The Covid-19 pandemic has seen restrictions placed across the construction industry. As Australia fights the spread of the virus and learns to live with it, we expect the rules governing the construction industry to adapt. We have compiled a list of current rules and regulations as outlined by the NSW Government. 

*Important Note: The information contained within this article is correct as of 21 September 2021. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information at the time of reading and we recommend that you follow all information provided by the NSW government, available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/construction-rules-and-restrictions 

 

Construction Sites:

Work is permitted at construction sites in

• Greater Sydney (including local government areas of concern)
• regional and rural NSW.

Requirements apply to workers at construction sites and occupiers of construction sites.

Those who live in the Local Government Areas of the Central Coast and Shellharbour are to follow the rules for other regional and rural NSW areas that are subject to stay-at-home restrictions.

 

 

Construction site definition

Construction site means a place where

• work, including related excavation, is being carried out to erect, demolish, extend or alter a building or structure or
• civil works are being carried out
• but does not include work in a home where people are living.

See the guidance for renovations, repairs, maintenance and cleaning of homes if you are renovating a home that people are living in. 

 

Workers permitted at construction sites

Greater Sydney (including local government areas of concern)

Please be aware that a construction site in the Central Coast or Shellharbour local government areas is treated as a construction site in regional and rural NSW subject to stay-at-home restrictions.

Workers from regional NSW (including areas of regional NSW subject to stay-at-home restrictions) or Greater Sydney (excluding local government areas of concern) can work at construction sites in Greater Sydney and local government areas of concern.

Workers who live in the local government areas of concern, being: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield or some suburbs of Penrith local government areas need to:

• comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements 
• have register for travel to work outside a local government area at a construction site in Greater Sydney.

Workers who live in local government areas of concern cannot work as construction workers outside of Greater Sydney.

 

Travel registrations

A person must register for travel if they:

• enter a local government area of concern to work at a construction site in Greater Sydney, or
• leave a local government area of concern to work at a construction site in Greater Sydney. 

If you are required to register for travel, you must carry your registration with you, and produce it on request to:

• your employer
• the occupier of the construction site you are working at
• a police officer
• an authorised officer.

 

Regional and Rural NSW

Only workers from regional and rural NSW or Greater Sydney but excluding those living in a local government area of concern can work at construction sites in regional and rural NSW.

Greater Sydney workers who are authorised to travel to work at construction sites more than 50km outside of Greater Sydney must follow the rules for testing and follow the rules for regional travel registration.

Authorised workers (construction workers) from a local government area of concern cannot work at a construction site in regional and rural NSW. 

Authorised worker (construction workers) are only eligible to register to travel for work within Greater Sydney.

 

Requirements

Capacity of workers at construction sites

From Monday 21 September 2021, construction sites that are permitted to operate in Greater Sydney can have either:

•  1 person per 4 square metres of space at the construction site where all workers comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements; or
• 50% of the maximum daily workforce where one or more workers do not comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The maximum daily workforce is the maximum number of workers on site on any day from the start to the end of the project. The maximum daily workforce must be derived from the current resourcing plan for the construction site. 

Construction sites in regional and rural NSW can have 1 person per 4m2 at the site.

From Monday 27 September 2021, the worker capacity limit that applies to construction sites in Greater Sydney will cease to apply.

From Monday 27 September 2021, all constructions sites throughout NSW can have 1 person per 4m2 at the site.

 

COVID-19 Safety Plan

Construction sites in Greater Sydney must have a  COVID-19 Safety Plan.

 

Face masks

Workers at your site must comply with Face mask rules.

 

COVID-19 vaccinations for construction workers who live in or are staying in local government areas of concern in Greater Sydney

If you live in or are temporarily staying in a local government area of concern, you must not enter or remain at a construction site in Greater Sydney unless you comply with the rules for COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

 

COVID-19 testing

Workers at a site in regional NSW (including affected areas of regional NSW) who are living in or staying in Greater Sydney must also follow the rules for testing.