27 September 2021 / COVID-19

State Construction Restrictions Update

This update is intended to provide a summary of the current impacts of COVID-19 in Australia that are relevant to Hutchies and the wider construction industry. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Coronavirus Team.

In good news, over half of all Australians over the age of 16 are now double vaccinated.

Once states and territories reach 70% and 80% double vaccinated milestones, governments will begin to ease restrictions safely.

New South Wales

To date, Hutchies' NSW projects have had 12 positive cases on our sites. Unfortunately this has created disruption on projects, but our teams have done an excellent job working with NSW Health managing these cases and mitigating associated risk.

Construction reopened at 100% capacity today.

From today, all construction sites across NSW are allowed to have 1 person per 4m2 at the site. There is no longer a 50% cap on capacity at any site.

The removal of the cap does not change the current vaccination requirements for construction workers in LGAs of concern.

Anyone from an LGA of concern must continue to follow the vaccination and testing requirements in order to work on a Greater Sydney construction site. They must also continue to carry the required evidence and produce the evidence before they are permitted to enter site. This includes the Service NSW worker permit.

People who live outside of the current LGAs of concern are permitted to work on site regardless of their vaccination status.

LGA of Concern	LGA of Concern	LGA of Concern
Bayside	Canterbury-Bankstown	Liverpool
Blacktown	Cumberland	Parramatta
Burwood	Fairfield	Strathfield
Campbelltown	Georges River	Penrith (some suburbs)

New South Wales' roadmap

Today NSW announced further details around its roadmap, particularly in relation to when its population reaches 80% double dose.

This is anticipated to occur around two weeks after 70%, which is currently forecast for October 11.

Victoria

To date, Hutchies' Victorian projects have had 3 positive cases on our sites. Thanks to our Melbourne Teams for their swift actions in managing these cases.

Partial industry shut down for 2 weeks

Construction has been shut down in metropolitan Melbourne for two weeks as of 11.59pm, Monday 20 September. This includes all construction projects in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire.

The only reason for anyone to attend a construction site in these areas is to respond to an emergency or perform urgent and essential work to protect health and safety – these are strict limited exemptions.

Industry-wide government vaccination mandate

The Victorian Government has announced that construction workers across Victoria will need to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to work on a construction site.

This mandate came into effect as of 11.59pm on Thursday 23 September and will apply once construction activity resumes in metropolitan Melbourne.

Hutchies' Victorian Teams intend to manage this process via HammerTech. Contact Candece Frazzica-Kara for more information.

Victoria's roadmap

Victoria has released the first version of its vaccination milestone roadmap for when its adult population reaches 70% and 80% targets.

NSW Border Zone

Queensland has reinstated the border zone with NSW with some conditions.

The NSW Government has stated that when a COVID-19 case is detected in a regional NSW LGA, the area will be locked down for a period of 7 days or longer. Any NSW LGA that enters lockdown will be considered a restricted LGA in the border zone by Queensland.

Entry to Queensland after being in a restricted LGA in the border zone will only be allowed for very limited essential reasons, which does not include general construction activity.

Travel between Queensland and non-restricted LGAs for essential work (including construction) and other essential purposes is allowed.

If you do enter a non-restricted area of the border zone, you must not enter a restricted area or leave the border zone, or you will not be permitted back into Queensland.

Restricted LGAs	Non-restricted LGAs	Non-restricted LGAs
(Travel for Construction not allowed)	(Travel for construction allowed)	(Travel for construction allowed)
> Bourke > Byron Shire > City of Broken Hill > Tweed Shire > Unincorporated Far West > Walgett	> Ballina Shire > Brewarrina Shire > Clarence Valley > Glen Innes Severn > Gwydir Shire > Inverell	> Kyogle > Lismore City > Moree Plains Shire > Richmond Valley > Tenterfield Shire

To enter Queensland from the border zone you must:

Complete a Queensland entry pass (ensuring that your reason for travel is permitted)
Get tested if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms after arriving in Queensland
Monitor the list of interstate exposure venues daily (at least once every 24 hours) from the time you complete a declaration and for 14 days after arriving in Queensland
Comply with face mask requirements

When you receive your Queensland entry pass via email, you must read all instructions and be able to access it at all times (either in a printed version or on an electronic device).

Mandatory mask wearing continues

Mandatory mask wearing continues in the 11x LGAs of South East Queensland.

Masks must be worn at all times in indoor places when standing and outdoors when you cannot maintain social distancing of 1.5m from others
You can remove a mask while seated including at work, school and indoor venues
Masks must be worn on public transport and if you are in a taxi, rideshare or shuttle service
You must wear a mask in South East Queensland and Townsville sports stadiums unless sitting in your allocated seat

Vaccines are available

Australia now has access to three vaccines: AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna. All three vaccines require two doses to have the best effect.

Moderna is being offered via pharmacies and is open to children 12+ and adults up to the age of 59. The Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer vaccine.

Pfizer is primarily being offered at state run hubs and GPs to people aged 12-59. Queensland has recently opened up Pfizer eligibility to people over 60.

AstraZeneca is being offered to people over 60 and is available at state run hubs, pharmacies and GPs.

One of the quickest ways to find your nearest vaccination appointment is using the National Vaccine Clinic Finder Tool, which asks a series of questions before taking you to a specific booking page. Note, state run hubs operate independently. Click the button below for state specific info.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about vaccination.

Hutchies' Coronavirus page on the Toolbox contains links to each state & territory's vaccination information. Click the button below for more info.

Coronavirus Information

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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

HB-CO-Events-2020-02-HutchiesTrainingAwards-Nominations-Header-01-LowRes-01.jpg

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!)

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.