8 January 2021 / COVID-19

Construction Remains Essential Service in Greater Brisbane Lockdown

The Queensland Government has announced a 3 day lockdown period for the Greater Brisbane region. The lockdown will be in place from 6pm tonight through to 6pm Monday, 11 January 2021.

The restrictions imposed by the lockdown are similar to those that were in place in March 2020, except now with the addition of mandatory masks.

Hutchies has confirmed that the construction industry is still considered an essential service. Sites and offices will remain open throughout the lockdown period.

However, it is vital that sites and offices are fully implementing the necessary social distancing, hygiene and cleaning measures (detailed below).

Team Leaders will work with their people to ensure they are home in time for the commencement of the lockdown and encouraging working from home arrangements where practical on Monday, 11 January 2021. Take your laptop home with you to be safe.

If you live in Greater Brisbane and travel to a site or office outside of the region, you must still wear a mask and observe the same measures when at that location.

When travelling into Greater Brisbane to a site or office (regardless of where you live), if returning home you must follow the same lockdown rules when you are home. Only leave for the essential reasons and wear a mask when outside.

Face masks are mandatory outside of your home (including at work) as of 6pm tonight (Friday) when leaving home (unless a medical condition prevents you from wearing it). Children under 12 are exempt.

Please ensure you read and follow all directions from the Queensland Government. Also continue to implement and follow all of Hutchies’ COVID-19 measures across our sites and offices.

Hutchies will provide any other relevant updates to you via email or text message if necessary regarding the situation.

Summary of Directions

Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown for three days, while contact tracers work to ensure the UK strain of COVID-19 is not circulating in the community.

From 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6pm Monday 11 January people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home except for the following reasons:

> Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely (construction is considered ‘essential’)

> Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies

> Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements

> Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household

> Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member

> Child custody arrangements

> Legal obligations

> Visit for end of life

> Attend funeral or wedding in line with restrictions

> Masks will also need to be worn everywhere in those local government areas except if people are at home

> Cafes, pubs and restaurants will be open only for takeaway and delivery services

> Funerals will be restricted to 20 people and weddings to 10, including the celebrant and two witnesses.

> All essential businesses remain open (including construction). If you need to leave Greater Brisbane for an essential purpose, such as to work, to return home or to access healthcare, you should limit your movements for those three days wherever you go.

Get tested

If you have any symptoms at all, get tested immediately and quarantine at home until you receive a negative result.

List of restrictions

The full list of restrictions include:

> No more than two visitors to the household per day (in addition to anyone else currently staying in the household), excluding care workers or volunteers

> All businesses that can remain open must adhere to one person per 4 square metres

> Restaurants and cafes to provide takeaway and delivery services only

> Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, gyms etc to close

> Places of worship to close

> Weddings involve a maximum of 10 people, including the celebrant and witnesses

> Funerals involve a maximum of 20 people

> Mandatory mask wearing anywhere outside of your home > No visitors to aged care facilities, hospitals, disability accommodation services or correctional facilities.

Advice

As outbreaks continue to occur, Hutchies is tracking all state and territory updates across Australia daily. All relevant information is being provided to teams in affected areas, and updated on Hutchies’ Toolbox.

If you are unsure about any current restrictions or measures in place (including border controls), or need to know what is relevant to you or Hutchies’ broader workforce, feel free to contact us via coronavirus@hutchies.com.au.

Ask a question

Good Hygiene

Wash your hands often for 20 secs & use hand sanitiser in between

Coughs & Sneezes

Cover a cough or sneeze, wash your hands & dispose of any tissues safely

Don't Touch!

Avoid physical contact & don't touch your eyes, nose & mouth

Social Distance

Maintain 1.5 metres distance from people where practicable

Regular Cleaning

Clean work areas, common facilities (kitchens, bathrooms etc) & frequent touch points often

Symptoms

Stay home & get tested if you have the symptoms (even if you think it’s ‘just a cold’)

Follow Directions

Display, read and follow all of Hutchies’ posters and signage around sites and offices

Face Masks

In high risk situations or when you cannot social distance, wear a face mask

Stay Informed

Monitor Hutchies’ Toolbox for the latest information and advice

Symptoms

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

Fever

Coughing

Shortness of Breath

Sore Throat

If you need advice, call Australia’s COVID hotline 1800 020 080 (24 x 7)

Symptom checker

Coronavirus Information

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24 March / Training

Funded Spots Available for Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety

This qualification applies to individuals working in, or wishing to transition into, a work health and safety (WHS) role who provide a broad range of technical knowledge and skills and have some limited responsibility for the output of others.

The qualification applies to those working as supervisors, WHS personnel, and workers in other WHS-related roles who manage risks effectively, apply relevant WHS laws, and contribute to WHS within the workplace in known or changing contexts with established parameters.

The specific nature of this course will include contextualisation of Hutchies’ Policies, Processes, Procedures, and Systems relating to on-site hazard identification, risk assessment and hierarchy of control measures within the scope of its operations.

Units of competency for the Cert IV WHS that we will cover are:

BSBHWS412 Assist with workplace compliance with WHS Laws
BSBWHS413 Contribute to Implement & Maintenance of WHS Consultation & Participation Processes
BSBWHS414 Contribute to Risk Management
BSBWHS415 Contribute to implementing WHS Management Systems
BSBWHS416 Contribute to Workplace Incident Response
BSBWHS417 Assist with Managing WHS Implication of Return to Work
BSBWHS418 Assist with Managing WHS Compliance of Contractors
BSBWHS431 Develop Processes and Procedures for controlling Hazardous Chemicals in the workplace
BSBCMM411 Make a Presentation
BSBWRT411 Write Complex Documents

Funding is available for eligible Queensland participants via CSQ.

For course inquiries call / email Warren Belford on 0427 337 379.

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22 March / Event

2025 Hutchies Training Awards

Please join us for a night of celebration to recognise Hutchies’ brightest learners

Every year we identify an exceptional apprentices, cadets and continuous learners from Hutchies’ training and professional development programs.

Date and Time

Saturday, 22 March 2025
5.30pm for 6pm start

Location

Western Districts Rugby Football Club
65 Sylvan Road
Toowong QLD 4066
view map

Enquiries

Michelle Buckland
0447 758 566
training@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

RSVP

Places are limited - please confirm
your spot by
Friday, 14 March 2025

3 - 8 March / Weather Alert

Tropical Cyclone Alfred / Preparations for South East Queensland

With the threat of Tropical Cyclone Alfred tracking towards SEQ and forecast to make landfall from Thursday onwards, it is extremely important that we prepare our projects the best we can.

If all projects between Bundaberg and Byron Bay could today start the process of storm / cyclone preparations.

This should be completed and documented using the Inspections > Site Shut Down - Cyclone Preparation Checklist F-084-C tab located on HammerTech.

Please note, any project that has an erected tower crane will also need to ensure they have updated documented advice from their crane engineer outlining the correct weathervane radius, this should be specific to your project.

Hutchies' owned and managed cranes can coordinate this through Bradley Beck, all third party supplied cranes will need to actioned with their nominated representatives.