12 January 2022 / COVID-19

QLD Entitlements Support

As the potential for exposure to COVID-19 in the community increases, the Queensland Construction Industry Working Group has developed a guidance document for leave entitlements and potential financial support. Hutchies has adopted this industry led approach, along with many other major builders in Queensland.

This advice is specifically for Hutchies’ direct company members who may be required to stay home either due to having COVID-19 or because they have been deemed a close / household contact. Other businesses, such as subcontractors, may also adopt the document however how they choose to manage their own staff entitlements in accordance with their own industrial instruments is a matter for them to decide.

The guidance document contains information about Pandemic Leave, however please note that this type of leave may not be relevant to all company members as it is only applicable to employees covered by particular Awards. In circumstances where Pandemic Leave does not apply, it would be replaced with Leave Without Pay. Both types of leave are unpaid however when on Pandemic Leave, the employee continues to accrue service / leave entitlements.

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.

If you have questions specifically about leave entitlements, please contact Hutchies' Payroll Team.

Industry Update/ Leave Entitlements & Support

Version 1 / 11 January 2022

This document provides guidance for people on applicable entitlements or support during isolation / quarantine:

A person with COVID-19 (confirmed / positive case)
Someone isolating as a close / household contact and caring for someone with COVID-19
A person isolating as a close / household contact but not caring for someone who is sick

Download Update

Household contact status of someone who has already tested positive to COVID-19

As the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 increases it is expected that there will be people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have now spent more than 4 hours with a positive COVID-19 case within a household.

In relation to these circumstances, the Queensland Health Construction Industry Liaison has confirmed that once a person has been diagnosed as a confirmed case and is cleared by completing their isolation, they do not then become a close contact of another member of the household that subsequently tests positive for COVID-19. This applies for 1 month from their initial test.

Working from home during isolation

In the event someone tests positive or is deemed a close contact and must isolate at home, there may be some instances where it is possible to work from home during this period.

Hutchies' policy is if you are well enough and you can work remotely whilst in isolation, this should be discussed with your Team Leader and may be an option in lieu of using any relevant leave entitlements that may apply.

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.

Report Case

Managing Positive Cases

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 whilst potentially 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.

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