level would be clearly labelled on the packaging. Level 1 surgical masks are acceptable for general use/patient care and level 2 or 3 surgical masks are used when there is a higher risk of exposure to body fluids. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for surgical masks. This has resulted in poorly made and non-compliant masks entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical mask is approved for medical use.

Surgical masks are available for purchase at pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers, including manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment.

When using a surgical mask, ensure you always follow the manufacturer’s instruction for use. If you do not have these, see the general instructions below for how to put on a surgical mask.

How to put on a surgical mask 

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser (or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip) and the inside of the mask (usually the white side) towards the face. If available, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Hold the mask by the ear loops and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a surgical mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are respirator masks? How should they be used?

A respirator mask is a P2/N95 (or equivalent) medical grade mask that provides protection against airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria in aerosols or respiratory droplets. P2/N95 medical grade respirator masks must meet the Australian/New Zealand Standards 1716:2021 and/or equivalent international standards and are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

P2/N95 respirators should form a very close seal around the nose and mouth and are recommended for use in high-risk workplace settings such as health care and quarantine sites.

Surgical P2/N95 respirators must meet the same performance requirements as a standard P2/N95 respirator but also meet the Standards for fluid resistance against bodily fluids, which may occur during high-risk medical procedures. Surgical P2/N95 respirators are also regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator or surgical P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

It is essential that a P2/N95 respirator is properly fitted to the wearer’s face by performing a fit test and fit check. 

Fit testing

The purpose of a P2/N95 respirator fit test is to match the correct size and style of the respirator to the individual. Fit testing of a P2/N95 respirator masks must be done in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1715:2009 and should be repeated each time a new style of P2/N95 respirator is used. A fit test can be carried out by a competent person, manufacturer, supplier, or service provider. A correct facial seal ensures that the respirator fits the individual’s face without gaps between the skin and the respirator that could allow respiratory particles to bypass the filter.

Fit testing methods are either:

• Qualitative - relies on the individual’s ability to taste or smell a test agent. The chosen respirator should fit snugly on the face to create a seal, which can be checked by gently inhaling and exhaling. If the mask is not drawn towards the face, or there are air leaks around the face seal or nose, readjust the mask and repeat the fit test until no leaks can be felt.
• Quantitative - requires using specialised equipment used by a trained operator to measure how much air leaks into the respirator.

Facial hair, including a 1-2-day beard growth, can affect the seal between the respirator and the wearer’s face. The face must be smooth and/or clean shaven to achieve a tight seal. NSW Health has published more information about facial hair and respirator fit.

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that a fit test does not guarantee that the chosen P2/N95 respirator will not leak during future use because of changes in facial shape. Therefore, a fit check should be done each time it is used. 

Fit checking

A fit check ensures the P2/N95 respirator fit the individual’s face snugly against the skin, creating a seal to minimise exposure to airborne biological particles. A fit check should be carried out each time a P2/N95 respirator is worn by gently inhaling. If the mask is not drawn in towards the face, or air leaks around the face seal, readjust the mask and repeat process or check for defects in the mask.

If available, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to carry out a fit check.

More information about P2/N95 respirators is available on the Infection Control Expert Group website.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for P2/N95 respirators for medical use. This has resulted in fake or non-compliant P2/N95 respirators entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

Read SafeWork NSW’s and WorkSafe Qld’s alerts about what to check to ensure that P2/N95 respirator meet the required standards and what to do if you come across one that is not fit for purpose.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has published guidance about face masks and respirators that are regulated in Australia.

P2/N95 respirators for medical use are available from online suppliers, including manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment. 

How to put on a P2/N95 respirator mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser (or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Only touch the outer edges of the mask.
• Separate the edges and straps.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the nose piece (has a metal strip). If available, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Slightly bend the nosepiece to form a gentle curve.
• Hold the two headbands in your fingers and position the mask under your chin with the nose piece up.
• Pull the headbands over the top of your head. The top strap should sit high at the back of the head and the bottom strap positioned below the ears. 
• Using both hands, press down on the metal strip to the shape of your nose to create a seal.
• The mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• To check for a positive seal, exhaling sharply to ensure there are no leaks around the mask. If there are leaks, adjust the position of the mask and straps for a tighter fit.
• To check for a negative seal, inhale deeply to ensure the mask is pulled towards your face. If there are leaks, adjust the position of the mask and straps for a tighter fit.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a P2/N95 respirator mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Queensland Health has published an infographic on how to fit a P2/N95 mask.

Do I need to provide masks to workers?

Following a risk assessment and consultation with your workers, if you determine that masks are a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19, then you must provide them to your workers.

However, COVID-19 public health directions can be issued by governments for workplaces to wear face masks. If so, you must provide them to your workers. It is important that you keep up to date with the public health directions that apply in your state or territory, and ensure that these are followed at your workplace.

The Australian Government Department of Health has published information on when masks should be worn in the community and general COVID-19 information on face masks and who should use them. 

If your workers are required to wear masks, you must provide them. Single use masks, disposable masks (e.g. utility and surgical masks) or properly constructed cloth masks may be used. You must provide appropriate training and instruction on how to put on, wear, remove, clean and maintain (as necessary) or dispose of the mask. Information about using a mask would be provided by the manufacturer. Checking that the mask forms a close fit with the face is very important to ensure that the mask used is effective. In some workplace settings, a risk assessment may identify that a P2/N95 respirator is required to minimise the risk to the COVID-19 virus. If a P2/N95 respirator is required, it must be approved for medical use and users must be trained in the correct method of fitting, fit testing, fit checking and removing of P2/N95 respirators. If a worker has been provided training and instruction about using a mask, they must comply with that training and those instructions. 

For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

Can I direct a worker to wear a mask?

You can direct a worker to wear a mask if you, in consultation with those workers, decide it is necessary to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Be aware that the inappropriate or incorrect use of masks may increase the risk of COVID-19 and may result in new work, health and safety risks. Workers required to wear a mask must be trained in how to wear, remove and dispose of masks, including performing good hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol) before fitting the mask, and before and after taking it off. Masks need to be replaced frequently and for re-usable cloth masks stored correctly between uses. 

You will need to ensure that appropriate facilities are provided if masks are used at the workplace. This includes appropriate hand washing or sanitising facilities and a closed bin to dispose of used disposable masks.

Single use, disposable masks may be a good option for most workplaces. However, properly constructed cloth masks may be considered if they are replaced frequently, and appropriate laundering arrangements are in place. Single use masks should not be washed and reused.

What else must I do to protect workers?

Masks alone will not provide complete protection from exposure to COVID-19. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

How do I put on and remove a mask?

If a mask (single use or cloth mask) is going to be used at the workplace you must provide workers with instruction and training on how to use them safely. If workers are also wearing gloves, they will need to put their mask on before their gloves. 

It is important to be mindful of how you put on, remove and dispose (e.g. single use mask) or store (e.g. cloth mask) your mask. Your mask may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carries in respiratory droplets and aerosols. This is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When using masks, you should:

• Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
• Take your time, don’t rush.
• Always perform hand hygiene prior to putting on, after removing, and disposing or storing your mask.
• Ensure your mask avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing or storing.

Follow all instructions for effective use of the mask that is provided by the manufacturer. If you do not have these, see instructions for how to use a:

• cloth mask,
• utility mask, 
• surgical mask, or
• P2/N95 respirator.

How to dispose of single use masks?

Single use, disposable masks can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the mask inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, masks should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene after removing and disposing of your masks. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

For information about the disposal of masks in health care settings, you will need to refer to the Australian Government Department of Health and state and territory health authorities.

Can masks that are past their shelf-life date be used?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration provides advice on surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommends not using surgical masks that are past their shelf life. However, if there is low supply and high demand, these masks can be used if they are past their shelf life if: 

• the ear loops, ties or bands are intact, and
• there are no signs of visible damage.

Further Information

• For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

This page provides information about your obligations as a worker, and your employers’ obligations, under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of masks in the workplace. This includes information  on whether the use of masks for workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, the use of masks is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. Your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

You must comply so far is you are reasonably able with a reasonable instruction given by your employer about WHS matters (including about managing the risks of COVID-19. In addition to the obligations under the model WHS laws, you and your employer must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of masks that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

As a worker, you must take reasonable care for your own health and safety, and that of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions. You must comply, so far as you are reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by your employer so they comply with the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. You must also cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure that has been notified and provided to you.

Your employer has a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures masks are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure that the masks are worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Some states and territories have issued public health directions or orders that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions or orders  are made, you must follow them. 

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. Masks can also protect people from inhaling the virus. 

Masks can be a critical part of protecting against COVID-19. However, even if your employer determines that the use of masks is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on as the only control measure. To ensure your employer meets their duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination,, where applicable,
• ensuring you do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where you would come into close contact with other workers, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

When deciding how to control the risks of COVID-19, your employer has a duty to consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives about how to use control measures to manage the risks. This includes having administrative workplace policies and procedures related to the use of masks. 

Does my employer need to undertake a risk assessment and consult with workers?

Under the model WHS laws, your employer has a duty to manage the health and safety risks, so far as reasonably practicable, in the workplace. You should always aim to eliminate risks. If your employer can’t eliminate the risks of COVID-19, they must minimise the risks so far is reasonably practicable. This requires a risk assessment to identify what type of reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measure, such as masks, are needed to protect workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The use of masks will be based on determining the risks of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus and the type of mask best suited to minimise the risks of COVID-19 for your workplace. 

The use of masks in the workplace to manage the risks of COVID-19 may not be the same for all businesses and will depend on a range of factors, including whether public health directions or orders apply (e.g. use of masks), the type of business, the level of customer interaction, the level of community transmission of the virus in the geographic area, business layout (including ability to physical distance) and worker demographics (e.g. people at higher risk of COVID-19 illness). 

Your employer must consult with you and any Health and Safety Representatives when identifying the risks and when proposing the use of masks as a control measure. Remember that prolonged use of masks in the workplace may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered in the risk assessment and the consultation.

More information about controlling the risk of heat-related illnesses can be found in Safe Work Australia’s guide on Managing the risks of working in heat.

The risk assessment will assist your employer to:

• identify which workers are at risk of COVID-19,
• determine what sources and processes are causing the risk of COVID-19, 
• identify the control measures that are required to minimise the risk of COVID-19, which may include masks, and
• check the effectiveness of your control measures. 

Your employer must review your workplace risk assessment and control measures periodically, including when new COVID-19 variants emerge and/or as your workplace situation changes, to ensure their ongoing appropriateness and effectiveness based on the latest advice from your state or territory health department and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Even if wearing a mask is no longer required under public health directions or orders, your employer still has a duty to review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to require masks to be worn in your workplace. 

Does my employer need to provide masks to workers?

As a result of the risk assessment and consultation with you and any Health and Safety Representatives, your employer may determine that masks are a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19. In these circumstances, your employer must provide masks to you.

However, public health directions or orders can be issued by governments for workplaces to wear face masks. If so, your employer must provide them to workers. It is important that your employer keeps up to date with the public health directions or orders that apply in your state or territory, and ensures that these are followed at the workplace.

The Australian Government Department of Health has published information on when masks should be worn in the community and general COVID-19 information on face masks and who should use them. 

If you are required to wear masks, then your employer must provide them to you. Single use masks, disposable masks (e.g. utility and surgical masks) or properly constructed cloth masks may be used. Your employer must provide you with appropriate training and instruction on how to put on, wear, remove, clean and maintain (as necessary) or dispose of the mask. Checking that the mask forms a close fit with the face is very important to ensure that the mask used is effective. In some workplace settings, a risk assessment may identify that a P2/N95 respirator is required to minimise the risk to the COVID-19 virus. If a P2/N95 respirator is required, it must be approved for medical use and users must be trained in the correct method of fitting, fit testing, fit checking and removing of P2/N95 respirators.

If you have been provided training and instruction about using a mask, you must comply with that training and those instructions. 

Can workers be directed to wear a mask?

Your employer can direct you or other workers to wear a mask if, following consultation with workers and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs; if any), they decide it is necessary to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Be aware that the inappropriate or incorrect use of masks may increase the risk of COVID-19 and may result in new work, health and safety risks. If you are required to wear a mask, you must be trained in how to wear, remove and dispose of masks, including performing good hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol) before fitting the mask, and before and after taking it off. Masks need to be replaced frequently and, for re-usable cloth masks, stored correctly between uses. 

Your employer will need to ensure that appropriate facilities are provided if masks are used at the workplace. This includes appropriate hand washing or sanitising facilities and a bin to dispose of used disposable masks.

Single use, disposable masks may be a good option for most workplaces. However, cloth masks may be considered if they are replaced frequently, and appropriate laundering arrangements are in place. Single use masks should not be washed and reused. 

Types of masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure the appropriate mask is used for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is approved for medical use.

P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. 

For further information see our Comparison of mask types for COVID-19 web page.

What are cloth masks? How should they be used? 

A cloth mask is a non-sterile, reusable mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment. Cloth masks are not medical grade masks and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. When cloth masks are properly constructed and fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus.

A cloth mask can be made with one type or a combination of fabrics including washable woven and non-woven fabrics such as cotton, cotton/synthetic blends, polyesters and breathable, spun bond polypropylene. The effectiveness of a cloth mask to prevent spreading respiratory droplets will vary, depending on the thickness of the weave and the number of layers. They should be properly constructed with the appropriate fabrics and have a minimum of three layers. 

A scarf or bandana or any other single layer cloth mask does not provide effective protection from spreading the COVID-19 virus and is not recommended.

Cloth masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, retail and online suppliers or homemade. 

Cloth masks are not recommended for high-risk COVID-19 settings but may be suitable for indoor or outdoor settings where there is a low-risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

How to put on a cloth mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over your mouth, nose and chin.
• Check there are no gaps on the sides of the mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day.
• Replace your mask regularly and when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a cloth mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Store used dry cloth masks in a clean plastic bag.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• After removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Wash used cloth masks once a day.

Do not reuse a cloth mask the next day unless it has been washed.

Cloth masks should be washed once a day in the washing machine (water temperature at least 60 degrees), or handwashed using soap and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth. Dry the cloth mask in the clothes dryer or in fresh air. Store in a clean plastic bag. 

The Australian Government Department of Health has instructions on how to make your own cloth face mask, and how to wear and wash them.

What are utility masks? How should they be used?

A utility mask is a non-sterile, single use mask covering the nose and mouth to create a physical barrier between the wearer and the environment but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. When utility masks are fitted correctly, they help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. A utility mask looks similar to a surgical mask, however, utility masks are not medical grade masks and not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. They may also provide some protection to the wearer from inhaling the virus, although the level of protection may not be that of a surgical mask.

Utility masks can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers.

How to put on a utility mask

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip).
• Hold the mask by the side straps and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a utility mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are surgical masks? How should they be used?

A surgical mask is a non-sterile, single use, medical grade mask regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration that covers the mouth and nose but does not achieve a close seal to the wearer’s face. They can help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises that surgical masks do not provide the wearer complete protection from viruses in airborne droplets. However, they can help protect the wearer from splashes, large droplets and aerosols reaching their mouth or nose.

Surgical masks have different grades of filtration that must comply with the Australian Standards 4381:2015 and/or equivalent international standards. They are graded as level 1, 2 or 3 based on the level of protection and fluid resistance. The grading level would be clearly labelled on the packaging. Level 1 surgical masks are acceptable for general use/patient care and level 2 or 3 surgical masks are used when there is a higher risk of exposure to body fluids. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for surgical masks. This has resulted in poorly made and non-compliant masks entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical mask is approved for medical use.

Surgical masks are available for purchase at pharmacies, supermarkets, and online suppliers, including manufacturers and suppliers of scientific equipment.

