COVID19 Update 9.4.21

The Victorian Acting Premier has announced that Victoria will further relax its COVIDSafe settings.

From 6.00pm on Friday 26 March, masks will no longer be required in retail settings but Victorians will still need to carry one with them at all times and wear it on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis and in sensitive settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals.

Read Acting Premier's statement here >

Table of eased restrictions >

Eased restrictions to note:

• Up to 200 people can gather in public

• Up to 100 visitors to the home

• Masks no longer required in retail settings

• Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm remains, with record keeping where practicable

• Workers may attend on-site and office work no longer capped

• All workplaces with onsite workers require a COVIDSafe Plan.

Continental Kosher Butchers will be easing their guidelines and implementing a new COVIDSafe Plan effective Monday, 12.4.2021

The noted eased restrictions at both facilities include the following:

• Use of hand dryer whilst maintaining social distancing

• Use of hand punch with hand cleaning and sanitisation between use

• Face masks will be available for use but are no longer mandatory

• Temperature checks will cease

Further eased restrictions at Malvern facilities include:

• Removal of the table holding face masks. Hand sanitiser to be mounted at both front and rear of premises.

• Customers not required to wear face masks

• Reusable bags brought by customers can be packed behind counter with their purchases and walked through to rear for collection if necessary

COVID19 Update 2.8.20

The Victorian Government have announced stage 4 restrictions which will apply from 11:59pm Friday 7 August 2020.

Three categories apply to businesses:

• Closed (for onsite work) - DOES NOT APPLY TO US

• Open (for on-site work) – COVID Safe Plan - APPLIES TO MALVERN SITE (Independent Local Butcher)

• Restricted Operations or Industry Specific Obligations

Victorian Government Stage 4 Restrictions

1. All meat and meat product processing and distribution centres in Victoria will only be allowed to operate under Restricted Operations or Industry Specific Obligations. A Directions Notice will be issued by the Deputy Chief Health Officer in the near future. We do not currently have a time or date this notice will be issued.

2. Key Issues for Meat Processors As per the Victorian Government Stage 4 Restrictions and the premiers’ comments: meat, meat product processing and distribution centres are considered a high-risk industry and subject to industry tailored High Risk COVID Safe plan. In addition to the COVID Safe Plan all Victorian meat and meat product processors are subject to ‘restricted operations or industry specific obligations. AMIC have sought clarification on each of the restrictions. AMIC understand the Directions Notice will provide further detail when issues. 33 per cent reduction compared to peak capacity

• 33% reduction compared to peak capacity. AMIC has been advised by AgVIC that their current understanding is that whatever the total workforce during peak production, this must be reduced by 33% of employees. AMIC is seeking confirmation on this point and its implications.

  • The intention of this restriction is to reduce employee movement in the community and on site.

  • The responsibility to implement this restriction will sit with meat processors to implement how they see fit.

• Single site only – no site hopping

  • Employees must only work at one site.

• AMIC are working with DAWE to understand how they intend to manage this requirement. In discussions to date, DAWE has expressed their strong commitment to abide by the health directives and minimise inter-establishment movements to the greatest degree possible to facilitate trade Medical equipment and PPE including cloth masks

• AMIC consider the meat processing industry are currently meeting PPE requirements adequately

  • Seeking further clarification as to what Victorian Government consider appropriate – AgVIC expressed that they are cognisant of WHS obligations which are paramount (e.g. risk of entrapment, foreign matter contamination, visibility etc)

  • Supply and availability of PPE – AgVIC indicated that they may be able to assist in securing supplies. AMIC is seeking details. Temperature testing requirements

  • AMIC consider industry have already implemented this step Increased COVID testing regime

• Seeking further clarification around this requirement and support offered by Department of Health and Human Services Victoria (DHHS) to conduct testing Work permit system for essential workers from 5 August 2020 (metropolitan Melbourne)

  • Employer will need to fill out a form, on paper and sign it

  • To be carried by employees to be provided to police if necessary

  • Paperwork will be up on the website later today

• This is for those in the Stage 4 geographic areas only

  • Require clarification on timeframe Further Clarification being sought from AgVIC:

  • Who oversees implementation and adherence – regulatory responsibilities have not been advised at this point - Further clarification as to which licence category the restrictions apply to, including the demarcation between Meat and meat product manufacturing (open for on-site work – COVID Safe Plan) and Meat, meat product and processing (restricted operations). - Employee threshold to whom this applies, eg are there any exemptions for SME businesses

