15 - 18 July 2021 / COVID-19

New Entry Requirements on Job Sites

Yesterday the NSW Government announced an extension of the Greater Sydney lockdown for an additional 2 weeks through until at least 11.59pm, Friday 30 July 2021.

Based on the additional new requirements announced regarding surveillance testing of workers who reside in specific areas of concern (currently Fairfield LGA but may be expanded to other areas), a number of stakeholders in the NSW construction industry have met in an attempt to develop a consistent approach to implementing these measures.

Strict compliance from the whole industry will help keep people safe on sites and the construction industry remaining as an essential service. 

Below is the approach Hutchies is adopting, which we understand will be aligned with other head contractors and industry stakeholders.

This information is subject to change as the situation evolves.

It is imperative that Hutchies' teams have fully implemented these new requirements on their job sites to ensure compliance with all NSW Government requirements.

Key topics in this update

Hutchies' Greater Sydney site entry process

From Saturday 17 July 2021, residents of an area of concern (currently Fairfield LGA) must not enter a workplace without evidence of having a COVID-19 test. 

All Hutchies’ job sites in Greater Sydney must now implement the below process to comply with this government direction:

  1. Each morning Hutchies' sites will be asking workers to produce identification which shows their residential address
  2. This ID will be viewed by a nominated gate person - anyone who has an address within one of the nominated LGAs (refer to the current list below) will be asked to present confirmation of a COVID-19 test within the last 72 hours
  3. Those who have a residential address within an affected area who are unable to produce evidence of a COVID-19 test will not be permitted to enter site
  4. At the same time, gate persons will ensure that everyone arriving on site has signed in to the Service NSW's QR code check in and has completed any other site specific sign in requirements
  5. They will also ensure that everyone is wearing a face mask and remind all workers that it is a requirement on Hutchies' sites to wear the mask at all times when it is safe to do so
Site Entry Process

Site Entry Process

Site specific implementation

We appreciate every site is different and the implementation on each job will have site specific requirements. Some of the strategies sites may use to ensure this process is as efficient as possible whilst maintaining social distancing, include:

  • Opening additional site entry points with a gate person at each
  • Introducing staggered start times
  • Multiple lines (including designated lines for people living in affected areas)
  • Marked areas with 1.5m spaced queuing (ie entries, hoists etc)

List of current affected suburbs

Residents from the below suburbs are affected by this new regular surveillance testing requirement. If a worker presents to a Hutchies site with an address in any of the below suburbs, they must provide proof of having had a COVID-19 test before they can enter site.

SuburbSuburbSuburb
AbbotsburyEdensor ParkLansvale East
BonnyriggFairfieldMount Pritchard*
Bonnyrigg HeightsFairfield EastOld Guildford*
Bossley ParkFairfield HeightsPrairiewood
CabramattaFairfield WestSmithfield
Cabramatta HeightsFairvaleSmithfield West
Cabramatta WestGreenfield ParkSt Johns Park
CabravaleGuildford*Villawood*
Canley HeightsGuildford North*Wakeley
Canley ValeHollywoodWetherill Park
CarramarHorsley ParkYennora*
Cecil Park*Lansvale

For suburbs that fall partly within the Fairfield local government boundary (shown with * above), refer to the map to confirm whether the restrictions apply to a specific location.

The above list is as at 15 July 2021 from the NSW Government.

Regular testing of affected workers

It is a requirement for everyone who resides in a nominated affected area and works outside of this area to get a COVID-19 test every 3 days (72 hours) and provide evidence of their test before entering site.

Hutchies' workers who are from an affected area will be given the opportunity to leave work 1 hour early each Wednesday (and they will be paid for that hour) for the purpose of getting a COVID-19 test.

Any other tests required to ensure they are complying with the government directive will be completed in the workers' own time.

Ideally a subsequent test will be completed each Sunday afternoon as as this will enable workers to attend site until Wednesday afternoon, which is when they will leave to get another test.

We understand from a meeting of key NSW industry stakeholders that this approach (or some clone of it) is being adopted by other head contractors across Greater Sydney in an attempt to create some consistency across the construction industry.

Testing process and locations

A person from an affected area will not be able to enter a workplace unless that person has had a COVID-19 test in the past 72 hours.

Workers can return to work immediately if they do not have symptoms while they are waiting for their test result, but must produce evidence of having a test before they are permitted to enter site.

Employers are 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.

A map of the nearest testing clinics relative to each Hutchies’ Greater Sydney project will be provided for easy reference while on site.

Testing Clinics

Current industry requirements

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

  • Face masks must now be worn at all times on all NSW 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.