COVID-19 Notification Regulations - Victoria

The Problem

COVID 19 cases are still growing in Victoria and many people are reporting them too slowly to authorities, and this is allowing the epidemic to continue to spread in the community.

New COVID-19 Reporting Regulations Commenced

The Victorian government has issued temporary regulations to make reporting of workplace COVID-19 cases mandatory by employers.

The Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020, commenced on Tuesday 28th July 2020. These regulations expire July 2021.

What Must You Do?

If a confirmed case of COVID-19, e.g. positive test result occurs at work, the person with management control of the workplace must notify WorkSafe Victoria immediately.

Call WorkSafe Victoria Phone 13 23 60

Notification to WorkSafe applies if any; employee, contractor, employee of a contractor, or self-employed person receives a confirmed diagnosis of COVID, and has attended the workplace within the infectious period e.g. 14 days prior to onset of symptoms, or the confirmed diagnosis.

Note: Notification to WorkSafe is not prescribed if the worker has not been at the workplace in the relevant period e.g. has been working from home greater than 14 days.

WorkSafe will then email you a link to an online incident notification form and advise if the incident scene (workplace) can be disturbed before the inspector’s attendance at site. The incident notification form must be submitted within 48 hours.

If you have trouble completing the WorkSafe form online you may email the completed form to: info@worksafe.vic.gov.au, or post to WorkSafe Victoria PO Box 279, Geelong Vic 3220.

WorkSafe will then email you a confirmation copy of your notification for your records.

You must save copies of notifiable incidents for 5 years.

Penalties apply for failing to notify of up to $198,000 for businesses and $39,000 for individuals.