9 July 2021 / COVID-19

Cairns & Yarrabah 3 Day Lockdown

This morning the Queensland Government announced a 3 day lockdown for the local government areas (LGAs) of Cairns Regional Council and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council.

The lockdown will be in place from 4pm today (Sunday) through to 4pm Wednesday, 11 August. It has been announced following a positive case detected in a Cairns taxi driver who has been infectious in the community for at least 10 days.

If anyone has any symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested on day 1 — this helps prevent further restrictions.

Anyone who has been in these areas since the start of the lockdown must also observe these restrictions wherever they are now.

The construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites will remain open throughout the lockdown period at this stage. Read on for further information

Stricter lockdown measures

The Queensland Government is applying similar strict measures as have been in place in South East Queensland due to the high risk of transmission and rapidly spreading Delta variant.

There are only four reasons to leave home during the lockdown:

To buy essentials such as groceries and medications. Supermarkets will be open during the lockdown period.
To go to essential work if you can't work from home. Schools and childcare will only open for children of essential workers.
For exercise outside, but only within 10km of your usual place of residence. Only allowed to do so with one other person from a different household.
For health care. You can leave to get medical care and you can provide care to someone. You can also leave home to get a COVID-19 test or vaccine.

Additional restrictions:

Maximum of 2 visitors allowed at home (excluding those who live there). It is recommended to avoid any visitors at this time if it is possible.
Masks must be worn at all times when you leave home. This includes in workplaces even when physical distancing is possible, unless you are working alone in a closed office, you are at your residence and there is no one else there except people you live with, you are eating or drinking, or it is unsafe to do so.
Masks must also be worn outdoors (including on public transport or in rideshares) unless you are alone or with members of your household, eating or drinking, doing strenuous exercise or it is unsafe to do so.
Masks are now also mandatory for teachers and staff at schools, plus students in high school.
Non-essential businesses must close (eg gyms / hairdressers etc).
Restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues can open but only to provide takeaway.
Funerals and weddings limited to 20 people.

Queensland Government Update

Hutchies' COVIDSafe sites

Construction remains essential in Far North Queensland and it is important to ensure we are all working as hard as possible to keep it open in the face of ongoing outbreaks.

All sites should urgently review the latest Hutchies' COVIDSafe Plan and ensure that their site is implementing the following at a minimum:

Regular cleaning of all site / office areas and high touch points
Mask wearing except when not safe to do so
Good hand hygiene
Maintaining 1.5m distance from others, including limiting numbers in hoists / lifts and crib / lunch rooms
Signing in using your sites' regular sign in process to provide contact details if required for contact tracing
Using video / teleconference software to hold meetings

Keeping People Safe Plan

Hutchies' offices

Everyone who works in Hutchies' office in Cairns should be wearing a mask if they are working the office during the lockdown period.

The Queensland Government has specified that people who can work from home should do so.

All face to face meetings in offices should be cancelled and replaced by video / teleconferences.

Anyone entering Hutchies' office must sign in using the Queensland Government QR code.

Exposure sites

It is very important that anyone who has been in Cairns in the last 10 days checks the Queensland Government's venues of concern list daily.

If you have been to any of the venues of concern at the date and time identified, inform your Team Leader and follow the listed direction of Queensland Health.

Venues of Concern

Travelling during lockdown

If you live in Cairns or Yarrabah local government areas and travel for essential work outside of these areas, you must still wear a mask and observe the same lockdown restrictions.

When travelling into Cairns or Yarrabah for essential work (regardless of where you live), you must follow the same lockdown rules when you return home. Only leave for the essential reasons and wear a mask when outside.

Coronavirus Information

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30 October / Quality Alert

Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage will be banned

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

The industry is shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Although the consultations are under way and there has been no official announcement by Federal or State Governments on the issue, the health and safety risks along with the uncertainty around this issue warrants a decision to ban all engineered products entering job sites nationally. The ban will take effect on 1July 2024 and will extend to ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage.

An update to this alert will be provided before the end of the year when the Federal and State Governments are expected to issue a formal decision on the ban. In the meantime, to mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform the clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product. Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Product alternatives going forward include:

Compact Laminates

Under 1% silica content
Extremely competitive pricing
Only comes in 12mm thickness
Heat resistance is an issue
Product not suitable for high end applications

Porcelain Surfaces

Under 10% silica content
Price dependant of product and supplier
Large variety of colours and thicknesses (4, 8, 12, 20 and 30mm)
Great resistance to staining, scratches, UV and heat
Good warranty terms

Acrylic Solid Surfaces

0% silica content
More expensive alternative
Limited thickness availability
UV stable and heat resistant but direct heat exposure not advised
Minimising wastage through flexibility in sheet sizing
Seamless joints

Natural Stone*

Various silica content percentages
Variety of products at different price points available
Ongoing maintenance may be an issue
Unlikely to satisfy specific warranty requirements

*Although this alert does not directly impact natural stone, some types have high silica content so risk of using these on projects should be considered carefully.

For an up-to-date list of available products and their usability, click here.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact the Quality Team:

Phone 1300 HUTCHIES
Email QualityTeam@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

10 October / Update

Installation Details for Elephant's Foot & Wastech Bin Chutes

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.