A COVIDSafe Plan is a list of health and safety actions. It is an important part of the occupational health and safety obligations of every workplace and is required under the Victorian Government’s pandemic orders.
Every Victorian business or organisation with on-site operations must keep a COVIDSafe Plan at each workplace. They must provide it to an Authorised Officer upon request and comply with any direction given by an authorised officer or WorkSafe inspector to modify the COVIDSafe plan. The plan must set out how the workplace will keep workers, customers and other attendees safe from COVID-19. It also helps to prepare for a case of COVID-19 in the workplace.
All workplaces should regularly review and update their COVIDSafe Plan to ensure it reflects the current COVIDSafe settings. A COVIDSafe Plan template has been developed to assist workplaces. However, it is not mandatory to use this template.
A COVIDSafe Plan must demonstrate how the business will:
- manage a COVID-19 case at the workplace
- address record keeping requirements, including the process for recording vaccination status of workers, if applicable to their sector
- address relevant face mask and protective personal equipment requirements
- take steps to mitigate the introduction of COVID-19 to the workplace
- respond to any symptomatic worker or confirmed cases of COVID-19
- include an acknowledgment that the employer understands their responsibilities and obligations under the Pandemic (Workplace) .
- document evidence of compliance with the COVIDSafe Plan.
A COVIDSafe Plan can include any other public health measures a workplace adopts to manage COVID-19, including measures that are not set out in the Minister for Health’s Pandemic Orders. Workplaces should also consider any other advice and requirements relevant to developing their COVIDSafe Plan – such as employment or occupational health and safety laws.
COVIDSafe Plan and workers
Employees must comply with the COVIDSafe Plan, so it is important they understand it. Employers should ask for their input, including from Health and Safety representatives, and provide training. Employees should be able to easily access a copy of the plan. This will ensure the plan is implemented and updated when circumstances change.
COVIDSafe Plan in languages other than English
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Dari دری
Greek Ελληνικά
Italian Italiano
Korean 한국어
Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Simplified Chinese 简体中文
Traditional Chinese 繁體中文
Turkish Türkçe
Vietnamese tiếng Việt
Frequently asked questions
My workplace already has a COVIDSafe Plan in place. Do I need to create a new one using the revised templates?
All workplaces should review their COVIDSafe Plan regularly to ensure it is current. Using the revised template helps ensure your Plan is up to date.
Do I need to submit my COVIDSafe Plan to an authority?
A copy of the COVIDSafe Plan must be kept at each workplace and must be available for inspection on request by or other authorised officers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Workplaces do not need to submit their COVIDSafe Plan or have it endorsed by the Victorian Government.
Who is enforcing COVIDSafe Settings?
Authorised officers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and may undertake site inspections to ensure employers are operating with a COVIDSafe Plan and are complying with COVIDSafe Settings.
Random spot checks are taking place across the state to ensure compliance. In accordance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019, failure to comply (without a reasonable excuse) can result in a fine of up to $10,904 for individuals and sole-traders, or up to $54,522 for serious offences by companies and body corporates.
Learn more about Fines, enforcement and reporting.
How is COVIDSafe Plan compliance being monitored?
Authorised officers and select site operators for review and ask them to demonstrate that they are complying with the Victorian Government's pandemic orders. Operators must retain and make available for inspection their COVIDSafe Plans.
Are subcontractors required to develop and adhere to their own COVIDSafe Plan or that of the worksite they are visiting?
For worksites where a principal contractor has control of the project, subcontractors must follow the principal contractor’s COVIDSafe Plan for that worksite.
For sites where a principal contractor does not have control of the project, subcontractors must complete their own COVIDSafe Plan for the worksite they are on, even if that worksite is shared with another employer.
Subcontractors must also complete a COVIDSafe Plan for their own worksite, such as a head office, work vehicle or warehouse. Work vehicles used predominantly to travel between work and home do not require a COVIDSafe Plan, but a vehicle used predominantly as a work premises, such as a food truck or dental van, does require a COVIDSafe Plan.
Reviewed 22 July 2022