3. General Obligations Under the Stage 4 restrictions, workplaces that remain open must:

• have a COVID Safe Plan in place that is regularly updated (unless you are a small business with fewer than 5 employees)

• ensure that any workers that can work from home are able to do so

• collect records of all workers, subcontractors, customers and clients attending the work premises for 15 minutes or longer (certain exemptions will apply)

• one worker per four square metres of enclosed workspace or in shared areas

• unless an exemption applies, ensure that workers do not work across multiple sites, or for multiple employers

• ensure that workers are in good health - workers cannot work if they are unwell and employers must not require workers with symptoms to work

• if your worker is unwell, send them home and direct them to be tested. They must stay home until they have their result

• report any positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) to DHHS, Worksafe, Health and Safety Representatives, and notify your workforce • regularly clean your facilities, shared spaces and provide additional cleaning supplies

• undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of your workplace in certain situations COVID Safe Plan COVID Safe Plans must set out:

• Actions to help prevent the introduction of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace

• The level of face-covering or personal protective equipment (PPE) required for your workforce

• How you will prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace

• This plan must demonstrate how you will meet all of the requirements set out by the Victorian Government. Some higher-risk industries or workplaces have additional requirements of employers and employees. High Risk COVID Safe Plan

• A specific High Risk COVID Safe Plan will be released for those Industries consider ‘high risk’ including meat processing and distribution

• This will need to be completed by midnight Friday by all Victorian Meat processors. It does not need to be lodged anywhere at this time

COVID19 Update 20.7.2020

As COVID19 cases continue to rise around Australia, we continue to tighten our procedures and protocols and continue to share this information with our staff so that they are across the efforts we are going to and can contribute to maintaining a safe workplace for all. The below changes have been made of late:

New thermometers

We have purchased two new thermometers so that we have back ups available should original fail. The user instructions for the thermometers can be found here

Hand washing and drying (including Dyson Airblades)

Safe Work Australia notes the below:

Why are paper towels preferred over hand dryers?

Coles (SRS) were advised by Department of Health:

Decomission Dyson Airblades as they can spread the virus

Dyson air blades- decommission as they spread the virus

Department of Health provides the following information for washing hands. Image is available for printing and placing by hand wash stations here:

Self Declaration Forms

We have created a self declaration form which can be found here. These forms ensure staff, guests, and contractors are aware of the hygeine and sanitation requirements upon arrival and have declared that they complying with the government requirements aligned with the current state of lock down.

COVID19 Update 15.7.2020

As you would be well aware, COVID19 cases are on the rise in Australia, and in particular Victoria. Three meat plants in Victoria have had positive cases: Cedar Meats, JBS Swift, and Pacific Meats. The outcome for all of these plants have been disastrous and we are working hard to develop protocols and procedures to ensure we can handle this as best as possible. The relevant protocols will be made available over the next couple of days for viewing in the lunch room, and also published on the iCKB site in a specific section titled COVID19.

Some additional measures we have taken are as follows:

Temperature Monitoring

We continue to require the temperature to be checked of all people entering the premises.

Please note that it is your responsibility to find the appropriate personnel to check your temperature before you start work. If you start before 7.59am then you are to have your temperature checked by Menachem, and if you start 8am or later then you are to have your temperature checked by Stan. They should not need to walk around looking for you; inevitably if they do then peoples temperature checks will be missed - and I want to ensure that you are not working alongside somebody whose temperature has not been verified as safe for work.

They will now be logging that all staff temperature has been verified on a checklist

Minimised seating in lunch room

We have decreased the limit of people allowed in the lunchroom to 6 people maximum and the seating arrangement has been revised to accommodate only 5 people. 5 people may sit in the lunch room at any given time and no greater. A trestle table for overflow of people in lunch room has been placed in locker room next to lunch room. Whilst the locker room can have 5 people allowed in at one time, the table only allows for 3 to sit and eat.

Personal Protective Equipment

We continue to supply Face Masks as well as gloves and sanitiser for use at work. You are obligated to wash or sanitise your hands upon arrival on site. At this stage face masks are optional but highly recommended.

Declaration Forms

We will be compiling declaration forms for all staff to complete on a regular basis. These forms will outline that you are following the current government regulations and behaving yourself. As cliched as it has become, we are legitimately all in this together, so please play your part.