14 - 17 July 2021 / COVID-19

New Requirements for Residents of Fairfield & Latest Construction Advice

Construction is under intense scrutiny by the New South Wales Government following the detection of COVID-19 cases in the industry. The entire industry is working hard to ensure we continue to remain classified as an essential service. Everyone must do what is required to minimise risk of COVID-19 spreading on job sites. 

There are a number of key areas that we must follow across the industry, including on Hutchies' jobs:

  • Face masks must now be worn at all times on sites and in offices, unless it is not safe to do so
  • Maintaining stringent COVIDSafe measures including social distancing, good hand hygiene, and cleaning on all sites
  • Full compliance with all NSW Government directions at all times, including stay at home orders if you can work from home, and regular testing of specific local government areas in Greater Sydney as directed by the government
  • Checking in every time you enter a site using the Service NSW's QR code check in

Please ensure you follow the directions from the NSW Government as detailed below.

Once further details are confirmed over the coming days, we will provide further specific instructions with updated procedures to follow on site. This will include information tailored towards subcontractors.

Urgent testing for Fairfield residents

Everyone who lives in the Fairfield local government area (LGA) must have a COVID-19 test once every 72 hours in order to be allowed to enter a workplace (including construction sites).  

Residents of the Fairfield LGA should immediately go and get tested and keep evidence of their COVID-19 test (ie an SMS text message or email from the testing clinic). 

From this Saturday 17 July 2021, they must not attend their site / workplace without evidence of having a COVID-19 test. This provides everyone with ample opportunity to implement these latest requirements. 

If they have been tested and don't have symptoms, they can immediately return to work while waiting for their result.

Residents of the Fairfield LGA must also notify the Hutchies' Site Management Team that they live in the affected area. This includes all subcontractors, suppliers and their workforces.

Evidence of tests every 72 hours must be carried with you if you work outside the Fairfield LGA and presented as proof to your workplace, manager and / or a police officer as required.

If you have symptoms, you must follow the NSW Government's requirements and remain isolated until you receive a negative test result.

Testing Locations

Getting tested

We understand that construction workers may get priority test results if they advise the clinic that they are undertaking essential construction work.

Testing clinics across Fairfield and Greater Sydney have extended operating hours to enable more testing capacity under these new requirements.

You must get a test every 72 hours (3 days) when you are working outside the Fairfield local government area if you live in or are staying in the Fairfield local government area. Testing must be done regardless if you have symptoms or not.

If you test positive, follow the rules for people who are confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Entry to a workplace

A person from the Fairfield LGA must not enter a premises to work unless that person has had a COVID-19 test in the past 72 hours.

The workplace / employer is allowed to ask a person to show proof they have had a COVID-19 test in the past 72 hours.

There may be significant risk to others and penalties to anyone who does not comply with this requirement.

Greater Sydney COVID-19 tests

If you live in or are staying in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must have a COVID-19 test in the 7 days before working if your workplace is 50km or more outside Greater Sydney.

Map of 50km zone around Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas

Other Recent Activities

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9 April / 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, is banned.

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

In October last year Hutchies noted that the industry was shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica related diseases.

On this basis, Hutchies proactively took a position to ban all engineered stone on our projects, regardless of silica content percentages, from 1 July 2024.

In December last year, we then had confirmation that following an Industrial Relations Ministers meeting, State and Commonwealth Leaders had agreed to ban engineered stone products.

Some at Hutchies have noted that the State and Federal communications concerning the ban have included transition periods as well as exemptions for some engineered stone with low (under 1%) silica content.

For clarity, there has been no change to Hutchies' position following these communications – Hutchies will not be using engineered stone that contains any percentage of silica on our projects from 1 July 2024.

Actions

To mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform 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.

Refer to Hutchies' Stone Product & Suitability for Use List on the Document Library.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact:

Design — Michael Lawlor / Ogi Latinovic
Work Health & Safety — Jimmy Andersen
Industrial Relations — Ben Young
Other — Russell Fryer

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3 - 20 April / General
NOW OPEN / 2024 Hutchies Training Awards Nominations

Calling all nominations for stand out apprentices and cadets across Hutchies.

Help us by nominating an apprentice or cadet that you think is a true representation of Hutchies' way.

We also want to celebrate other significant training achievements by anyone else across company over the last 12 months.

Make your vote by COB 12 April 2024 (extended to Friday 18 April!)

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4 March / Meetings
All Company Update / March 2024

Thanks for participating in Hutchies' All Company Update.

A copy of the presentation slides is available to download below.

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