Industry guidelines
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
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- every Victorian business must have a COVIDSafe Plan, including those with on-site operations as well as home-based businesses.
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- 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
- additional density quotient requirements apply for agriculture, forestry and fishing services industries.
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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.
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- face masks must be carried at all times when you leave home
- face masks are mandatory in airports, hospitals, large retail stores over 2000 sqm, shopping centres, indoor markets, in taxis and rideshares, on public transport, and on domestic flights to and from Victoria
- wearing a face mask is strongly recommended when you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people
- for more information, visit: Face masks page.
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- 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, face mask restrictions where required, COVIDSafe hygiene and physical distancing requirements.
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- 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 page.
Frequently asked questions
Updated on: 12 January 2021
Read below for answers to frequently asked questions by businesses in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector.
Find out more about Victoria’s COVIDSafe Summer.
Farming
Am I required to wear a face mask when working on my farm?
If you’re working alone on your own farm or with people from your own household, you do not need to wear a face mask.
If you are working outdoors and workers, advisors or contractors from outside the household visit the farm, wearing a face mask is strongly recommended if you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people.
If you are working indoors (for example in a shed) and workers, advisors or contractors from outside your household are also in the indoor space, you must wear a face mask.
Face masks must be carried at all times, and are strongly recommended in the home if people other than your immediate household are present.
Wearing a face mask is strongly recommended outdoors when you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people.
Reviewed 19 January 2021