9 December 2021 / COVID-19

Upcoming Changes in Queensland

The below update contains a large volume of information regarding upcoming changes in Queensland. It has been sent to all company members as some of the content may relate to teams nationally. Please ensure you read this update, especially if you are based in Queensland. Contact the Coronavirus Team if you have any questions. Key topics in this update

Industry Plan
Client requests regarding vaccination
Rapid antigen testing
Borders reopening
QLD-NSW border zone changes

Other important reminders

Industry Plan

Hutchies has been part of a working group that has included other major builders and the CFMEU which has been focused on preparing for COVID-19 in the state. The aim has been to develop an Industry Plan to establish a consistent approach for outbreaks that are likely to occur following the easing of border restrictions.

The Industry Plan has been developed in consultation and with the support of Queensland Health to provide clarity for sites regarding issues such as cleaning requirements, contact training protocols and what to do in the event of a positive case.

A critical aspect of the plan has been the appointment of a Construction Industry Liaison by Queensland Health to ensure issues and questions can be addressed in a timely manner.

It is intended the Plan, which is focused on keeping people safe while also keeping construction sites operating, will be launched and released either later this week or on Monday next week. Keep an eye out for a separate email which will cover the release of the Plan and how to implement it on your projects.

In preparation for the release of the Plan, please review your cleaning, hygiene and social distancing protocols on your site and ensure they meet Hutchies’ requirements as outlined on the Coronavirus page here.

Client requests regarding vaccination

We are aware that some clients may be implementing their own policies regarding vaccinations and are curious with respect to how Hutchies is intending to manage the risk of COVID-19 on Queensland sites once border restrictions ease.

Hutchies’ approach is to follow all Government Health Directions and, in the case of Queensland, the Industry Plan mentioned above, which is consistent with those Directions and has been reviewed and is supported by Queensland Health. You will be able to issue copies of the Plan to clients and other stakeholders once it has been launched in the coming days.

The Plan includes an allowance for Workers to access vaccination appointments in paid time, however mandatory vaccination and declaration of an individual’s vaccination status to employers is not currently required in the Queensland construction industry and this is acknowledged in the Plan.

We are also aware that some clients may be interpreting the recently released High Risk Settings Public Health Direction in a way that would require construction workers to be vaccinated to work on particular classes of projects such as hospitals and schools.

The industry working group has received advice from Queensland Health that the Health Direction is not intended to apply to construction sites and its Workers in most scenarios. This clarification will be formalised and likely published as a formal guidance note which will be distributed in coming days

To maintain consistency with Hutchies’ approach and the Industry Plan supported by Queensland Health, please ensure any requests from clients regarding vaccination requirements for construction workers are directed to the Coronavirus Team prior to any action being taken.

Rapid antigen testing

As of last month the TGA approved a number of rapid antigen tests (RAT) for personal use across the country. We understand this has prompted some questions about whether these tests should be implemented as part of Hutchies' operations

Hutchies has looked into RAT as a viable testing option across projects and determined that RAT is only applicable in very limited, specific settings which need to be assessed on a case by case basis.

Additionally, the Queensland Government does not currently accept RAT as evidence of a negative test. Only PCR tests performed by health professionals are currently accepted as evidence.

Teams should initially contact the Coronavirus Team if you have any questions about using RAT on your projects.

Borders will reopen December 13

From 1am on Monday 13 December, Queensland borders will reopen to fully vaccinated interstate travellers entering from COVID-19 hotspots.

With Queensland set to reach the 80% double dose milestone sometime this week, anyone will be able to travel from hotspot areas including NSW, VIC, ACT and Greater Adelaide.

Please be mindful that extensive delays are expected at main border entry points so make sure you leave plenty of time and expect compliance checks from the Police.

Entering From a Hotspot

To enter Queensland by air or road from a hotspot after 1am on Monday 13 December:

You must have the appropriate border pass
You must be fully vaccinated. This means you have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one week has passed since your second dose.
You must have a negative test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival into Queensland
You must have another test on day 5 following your arrival into Queensland

If you meet the above criteria, you will not need to quarantine on arrival to the state.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you must arrive by air only and stay in hotel quarantine for 14 days.

Read on for more information regarding the QLD-NSW border zone.

Entering Queensland from elsewhere in Australia

Provided you have not been in a hotspot in the last 14 days:

No restrictions on entry into Queensland
No quarantine required

Read on for more information regarding the QLD-NSW border zone

QLD-NSW border zone changes

From 1am on Monday 13 December fully vaccinated people living in the QLD-NSW border zone (as well as those who want to visit the border zone) will be able to move freely across the border for any reason.

You must have a valid Border Zone Travel (X/XR Pass) when travelling back into Queensland. The border zone pass lasts for 14 days.

Fortunately, travel to the NSW border zone will not require a COVID-19 test on return to Queensland.

To ensure you do not get locked out of Queensland or are subject to additional requirements, such as testing and isolation, you must be fully vaccinated and you must not travel further than the designated border zone.

Border zone residents who aren't fully vaccinated will only be able to cross the border for limited reasons, as is currently the case.

Non-restricted versus restricted border zone

The non-restricted border zone consists of the below blue Local Government Areas (LGAs) of New South Wales. Non-restricted areas will allow those who are fully vaccinated to travel freely into them for any purpose as of 1am, Monday 13 December.

Restricted border zone areas are those which can only be travelled to for very limited essential purposes. Currently, Moree is the only LGA in the border zone that is still considered a restricted area and this may still be in place as of 1am, Monday 13 December. Always check the border zone map for updated information prior to travel.

As cases begin to appear across the state and in the border zone, please keep an eye out on LGAs that are reclassified as restricted areas. The Coronavirus Team will also make sure to keep you up to date.

Reminder to use the Check In app

Don't forget to use the Check In Qld app! As Queensland begins to open up, COVID-19 cases will begin to appear in the community and using the app will become more important than ever

Linking your vaccination status

You can link your vaccination status to the Check In Qld app. This makes it easy for you to gain access to any location that requires verification of your vaccination status.

Other changes coming December 17

A reminder that from December 17, the Queensland Government will restrict access for unvaccinated people to certain public settings, like pubs and sports venues.

New exposure sites

A number of new local cases have been detected in Queensland in recent days.

If you have been in these areas recently, please check and regularly monitor the Queensland Government website as more locations are confirmed.

If you have visited any locations during the posted times please follow the Queensland Government advice and get tested immediately.

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.