Monday 17 August, 2020

Updated Workplace Directions, effective immediately.

Update to the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions.

Last night, an updated version of the Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions were published on the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website. The updated Directions from the Public Health Commander came into force at 11.59pm last night 16 August 2020.

These updated Directions are now in effect. Some of the updated items relate to our industry, specifically:

Expanded definition of early stage land development at 7 (30) to (42)
Expansion of specialist contractor definition at section 8 (41)
Clarification of floor size area at 7 (43) (b)
Clarification that those undertaking statutory obligations are not restricted in movements at 7 (36) (e) (iv)

Please read these sections carefully, so we can continue to do our part to support the state's fight against COVID-19 and get back on the road to recovery.

Key updates for industry.

Expanded definition of early stage land development
Page 16: section 7 (39) to (42)

Early stage land development sites...

(39) An early stage land development site comprises all civil works undertaken on open air, large greenfield sites that are associated with and preparatory to construction of multiple individual residential dwellings or industrial or commercial development on that site (including site remediation and site preparation works, construction of utilities and construction of roads, bridges, stormwater/flood management works and trunk infrastructure).

(40) An employer may only operate a Work Premises that is an early stage land development site if there are 10 workers (or fewer) per hectare on the Work Premises at any one time.

(41) For an early stage land development site that is:

(a) a residential development, once subdivision occurs, the construction of a dwelling on that part of the early stage land development site will be considered a small-scale construction site; and

(b) a large-scale residential development (for example, a retirement village) with a single entity responsible for construction, once construction of dwellings has commenced it will be considered a large scale construction site,
for the purposes of these directions.

(42) In relation to an early stage land development site that is an industrial or commercial development, once construction of a building, warehouse or physical structure has commenced it will be considered a large-scale construction site for the purposes of these directions.

Expansion of specialist contractor definition,
Page 19: section 8 (41)

(41) specialist contractor means:

Asphalters;
Carpenters;
Plasterers;
Carpet layers;
Sprinkler fitters;
Solar installers;
Security system installers;
Mobile Cranes - Operators and dogmen;
Electricians;
Plumbers, including roof plumbers;
Tile layers, including roof tilers;
Concreters;
Gold Class riggers;
Steel fixers;
Post Tensioners;
Vertical access riggers;
Welders;
Precast installers;
Caulkers;
Floor layers;
Window and glass installers/glaziers;
Engineers;
Floor installers;

Insulation installers;
Brick layers;
Joiners;
Painters;
Appliance installers;
Water proofers;
Cladding installers
Termite specialists;
Mechanics who install and repair plant;
Landscape architects;
Renderers;
Cabinet installers;
Shower screen/mirror installers;
Retaining wall specialists;
Traffic engineers;
Geotechnical specialists;
Heritage and cultural heritage specialists;
Sewer contractors;
Earthworks and drainage specialists;
Telecommunications installers;
Gas contractors;
Geotechnical specialists;
Traffic engineers;
flora and fauna specialists;
Garage door installers;

Clarification of floor size area
Page 16: section 7 (43) (b)

(43) A construction site is a large-scale construction site if it is:

(a) for construction of a building where a planning permit has been issued in relation to the site for a building that is greater than three storeys tall (excluding basement level(s)); or

(b) the site size is more than 1,500m2 floor size (inclusive of all floors); or

(c) construction of a premises that is predominantly for office use, or that is the internal fit-out of a retail premises; or

(d) construction of a premises that is predominantly for industrial or large format retail use; or

(e) deemed to be so under subclause (41)(41)(b) or (42).

Clarification that those undertaking statutory obligations are not restricted in movements
Page 15: section 7 (36) (e) (iv)

In relation to construction sites...

(a) an employer must limit movement of all workers (including supervisors and on-site specialists) between multiple Work Premises that are construction sites, except in relation to:

(i) supervisors on small-scale construction sites, who can move between multiple small-scale construction sites; or

(ii) specialist contractors who can move between up to 3 construction sites per week; or

(iii) specialists who provide safety services; or

(iv) those required to meet minimum statutory obligations or requirements (for example, auditors, building inspectors or surveyors).

View the updated Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions - No. 4

Our industry stands with Victorians and the State Government during this crisis.

We understand the need to scale down right now, but we're still looking to the road to recovery, which depends on a strong building, development and construction industry to resuscitate our economy.

Roadmap to Recovery

Stronger together.

There's never been a better time to add your voice, to the urban development industry's strongest voice.

Join UDIA Victoria today!

Industry Response Partners.

UDIA Victoria appreciates the support of our valued Industry Response Partners.

We thank them for their deep and generous commitment to leading the industry through crisis, challenge and change.

We are here to help.

If you have any questions at any time, we're here to help! Contact us on admin@udiavic.com.au.

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