In brief 2 min read
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the Minister for Health and Medical Research has made a number of Public Health Orders to address the community transmission of COVID-19 in Greater Sydney.
- Public Health Orders are updated and superseded frequently so it is important you seek legal advice to ensure your workplace is compliant with the latest requirements.
- Non-compliance with Public Health Orders can lead to a range of serious penalties for both corporations and individuals.
- A list of New South Wales (NSW) Public Health Orders can be found at: https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/information/covid19-legislation
How does this affect you?
Public Health Orders provide a set of strict requirements and restrictions that are updated regularly in accordance with advice from NSW Health. As the scope of these restrictions continue to expand, and change at short notice, it has become increasingly important for employers to be across these Orders, and ensure that they are compliant with those that relate to workplaces.
The Public Health Orders address a number of aspects that are relevant to the workplace such as:
- the number of persons allowed in a given premises;
- the conditions and exceptions for wearing a fitted face covering;
- the guidelines for traveling to work; and
- attending work sites to perform duties.
Breaching a Public Health Order can result in a number of penalties which include imprisonment and/or financial penalties of up to $11,000 for individuals and more than $55,000 for corporations.