Industry guidelines
Last updated: 31 March 2021
Last updated: 7 April 2021
Information for seasonal horticulture sector
The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector includes farm businesses and seasonal horticulture.
All Victorian farm businesses and labour hire providers need to have a COVIDSafe Plan. Employers, labour hire providers and seasonal horticulture workers should refer to the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) for further information on what this Seasonal Horticulture Workers COVIDSafe Plan must include, and their additional industry obligations.
Other information about managing coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure risk in the agriculture industry is available on the Worksafe .
Agriculture, forestry and fishing services businesses must abide by current restrictions, which are summarised below.
All businesses or workplaces with on-site operations must have a COVIDSafe Plan and have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of workers, clients, contractors and the general public.
Current restrictions for agriculture, forestry and fishing services
Updated: 1 March 2021
-
- all workplaces with on-site operations must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place
- home-based businesses must also have a COVIDSafe Plan.
-
- Unless workplace- specific capacity limits apply, any shared space, or publicly accessible space, in a workplace must apply a density quotient of one person per two square metres when electronic record- keeping capability is in place, such as the Victorian Government QR Code Service. If electronic record- keeping is not used, a density quotient of one person per four square metres applies. See relevant sector guidance information for workplace specific capacity limits.
-
Record keeping applies to all Victorian workplaces.
- employers must keep a record of all workers and visitors who attend the workplace for longer than 15 minutes, including first name, contact number, date and time of visit and areas of the workplace visited
- employers are strongly encouraged to use electronic record keeping for this purpose. This includes the Victorian Government’s QR Code Service
- employers must keep records to show compliance with the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s . This includes keeping logs created during the time of directions being in force in line with record keeping requirements, including work premises rosters, time and attendance records and payroll data.
-
- You must always carry a face mask with you when you leave home unless you have a lawful reason not to.
- Face masks continue to be mandatory in some locations, unless a lawful reason not to wear one applies.
- For a full list of settings where masks continue to be mandatory, see: Face masks.
-
- where a workplace has a publicly accessible space, employers must display signage at each public entry to each indoor and outdoor space, indicating maximum capacity, and face mask restrictions where required.
-
- employers should ensure shared spaces and public spaces are cleaned with disinfectant regularly, with high-touch surfaces cleaned at least twice each day. Shared equipment should be cleaned between uses
- for more information, visit: Preventing infection in the workplace.
Frequently asked questions - COVIDSafe Settings
Updated: 2 March 2021
Read below for answers to frequently asked questions by businesses in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector.
Farming
What are the current face mask requirements?
You must always carry a face mask with you when you leave home unless you have a lawful reason not to.
Face masks continue to be mandatory in some locations, unless a lawful reason not to wear one applies.
For a full list of settings where masks continue to be mandatory, see: Face masks.
Am I required to wear a face mask when working on my farm?
No. However if anyone from outside your household visits your farm while you are working, it is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask if you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from each other.
For more information on current face mask requirements, see Face masks.
Reviewed 07 April 2021