Comcare has released guidance for workers and employers regarding work health and safety (WHS) and workers compensation in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The information includes advice about WHS obligations and compensation coverage, for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and employees. Workers compensation is a form of insurance payment to employees if they are injured at work or become sick due to their work.
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Workers compensation is governed by individual states and territories; employers and employees concerned about workers compensation in light of the COVID-19 outbreak can refer to their state’s regulator. Workers compensation regulators in various states and territories include: WorkSafe ACT, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (New South Wales), NT WorkSafe, Norfolk Island Workers Compensation Agency, WorkCover Queensland, ReturnToWork SA, WorkCover Tasmania, WorkSafe Victoria and WorkCover WA. Australian Government employees and employees of organisations which self-ensure under the scheme should contact Comcare (Commonwealth).

From nationwide travel bans to fistfights over toilet paper, coronavirus (COVID-19) has dominated the Australian news cycle in a way few modern issues can. Lawyers AARON GOONREY and ADAM BATTAGELLO set out some practical tips for establishing and maintaining a safe system of work in the shadow of COVID-19.
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Since entering the public consciousness in late December 2019, COVID-19 has accelerated out of Wuhan, with cases now identified in a large number of countries. In this heightened situation, the first consideration of businesses should be to ensure the health and safety of their workers.

Background

​Australia is continuing to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19). 

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic (an infectious disease outbreak that spreads on a global scale). 

​Increasing cases of COVID-19 are now being confirmed in Australia. The situation is changing rapidly. You can access the latest information on COVID-19 from the Australian Government Department of Health. 

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New South Wales is increasing.

​All employers and workers must act now to manage the spread of this virus among workers and others within your work environment.

The emergence of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been one of the biggest news stories in 2020. It is causing chaos in parts of the world and disrupting world trade.

​While the risk to Australian workers is very low, the magnitude of the threat is such that employers should take a quick moment to familiarise themselves with the workers' compensation implications and how they can manage them.

Australian work safety authorities are issuing advice on how to keep staff safe from COVID-19.

​Australia’s WHS laws require a ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBU) to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety.

​Queensland businesses affected by the coronavirus will receive $27 million in state government assistance, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk equating the economic impact of coronavirus to any natural disaster. “The overnight downturn in Chinese tourists, students and export markets is having enormous impact. This $27.25 million is a way of addressing some of those losses and setting us up for recovery once the virus is contained,” Palaszczuk said.

New South Wales has unveiled a new strategy to stamp out silicosis.
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Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson has announced a new plan to reduce cases of the deadly lung disease silicosis, caused by ingesting harmful dust when dry-cutting manufactured stone.