When using a surgical mask, ensure you always follow the manufacturer’s instruction for use. If you do not have these, see the general instructions below for how to put on a surgical mask.

How to put on a surgical mask 

• Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser (or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Check that the mask does not have tears, holes and the straps are not broken.
• Identify the top of the mask (has a metal strip) and the inside of the mask (usually the white side) towards the face. If available, read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Hold the mask by the ear loops and place a loop around each ear.
• Put the mask over the mouth, nose and chin with the metal strip on the top of the nose.
• Check there are no gaps between the face and mask.
• Check the ear loops do not cross-over as this widens the gap between the face and mask.
• Squeeze the metal strip across the top of the nose to create a seal.
• Avoid touching and adjusting the front of the mask. This can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Avoid using the same mask continuously throughout the day. 
• Replace your mask regularly during the day (every 3 to 4 hours) or when it becomes visibly soiled or feels damp. 

How to remove a surgical mask

• Before touching and removing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Always use the side straps when removing the mask. 
• Lean forward, lift the side straps over the ears and pull the mask away from your face.
• Avoid touching the front of the mask as this can lead to self-contamination and spread any infection from your hand to other surfaces, objects and new masks. 
• Dispose the used mask immediately into a closed bin.
• After removing and disposing your mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

What are respirator masks? How should they be used?

A respirator mask is a P2/N95 (or equivalent) medical grade mask that provides protection against airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria in aerosols or respiratory droplets. P2/N95 medical grade respirator masks must meet the Australian/New Zealand Standards 1716:2021 and/or equivalent international standards and are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

P2/N95 respirators should form a very close seal around the nose and mouth and are recommended for use in high-risk workplace settings such as health care and quarantine sites.

Surgical P2/N95 respirators must meet the same performance requirements as a standard P2/N95 respirator but also meet the Standards for fluid resistance against bodily fluids, which may occur during high-risk medical procedures. Surgical P2/N95 respirators are also regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator or surgical P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

It is essential that a P2/N95 respirator is properly fitted to the wearer’s face by performing a fit test and fit check. 

Fit testing

The purpose of a P2/N95 respirator fit test is to match the correct size and style of the respirator to the individual. Fit testing of a P2/N95 respirator masks must be done in accordance with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1715:2009 and should be repeated each time a new style of P2/N95 respirator is used. A fit test can be carried out by a competent person, manufacturer, supplier, or service provider. A correct facial seal ensures that the respirator fits the individual’s face without gaps between the skin and the respirator that could allow respiratory particles to bypass the filter.

Fit testing methods are either:

• Qualitative - relies on the individual’s ability to taste or smell a test agent. The chosen respirator should fit snugly on the face to create a seal, which can be checked by gently inhaling and exhaling. If the mask is not drawn towards the face, or there are air leaks around the face seal or nose, readjust the mask and repeat the fit test until no leaks can be felt.
• Quantitative - requires using specialised equipment used by a trained operator to measure how much air leaks into the respirator.

Facial hair, including a 1-2-day beard growth, can affect the seal between the respirator and the wearer’s face. The face must be smooth and/or clean shaven to achieve a tight seal. NSW Health has published more information about facial hair and respirator fit.

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that a fit test does not guarantee that the chosen P2/N95 respirator will not leak during future use because of changes in facial shape. Therefore, a fit check should be done each time it is used. 

Fit checking

A fit check ensures the P2/N95 respirator fit the individual’s face snugly against the skin, creating a seal to minimise exposure to airborne biological particles. A fit check should be carried out each time a P2/N95 respirator is worn by gently inhaling. If the mask is not drawn in towards the face, or air leaks around the face seal, readjust the mask and repeat process or check for defects in the mask.

If available, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to carry out a fit check.

More information about P2/N95 respirators is available on the Infection Control Expert Group website.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for P2/N95 respirators for medical use. This has resulted in fake or non-compliant P2/N95 respirators entering the Australian market. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your P2/N95 respirator is approved for medical use.

Read SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Qld alerts about what to check to ensure that P2/N95 respirator meet the required standards and what to do if you come across one that is not fit for purpose.

How do I put on and remove a mask?

If a mask (single use or cloth mask) is going to be used at your workplace, your employer must provide you with instruction and training on how to use them safely. If you are also wearing gloves,  you will need to put on your mask before putting on the gloves. 

It is important to be mindful of how you put on, remove and dispose (e.g. single use mask) or store (e.g. cloth mask) your mask. Your mask may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carries in respiratory droplets and aerosols. This is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When using masks, you should:

• Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
• Take your time, don’t rush.
• Always perform hand hygiene prior to putting on, after removing, and disposing or storing your mask.
• Ensure your mask avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing or storing.

Follow all instructions for effective use of the mask that is provided by the manufacturer. If you do not have these, see instructions for how to use a:

• cloth mask,
• utility mask, 
• surgical mask, or
• P2/N95 respirator.

How to dispose of single use masks?

Single use, disposable masks can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the mask inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, masks should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene after removing and disposing of your masks. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

For information about the disposal of masks in health care settings, you will need to refer to the Australian Government Department of Health and state and territory health authorities.

Can masks that are past their shelf-life date be used?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration provides advice on surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommends not using surgical masks that are past their shelf life. However, if there is low supply and high demand, these masks can be used if they are past their shelf life if: 

• the ear loops, ties or bands are intact, and
• there are no signs of visible damage.

•  

WHS laws cover risks to psychological (mental) health too. This is a stressful time for all Australians, and you must do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate and reduce the psychological risks to workers and others at the workplace. 

Under WHS laws, you must eliminate or minimise the risk to psychological health and safety arising from the work carried out by your business or undertaking as much as you reasonably can.  

To determine what measures to put in place, you should carry out a risk assessment and consider all the risks to psychological health in your workplace. You must also consult your workers and their representatives. Workers often know what the issues are and have ideas about how to manage them.  

Once you have consulted workers, determined appropriate measures and put them in place, continue to review how you are managing the risks to check your measures are working.  

This is an unprecedented time for all employers and workers. You may wish to seek professional advice on your WHS duties and how to meet them in your particular circumstances. The WHS regulator in your state or territory may also be able to provide further advice. 

What causes psychological injury? What are psychosocial hazards?

A psychosocial hazard is anything in the design or management of work that causes stress. Stress is the physical, mental and emotional reaction a person has when we perceive the demands of their work exceed their ability or resources to cope. Work-related stress if prolonged or severe can cause both psychological and physical injury. Stress itself is not an injury. 

For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced and increased a range of psychosocial hazards in the workplace, at a time when a range of other non-work related psychosocial risks are also occurring (uncertainty about future employment, social isolation etc.).  

Psychosocial hazards arising from COVID-19 include: 

• Exposure to physical hazards and poor environmental conditions 
  • concern about exposure to COVID-19 at work 
  • poor management of WHS risks, lack of equipment and resources, such as insufficient appropriate PPE 
  • exposure to poor conditions such as heat, cold or noise in temporary workplaces 
• Exposure to violence, aggression, traumatic events and discrimination 
  • increased work-related violence, aggression and incivility from patients, customers and members of the public  
  • serious illness or death of colleagues or clients e.g. nursing home deaths due to COVID-19 
  • racism, discrimination or stigma stemming from COVID-19 
  • self-isolation as a result of suspected workplace exposure
• Increased work demand 
  • increased workloads e.g. supermarket home delivery drivers doing more deliveries and longer hours  
  • increased time at work e.g. additional shifts as production moves 24/7 to meet increased demands  
  • increased workload e.g. because of increased cleaning requirements or reduction of workers in workplace due to physical distancing requirements 
  • work required to adjust to rapid change e.g. buying new equipment or setting up new procedures 
• Low support and isolated work 
  • working from home or isolation from others due to physical distancing or isolation requirements results in feelings of not being supported 
  • reduction in number of workers at workplace completing physical tasks to maintain physical distancing requirements 
  • failure (perceived or real) of employers not implementing new policies and procedure to address new working arrangements 
• Poor workplace relationships 
  • increased risk of workplace bullying, aggression and harassment as pandemic continues 
  • workplace racism, discrimination, or stigma, including towards those that have had COVID-19 or are perceived to be a greater risk to others 
  • deterioration of workplace relationships as competing demands lead to less regular and effective two-way communication 
  • decreased opportunity for workplace social connections and interactions 
• Poor organisational change management 
  • lack of planning as a result of the pace of the pandemic 
  • continual restructures to address the effects of COVID-19 and a corresponding failure to provide information and training, consult and communicate with or support workers (e.g. manufacturing companies making different products or redeploying staff to meet changes in demand) 
  • insufficient consideration of the potential WHS and performance impacts due to COVID-19 
• Increased emotional distress 
  • limitations on workers offering the same assistance to colleagues or clients they normally would or witnessing others’ distress in situations where they can’t access their normal services or support e.g. a cancer ward in a hospital has restricted visitors to reduce the risk to patients. The nurses see their patients and family struggle with this isolation.  

How can I eliminate and manage risks to psychological health? 

You should manage psychosocial risks in the same way as physical risks. See our information on managing the physical risks of coronavirus and other WHS risks including work-related violence and aggression for more information. Eliminating or minimising physical risks will also help to manage many psychosocial risks.  

The Infographic: Four steps to preventing psychological injury at work shows how the risk management process can be applied to psychosocial risks and detailed guidance is available in Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties. See also our information about conducting Risk assessments for COVID-19.  

You could use the People at Work online risk assessment tool to help your workplace identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks.

This free online risk assessment tool is easy to use and includes supporting resources for businesses to work through and interpret their results.

A Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, including information, an online community forum and phone counselling service is being provided by Beyond Blue with funding from the Department of Health. You should inform you workers of this support service. 

Tips for managing stress from COVID-19 

• Regularly ask your workers how they are going and if anything is stressing them.  
• Where workers are distressed about the challenging conditions caused by the pandemic, acknowledge their feelings about the situation and reassure workers they are doing what they can in the circumstances  
• Stay informed with information from official sources and regularly communicate or share this information with workers 
• Consult your workers and representatives on any risks to their psychological health and physical health and safety  
• Support innovations to address the psychosocial risks where you reasonably can 
• Provide workers with a point of contact to discuss their concerns  
• Make workplace information available in a central place 
• Inform workers about their entitlements if they become unfit for work or have caring responsibilities 
• Inform workers about their rights under WHS laws, including the right to stop work in certain circumstances and the right not to be discriminated against or disadvantaged for raising work health and safety concerns in the workplace 
• Proactively support workers who you identify to be more at risk of workplace psychological injury (e.g. frontline workers or those working from home), and 
• Refer workers to appropriate work related mental health and wellbeing support services, such as employee assistance programs or the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. 

Non work-related causes of stress

There are things that may stress your workers during the COVID-19 pandemic which may not be work related. Even though you may not have legal obligations in relation to that stress, you should take this into account, and if you are able to, offer workers increased support and flexibility to get through this difficult time. These stressors could include some or all of the following: 

• Financial stress e.g. from reduced hours, loss of employment (such as their own secondary employment or their partners) 
• Balancing work and caring responsibilities e.g. from trying to work while also meeting the needs of children and others unable to attend their usual activities or care arrangements  
• Concern for vulnerable family members/friends e.g. from concerns they might get the virus or increased emotional stress at not being able to visit and assist elderly relatives 
• Change to activities that support good mental health e.g. reduced exercise because of closure of gyms, reduced holidays because of travel limitations and reduced social interactions. 

My workers are worried about catching coronavirus. What should I do?

You should talk to your workers and understand more about their concerns. Once you understand their concerns, ensure you are doing all you reasonably can to eliminate and manage those concerns, see Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties and also our information on managing the physical risks of COVID-19. 

For some workers, being more informed about COVID-19 may help ease their concerns. Provide them with relevant information on COVID-19 and remind them of all the measures you are taking in the workplace to reduce possible exposure. 

You should also remind them of all the services that are available to them for support, e.g. your employee assistance program and the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. It might also be helpful for them to talk to their treating medical practitioners, such as their GP. 

What can I do about customer aggression and the stress it’s causing my workers?

See our information on Work-related violence. 

My staff are working from home. How do I look after their mental health?

The duties under the model WHS laws apply to all workplaces, including where a worker is working from home. When you consider the risks to your workers' psychological health and the control measures you will implement to eliminate or minimise those hazards, you need to do this for all your workplaces, including home workplaces. The same things may lead to stress working from home as at the usual workplace, but the controls you put in place may need adjusting (e.g. you might replace a regular staff morning tea, with a weekly email update or videoconference to keep people connected). Where workers are working from home you should consider the tasks you have asked workers to perform from home and whether doing these in relative isolation could cause stress, and what you can do to minimise that stress. 

Before you implement any control measures for working from home, you must consult your staff about how they are going, anything that is stressing them and what you can do to minimise that stress. For those working from home, it might be particularly helpful to consult individually, although that may not always be possible.  

What is essential though, is that there is regular and meaningful communication with your staff, including by telephone and videoconference where you can. Make sure you frequently check in on how they are going and if anything has changed. You should also make sure they know who to talk to if they need additional support or are feeling concerned. 

See also our information on Working from home. 

What should I do about bullying, harassment and strained relationships in the workplace? 

Talk to your workers, identify whether there is anything in their work that is causing strain, for example competing business demands. If possible, address the cause of the strain before it damages working relationships.  

If bullying, has occurred, follow your bullying policy or see the Guide to preventing and responding to workplace bullying.

You can manage the risk of workplace bullying by taking a proactive approach to identify early, any unreasonable behaviour and situations likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying occurring. 

You should implement control measures to manage these risks, and monitor and review the effectiveness of these measures. This could include activities such as: 

• Regularly consulting with workers and health and safety representatives to find out if bullying is occurring or if there are factors likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying. 
• Setting the standard of workplace behaviour, for example through a code of conduct or workplace bullying policy. 
• Designing safe systems of work by clearly defining jobs and providing workers with the resources, information and training they need to carry out their work safely. 
• Implementing workplace bullying reporting and response procedures. 
• Developing productive and respectful workplace relationships through good management practices and effective communication. 
• Providing information and training on workplace bullying policies and procedures, available support and assistance, and how to prevent and respond to workplace bullying. 
• Prioritising measures that foster and protect the psychological health of employees. 

Your state or territory WHS regulator can provide support and advice on how to manage the risks in your business.  

In some circumstances, an order to prevent or stop a worker being bullied can be made under the Fair Work Act 2009 by contacting the Fair Work Commission. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves complaints (under federal laws) of bullying based on a person’s sex, disability, race or age. It can also investigate and resolve complaints of workplace bullying based on a person’s criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion or social origin. 

There are services available to people who are feeling depressed, stressed or anxious as a result of bullying behaviour. They include BeyondBlue and Lifeline. 

Further information and support 

Visit the following sites for information on caring for mental health: 

• SafeWork NSW – COVID-19 pandemic: mental health at work 
• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Work-related stress and Workplace psychological health considerations during COVID-19 
• WorkSafe ACT – Work-Related Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 and Healthier Work ACT – Responding to COVID-19
• SA Health – COVID-19 mental health support
• Northern Territory Government –  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-care  
• Comcare – Coronavirus: mental health and wellbeing guidance and resources  
• VicHealth – How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak  
• Western Australian Mental Health Commission – Looking after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic  
• Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - COVID-19 coronavirus guidance for employers: Looking after employee mental health and COVID-19 coronavirus guide for employees: Looking after your mental health
• Tasmanian Government – Mental health support 
• Head to Health – COVID-19 support 
• Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety 
• Headspace – How to cope with stress related to coronavirus (COVID-19) 

WHS laws apply to managing risks to psychological (mental) health too. This is a stressful time for all Australians, and you must do what you can to reduce the psychological risks to workers, including yourself, and others at your workplace. 

