Important COVID-19 restriction information for the construction sector

The Victorian Government has announced the current lockdown across metropolitan Melbourne has been extended and a curfew put in place until 11.59pm on Thursday, 2 September. For an overview of the restrictions, please see the updated Table of Restrictions.

Here is a summary of the key changes for the construction industry.

From 11:59pm last night, Monday 16 August:

• A curfew will be imposed from 9pm to 5am. Authorised workers are permitted to travel to and from work even when the curfew is in place.
• Apply a density quotient of one person per four square metres at all sites. Staffing reductions apply, except for critical infrastructure and emergency repairs.
• At large scale construction sites, staffing must reduce to 25 per cent of a project's resourcing plan as of 11:59pm 16 August, 2021 or five workers on site, whichever is higher.
• At small scale construction, there is a limit of five workers on site.
• At early stage residential land development sites, there is a limit of 10 workers per hectare at any one time.
• In order to calculate 25 per cent of a project’s resourcing plan, you must take the daily average number of workers on the large-scale construction site across the project lifecycle, as derived from the large-scale construction site’s resourcing plan as of 16 August.
• Employers must limit movement of workers between construction sites, except in relation to supervisors on small-scale construction sites, specialist contractors (up to three construction sites per week), specialists who provide safety services, or those required to meet statutory obligations or requirements (e.g., auditors, building inspectors or surveyors).
• The provision for outdoor work at occupied premises returns to a single authorised worker, except where it is dangerous to work alone, in which case a supervisor is allowed.

From 11:59pm on Tuesday 17 August:

• Authorised workers living in Melbourne will be required to carry permits when working and travelling for work. This includes apprentices training with an Authorised Provider or Authorised Worker.
• Permits need to be certified by an employer
• Victorians living in regional Victoria and entering metropolitan Melbourne for authorised work must also obtain a permit.

This means employers must:

• Keep a record of all Authorised Worker Permits they have issued and, on request, produce this record to an Authorised Officer, a Victoria Police Officer or a Protective Services Officer
• Record relevant details of the employer
• Include a signed declaration by the employer, or its authorised representative.

An employee is permitted to travel to, and enter, a Work Premises without a current Authorised Worker Permit where:

• the primary purpose of the employee’s travel and attendance at the Work Premises is to obtain their first Authorised Worker Permit from an employer; or
• the employee is required to work from the Work Premises at short notice, making it impractical for the worker to receive a current Authorised Worker Permit.

More information on the Authorised provider and authorised worker permit is available on the coronavirus website.

More information specific to the construction industry is available on the construction sector page.

Face masks are mandatory indoors (not at home) and outdoors, including all workplaces, unless an exception applies.

All Victorians are encouraged to book their vaccination appointment by visiting portal.cvms.vic.gov.au or by phoning the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres for more information on Victoria’s vaccination centres, including locations and opening hours.