10 - 21 January 2022 / COVID-19

Latest Queensland Requirements

Government advice at all levels is changing rapidly. Hutchies will continue to communicate the latest relevant requirements to you as soon as information becomes available.

Hutchies' teams working in Queensland must read the below, implement the changes and circulate the latest Industry Update with all Workers / Subcontractors / Suppliers as a priority. This enables everyone to be on the same page with how positive cases and close contacts are being managed on construction sites in Queensland.

Other states and territories have slightly different requirements but with the same principles, and these are being communicated separately to those relevant teams.

The processes outlined in this email are based on the latest advice as adopted by the Queensland Construction Industry Working Group and following direct advice and support from Queensland Health. The Industry Plan will continue to be updated as Government Directions are updated and guidance materials are released.

As cases continue to escalate throughout Queensland, it is important to remember that anyone you interact with could have COVID-19 and everyone should be extra vigilant with COVID safe measures. You should monitor for symptoms – if any develop, stay home and get tested.

If you are unsure about anything, need to report a positive case / close contact, or have questions about COVID-19, please contact Hutchies' Coronavirus Team.

Key changes

> Version 2 of the Industry Process for Managing Positive Cases
> Reporting all cases to Hutchies' Coronavirus Team
> Managing Positive Cases & Notification Templates
> Circulating the Industry Update to Workers / Subbies / Suppliers

What's in this update

> Latest Industry Update (Managing Positive Cases & Contacts)
> Reporting & managing cases
> Time and cost clauses in contracts (for COVID-19)

Download Update

QldConstructionCOVIDSafePlan-PositiveCase-Version2-220110.jpg

Industry Update

This latest version includes some updates from Queensland Health, but do not fundamentally change our approach:

RAT and PCR tests are now both acceptable forms of testing for a 'positive case'
All positive RATs must now be reported to Queensland Health

To leave isolation on day 7, confirmed cases must not have had symptoms 48 hours prior

Confirmed cases do not need a negative test on day 6 or to return to work following isolation

Version 2 / 10 January 2022 (superseding Version 1 / 4 January 2022)

Industry Update

Reporting & managing cases

Report all cases to Hutchies' Coronavirus Team

Please notify us ASAP of all confirmed cases or close contacts that work for Hutchies or have been on one of our sites or in our offices / yards (including Subcontractors / Suppliers / Visitors).

Email coronavirus@hutchies.com.au
Provide their full name (or name of employer only if not Hutchies)
Date Hutchies was notified
Date of test / when symptoms started (if relevant)
If they worked whilst infectious (and if so the dates / times)
If they have tested positive with RAT or PCR or have symptoms

This information is strictly confidential and is only being used for record keeping and to measure the effects of COVID-19 across the company.

Managing a positive case

When teams are advised of a confirmed positive case, Hutchies' sites and offices must report the case.

If the positive case has been on site or in a Hutchies' office / yard potentially whilst infectious (that is 2-3 days before symptoms or a positive test), the team must follow the 'Managing a Positive Case Process' outlined in the latest Industry Update.

Summary for Hutchies' sites
> Managed by Project / Site Management Team or Team Leader
> Report all cases to coronavirus@hutchies.com.au
> If infectious on site, follow Managing a Positive Case Process
> Step 4 must use the Site Notification to notify Workers / Visitors
> Don't alter the notification 'actions' as they align with Health Directions
> Do not identify positive cases in notifications to protect their privacy

Summary for Hutchies' offices / yards
> Managed by Team Leader / Office Champion
> Report all cases to coronavirus@hutchies.com.au
> If infectious in office / yard, follow Managing a Positive Case Process
> Step 4 must use the Office Notification to notify Workers / Visitors
> Don't alter the notification 'actions' as they align with Health Directions
> Do not identify positive cases in notifications to protect their privacy

Case notifications for the Toowong office will be managed by Hutchies' Coronavirus Team centrally.

Working from home

Working from home is being encouraged by the Queensland Government where possible to minimise movement in the community, but it is not mandatory at this stage. As construction remains an essential service in Queensland, Hutchies’ sites and offices remain open.

Those who have the ability to work from home should first discuss such arrangements with their Team Leader to determine if it is practicable to do so over the next few weeks. Given the extent of community spread, you should ready yourself to work from home (eg by taking your laptop home daily) for the foreseeable future in case you test positive or become a close contact.

Whilst working from home options will be limited for a lot of Workers, there are some aspects of some roles that may be able to be completed at home for periods of isolation / quarantine. In those circumstances working from home arrangements should be worked through between the individual and their Team Leader.

Leave entitlements & support for positive cases and close contacts

As the potential for exposure to COVID-19 in the community increases, the Queensland Construction Industry Working Group is developing a guidance document for leave entitlements and potential financial support.

This advice will be for Construction Workers & Office Workers who may be required to stay home either due to having COVID-19 or because they have been deemed a close household contact.

A subsequent email will deal with the release of this guidance document once it is available, and it will also be available via Hutchies’ Payroll at that time.

Time & cost clauses in contracts

If you have any questions about time and cost entitlements for COVID-19 in your building contracts please get in touch with Hutchies' Coronavirus Team.

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.