Your duty is to eliminate or minimise the risk to psychological health and safety from work as much as you reasonably can. In simple terms, this means working out what causes your workers stress at work and finding ways to eliminate or prevent it.  

Causes of stress at work

• Fear of exposure to coronavirus
• More work, changing work or poor work environments
• Customer violence and aggression
• Less support, especially when everyone is having to adapt to a new way of working
• Being isolated from managers, colleagues and support networks
• Poor workplace relationships, made worse by the stressful time for all Australians
• Poor communication and consultation about changes and workers' concerns.

For more detail see the COVID-19 Mental health information section for employers.

To determine what measures to put in place, you should carry out a risk assessment and consider all the risks to psychological health in your workplace. You must also consult your workers and their representatives. Workers often know what the issues are and have ideas about how to manage them.  

Once you have consulted workers, determined appropriate measures and put them in place, continue to review how you are managing the risks to check your measures are working.  

The Infographic: Four steps to preventing psychological injury at work shows how the risk management process can be applied to psychosocial risks.  

More comprehensive information is available on the Mental health tab for employers. Detailed guidance is available in Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties. See also our information on risk assessments.  

This is an unprecedented time for all employers and workers. You may wish to seek professional advice on your WHS duties and how to meet them in your particular circumstances. The WHS regulator in your state or territory may also be able to provide further advice.  

Support for small business owners

The Australian Government has established the My Business Health website to help small business owners and sole traders, it includes mental health support. 

The website Ahead for business also provides help for small business owners and those that support them. 

I feel very anxious and stressed what can I do?

This is a stressful time for many Australians, particularly small business owners. Consulting with your workers, or other small business owners, on risks to psychological health and safety and ways to manage them, may help you to address the things in the workplace that are causing you stress. Actively manage your stress by implementing self-care strategies, accessing support services and maintaining work-life balance. 

The Australian Government has established the My Business Health website to help small business owners and sole traders, it includes mental health support. 

The website Ahead for business also provides help for small business owners and those that support them. 

My workers are worried about catching coronavirus. What should I do?

You should talk to your workers and understand more about their concerns. Once you understand their concerns, ensure you are doing all you reasonably can to eliminate and manage those concerns. See Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties and also our information on managing the physical risks of COVID-19. 

For some workers, being more informed about COVID-19 may help ease their concerns. Provide them with relevant information on COVID-19 and remind them of all the measures you are taking in the workplace to reduce possible exposure. 

You should also remind them of all the services that are available to them for support, e.g. your employee assistance program and the Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. It might also be helpful for them to talk to their treating medical practitioners, such as their GP. 

What can I do about customer aggression and the stress it’s causing my workers?

See our information on Work-related violence.  

My staff are working from home. How do I look after their mental health?

The duties under the model WHS laws apply to all workplaces, including where a worker is working from home. When you consider the risks to your workers' psychological health and the control measures you will implement to eliminate or minimise those hazards. You need to do this for all your workplaces, including home workplaces. The same things may lead to stress working from home as at the usual workplace, but the controls you put in place may need adjusting (e.g. you might replace a regular staff morning tea, with a weekly email update or videoconference to keep people connected). Where workers are working from home you should consider the tasks you have asked workers to perform from home and whether doing these in relative isolation could cause stress, and what you can do to minimise that stress. 

Before you implement any control measures for working from home, you must consult your staff about how they are going, anything that is stressing them and what you can do to minimise that stress. For those working from home, it might be particularly helpful to consult individually, although that may not always be possible.  

What is essential though, is that there is regular and meaningful communication with your staff, including by telephone and videoconference where you can. Make sure you frequently check in on how they are going and if anything has changed. You should also make sure they know who to talk to if they need additional support or are feeling concerned. 

See also our information on Working from home. 

What should I do about bullying, harassment and strained relationships in the workplace?

Talk to your workers, identify whether there is anything in their work that is causing strain, for example competing business demands. If possible, address the cause of the strain before it damages working relationships.  

If bullying, has occurred, follow your bullying policy or see the Guide to preventing and responding to workplace bullying. 

You can manage the risk of workplace bullying by taking a proactive approach to identify early, any unreasonable behaviour and situations likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying occurring. 

Organisations should implement control measures to manage these risks, and monitor and review the effectiveness of these measures. This could include activities such as: 

• Regularly consulting with workers and health and safety representatives to find out if bullying is occurring or if there are factors likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying. 
• Setting the standard of workplace behaviour, for example through a code of conduct or workplace bullying policy. 
• Designing safe systems of work by clearly defining jobs and providing workers with the resources, information and training they need to carry out their work safely. 
• Implementing workplace bullying reporting and response procedures. 
• Developing productive and respectful workplace relationships through good management practices and effective communication. 
• Providing information and training on workplace bullying policies and procedures, available support and assistance, and how to prevent and respond to workplace bullying. 
• Prioritising measures that foster and protect the psychological health of employees. 

Your WHS regulator can provide support and advice on how to manage the risks in your business.  

In some circumstances, an order to prevent or stop a worker being bullied can be made under the Fair Work Act 2009 by contacting the Fair Work Commission. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves complaints (under federal laws) of bullying based on a person’s sex, disability, race or age. It can also investigate and resolve complaints of workplace bullying based on a person’s criminal record, trade union activity, political opinion, religion or social origin. 

There are a number of services available to people who are feeling depressed, stressed or anxious as a result of bullying behaviour. They include BeyondBlue and Lifeline. 

Further information and support

A Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, including information, online community forum and phone counselling service is being provided by Beyond Blue with funding from the Department of Health.  

More information about work-related psychological health and safety and how to meet your duties can be found in the Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties. 

Visit the following sites for information on caring for mental health: 

• SafeWork NSW – COVID-19 pandemic: mental health at work 
• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Work-related stress and Workplace psychological health considerations during COVID-19 
• WorkSafe ACT – Work-Related Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 and Healthier Work ACT – Responding to COVID-19
• SA Health – COVID-19 mental health support  
• Northern Territory Government –  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-care  
• Comcare – Coronavirus: mental health and wellbeing guidance and resources  
• VicHealth – How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak  
• Western Australian Mental Health Commission – Looking after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic  
• Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - COVID-19 coronavirus guidance for employers: Looking after employee mental health and COVID-19 coronavirus guide for employees: Looking after your mental health
• Tasmanian Government – Mental health support 
• Head to Health – COVID-19 support 
• Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety 
• Headspace – How to cope with stress related to coronavirus (COVID-19) 

WHS laws apply to managing risks to psychological (mental) health too. You have a duty to take reasonable care of your own health and safety, and to not adversely affect the health and safety of others.  

You need to follow any reasonable policies or directions your employer has put in place in response to COVID-19. This includes if you are working from another location, such as working from home. 

See also our mental health information for employers for details about their duties under WHS laws.  

What causes psychological injury? What are psychosocial hazards?

A psychosocial hazard is anything in the design or management of work that causes stress. Stress is the physical, mental and emotional reaction a person has when we perceive the demands of their work exceed their ability or resources to cope. Work-related stress if prolonged or severe can cause both psychological and physical injury. Stress itself is not an injury. 

For many people, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced and increased a range of psychosocial hazards in the workplace, at a time when a range of other non-work related psychosocial risks are also occurring (uncertainty about future employment, social isolation etc.).  

Psychosocial hazards arising from COVID-19 include: 

• Exposure to physical hazards and poor environmental conditions 
  • concern about exposure to COVID-19 at work 
  • poor management of WHS risks, lack of equipment and resources, such as insufficient appropriate PPE 
  • exposure to poor conditions such as heat, cold or noise in temporary workplaces 
• Exposure to violence, aggression, traumatic events and discrimination 
  • increased work-related violence, aggression and incivility from patients, customers and members of the public  
  • serious illness or death of colleagues or clients e.g. nursing home deaths due to COVID-19 
  • racism, discrimination or stigma stemming from COVID-19 
  • self-isolation as a result of suspected workplace exposure
• Increased work demand 
  • increased workloads e.g. supermarket home delivery drivers doing more deliveries and longer hours  
  • increased time at work e.g. additional shifts as production moves 24/7 to meet increased demands  
  • increased workload e.g. because of increased cleaning requirements or reduction of workers in workplace due to physical distancing requirements 
  • work required to adjust to rapid change e.g. buying new equipment or setting up new procedures 
• Low support and isolated work 
  • working from home or isolation from others due to physical distancing or isolation requirements results in feelings of not being supported 
  • reduction in number of workers at workplace completing physical tasks to maintain physical distancing requirements 
  • failure (perceived or real) of employers not implementing new policies and procedure to address new working arrangements 
• Poor workplace relationships 
  • increased risk of workplace bullying, aggression and harassment as pandemic continues 
  • workplace racism, discrimination, or stigma, including towards those that have had COVID-19 or are perceived to be a greater risk to others 
  • deterioration of workplace relationships as competing demands lead to less regular and effective two-way communication 
  • decreased opportunity for workplace social connections and interactions 
• Poor organisational change management 
  • lack of planning as a result of the pace of the pandemic 
  • continual restructures to address the effects of COVID-19 and a corresponding failure to provide information and training, consult, communicate with or support workers (e.g. manufacturing companies making different products or redeploying staff to meet changes in demand) 
  • insufficient consideration of the potential WHS and performance impacts due to COVID-19 
• Increased emotional distress 
  • limitations on workers offering the same assistance to colleagues or clients they normally would or witnessing others’ distress in situations where they can’t access their normal services or support e.g. a cancer ward in a hospital has restricted visitors to reduce the risk to patients. The nurses see their patients and family struggle with this isolation.  

I feel very anxious and stressed going to work, what should I do?

WHS laws cover risks to physical and psychological (mental) health. This is a stressful time for all Australians, and employers must do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate and reduce risks to workers and others at the workplace. 

Talk to your supervisor, health and safety representative (HSR) or human resources area about how risks in your workplace are being managed and risks that are causing you stress. Your employer must consult workers on risks and strategies to address them.  

Follow the policies and procedures your employers has put in place to manage the risks of COVID-19 such as good hygiene and physical distancing.  

Inform yourself of how you can help stop the spread – see also our information on COVID-19 or go to Department of Health’s COVID-19 information.   

A Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, including information, online community forum and phone counselling service is being provided by Beyond Blue with funding from the Department of Health. 

Tips for managing stress from COVID-19:  

• Talk to your supervisor, health and safety representative (HSR) or human resources area about anything in your work that is causing you stress 
• Regularly check in with others about how you’re all going and maintain social connections where possible 
• Stay informed with information from official sources and any information your employer puts out 
• Engage with consultation on any risks to your psychological health and how these can be managed 
• Access channels to support workplace mental health and wellbeing where appropriate, such as employee assistance programs. 

Non-work-related causes of stress

There are things that may cause you stress during COVID-19 which are not work related. Your employer doesn’t have a WHS duty for these things but if you feel comfortable discussing it with them they may be able to help you. For example, if you need to look after children or vulnerable family members you may be able to access flexible working arrangements such as changing your hours. 

By incorporating self-care activities into your regular routine, like going for a walk or socializing with friends, you give your body and mind time to rest, reset, and rejuvenate, so you can avoid or reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. If your workplace has a mental health and wellbeing support program such as an employee assistance program you can also access these for support. Find more tips on the Black Dog Institute website. 

A Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, including information, online community forum and phone counselling service is also being provided by Beyond Blue with funding from the Department of Health.  

How can risks to psychological health be managed?

Your employer should manage psychosocial risks in the same way as physical risks. See also our information on managing the physical risks of coronavirus and other WHS risks including work-related violence. 

The Infographic: Four steps to preventing psychological injury at work shows how the risk management process is applied to psychosocial risks and detailed guidance is available in Safe Work Australia's Guide: Work-related psychological health and safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties.

Eliminating or minimising the physical risks will also help to manage many psychological risks.  

A Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service, including information, online community forum and phone counselling service is being provided by Beyond Blue with funding from the Department of Health.  

Other resources and support

Visit the following sites for information on caring for mental health: 

• SafeWork NSW – COVID-19 pandemic: mental health at work 
• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Work-related stress and Workplace psychological health considerations during COVID-19 
• WorkSafe ACT – Work-Related Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 and Healthier Work ACT – Responding to COVID-19
• SA Health – COVID-19 mental health support  
• Northern Territory Government –  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-care  
• Comcare – Coronavirus: mental health and wellbeing guidance and resources  
• VicHealth – How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak  
• Western Australian Mental Health Commission – Looking after your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic  
• Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - COVID-19 coronavirus guidance for employers: Looking after employee mental health and COVID-19 coronavirus guide for employees: Looking after your mental health 
• Tasmanian Government – Mental health support 
• Head to Health – COVID-19 support 
• Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety 
• Headspace – How to cope with stress related to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Non-WHS information and support 

You can also visit the following sites for information on caring for your mental health: 

• Beyond Blue – Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service 
• Head to Health – COVID-19 support 
• Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety 
• Headspace – How to cope with stress related to coronavirus (COVID-19) 
• Black Dog Institute: The importance of self-care planning during Coronavirus 

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

The information below provides guidance on physical distancing during step 2 of the 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Watch our video for information on physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your small business. 

Watch video on YouTube Download Transcript

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people keep their distance from others in public places including workplaces.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, through airborne transmission from smaller particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Fine virus containing aerosols can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between you and others, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. 

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises. 

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. Businesses must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

What if I cannot always maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres?

It may not always be possible for you to keep at least 1.5 metres apart from other people at the workplace. Some tasks will also require workers to be in close proximity in order to be carried out safely, such as lifting and moving heavy objects. Where physical distancing it is not possible, and/or ventilation is inadequate, workers should consider wearing a mask.

Working in close proximity with others increases your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. In these situations, your employer may consider delaying the task, modifying the task or implementing other controls such as masks and/or other PPE. Your employer must consult with you and your health and safety representative/s (HSRs) (if any) on how to perform the work task safely, including where maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres is not possible.

For information on the measures your employer should be implementing see our employer information for your industry.

When working in close proximity with others, you must practice good hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as the active ingredient), cover your coughs and sneezes. Wearing a mask can also help protect you and those around you. 

Does my employer need to provide me with personal protective equipment if I am required to work within 1.5 metres of others?

You must comply with any physical distancing requirements where possible. In circumstances where the nature of the task requires you to work within a distance of 1.5 metres with others, your employer must put control measures in place that minimise the time you spend with other people.

You may need to wear a mask or other personal protective equipment (PPE), where it is available and safe to do so. Wearing PPE is likely to be a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risk of COVID-19 in a workplace, even in situations where physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres is possible. 

Your employer must consult you and your relevant health and safety representative about the use of PPE and any WHS risks that may arise from using it.

Your employer must provide you with information and training on how to use and wear PPE.

Do I need to practice physical distancing when on a lunch break or when travelling to and from work?

Yes. You must always comply with any state or territory public health directions or orders. This includes maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people in public places and when travelling to and from work.

In some states and territories there may be strict limitations on gatherings in public places. This means that in some circumstances, workers cannot eat lunch together in a park or travel together in a vehicle to and from work.

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

The information below provides guidance on physical distancing during step 2 of the 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Watch our video for information on physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your small business. 

Watch video on YouTube Download Transcript

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people keep their distance from others in public places including workplaces.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, through airborne transmission from smaller particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Fine virus containing aerosols can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between you and others, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. 

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises. 

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. Businesses must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

What if I cannot always maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres?

It may not always be possible for you to keep at least 1.5 metres apart from other people at the workplace. Some tasks will also require workers to be in close proximity in order to be carried out safely, such as lifting and moving heavy objects. Where physical distancing it is not possible, and/or ventilation is inadequate, workers should consider wearing a mask.

