For when Western Australia enters into a high-caseload environment, new testing and isolating protocols will take effect, the definition of a “critical worker” has been released.
This definition is crucial for maintaining critical services, avoiding catastrophic losses such as loss or life, ongoing access and essential goods, workplace safety, and maintaining vital services.
It will take effect only when WA reaches a high-caseload environment, subjected to the most recent health advice.
A critical worker in WA means someone who cannot be performed at home and who:
- Assumes a crucial role in the COVID-19 Response, or continues to provide critical services that protect people from significant harm (e.g. An individual or the community may suffer loss of life, severe impacts on safety or welfare, or lack of essential goods.
- Performs a role necessary to ensure the continuation of services and/or is skilled in one of these industries:
- Transport, logistics, and freight, including public transport.
- Manufacturing, supply and retail for food, pharmaceutical, and beverage manufacturing (e.g. supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies
- Truck stops and petrol stations
- Agriculture (for the purposes of food supply or biosecurity);
- Resources such as power, utilities, and waste management services are critical;
- Construction and building
- Services correctional and judicial;
- Police and emergency services
- Schools (K-12) as well as childcare (spezific protocols will be in place to cater for these specific settings).
- Health care services;
- Social assistance and residential care
- Veterinary services;
- Funeral, crematorium and burial services.
These workers are critical and will need to follow the new testing procedures and isolating protocols, if they are close contacts.
- Follow the symptomatic close contact rules if you are symptomatic
- If AsymptomaticIf you are required to work in continuity of operations, you must have at least a daily negative RAT
- You must wear a surgical mask when you work. If possible, use other PPE and travel alone.
- You must be self-isolated when you’re not at work
- If a RAT is positive you must self-isolate 7 days.
- If symptoms do develop, you need to follow the symptomatic close contacts rules.
Based on guidelines issued by the State Governments, workplaces will need to determine the number and types of critical roles. Check out the categories for critical workers.
This information must be registered by employers with the State Government. These settings will be made before an online registration system is developed.
