The TWU has been working to ensure members remain protected from the ongoing spread of Coronavirus.
We have continued to work in all industries on the ground and in the air to ensure that your employers, or those that you contract to, are taking on their share of the responsibilities to maintain your health and safety at work.
This information page will assist you in your workplace to understand your rights and how we can all work together to keep our industry as safe as possible.
Employer Responsibilities
Under the Work Health and Safety Act
The person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) must minimise risk of COVID by implementing control measures specific to your workplace, and the work you do.
It is not good enough for the PCBU to tell you to listen to the advice of the NSW Health Department – they must consider the specific risks of Coronavirus in your workplace, to you as their worker.
This must include:
• Identifying the risk of Coronavirus to workers in the specific work you do
• Assessing these risks
• Controlling these risks
• Reviewing their current policies to ensure they are effective in the context of Coronavirus
What to do if your PCBU isn’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing
• As a worker you have the power to force your PCBU to respond to Coronavirus
• Tell your employer you want them to assess the risk of Coronavirus in your workplace
• If you have a Health and Safety Rep (HSR), contact them for help with this
• Contact the TWU if your requests are ignored
• If at any point you feel you are at serious risk of contracting Coronavirus from your work you may cease unsafe work, once you have consulted with your PCBU and they have not taken any steps to minimise the risk
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE ROAD
The situation and advice is changing frequently. Please monitor the NSW Government website
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 for the most up to date advice.
The TWU has been advocating for better testing facilities to be available for Transport Workers, where they work. Truck drivers now have more available “freight friendly” testing sites
Transport for NSW advises that the freight-worker, asymptomatic testing services are available at:
• 250 Victoria Street, Wetherill Park, Sydney. Assisted testing by pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Taree Service Centre, Pacific Highway. Assisted testing by pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Narrabarba rest area, Princes Highway. Telehealth is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Forbes Caltex Service Centre, Newell Highway. Assisted testing on weekdays, with telehealth in place at night and on weekends.
• Narrandera Roadhouse, Newell Highway. Assisted testing by pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Tarcutta truck change-over yard, Sydney Street, off Hume Highway. Assisted testing by pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Yass Ampol Service Centre, 1715 Yass Valley Way, off the Hume Highway. Assisted testing by on-site pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Marulan BP Service Centre, southbound, Hume Highway. Assisted testing by on-site pathology staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Armidale Airport Business Park, Cameron Road (off the New England Highway). Council-run Open: 8am to 3pm weekdays 8am to 12pm weekends.
• Moree, 3 Blueberry Road, off Newell Highway, behind Puma Petrol Station. Council run Open 9am-3pm, 7 days a week.
In NSW you do not need to self-isolate after taking a COVID-19 test if you do not have symptoms and are taking the test to comply with mandatory testing requirements.