Working in close proximity with others increases your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. In these situations, your employer may consider delaying the task, modifying the task or implementing other controls such as masks and/or other PPE. Your employer must consult with you and your health and safety representative/s (HSRs) (if any) on how to perform the work task safely, including where maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres is not possible.

For information on the measures your employer should be implementing see our employer information for your industry.

When working in close proximity with others, you must practice good hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as the active ingredient), cover your coughs and sneezes. Wearing a mask can also help protect you and those around you. 

Does my employer need to provide me with personal protective equipment if I am required to work within 1.5 metres of others?

You must comply with any physical distancing requirements where possible. In circumstances where the nature of the task requires you to work within a distance of 1.5 metres with others, your employer must put control measures in place that minimise the time you spend with other people.

You may need to wear a mask or other personal protective equipment (PPE), where it is available and safe to do so. Wearing PPE is likely to be a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risk of COVID-19 in a workplace, even in situations where physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres is possible. 

Your employer must consult you and your relevant health and safety representative about the use of PPE and any WHS risks that may arise from using it.

Your employer must provide you with information and training on how to use and wear PPE.

Do I need to practice physical distancing when on a lunch break or when travelling to and from work?

Yes. You must always comply with any state or territory public health directions or orders. This includes maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people in public places and when travelling to and from work.

In some states and territories there may be strict limitations on gatherings in public places. This means that in some circumstances, workers cannot eat lunch together in a park or travel together in a vehicle to and from work.

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

The information below provides guidance on physical distancing during step 2 of the 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Watch our video for information on physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your small business. 

Watch video on YouTube Download Transcript

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people distance themselves from others.  

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, smaller airborne particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosols containing virus can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. The more space between people, the harder it is for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread.

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 2 or 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises.

Physical distancing as part of a combination of control measures

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. As an employer, you must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

Do I need to implement physical distancing measures in my workplace?

It is your duty under work health and safety laws to manage the risk of a person in your workplace contracting and spreading COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable. Physical distancing is one of the key ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 being contracted or spread at your workplace.  

The risk of COVID-19 should be treated in the same way as any other workplace hazard – by applying a risk management approach. 

In consultation with your workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives  (HSRs), if any, you will need to assess the likelihood and degree of harm people may experience if exposed to COVID-19 and then implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable to manage the risk. The control measures you implement should include outcomes that support physical distancing and operate alongside measures encouraging good hygiene amongst workers and others, as well as regular and thorough cleaning of the workplace.

To meet your WHS duties you should be continually monitoring and reviewing the risks to the health and safety of workers and others, as well as the effectiveness of control measures put in place to eliminate or minimise these risks. You must also assess any new or changed risks arising from COVID-19, for example customer aggression, high work demand or working in isolation.

Further guidance on the risk management process is available in the Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.

You must also comply with any physical distancing measures issued under public health orders or directions in your state or territory. Each state and territory has directions that reflect local circumstances. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. 

How do the public health orders or directions in my state or territory interact with my WHS duty?

You must comply with your state or territory’s public health orders or directions that apply to your business. 

Your WHS duty is to do all that you reasonably can to manage the risks of a person contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 in your workplace. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to implement control measures in order to meet your WHS duty that go beyond the minimum requirements stated in public health orders or directions or advised by public health authorities. For example, public health orders or directions may state you can have up to 10 customers in your shop at any one time. However, in undertaking your risk assessment you may determine that due to the layout of the workplace and your work processes, having 10 customers in the store would not allow effective physical distancing. Instead, limiting your store to 8 customers at a time would ensure everyone can maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from each other.

Your WHS duties apply even when there are no public health orders or directions.

How do I determine if physical distancing is a reasonably practicable control to implement to minimise the risk of COVID 19 spreading in my workplace?

You will need to undertake a risk assessment to determine if physical distancing measures  will be reasonably practicable in your workplace.

A risk assessment is part of the risk management process which involves identifying where the risk arises in your workplace, assessing the risks (including the likelihood of them happening), controlling the risks and reviewing these controls regularly. These steps remain the same whether you are conducting a risk assessment in relation to work health and safety generally, or specifically in relation to COVID-19.

To determine the most effective physical distancing measures you will need to: 

• identify all activities or situations where people in your workplace may be in close proximity to each other,
• assess the level of risk that people in these activities or situations may contract and/or spread COVID-19 in your workplace, and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement based on the assessed level of risk. 

Remember, you must consult with workers, including volunteers, and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace. See also our information on consultation.   

See also our information on key considerations for undertaking a risk assessment – COVID-19. 

What physical distancing measures can be implemented in my workplace?

Below are some ways that you can support physical distancing in your workplace. 

Certain activities may not be permissible or there may be specific requirements in your state or territory at this time. For more information about physical distancing requirements, go to your relevant state or territory government website. You can also go to our public health orders and directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to government health directions. The Fair Work Ombudsman also has information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws.

Remember, you must do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the risk of people contracting and/or spreading COVID-19. See also our guidance on determining what is reasonably practicable for more information.

You must also consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19, including what control measures to put in place in your workplace.  

Worker interactions and work tasks 

• Check the physical distancing requirements on your relevant state or territory government website. 
• If your jurisdiction requires businesses to limit the number of people in an enclosed area:  
  • calculate the area of the enclosed space (length multiplied by width in metres) and divide by the number of square metres allowed/recommended per person (for example, 2 or 4 square metres, depending on the advice or directions from your state or territory). This will provide you with the maximum number of people you should have in the space at any one time.  
  • where the nature of work means you are not able to comply with these requirements, you need to implement other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.    
• You can also limit the number of workers in your workplace by:  
  • facilitating working from home, where you can 
  • reducing the number of tasks to be completed each day, where possible 
  • postponing non-essential work, and 
  • splitting workers’ shifts to reduce the number of workers onsite at any given time. Schedule time between shifts so that there is no overlap of staff arriving at and leaving the workplace or have different entrances and exits to avoid interaction. 
• Direct workers to keep at least 1.5 metres of distance between them in accordance with general health advice. To achieve the best outcomes for physical distancing:  
  • put signs around the workplace and create wall or floor markings to identify 1.5 metres distance. Your staff could wear a badge as a visual reminder to themselves and each other of physical distancing requirements 
  • limit physical interactions between workers, workers and clients, and workers and other persons at the site – for example, by using contactless deliveries and limiting non-essential visitors, and  
  • require workers to use other methods such as mobile phone or radio to communicate rather than face to face interaction.  
• Where it is practical and safe to do so, review tasks and processes that usually require close interaction and identify ways to modify these to increase physical distancing between workers. You should also consider the effectiveness of other controls, including masks and other PPE. Where not possible, you can also reduce the amount of time workers spend working closely together. See below for further information where workers are performing tasks in close proximity, including vehicle use.  

Layout of the workplace

• You may need to redesign the layout of the workplace and your workflows to enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart to continue performing their duties. This can be achieved by, where possible:  
  • restricting workers and others to certain pathways or areas, and 
  • spreading out furniture or plant to increase distancing (spreading out furniture or plant may also help to increase airflow by allowing for cross ventilation).  
• Consider floor and/or wall markings and signage to identify 1.5 metres distancing requirements. 
• Determine occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards, as well as any state or territory orders or directions regarding density limits.

If changing the physical layout of the workplace, your layout must allow for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety.  

Staff gatherings and training

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential gatherings, meetings or training at times when community transmission is high. 
• If gatherings, meetings or training are essential:  
  • use non-face-to-face options to conduct – for example electronic communication such as tele and video conferencing 
  • if a non-face-to-face option is not possible, ensure face-to-face time is limited, that is make sure the gathering, meeting, or training goes for no longer than it needs to 
  • hold the gathering, meeting or training in spaces that enable workers to keep at least 1.5 metres apart and to comply with the density requirements specified in your jurisdiction – for example, outdoors or in large conference rooms  
  • limit the number of attendees in a gathering, meeting or training. This may require, for example, multiple training sessions to be held, and 
  • ensure adequate ventilation if held indoors. 

Workplace facilities 

• Reduce the number of workers utilising common areas at a given time – for example, by staggering meal breaks and start times. 
• Spread out furniture in common areas. If changing the physical layout of the workplace, you must ensure the layout allows for workers to enter, exit and move about the workplace both under normal working conditions and in an emergency without risks to their health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.  
• Place signage and posters about physical distancing around the workplace. Our website has links to a range of posters and resources to help remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread. These posters can be placed around the workplace and in client-facing work environments (for example workplace entrances). Consideration needs to be given to how to communicate with workers and others for who English is not their first language.   
• Consider providing separate amenities, such as kitchens, bathrooms, for workers and others in the workplace – for example separate bathroom facilities for workers and visitors/clients. 

Lifts

• Even if workers and others only spend a short amount of time in a lift each day, there is still a risk of exposure to COVID-19 that you must eliminate or minimise so far as reasonably practicable. Further information on the meaning of reasonably practicable can be found on our website.
• There is no specific limit to the number of people allowed in a lift, however you must still ensure, as far as you reasonably can, that people maintain physical distancing in lifts and lift waiting areas and advise workers to wear a mask in the lift. 
• Remember, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), if any, on health and safety matters relating to COVID-19.  This includes consulting workers and their representatives on what control measures to put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace, including when using lifts.
• You must also consult with the building owner/manager and other employers in the building about the control measures to be implemented to address the risk of COVID-19. You may not be able to implement all of the control measures yourself but must work with others to ensure those measures are put in place.

What can I do to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in lifts? 

• Safe use of lifts is best achieved through a combination of measures, determined in consultation with workers, including those that control the number of people needing to use a lift at any one time. This includes: 
  • reducing the number of workers arriving and leaving buildings and using lifts in peak periods, where possible (for example stagger start and finish times for workers by 10-15 minutes per team or group)
  • maintaining working from home arrangements for some staff (where this works for both you and your workers). This could include splitting the workforce into teams with alternating days in the workplace (for example, rotate teams so they are one week in the office and the other week at home), and 
  • changing lift programming to facilitate more efficient flow of users – for example decrease the time that doors stay open on each floor (where safe to do so) or where there are multiple lifts, assign specific lifts to certain floors based on demand (for example lift A to service floors 1-5, lift B to service floors 6-8 etc). 
• Where workers and others use lifts, it is still important that they physically distance themselves to the extent possible when waiting for a lift and when in the lift. You must do what you reasonably can to ensure crowding in and around lifts does not occur.  
• In the lift lobby or waiting area: 
  • ensure workers and others maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres, to the extent possible 
  • implement measures at waiting areas for lifts, such as floor markings or queuing systems. Also create specific pathways and movement flows for those exiting the lifts where possible (you may need to consult with your building manager or other employers in the building to ensure this occurs). You could consider engaging someone to monitor compliance with physical distancing measures where appropriate
  • place signage around lift waiting areas reminding users to practice physical distancing and good hygiene while waiting for and using lifts, including to wait for another lift if the lift is full
  • display an advisory passenger limit for each lift – these limits could be temporarily adjusted up during peak periods where additional demand is unavoidable (subject to it not leading to overcrowding in lifts) to facilitate extra movement of workers and to prevent overcrowding in waiting areas. This may result in fewer persons travelling in a lift at any one time to ensure workers and others maximise physical distance from each other, to the extent possible
• Within lifts: 
  • users of lifts must maintain physical distancing, to the extent possible. Lifts must not be overcrowded, and users should avoid touching other users.
  • workers must practice good hygiene in lifts. If they do need to cough or sneeze during a journey they must do so into their arm or a clean tissue. 
  • place signage in the lift reminding workers and others to practice good hygiene by washing their hands, or where this is not possible, using appropriate hand sanitiser, after exiting the lift, particularly if they touched lift buttons, rails or doors – see also our information on hygiene
  • implement regular cleaning of high touchpoints such as lift buttons and railings – see also our information on cleaning.
• Staff must not to come into work, including using lifts, if they are unwell or have tested positive for COVID-19. 

Other risks

• In some cases, depending on the design of a building, stairs may be an option to reduce demand on lifts. If workers and others are to use stairwells or emergency exits as an alternative to using lifts, you must identify and address any new risks that may arise. For example: 
  • the increased risk of slips, trips and falls particularly if the stairs are narrow and dimly lit
  • the risk that arises when opening and closing heavy fire doors, and 
  • the risk that a person may become trapped in the stairwell.
• You must also consider workers’ compensation arrangements and whether your contract of tenancy allows for workers to use stairs, other than in an emergency.
• You must also consider how other existing WHS measures will be impacted if you allow workers and others to use stairwells or emergency exits. For example  
  • does increased use of emergency exits and stairwells impact your emergency plans and procedures? See also our information on emergency plans
  • will stairwell usage increase the risk of fire doors being left open? 

Deliveries, contractors and visitors attending the workplace

• Consider postponing or cancelling non-essential visits to the workplace should be at times when community transmission is high.   
• Minimise the number of workers attending to deliveries and contractors as much as possible. 
• Delivery drivers and other contractors who need to attend the workplace, to provide maintenance or repair services or perform other essential activities, should be given clear instructions of your requirements while they are on site.  
• Ensure handwashing facilities, or if not possible, alcohol-based hand sanitiser, is readily available for workers after physically handling deliveries. 
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to remain in vehicles and use contactless methods such as mobile phones to communicate with your workers wherever possible.  
• Direct visiting delivery drivers and contractors to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser before handling products being delivered. 
• Use, and ask delivery drivers and contractors to use, electronic paperwork where possible, to minimise physical interaction. Where possible, set up alternatives to requiring signatures. For instance, see whether a confirmation email or a photo of the loaded or unloaded goods can be accepted as proof of delivery or collection (as applicable). If a pen or other utensil is required for signature you can ask that the pen or utensil is cleaned or sanitised before use. For pens, you may wish to use your own. 

On-going review and monitoring

• If physical distancing measures introduce new health and safety risks (for example because they impact communication or mean that less people are doing a task), you need to manage those risks too. 
• Put processes in place to regularly monitor and review the implementation of physical distancing measures to ensure they are being followed and remain effective 

My workers need to travel in a vehicle together for work purposes. How do they practice physical distancing?

Ideally, numbers should be limited to one person per vehicle trip where possible. If that is not possible, the number of people in a vehicle per trip need to be minimised.

When minimising numbers, employers need to consider:

• the size of the vehicle, the number of rows of seats, and how distances can be maximised in the space (for example, the driver with a passenger sitting in the back)
• the duration of the trip
• the additional control measures in this guidance.

These measures may mean: 

• more of your vehicles are on the road at one time  
• more workers are driving and for longer periods than usual (if driving by themselves).  

Because of this, you should review your procedures and policies for vehicle maintenance and driver safety to ensure they are effective and address all possible WHS risks that arise when workers drive for work purposes.  

If workers are required to travel together for work purposes, air conditioning should be set to external airflow rather than to recirculation or windows should be opened for the duration of the trip.  

You must also clean vehicles more frequently, no matter the length of the trip, but at least following each use by workers. For more information, go to Cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.   
 

Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction.

What is physical distancing and how does it prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Physical distancing (also referred to as ‘social distancing’) refers to the requirement that people keep their distance from others in public places including workplaces.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, through airborne transmission from smaller particles (aerosols), direct physical contact with an infected individual, and indirectly through contaminated objects and surfaces. Fine virus containing aerosols can remain airborne for several hours.

Keeping a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between you and others, wherever possible, is one of the ways to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. 

Physical distancing can also include limits on the number of people allowed in enclosed spaces (for example, one person per 4 square metres of space) as well as limits on gathering sizes. These requirements differ across states and territories, industries, business sizes and types of premises. 

Physical distancing, on its own, will not eliminate or minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace. Businesses must also continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell or test positive for COVID-19
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home
• improving air quality
• practising good hygiene
• increasing cleaning and maintenance
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close proximity with others, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces, and
• wearing face masks.

