We urge all members within the jurisdiction of NSW to follow the Stay at Home advice outlined on the Additional restrictions for Sydney page on the NSW Government Covid-Safe website noting that working from home as far as possible is essential in all of NSW.
Employers must allow an employee to work from home if it is reasonably practicable to do so. If you cannot work from home and you go to your workplace, you must wear a face mask (unless an exemption applies).
If you must work from your studio, practice or office, follow the NSW Government office environment advice and:
- Complete a Covid-19 Safety Plan
- Register as a Covid Safe Business
- Access your QR Code and business resources online. While Architects’ studios, practices or offices are not among the premises required to have Mandatory electronic check-in, however your practice may wish to consider using it to assist contact tracing if you, an employee, client or other visitor to your premises were to be infected with Covid-19
- Note that the capacity limits as published on 12 May 2021 are still being published. These include an exemption for gatherings at office buildings or construction sites
Site visits
When on a construction site, ensure you understand the on-site procedures established by the head contractor who has responsibility for any construction sites in which you are involved as per their COVID-19 Safety Plan for construction and tradespeople.
Note also that people are not counted as visitors to a home in Greater Sydney if they are visiting for work. However and most importantly, do not visit clients’ homes or construction sites even if you have mild symptoms.
Before attending a job in someone’s home, ask if there is anyone in the house with any cold or flu symptoms or anyone who is in home-isolation. Reschedule your visit until the home isolation period or quarantine period has finished under guidelines in place at the time.
The current applicable public health orders are the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 under the Public Health Act 2010 made by Brad Hazzard, the Minister for Health and Medical Research, under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010 dated 26 June 2021 at 7:08pm.
