As restrictions on food and beauty businesses ease, owners are being directed to follow some new rules.
The Queensland government has released a list of rules and obligations for businesses who are considered to be ‘high risk’ to help us all stay COVID safe in our new post-quarantine world.
There’s a limited amount of time to ensure compliance, with Queensland Health asking for checklists to be completed within two weeks of reopening.
Businesses deemed to be in the high risk category include nail and beauty therapy services, as well as dining services at restaurants, cafes, clubs and hotels.
To ensure that high risk businesses are doing everything in their power to protect the health of both staff and customers, they are now required to complete a mandatory COVID Safe checklist which has been issued by Queensland Health.
The checklist is a guide that gives business owners a clear and easy to follow map to ensure they are following all COVID safe measures prior to opening.
Once the COVID Safe checklists are completed, they must be signed and displayed in prominent location that is visible for customers.
The checklist does not need to be submitted to Queensland Health however, businesses should be aware that an enforcement officer can check their compliance and ask to see a signed copy at any time.
While responsibility for completing, signing and displaying the checklist lies with the business owner, the good news is that there is plenty of help and guidance available to help meet the new requirements.
As well as the checklist, workers in high risk businesses must undertake new mandatory COVID Safe training within two weeks of reopening.
The COVID Safe training programs will be available online for dining services through TAFE Queensland. For more information on COVID Safe training, or to register your workers, visit https://tafeqld.edu.au/covid-safe
Some useful links for businesses
COVID Safe plans
https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/127653/COVID-Safe-FAQ.pdf
COVID Safe checklists
COVID Safe checklists are required for businesses that provide dining-in for customers, such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, RSLs, clubs, and hotels (food courts remain closed).
COVID safe checklist for restaurants and cafes etc.
COVID Safe checklists are required for beauty therapy and nail salons businesses that are open to customers, such as: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/127236/COVID-Safe-Checklist-Beauty-Salons.pdf
If you do not offer these services, you do not need to complete a checklist. All businesses should, however, be following the work health and safety guidelines.
Information about the roadmap to easing Queensland’s restrictions can be found at the following link: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslands-restrictions