For more information about physical distancing requirements applicable to your business, go to your relevant state and territory government website. You can also go to our Public health directions and COVIDSafe plans page for links to enforceable government directions.

What if I cannot always maintain a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres?

It may not always be possible for you to keep at least 1.5 metres apart from other people at the workplace. Some tasks will also require workers to be in close proximity in order to be carried out safely, such as lifting and moving heavy objects. Where physical distancing it is not possible, and/or ventilation is inadequate, workers should consider wearing a mask.

Working in close proximity with others increases your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. In these situations, your employer may consider delaying the task, modifying the task or implementing other controls such as masks and/or other PPE. Your employer must consult with you and your health and safety representative/s (HSRs) (if any) on how to perform the work task safely, including where maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres is not possible.

For information on the measures your employer should be implementing see our employer information for your industry.

When working in close proximity with others, you must practice good hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as the active ingredient), cover your coughs and sneezes. Wearing a mask can also help protect you and those around you. 

Does my employer need to provide me with personal protective equipment if I am required to work within 1.5 metres of others?

You must comply with any physical distancing requirements where possible. In circumstances where the nature of the task requires you to work within a distance of 1.5 metres with others, your employer must put control measures in place that minimise the time you spend with other people.

You may need to wear a mask or other personal protective equipment (PPE), where it is available and safe to do so. Wearing PPE is likely to be a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risk of COVID-19 in a workplace, even in situations where physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres is possible. 

Your employer must consult you and your relevant health and safety representative about the use of PPE and any WHS risks that may arise from using it.

Your employer must provide you with information and training on how to use and wear PPE.

Do I need to practice physical distancing when on a lunch break or when travelling to and from work?

Yes. You must always comply with any state or territory public health directions or orders. This includes maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres between people in public places and when travelling to and from work.

In some states and territories there may be strict limitations on gatherings in public places. This means that in some circumstances, workers cannot eat lunch together in a park or travel together in a vehicle to and from work.

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of masks in the workplace. This information will assist you to assess whether the use of masks for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, the use of masks is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of masks that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures, PPE are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure they are appropriately worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

This information will assist you to assess whether using PPE is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace. 

PPE refers to anything used or worn to minimise risk to worker health and safety. Common types of PPE that can be used to protect against COVID-19 include:  

• masks
• gloves
• eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses and face shields), and
• screens. 

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

The type of PPE will depend on your type of workplace and the outcomes of your consultation with workers and your risk assessment. If PPE has been identified as a reasonably practicable control measure in your workplace, this must be provided at no cost to your workers. 

PPE can be a critical part of protecting workers against COVID-19, including when new COVID 19 variants emerge. However, even if your workers use PPE, to ensure you meet your duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

When deciding how to control the risks of COVID-19, employers have a duty to consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives about how to use control measures to manage the risks. This includes having administrative workplace policies and procedures related to the use of PPE. 

NOTE: This guidance is not intended to cover use of PPE in quarantine, health care, aged care and the disability sectors. More information about using PPE in these sectors can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health, Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

Risk Assessment

Under the model WHS laws, employers have a duty to manage the health and safety risks of COVID-19, so far as reasonably practicable, in the workplace. You should always aim to eliminate risks. If you can’t eliminate the risks of COVID-19, you must minimise the risks so far is risk assessment. This requires a risk assessment to identify what type of reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, including PPE, are needed to protect workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

The use of PPE in the workplace to manage the risks of COVID-19 may not be the same for all businesses and depends on a range of factors, including whether public health directions apply (e.g. use of masks), the type of business, the level of customer interaction, the level of community transmission of the virus in the geographic area, business layout (including ability to physical distance) and worker demographics (e.g. people at higher risk of COVID-19 illness).

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives when identifying the risks and when proposing the use of PPE as a control measure. Remember that prolonged use of PPE (e.g. masks, gloves, and eye protection) may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered in your risk assessment and consultation with workers. 

More information about controlling the risk of heat-related illnesses can be found in Safe Work Australia’s guide on Managing the risks of working in heat.

A risk assessment will assist you to: 

• identify which workers are at risk of COVID-19,
• determine what sources and processes are causing the risks of COVID-19, 
• identify the control measures that are required to minimise the risks of COVID-19, which may include PPE, and 
• check the effectiveness of your control measures. 

For PPE to be an effective control measure, it must be selected based upon the:

• risk of worker exposure to COVID-19, and is used to minimise risk to the health and safety of the worker,
• suitability for the nature of the work and any hazards associated with the work, including whether it is reasonably comfortable, properly fitted and regularly refitted for the workers wearing it,
• worn consistently and regularly inspected, maintained and replaced as necessary, and
• properly removed, cleaned and stored or disposed of, to avoid contaminating the worker, others and the workplace environment.

You must review your workplace risk assessment and control measures periodically, including when new COVID-19 variants emerge and/or as your workplace situation changes, to ensure their ongoing appropriateness and effectiveness taking into account the latest advice from your state or territory health department and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Even if certain types of PPE are no longer required under public health directions (e.g. use of masks), you still have a duty to review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to use PPE, such as masks, in your workplace to minimise the risks of COVID-19.

More information is available about how to prepare a risk assessment on the Safe Work Australia website.

Masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure you use the appropriate mask for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is registered for medical use.
P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. 

More information

Additional guidance about the different types of masks and how to use them is on the Safe Work Australia website.

Gloves

The use of gloves is generally not required for most workplaces and should not be a substitute for frequent hand washing. 

While gloves (such as single use or reusable) should still be used for some practices (e.g. food handling, cleaning, gardening and trades), frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds will prevent the spread of COVID-19. If gloves are used, good hand hygiene (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing gloves.

Single use gloves should not be re-used, and reusable gloves should not be shared between workers. Gloves should be changed frequently throughout the day, as they can become contaminated and pose a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, putting workers and others at risk. When a person wears gloves, they may touch surfaces contaminated with the COVID-19 virus which can be transferred to other objects and surfaces or their face.

Importantly, not all gloves are appropriate for every workplace setting. Non-medical grade gloves (including include gloves made of poly-vinyl chloride, latex, nitrile or neoprene) can provide protection against exposure to biological hazards. These gloves can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and suppliers and manufacturers (including online) of safety or scientific equipment. 

Allergies and skin sensitivities

Some people may have an allergy to latex. People with an allergy to latex usually develop symptoms within minutes of exposure to latex; but can also occurs hours later. Mild symptoms involve skin redness, rash, hives, or itching; more severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and asthma (difficult breathing, coughing spells, and wheezing); and rarely, shock may occur although a life-threatening reaction is seldom the first sign of latex allergy.

Workplaces should consider providing latex free options to eliminate the risk of latex allergies. If this is not reasonably practicable, consider alternative options such as non-powdered latex gloves to minimise the risk of latex allergies. 

Synthetic gloves such as nitrile or neoprene may be a suitable alternative to latex gloves if there are no sensitivity issues to the material. Some wearers may experience contact dermatitis on the skin after wearing nitrile or neoprene gloves. Symptoms may include the skin becoming cracked, red, blistered, thickened, dry or itchy. 

Vinyl gloves are another alternative to latex or nitrile gloves. However, vinyl gloves are less durable and can split more easily when worn. They can be worn underneath latex or nitrile gloves, although this may cause other skin irritations from sweating and lack of ventilation inside the glove. 

It is important to consult with your workers and any Health and Safety Representatives and identify the risks and benefits of using gloves. You may determine that it is not necessary to require your workers to wear gloves and that good hand hygiene practices (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) is a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace.

How to put on a pair of gloves

If a worker is wearing gloves, either disposable or multi-use, they should be instructed to follow the steps below: 

• Before putting on a pair of gloves, remove jewellery and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Ensure that hands are fully dry before putting on gloves.
• Take out a glove from its box. 
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• Take out the second glove from its box with the gloved hand.
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• While working on a task, maintain good hygiene by not touching your face and cough or sneezing into your elbow. Monitor what you touch and replace your gloves frequently.
• Replace your gloves each time you would wash or sanitise your hands.
• After completing a task/activity, think about whether there is a risk that you’ve touched a potentially contaminated surface or object.
• Remove, dispose and replace your gloves when necessary.

How to remove a pair of gloves

• If you are wearing single use gloves, carefully remove the first glove by gripping at the wrist edge without touching the skin and pull downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin.
• With the un-gloved, bare hand, slide your fingers into the second glove and peel the glove downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin.
• dispose them in a closed bin.
• If you are wearing reusable gloves, remove, clean and store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions if available or your workplace policy.
• After disposing single use gloves or storing reusable gloves, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Eye protection

Eye protection, in the form of safety glasses, goggles and face shields, can be used as PPE for protecting against the risks of COVID-19. Eye protection can act as a physical barrier from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets. It may also prevent people from rubbing their eyes or touching their face and spreading the virus from their hands to their face and eyes.

Eye protection will not be required for many workplaces to minimise the risks of COVID-19.  However, it may be necessary for workers who have a higher risk of exposure to splashes or sprays of body fluids. For example, workers in health care, aged care, police, security, and quarantine settings. 

When eye protection is used, good hand hygiene practices (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing eye protection.

Goggles or safety glasses

Goggles or safety glasses must be closely fitted with a wrap-around style and should meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1337.1:2010). Prescription glasses, contact lenses, and safety glasses that are not wrap-around, do not provide adequate protection against COVID-19 and should not be used as a control measure. 

Table 1 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses*     

Advantages	Disadvantages
Are durable and reusable when appropriate cleaning procedures are followed.	Wearing them for prolonged periods may increase the risk of skin injuries, particularly if they seal too tightly.
Some types of safety glasses have a clear plastic lens with fog and scratch resistant treatment.	They do not stop the wearer from touching their mask or face.
Prescription safety glasses may be ordered.	They may not be able to be worn over prescription glasses (depending on style).
They have a flexible frame to easily fit contours of the face.	They may become scratched over time and reduce visibility.
They provide good eye protection by enclosing the eyes.	There is a higher risk of fogging.

* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what goggles or safety glasses are required as part of your control measures.

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to use them. 

More information

Our cleaning guide provides information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection. 

Face shields

Face shields may be used as an alternative to goggles or safety glasses. A face shield is a clear plastic barrier that covers the face and eyes, extending to the ears on the sides and below the chin. 

Face shields can be single use or reusable and are generally recommended for use in health care or aged care settings where additional protection against splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets is required. Face shields have gaps to the sides and to the bottom of the face shield that may allow viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols to be released from an infectious person’s mouth and nose. 

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that face shields are to be worn with a mask underneath, to protect the person from inhaling the virus and prevent infectious people (if the person is unaware that they are infected) from spreading the COVID-19 virus onto others. They should also have an adjustable band to attach firmly around the head and fit snuggly against the forehead to ensure there is no gap between the wearer’s forehead and the shield’s headpiece.

Table 2 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using face shields as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 2: Advantages and disadvantages of using face shields*

Advantages	Disadvantages
Provides a broad and clear field of view.	Gaps on the sides and underneath the face shield may allow virus-contaminated respiratory droplets and aerosols to reach the eyes (or the nose and mouth if a well-fitted mask is not worn at the same time).
They provide additional protection to the face and mask from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets.	Some face shields do not extend to the sides of head towards the ears. These are not as protective as other forms of eyewear.
The wearer’s eyes can be seen more easily, which may help with communication with others.	Face shields may make communication more difficult by muffling the wearer’s voice, especially when used with a mask.
There is less risk of fogging.
The wearer is less likely to touch their face and mask.

    
* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what face shields are appropriate as part of your control measures. 

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to use them. 

More information

The Australian Government Department of Health has published a Coronavirus (COVID-19) face shields – a quick guide, which explains how to safely use face shields.

Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection. 

Screens

Many businesses have chosen to protect workers by installing screens (also known as sneezes guards), commonly constructed from acrylic.

Screens can be considered at workplaces where workers are in close proximity to each other for long periods or for workers serving customers/patients (e.g. retail stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and doctor’s surgeries). 

Screens come in many different sizes and shapes and can be custom made for the workplace. Generally, they have a space cut out to allow for exchange between the worker and a member of the public, with the screen covering the upper half of the body and head. 

If you are considering installing a screen you need to ensure that the screen is fit for purpose and provides adequate protection for your workers from droplet spray while allowing them to work safely. You should also consider whether the screen would protect your workers from aerosol transmission and the effects of the screen on ventilation in the workplace. 

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what kind of screen is appropriate as part of your control measures. Be aware that installing a screen or multiple screens around a worker may result in communication difficulties between persons, and limiting or obstructing a worker’s movements which may cause physical discomfort and psychological risks that should be discussed as part of your consultation processes.

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to install them. 

Screens should be cleaned and disinfected in the same manner as other frequently handled objects or surfaces. Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting, including for specific surfaces. 

Do I need to provide PPE for my workers?

After following a risk assessment and consultation with your workers, you determine that PPE is a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19, then you must provide them to your workers.

However, COVID-19 public health directions can be issued by governments for workplaces to wear masks. If so, you must provide masks to your workers. It is important that you keep up to date with the public health directions that apply in your state or territory, and ensure that these are followed at your workplace.

Depending on your workplace (type of work, the workers and others who come into the workplace), PPE could include:

• masks
• gloves
• eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses or face shields).

If your workers are required to wear PPE, you must provide them. You must also provide appropriate training and instruction on how and when to put on, wear, remove, dispose of or clean and maintain (e.g. cloth masks, eye protection and screens) the PPE. 

If a worker has been provided training and instruction about using PPE, they must comply with that training and those instructions. 

More information about employer’s duties when considering PPE as a control measure and how PPE helps to manage risks, is available on the Safe Work Australia website.

Do I need to consult with my workers about PPE?

You must consult with your workers and any health and safety representatives about the control measures you will put in place to manage the risks of COVID-19, including the use of PPE. Remember that prolonged use of PPE may cause physical discomfort and psychological  risks that should be discussed as part of your consultation with workers.

If, after consultation, you determine that your workers require PPE, you must provide them with appropriate information, instruction and training on its use. This includes how to wear PPE safely and correctly, how to store items safely, how to dispose of single use items and how to clean re-usable items. 

If available, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the PPE for correct use, storage, maintenance and when to replace the PPE. 

The model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination provides more information about your general duties to consult with workers. 

What else must I do to protect workers?

Masks alone will not provide complete protection from exposure to COVID-19. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

How do I handle and dispose of single use PPE?

It is important to be mindful of how you dispose of your PPE. Your PPE may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. When removing and disposing single use PPE, this is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When disposing your PPE, you should:
Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
Take your time, don't rush.
Always perform hand hygiene prior to removing any PPE from your face (e.g. masks) and after disposing any PPE.
Ensure your PPE avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing.

Single use PPE can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the PPE inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, PPE should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene, after removing and disposing of your PPE. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

If you have a case of COVID-19 in the workplace, your state or territory health authority can provide you with advice on what you need to do. Follow their instructions. 
 

 

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of masks in the workplace. This information will assist you to assess whether the use of masks for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, the use of masks is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of masks that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures, PPE are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure they are appropriately worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

This information will assist you to assess whether using PPE is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace. 

PPE refers to anything used or worn to minimise risk to worker health and safety. Common types of PPE that can be used to protect against COVID-19 include:  

• masks
• gloves
• eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses and face shields), and
• screens. 

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

The type of PPE will depend on your type of workplace and the outcomes of your consultation with workers and your risk assessment. If PPE has been identified as a reasonably practicable control measure in your workplace, this must be provided at no cost to your workers. 

PPE can be a critical part of protecting workers against COVID-19, including when new COVID 19 variants emerge. However, even if your workers use PPE, to ensure you meet your duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

When deciding how to control the risks of COVID-19, employers have a duty to consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives about how to use control measures to manage the risks. This includes having administrative workplace policies and procedures related to the use of PPE. 

NOTE: This guidance is not intended to cover use of PPE in quarantine, health care, aged care and the disability sectors. More information about using PPE in these sectors can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health, Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

Risk Assessment

Under the model WHS laws, employers have a duty to manage the health and safety risks of COVID-19, so far as reasonably practicable, in the workplace. You should always aim to eliminate risks. If you can’t eliminate the risks of COVID-19, you must minimise the risks so far is risk assessment. This requires a risk assessment to identify what type of reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, including PPE, are needed to protect workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. 

The use of PPE in the workplace to manage the risks of COVID-19 may not be the same for all businesses and depends on a range of factors, including whether public health directions apply (e.g. use of masks), the type of business, the level of customer interaction, the level of community transmission of the virus in the geographic area, business layout (including ability to physical distance) and worker demographics (e.g. people at higher risk of COVID-19 illness).

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives when identifying the risks and when proposing the use of PPE as a control measure. Remember that prolonged use of PPE (e.g. masks, gloves, and eye protection) may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered in your risk assessment and consultation with workers. 

More information about controlling the risk of heat-related illnesses can be found in Safe Work Australia’s guide on Managing the risks of working in heat.

A risk assessment will assist you to: 

• identify which workers are at risk of COVID-19,
• determine what sources and processes are causing the risks of COVID-19, 
• identify the control measures that are required to minimise the risks of COVID-19, which may include PPE, and 
• check the effectiveness of your control measures. 

For PPE to be an effective control measure, it must be selected based upon the:

• risk of worker exposure to COVID-19, and is used to minimise risk to the health and safety of the worker,
• suitability for the nature of the work and any hazards associated with the work, including whether it is reasonably comfortable, properly fitted and regularly refitted for the workers wearing it,
• worn consistently and regularly inspected, maintained and replaced as necessary, and
• properly removed, cleaned and stored or disposed of, to avoid contaminating the worker, others and the workplace environment.

You must review your workplace risk assessment and control measures periodically, including when new COVID-19 variants emerge and/or as your workplace situation changes, to ensure their ongoing appropriateness and effectiveness taking into account the latest advice from your state or territory health department and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

Even if certain types of PPE are no longer required under public health directions (e.g. use of masks), you still have a duty to review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to use PPE, such as masks, in your workplace to minimise the risks of COVID-19.

More information is available about how to prepare a risk assessment on the Safe Work Australia website.

Masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure you use the appropriate mask for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is registered for medical use.
P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. 

More information

Additional guidance about the different types of masks and how to use them is on the Safe Work Australia website.

Gloves

The use of gloves is generally not required for most workplaces and should not be a substitute for frequent hand washing. 

While gloves (such as single use or reusable) should still be used for some practices (e.g. food handling, cleaning, gardening and trades), frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds will prevent the spread of COVID-19. If gloves are used, good hand hygiene (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing gloves.

Single use gloves should not be re-used, and reusable gloves should not be shared between workers. Gloves should be changed frequently throughout the day, as they can become contaminated and pose a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, putting workers and others at risk. When a person wears gloves, they may touch surfaces contaminated with the COVID-19 virus which can be transferred to other objects and surfaces or their face.

Importantly, not all gloves are appropriate for every workplace setting. Non-medical grade gloves (including include gloves made of poly-vinyl chloride, latex, nitrile or neoprene) can provide protection against exposure to biological hazards. These gloves can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and suppliers and manufacturers (including online) of safety or scientific equipment. 

Allergies and skin sensitivities

Some people may have an allergy to latex. People with an allergy to latex usually develop symptoms within minutes of exposure to latex; but can also occurs hours later. Mild symptoms involve skin redness, rash, hives, or itching; more severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and asthma (difficult breathing, coughing spells, and wheezing); and rarely, shock may occur although a life-threatening reaction is seldom the first sign of latex allergy.

Workplaces should consider providing latex free options to eliminate the risk of latex allergies. If this is not reasonably practicable, consider alternative options such as non-powdered latex gloves to minimise the risk of latex allergies. 

Synthetic gloves such as nitrile or neoprene may be a suitable alternative to latex gloves if there are no sensitivity issues to the material. Some wearers may experience contact dermatitis on the skin after wearing nitrile or neoprene gloves. Symptoms may include the skin becoming cracked, red, blistered, thickened, dry or itchy. 

Vinyl gloves are another alternative to latex or nitrile gloves. However, vinyl gloves are less durable and can split more easily when worn. They can be worn underneath latex or nitrile gloves, although this may cause other skin irritations from sweating and lack of ventilation inside the glove. 

It is important to consult with your workers and any Health and Safety Representatives and identify the risks and benefits of using gloves. You may determine that it is not necessary to require your workers to wear gloves and that good hand hygiene practices (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) is a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace.

How to put on a pair of gloves

If a worker is wearing gloves, either disposable or multi-use, they should be instructed to follow the steps below: 

• Before putting on a pair of gloves, remove jewellery and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Ensure that hands are fully dry before putting on gloves.
• Take out a glove from its box. 
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• Take out the second glove from its box with the gloved hand.
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• While working on a task, maintain good hygiene by not touching your face and cough or sneezing into your elbow. Monitor what you touch and replace your gloves frequently.
• Replace your gloves each time you would wash or sanitise your hands.
• After completing a task/activity, think about whether there is a risk that you’ve touched a potentially contaminated surface or object.
• Remove, dispose and replace your gloves when necessary.

How to remove a pair of gloves

• If you are wearing single use gloves, carefully remove the first glove by gripping at the wrist edge without touching the skin and pull downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin.
• With the un-gloved, bare hand, slide your fingers into the second glove and peel the glove downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin.
• dispose them in a closed bin.
• If you are wearing reusable gloves, remove, clean and store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions if available or your workplace policy.
• After disposing single use gloves or storing reusable gloves, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Eye protection

Eye protection, in the form of safety glasses, goggles and face shields, can be used as PPE for protecting against the risks of COVID-19. Eye protection can act as a physical barrier from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets. It may also prevent people from rubbing their eyes or touching their face and spreading the virus from their hands to their face and eyes.

Eye protection will not be required for many workplaces to minimise the risks of COVID-19.  However, it may be necessary for workers who have a higher risk of exposure to splashes or sprays of body fluids. For example, workers in health care, aged care, police, security, and quarantine settings. 

When eye protection is used, good hand hygiene practices (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing eye protection.

Goggles or safety glasses

Goggles or safety glasses must be closely fitted with a wrap-around style and should meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1337.1:2010). Prescription glasses, contact lenses, and safety glasses that are not wrap-around, do not provide adequate protection against COVID-19 and should not be used as a control measure. 

Table 1 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses*     

Advantages	Disadvantages
Are durable and reusable when appropriate cleaning procedures are followed.	Wearing them for prolonged periods may increase the risk of skin injuries, particularly if they seal too tightly.
Some types of safety glasses have a clear plastic lens with fog and scratch resistant treatment.	They do not stop the wearer from touching their mask or face.
Prescription safety glasses may be ordered.	They may not be able to be worn over prescription glasses (depending on style).
They have a flexible frame to easily fit contours of the face.	They may become scratched over time and reduce visibility.
They provide good eye protection by enclosing the eyes.	There is a higher risk of fogging.

* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what goggles or safety glasses are required as part of your control measures.

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to use them. 

More information

Our cleaning guide provides information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection. 

Face shields

Face shields may be used as an alternative to goggles or safety glasses. A face shield is a clear plastic barrier that covers the face and eyes, extending to the ears on the sides and below the chin. 

Face shields can be single use or reusable and are generally recommended for use in health care or aged care settings where additional protection against splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets is required. Face shields have gaps to the sides and to the bottom of the face shield that may allow viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols to be released from an infectious person’s mouth and nose. 

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that face shields are to be worn with a mask underneath, to protect the person from inhaling the virus and prevent infectious people (if the person is unaware that they are infected) from spreading the COVID-19 virus onto others. They should also have an adjustable band to attach firmly around the head and fit snuggly against the forehead to ensure there is no gap between the wearer’s forehead and the shield’s headpiece.

Table 2 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using face shields as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 2: Advantages and disadvantages of using face shields*

Advantages	Disadvantages
Provides a broad and clear field of view.	Gaps on the sides and underneath the face shield may allow virus-contaminated respiratory droplets and aerosols to reach the eyes (or the nose and mouth if a well-fitted mask is not worn at the same time).
They provide additional protection to the face and mask from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets.	Some face shields do not extend to the sides of head towards the ears. These are not as protective as other forms of eyewear.
The wearer’s eyes can be seen more easily, which may help with communication with others.	Face shields may make communication more difficult by muffling the wearer’s voice, especially when used with a mask.
There is less risk of fogging.
The wearer is less likely to touch their face and mask.

    
* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what face shields are appropriate as part of your control measures. 

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to use them. 

More information

The Australian Government Department of Health has published a Coronavirus (COVID-19) face shields – a quick guide, which explains how to safely use face shields.

Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection. 

Screens

Many businesses have chosen to protect workers by installing screens (also known as sneezes guards), commonly constructed from acrylic.

Screens can be considered at workplaces where workers are in close proximity to each other for long periods or for workers serving customers/patients (e.g. retail stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and doctor’s surgeries). 

Screens come in many different sizes and shapes and can be custom made for the workplace. Generally, they have a space cut out to allow for exchange between the worker and a member of the public, with the screen covering the upper half of the body and head. 

If you are considering installing a screen you need to ensure that the screen is fit for purpose and provides adequate protection for your workers from droplet spray while allowing them to work safely. You should also consider whether the screen would protect your workers from aerosol transmission and the effects of the screen on ventilation in the workplace. 

You must consult with workers and any Health and Safety Representatives to help you identify any work health and safety risks that may affect your workers. Completing a risk assessment will assist you in deciding if and what kind of screen is appropriate as part of your control measures. Be aware that installing a screen or multiple screens around a worker may result in communication difficulties between persons, and limiting or obstructing a worker’s movements which may cause physical discomfort and psychological risks that should be discussed as part of your consultation processes.

You must also provide appropriate training and instruction to workers who will use them if you decide to install them. 

Screens should be cleaned and disinfected in the same manner as other frequently handled objects or surfaces. Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting, including for specific surfaces. 

Do I need to provide PPE for my workers?

After following a risk assessment and consultation with your workers, you determine that PPE is a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19, then you must provide them to your workers.

However, COVID-19 public health directions can be issued by governments for workplaces to wear masks. If so, you must provide masks to your workers. It is important that you keep up to date with the public health directions that apply in your state or territory, and ensure that these are followed at your workplace.

Depending on your workplace (type of work, the workers and others who come into the workplace), PPE could include:

• masks
• gloves
• eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses or face shields).

If your workers are required to wear PPE, you must provide them. You must also provide appropriate training and instruction on how and when to put on, wear, remove, dispose of or clean and maintain (e.g. cloth masks, eye protection and screens) the PPE. 

If a worker has been provided training and instruction about using PPE, they must comply with that training and those instructions. 

More information about employer’s duties when considering PPE as a control measure and how PPE helps to manage risks, is available on the Safe Work Australia website.

Do I need to consult with my workers about PPE?

You must consult with your workers and any health and safety representatives about the control measures you will put in place to manage the risks of COVID-19, including the use of PPE. Remember that prolonged use of PPE may cause physical discomfort and psychological  risks that should be discussed as part of your consultation with workers.

If, after consultation, you determine that your workers require PPE, you must provide them with appropriate information, instruction and training on its use. This includes how to wear PPE safely and correctly, how to store items safely, how to dispose of single use items and how to clean re-usable items. 

If available, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the PPE for correct use, storage, maintenance and when to replace the PPE. 

The model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination provides more information about your general duties to consult with workers. 

What else must I do to protect workers?

Masks alone will not provide complete protection from exposure to COVID-19. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

How do I handle and dispose of single use PPE?

It is important to be mindful of how you dispose of your PPE. Your PPE may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. When removing and disposing single use PPE, this is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When disposing your PPE, you should:
Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
Take your time, don't rush.
Always perform hand hygiene prior to removing any PPE from your face (e.g. masks) and after disposing any PPE.
Ensure your PPE avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing.

Single use PPE can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the PPE inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, PPE should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene, after removing and disposing of your PPE. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

If you have a case of COVID-19 in the workplace, your state or territory health authority can provide you with advice on what you need to do. Follow their instructions. 

This page provides information about your obligations as a worker, and your employers’ obligations, under the model WHS laws and how these relate to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace. This includes information on whether the use of PPE for workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

The use of PPE is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. Your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

You must comply so far is you are reasonably able with a reasonable instruction given by your employer about WHS matters (including about managing the risks of COVID-19). In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding the use of PPE that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

Personal protective equipment as a control for COVID-19

As a worker, you must take reasonable care for your own health and safety, and that of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions. You must comply, so far as you are reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by your employer so they comply with the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws. You must also cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure that has been notified and provided to you.

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures, ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest level of protection, is one way to eliminate and minimise the risks of COVID-19. In the hierarchy of control measures, PPE are a low-level control measure as they rely on human behaviour and supervision to ensure they are appropriately worn and used to help minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace.

PPE refers to anything used or worn to minimise risk to worker health and safety. Common types of PPE that can be used to protect against COVID-19 include:

• masks
• gloves
• eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses and face shields), and
• screens.

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

The type of PPE your employer may provide you, will depend on your type of workplace and the outcomes of their consultation with you and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs; if any), and the workplace risk assessment. If PPE has been identified as a reasonably practicable control measure in your workplace, this must be provided at no cost to you. 

PPE can be a critical part of protecting workers against COVID-19, including when new COVID 19 variants emerge. However, even if you use PPE, to ensure you meet your duties under the model WHS laws and to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures that would apply at your workplace, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring up to date vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring workers do not come to work when unwell,
• improving air quality,
• practising physical distancing and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards),
• relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace, off-site or supporting workers to work from home,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance,
• staggering workers’ start, finish and break times, and
• reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces.

NOTE: This guidance is not intended to cover use of PPE in quarantine, health care, aged care and the disability sectors. More information about using PPE in these sectors can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health, Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. 

Does my employer need to consult with me about PPE? 

Your employer must consult with you and any HSRs about the control measures to put in place to manage the risks of COVID-19, including the use of PPE. Remember that prolonged use of PPE (e.g. masks, gloves, and eye protection) may cause physical discomfort, heat-related illnesses and psychological risks that should be considered during your employers’ consultation.

If available, your employer should provide you the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the PPE for correct use, storage, maintenance and when to replace the PPE.     

Even if certain types of PPE are no longer required under public health directions (e.g. use of masks), your employer still has a duty to consult with you, review the risks and implement all control measures that are required to ensure the risks of COVID-19 are minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. This may mean you continue to use PPE, such as masks, in your workplace to minimise the risks of COVID-19.

Does my employer need to provide PPE?

If, after consultation, your employer determines that PPE is a reasonably practicable control measure to minimise the risks of COVID-19, then your employer must provide them to you.

COVID-19 public health directions may also be issued by governments for workplaces to wear masks. If so, your employer must also provide PPE to you. It is important that you keep up to date with the public health directions that apply in your state or territory, and ensure that these are followed at your workplace.

Depending on your workplace (type of work, the workers and others who come into the workplace), PPE could include masks, gloves and eye protection (e.g. goggles, safety glasses or face shields). They  must also provide you with the appropriate training and instruction on how and when to put on, wear, remove, dispose of or clean and maintain (e.g. cloth masks, eye protection and screens) the PPE. 

If your employer has provided you with training and instruction about using PPE,  then you must comply with that training and those instructions. 

Your employer will also need to ensure that appropriate facilities are provided if PPE is used at the workplace. This includes appropriate hand washing or sanitising facilities and a bin to dispose of used disposable PPE.

Masks

Wearing masks helps prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. If the person wearing the mask is unaware that they are infected with COVID-19 virus, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of them passing the virus on to others. 

Some states and territories have issued public health directions that require masks to be worn for specific activities and in certain workplaces. If public health directions are made, you must follow them. 

Masks and respirators provide the wearer with differing levels of protection from inhaling the virus. It is important to understand the different type of masks and the level of protection they provide, to ensure you use the appropriate mask for your workplace setting. 

Cloth and utility masks are not medical grade masks and provide the wearer the least protection from viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, they can still help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus. 

Surgical masks are medical grade masks that must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are graded as level 1, 2 and 3 based on the level of protection, or fluid resistance, they provide the wearer. Surgical masks help prevent infectious people from spreading the COVID-19 virus and provide greater protection from infection for the wearer.

P2/N95 respirator masks that are designed for medical use must comply with the relevant national standards (or equivalent). They are required when there is a high-risk of exposure to body fluids, respiratory droplets and aerosols in higher-risk workplace settings such as health care, aged care and disability sectors, quarantine, police and security.

Surgical and P2/N95 respirator masks for medical use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. See the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods to check if your surgical or P2/N95 respirator mask is registered for medical use.

P2/N95 masks intended for non-medical purposes, such as in construction and other industrial workplace settings, are not medical grade and are not regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

For more information and guidance about using masks in health and aged care settings can be found on the Infection Control Expert Group and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care websites. . 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published advice and recommendations for health care professionals on the use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and the types of face masks that are regulated as medical devices. . 

More information

Additional guidance about the different types of masks and how to use them is on the Safe Work Australia website.

Gloves

The use of gloves is generally not required for most workplaces and should not be a substitute for frequent hand washing. 

While gloves (such as single use or reusable) should still be used for some practices (e.g. food handling, cleaning, gardening and trades), frequently cleaning your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds will prevent the spread of COVID-19. If gloves are used, good hand hygiene (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing gloves.

Single use gloves should not be re-used, and reusable gloves should not be shared between workers. Gloves should be changed frequently throughout the day, as they can become contaminated and pose a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, putting workers and others at risk. When a person wears gloves, they may touch surfaces contaminated with the COVID-19 virus which can be transferred to other objects and surfaces or their face.

Importantly, not all gloves are appropriate for every workplace setting. Non-medical grade gloves (including include gloves made of poly-vinyl chloride, latex, nitrile or neoprene) can provide protection against exposure to biological hazards. These gloves can be purchased from pharmacies, supermarkets, and suppliers and manufacturers (including online) of safety or scientific equipment. 

Allergies and skin sensitivities

Some people may have an allergy to latex. People with an allergy to latex usually develop symptoms within minutes of exposure to latex; but can also occurs hours later. Mild symptoms involve skin redness, rash, hives, or itching; more severe reactions may involve respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and asthma (difficult breathing, coughing spells, and wheezing); and rarely, shock may occur although a life-threatening reaction is seldom the first sign of latex allergy.

Your employer should consider providing latex free options to eliminate the risk of latex allergies. If this is not reasonably practicable, you employer should consider alternative options such as non-powdered latex gloves to minimise the risk of latex allergies. 

Synthetic gloves such as nitrile or neoprene may be a suitable alternative to latex gloves if there are no sensitivity issues to the material. Some wearers may experience contact dermatitis on the skin after wearing nitrile or neoprene gloves. Symptoms may include the skin becoming cracked, red, blistered, thickened, dry or itchy. 

Vinyl gloves are another alternative to latex or nitrile gloves. However, vinyl gloves are less durable and can split more easily when worn. They can be worn underneath latex or nitrile gloves, although this may cause other skin irritations from sweating and lack of ventilation inside the glove. 

How to put on a pair of gloves

If you are wearing gloves, either disposable or multi-use, then you should follow the steps below: 

• Before putting on a pair of gloves, remove jewellery and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Ensure that hands are fully dry before putting on gloves.
• Take out a glove from its box. 
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• Take out the second glove from its box with the gloved hand.
• Touch only the top/wrist edge of the glove and slide your fingers and hand into the glove.
• While working on a task, maintain good hygiene by not touching your face and cough or sneezing into your elbow. Monitor what you touch and replace your gloves frequently.
• Replace your gloves each time you would wash or sanitise your hands.
• After completing a task/activity, think about whether there is a risk that you’ve touched a potentially contaminated surface or object.
• Remove, dispose and replace your gloves when necessary.

How to remove a pair of gloves

• If you are wearing single use gloves, carefully remove the first glove by gripping at the wrist edge without touching the skin and pull downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin (see below for information on disposal).
• With the un-gloved, bare hand, slide your fingers into the second glove and peel the glove downwards away from the wrist, turning the glove inside out and dispose it in a closed bin (see below for information on disposal).
• dispose them in a closed bin (see below for information on disposal).
• If you are wearing reusable gloves, remove, clean and store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions if available or your workplace policy.
• After disposing single use gloves or storing reusable gloves, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Eye protection

Eye protection, in the form of safety glasses, goggles and face shields, can be used as PPE for protecting against the risks of COVID-19. Eye protection can act as a physical barrier from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets. It may also prevent people from rubbing their eyes or touching their face and spreading the virus from their hands to their face and eyes.

Eye protection will not be required for many workplaces to minimise the risks of COVID-19.  However, it may be necessary for workers who have a higher risk of exposure to splashes or sprays of body fluids. For example, workers in health care, aged care, police, security, and quarantine settings. 

When eye protection is used, good hand hygiene practices (cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washing your hands) should be performed before putting on and after removing eye protection.

Goggles or safety glasses

Goggles or safety glasses must be closely fitted with a wrap-around style and should meet Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1337.1:2010). Prescription glasses, contact lenses, and safety glasses that are not wrap-around, do not provide adequate protection against COVID-19 and should not be used as a control measure. 

Table 1 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of using goggles and safety glasses*     

Advantages	Disadvantages
Are durable and reusable when appropriate cleaning procedures are followed.	Wearing them for prolonged periods may increase the risk of skin injuries, particularly if they seal too tightly.
Some types of safety glasses have a clear plastic lens with fog and scratch resistant treatment.	They do not stop the wearer from touching their mask or face.
Prescription safety glasses may be ordered.	They may not be able to be worn over prescription glasses (depending on style).
They have a flexible frame to easily fit contours of the face.	They may become scratched over time and reduce visibility.
They provide good eye protection by enclosing the eyes.	There is a higher risk of fogging.

* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

Your employer must consult with you and any Health and Safety Representatives to help identify any work health and safety risks  when deciding if and what type of goggles or safety glasses may be required as part of your workplace control measures.

If your employer requires you to wear eye protection, they must also provide you with the appropriate training and instruction on how to use and clean them . 

More information

Our cleaning guide provides information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection

Face shields

Face shields may be used as an alternative to goggles or safety glasses. A face shield is a clear plastic barrier that covers the face and eyes, extending to the ears on the sides and below the chin. 

Face shields can be single use or reusable and are generally recommended for use in health care or aged care settings where additional protection against splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets is required. Face shields have gaps to the sides and to the bottom of the face shield that may allow viruses carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols to be released from an infectious person’s mouth and nose. 

The Infection Control Expert Group advises that face shields are to be worn with a mask underneath, to protect the person from inhaling the virus and prevent infectious people (if the person is unaware that they are infected) from spreading the COVID-19 virus onto others. They should also have an adjustable band to attach firmly around the head and fit snuggly against the forehead to ensure there is no gap between the wearer’s forehead and the shield’s headpiece.

Table 2 lists some advantages and disadvantages of using face shields as PPE for COVID-19.

Table 2: Advantages and disadvantages of using face shields*

Advantages	Disadvantages
Provides a broad and clear field of view.	Gaps on the sides and underneath the face shield may allow virus-contaminated respiratory droplets and aerosols to reach the eyes (or the nose and mouth if a well-fitted mask is not worn at the same time).
They provide additional protection to the face and mask from splashes or sprays of body fluids and aerosol droplets.	Some face shields do not extend to the sides of head towards the ears. These are not as protective as other forms of eyewear.
The wearer’s eyes can be seen more easily, which may help with communication with others.	Face shields may make communication more difficult by muffling the wearer’s voice, especially when used with a mask.
There is less risk of fogging.
The wearer is less likely to touch their face and mask.

    
* Adapted from the Infection Control Expert Group Guidance on the use of PPE for health care workers in the context of COVID-19

Your employer must consult with you and any Health and Safety Representatives to before deciding if face shields are an appropriate COVID-19 control measure. 

If your employer determined that face shields are required to minimise the risks of COVID-19, they must also provide you with the appropriate training and instruction on their use and maintenance, including cleaning. 

More information

The Australian Government Department of Health has published a Coronavirus (COVID-19) face shields – a quick guide, which explains how to safely use face shields.

Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting for PPE, including eye protection.

Screens

Many businesses have chosen to protect workers by installing screens (also known as sneezes guards), commonly constructed from acrylic.

Screens can be considered at workplaces where workers are in close proximity to each other for long periods or for workers serving customers/patients (e.g. retail stores, supermarkets, pharmacies and doctor’s surgeries). 

Screens come in many different sizes and shapes and can be custom made for the workplace. Generally, they have a space cut out to allow for exchange between the worker and a member of the public, with the screen covering the upper half of the body and head. 

If your employer is considering installing a screen, they need to ensure that the screen is fit for purpose and provides adequate protection to you from droplet spray while allowing you to work safely. Your employer should also consider whether the screen would protect you from aerosol transmission and the effects of the screen on ventilation in the workplace. 

Your employer must consult with you and any Health and Safety Representatives to help identify any work health and safety risks that may affect you. Completing a risk assessment will assist your employer in deciding if and what kind of screen is appropriate as part of your workplace control measures. Be aware that installing a screen or multiple screens around a worker may result in communication difficulties between persons, and limiting or obstructing a worker’s movements which may cause physical discomfort and psychological risks. These should be discussed as part of the consultation process.

Your employer must also provide appropriate training and instruction to you if they decide to install them. 

Screens should be cleaned and disinfected in the same manner as other frequently handled objects or surfaces. Our cleaning guide provides more information on cleaning and disinfecting, including for specific surfaces. 

How do I handle and dispose of single use PPE?

It is important to be mindful of how you dispose of your PPE. Your PPE may have been contaminated with the COVID-19 virus carried in respiratory droplets and aerosols. When removing and disposing single use PPE, this is when you could accidently infect yourself or others.

When disposing your PPE, you should:

• Have a consistent sequence so that this can become routine.
• Take your time, don't rush.
• Always perform hand hygiene prior to removing any PPE from your face (e.g. masks) and after disposing any PPE.
• Ensure your PPE avoids contact with other surfaces when disposing.

Single use PPE can be disposed of with the general waste, preferably into a closed bin containing two bin liners to ensure the waste is double bagged. Double bagging minimises any exposure to the person disposing the waste. 

A closed bin is a bin with a fitted lid, preferably one that does not need to be touched to place the PPE inside. A bin with a foot pedal or other hands-free mechanism to open the lid would be appropriate. Where a closed bin is not available, PPE should be placed in a sealed bag before disposal into the bin. The sealed bag and a single bin liner are considered equivalent to double bagging. 

It is important to follow good hand hygiene after removing and disposing of your PPE. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleaned with alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. 

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This information will assist you to assess whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, a RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

 

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers also have a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and workers’ health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs.

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if you determine that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring your workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards). For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How do I determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure for my workers?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, you must:

• undertake a risk assessment for your business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with workers and their health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing your workers with relevant information and materials about testing to assist their understanding of the issues. (More information on your consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable for you to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure  is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace and your workers at the time you undertake your risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

You should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in your risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If you conclude (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with your workers and their health and safety representatives) that implementing a rapid antigen testing program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), you again need to consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. You will need to continually review your risk assessment and control measures including when access to and availability of rapid antigen tests changes.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. You should also note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop 

COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

Relevant matters for a RAT program as a control measure for your workplace

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, you should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that your workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes, for front line workers, considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where your workplace is located and the number of people they will be in contact with which will increase likelihood of your workers contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do your workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of your workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require your workers to work in close proximity to each other, to your customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program. For further information on testing in communities with high prevalence of COVID-19 see the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee statement on rapid antigen testing for current high community prevalence environment.
• What RAT tests will you use? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides more information on test performance and limitations.
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require you to implement a RAT program.
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit, record the results and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If a worker tests positive, you must respect their privacy and not reveal their personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides general public health advice on implementing a RAT program and on principles for use and potential limitations of a RAT program. 

Can I require my workers to purchase their own rapid antigen tests?

No. As an employer you have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If you determine (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing of your workforce is required, then you must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to workers. 

Can I require customers and visitors to prove they have been tested for COVID-19 before entering my workplace?

Customers and visitors at the workplace can transmit the COVID-19 virus to your workers and other customers, and controls should be put in place to protect both workers and customers.

It is unlikely that it would be reasonably practicable under the WHS laws for you to require customers or visitors to be tested or to ask them for proof of a negative test as a condition of entry. However, state and territory public health orders or directions may require you to check for confirmation of a negative test as a condition of entry for example in high-risk settings, such as aged care.

If you want customers and visitors to be tested as a condition of entry to your premises and this is not covered by a public health order or direction, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. For more information on anti-discrimination laws, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.  

Additional resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Testing Framework for COVID-19 in Australia
• Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network of Australia Joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests 
• Public Health Laboratory Network guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
• Information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This information will assist you to assess whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, a RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

 

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers also have a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and workers’ health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs.

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if you determine that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring your workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards). For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How do I determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure for my workers?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, you must:

• undertake a risk assessment for your business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with workers and their health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing your workers with relevant information and materials about testing to assist their understanding of the issues. (More information on your consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable for you to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure  is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace and your workers at the time you undertake your risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

You should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in your risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If you conclude (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with your workers and their health and safety representatives) that implementing a rapid antigen testing program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), you again need to consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. You will need to continually review your risk assessment and control measures including when access to and availability of rapid antigen tests changes.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. You should also note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop 

COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

Relevant matters for a RAT program as a control measure for your workplace

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, you should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that your workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes, for front line workers, considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where your workplace is located and the number of people they will be in contact with which will increase likelihood of your workers contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do your workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of your workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require your workers to work in close proximity to each other, to your customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program. For further information on testing in communities with high prevalence of COVID-19 see the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee statement on rapid antigen testing for current high community prevalence environment.
• What RAT tests will you use? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides more information on test performance and limitations.
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require you to implement a RAT program.
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit, record the results and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If a worker tests positive, you must respect their privacy and not reveal their personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides general public health advice on implementing a RAT program and on principles for use and potential limitations of a RAT program. 

Can I require my workers to purchase their own rapid antigen tests?

No. As an employer you have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If you determine (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing of your workforce is required, then you must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to workers. 

Can I require customers and visitors to prove they have been tested for COVID-19 before entering my workplace?

Customers and visitors at the workplace can transmit the COVID-19 virus to your workers and other customers, and controls should be put in place to protect both workers and customers.

It is unlikely that it would be reasonably practicable under the WHS laws for you to require customers or visitors to be tested or to ask them for proof of a negative test as a condition of entry. However, state and territory public health orders or directions may require you to check for confirmation of a negative test as a condition of entry for example in high-risk settings, such as aged care.

If you want customers and visitors to be tested as a condition of entry to your premises and this is not covered by a public health order or direction, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. For more information on anti-discrimination laws, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.  

Additional resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Testing Framework for COVID-19 in Australia
• Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network of Australia Joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests 
• Public Health Laboratory Network guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
• Information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws

This page provides information about employers’ obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This includes guidance on whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work.

A RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for workplaces. Your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

You must comply so far is you are reasonably able with a reasonable instruction given by your employer about WHS matters (including about managing the risks of COVID-19). In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you or your employer may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.
As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up to date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website (www.worksafe.vic.gov.au).

Your employer has a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Your employer also has a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and their health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs. 

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if  your employer determines that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet their duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19, your employer must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits. For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How should your employer determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure in your workplace?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, your employer must:

• undertake a risk assessment for their business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with you and your health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing you with relevant information and materials about testing to assist your understanding of the issues. (More information on consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace, and the workers, at the time your employer undertakes their risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

Your employer should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in their risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If your employer concludes (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with you and your health and safety representatives (if any)) that implementing a RAT program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), they will again need to consult with you and your health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. 

As a worker, you must take reasonable care of yourself and not do anything that would adversely affect the health and safety of others at work. You must also follow any reasonable health and safety instructions from your employer as far as you are reasonably able. If your employer decides to implement a RAT program (after conducting a risk assessment and consulting with workers and their HSRs), you must comply with the program so far as you are reasonably able.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. It is important to note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, your employer should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes for front line workers considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where the workplace is located and the number of people workers will be in contact with, which will increase their likelihood of contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean employers should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require workers to work in close proximity to each other, to customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that employers should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program
• What RAT tests will be used? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. 
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require employers to implement a RAT program. 
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

If you need information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws, go to the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws.

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If you test positive, your employer must respect your privacy and not reveal your personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

Can I be required to purchase my own rapid antigen tests?

No. Employers have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If your employer determines (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing is required, then they must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to you. 

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This information will assist you to assess whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, a RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

 

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers also have a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and workers’ health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs.

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if you determine that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring your workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards). For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How do I determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure for my workers?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, you must:

• undertake a risk assessment for your business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with workers and their health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing your workers with relevant information and materials about testing to assist their understanding of the issues. (More information on your consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable for you to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure  is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace and your workers at the time you undertake your risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

You should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in your risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If you conclude (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with your workers and their health and safety representatives) that implementing a rapid antigen testing program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), you again need to consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. You will need to continually review your risk assessment and control measures including when access to and availability of rapid antigen tests changes.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. You should also note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop 

COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

Relevant matters for a RAT program as a control measure for your workplace

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, you should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that your workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes, for front line workers, considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where your workplace is located and the number of people they will be in contact with which will increase likelihood of your workers contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do your workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of your workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require your workers to work in close proximity to each other, to your customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program. For further information on testing in communities with high prevalence of COVID-19 see the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee statement on rapid antigen testing for current high community prevalence environment.
• What RAT tests will you use? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides more information on test performance and limitations.
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require you to implement a RAT program.
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit, record the results and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If a worker tests positive, you must respect their privacy and not reveal their personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides general public health advice on implementing a RAT program and on principles for use and potential limitations of a RAT program. 

Can I require my workers to purchase their own rapid antigen tests?

No. As an employer you have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If you determine (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing of your workforce is required, then you must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to workers. 

Can I require customers and visitors to prove they have been tested for COVID-19 before entering my workplace?

Customers and visitors at the workplace can transmit the COVID-19 virus to your workers and other customers, and controls should be put in place to protect both workers and customers.

It is unlikely that it would be reasonably practicable under the WHS laws for you to require customers or visitors to be tested or to ask them for proof of a negative test as a condition of entry. However, state and territory public health orders or directions may require you to check for confirmation of a negative test as a condition of entry for example in high-risk settings, such as aged care.

If you want customers and visitors to be tested as a condition of entry to your premises and this is not covered by a public health order or direction, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. For more information on anti-discrimination laws, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.  

Additional resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Testing Framework for COVID-19 in Australia
• Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network of Australia Joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests 
• Public Health Laboratory Network guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
• Information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This information will assist you to assess whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, a RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

 

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers also have a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and workers’ health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs.

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if you determine that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring your workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards). For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How do I determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure for my workers?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, you must:

• undertake a risk assessment for your business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with workers and their health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing your workers with relevant information and materials about testing to assist their understanding of the issues. (More information on your consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable for you to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure  is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace and your workers at the time you undertake your risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

You should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in your risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If you conclude (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with your workers and their health and safety representatives) that implementing a rapid antigen testing program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), you again need to consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. You will need to continually review your risk assessment and control measures including when access to and availability of rapid antigen tests changes.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. You should also note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop 

COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

Relevant matters for a RAT program as a control measure for your workplace

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, you should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that your workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes, for front line workers, considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where your workplace is located and the number of people they will be in contact with which will increase likelihood of your workers contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do your workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of your workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require your workers to work in close proximity to each other, to your customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program. For further information on testing in communities with high prevalence of COVID-19 see the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee statement on rapid antigen testing for current high community prevalence environment.
• What RAT tests will you use? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides more information on test performance and limitations.
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require you to implement a RAT program.
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit, record the results and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If a worker tests positive, you must respect their privacy and not reveal their personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides general public health advice on implementing a RAT program and on principles for use and potential limitations of a RAT program. 

Can I require my workers to purchase their own rapid antigen tests?

No. As an employer you have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If you determine (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing of your workforce is required, then you must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to workers. 

Can I require customers and visitors to prove they have been tested for COVID-19 before entering my workplace?

Customers and visitors at the workplace can transmit the COVID-19 virus to your workers and other customers, and controls should be put in place to protect both workers and customers.

It is unlikely that it would be reasonably practicable under the WHS laws for you to require customers or visitors to be tested or to ask them for proof of a negative test as a condition of entry. However, state and territory public health orders or directions may require you to check for confirmation of a negative test as a condition of entry for example in high-risk settings, such as aged care.

If you want customers and visitors to be tested as a condition of entry to your premises and this is not covered by a public health order or direction, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. For more information on anti-discrimination laws, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.  

Additional resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Testing Framework for COVID-19 in Australia
• Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network of Australia Joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests 
• Public Health Laboratory Network guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
• Information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws

This page provides information about employers’ obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This includes guidance on whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work.

A RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for workplaces. Your employer must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

You must comply so far is you are reasonably able with a reasonable instruction given by your employer about WHS matters (including about managing the risks of COVID-19). In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you or your employer may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.
As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up to date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website (www.worksafe.vic.gov.au).

Your employer has a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Your employer also has a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and their health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs. 

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if  your employer determines that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet their duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19, your employer must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits. For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How should your employer determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure in your workplace?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, your employer must:

• undertake a risk assessment for their business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with you and your health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing you with relevant information and materials about testing to assist your understanding of the issues. (More information on consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and determine what control measures are reasonably practicable to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace, and the workers, at the time your employer undertakes their risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

Your employer should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in their risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If your employer concludes (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with you and your health and safety representatives (if any)) that implementing a RAT program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), they will again need to consult with you and your health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. 

As a worker, you must take reasonable care of yourself and not do anything that would adversely affect the health and safety of others at work. You must also follow any reasonable health and safety instructions from your employer as far as you are reasonably able. If your employer decides to implement a RAT program (after conducting a risk assessment and consulting with workers and their HSRs), you must comply with the program so far as you are reasonably able.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. It is important to note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, your employer should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes for front line workers considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where the workplace is located and the number of people workers will be in contact with, which will increase their likelihood of contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean employers should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require workers to work in close proximity to each other, to customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that employers should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program
• What RAT tests will be used? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. 
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require employers to implement a RAT program. 
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

If you need information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws, go to the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws.

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If you test positive, your employer must respect your privacy and not reveal your personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

Can I be required to purchase my own rapid antigen tests?

No. Employers have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If your employer determines (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing is required, then they must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to you. 

This page provides information about your obligations under the model WHS laws and how these relate to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing. This information will assist you to assess whether a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program (RAT program) for your workers, including contractors and labour-hire, is a reasonably practicable control measure to manage the risks of COVID-19 at work. 

You will need to review this assessment from time to time. 

Further, a RAT program is only one control measure for COVID-19 that may be required under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws for your workplace. You must continue to implement all other reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace such as encouraging vaccination, physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risks from COVID-19. Further information on other control measures is provided on this page.

In addition to your obligations under the model WHS laws, you must also comply with any public health orders or directions made by state and territory governments that apply to you and your workplace. This guidance does not affect any obligations you may have regarding rapid antigen testing that apply under public health orders and directions.

This guidance does not change, remove or reduce any existing rights or obligations under the model WHS laws.

As Victoria has not adopted the model WHS laws, this guidance is not applicable to Victoria. Up-to-date guidance applicable to responding to COVID-19 in Victorian workplaces can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.

 

Employers have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers also have a duty to consult workers (including contractors and labour-hire personnel) and workers’ health and safety representatives, regarding COVID-19 risks and how these risks are to be managed. This includes the introduction of WHS or other workplace policies relating to COVID-19 rapid antigen testing (RAT) of workers and RAT programs.

A RAT program may assist in identifying people who are infectious with COVID-19 and to minimise the risks of COVID 19 at the workplace, however, it is not the only relevant control measure. Even if you determine that a RAT program is reasonably practicable for your workplace, it should not be relied on in isolation. To meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risks of COVID-19 in your workplace, you must continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures, such as:

• encouraging or ensuring vaccination, where applicable,
• ensuring your workers do not come to work when unwell, 
• ensuring your workers do not come to work if they have tested positive for COVID-19 unless they have been released from isolation by the relevant public health authority,
• ensuring physical distancing in the workplace and adhering to density limits (check occupancy limits for the type of building and building standards). For example:
  • supporting workers to work from home or relocating work tasks to different areas of the workplace or off-site, 
  • staggering your workers’ start, finish and break times, 
  • reducing the number of situations where workers come into close contact, for example in lunchrooms and other shared spaces,
• improving air quality,
• practising good hygiene,
• increasing cleaning and maintenance, 
• wearing masks correctly.

How do I determine if a rapid antigen testing program is a reasonably practicable control measure for my workers?

To minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, you must:

• undertake a risk assessment for your business  
• consider the effectiveness of available control measures and how they will help manage the risks of COVID-19, including rapid antigen testing
• consult with workers and their health and safety representatives about COVID-19 and relevant control measures, including rapid antigen testing, including providing your workers with relevant information and materials about testing to assist their understanding of the issues. (More information on your consultation obligations is available on the consultation page), and
• determine what control measures are reasonably practicable for you to implement in your workplace (more information on the meaning of reasonably practicable is available on the risk assessment page).

When determining whether a control measure is reasonably practicable under the model WHS laws, consideration must be given to several factors: 

• likelihood of risk occurring
• degree of harm that might result
• what the person conducting the business should reasonably know about the risks and how to minimise them
• availability of and suitability of ways to minimise risk, and 
• after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costs associated, including whether the cost of implementing a  control measure  is grossly disproportionate to the risk. 

Whether a particular control measure is reasonably practicable, such as a RAT program for your workplace, will depend on the circumstances of your particular workplace and your workers at the time you undertake your risk assessment. Access to a reliable supply of rapid antigen tests approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will be a relevant consideration when determining if a RAT program is currently a reasonably practicable control measure for your workplace. 

You should consider how a rapid antigen testing program might operate in your risk assessment, including whether the testing would occur at the workplace or outside of the workplace. 

If you conclude (following a risk assessment undertaken in consultation with your workers and their health and safety representatives) that implementing a rapid antigen testing program is necessary to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at your workplace (and would be reasonably practicable), you again need to consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives about the proposed testing program. You will need to continually review your risk assessment and control measures including when access to and availability of rapid antigen tests changes.

More information on conducting a risk assessment is available on the risk assessment page. You should also note that in some jurisdictions, workplaces are required to develop 

COVID-19 safety plans under public health directions and orders. Information on COVID-19 safety plans is available from government agencies in your jurisdiction.

Relevant matters for a RAT program as a control measure for your workplace

When determining whether a RAT program is a reasonably practicable control measure, you should take into account:

• Are rapid antigen tests available? If there are no limitations on availability or supply, this may mean it is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• How likely is it that your workers will be exposed to the COVID-19 virus? This includes, for front line workers, considering the extent of community transmission of COVID-19 where your workplace is located and the number of people they will be in contact with which will increase likelihood of your workers contracting the virus. If community transmission is high, the risk to those workers is higher than for places of low community transmission. This may mean implementing a RAT program is more likely to be reasonably practicable.
• Do your workers work with people who would be vulnerable to severe disease if they contract COVID-19? If yes, this may mean you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of your workers exposing vulnerable persons to infection, such as by using a RAT program.
• What is the likelihood that COVID-19 could spread in the workplace? For example, some work tasks may require your workers to work in close proximity to each other, to your customers or members of the public. If it is high, this may mean that you should implement control measures to reduce the likelihood of those workers either catching the virus from others, or transmitting the virus to others, such as by using a RAT program. For further information on testing in communities with high prevalence of COVID-19 see the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee statement on rapid antigen testing for current high community prevalence environment.
• What RAT tests will you use? How accurate are they in detecting COVID-19 in asymptomatic workers? How likely are false positive results in workers without COVID-19? Currently, there is variability in the performance of different RATs. The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides more information on test performance and limitations.
• Would a requirement to be tested at the workplace be unlawful in the circumstances? If yes, the model WHS laws would not require you to implement a RAT program.
• The design of a testing program, which may include: 
  • who will be tested, 
  • how often will workers be tested, 
  • where testing will occur (e.g. at home or at the workplace), and
  • processes in place to manage a positive result. 

What rapid antigen test kits can be used?

Only rapid antigen tests that are approved by the TGA are permitted for use in Australia. Both ‘point-of-care’ (for use under medical practitioner, health practitioner or paramedic supervision) and ‘self-tests’ (for use without supervision) have been approved by the TGA.

A list of kits approved for self-testing and instructions on how to use the kits is available here. The TGA has also published a fact sheet on self-testing.

The TGA has also developed guidance for businesses considering implementing rapid antigen point-of-care testing in their workplace.

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific test kit, record the results and follow state and territory public health orders or directions in relation to reporting results.

If a worker tests positive, you must respect their privacy and not reveal their personal details to others. For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network Australia joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests provides general public health advice on implementing a RAT program and on principles for use and potential limitations of a RAT program. 

Can I require my workers to purchase their own rapid antigen tests?

No. As an employer you have a duty under the model WHS laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at work so far as is reasonably practicable. 

If you determine (after consultation) that rapid antigen testing of your workforce is required, then you must provide the TGA-approved tests at no cost to workers. 

Can I require customers and visitors to prove they have been tested for COVID-19 before entering my workplace?

Customers and visitors at the workplace can transmit the COVID-19 virus to your workers and other customers, and controls should be put in place to protect both workers and customers.

It is unlikely that it would be reasonably practicable under the WHS laws for you to require customers or visitors to be tested or to ask them for proof of a negative test as a condition of entry. However, state and territory public health orders or directions may require you to check for confirmation of a negative test as a condition of entry for example in high-risk settings, such as aged care.

If you want customers and visitors to be tested as a condition of entry to your premises and this is not covered by a public health order or direction, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

For more information on privacy, go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. For more information on anti-discrimination laws, go to the Australian Human Rights Commission website.  

Additional resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Testing Framework for COVID-19 in Australia
• Public Health Laboratory Network and Communicable Diseases Network of Australia Joint statement on SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests 
• Public Health Laboratory Network guidance on laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)
• Information on COVID-19 and Australian workplace laws is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman website: Fair Work Ombudsman - Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws