morningtonprimecuts.com.au

  • 1/26 McLaren Place Mornington VIC 3931
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CORONAVIRUS – COVID-19 – MANAGEMENT PLAN

Version 6 – August 2020

1. BACKGROUND

Australia is continuing to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. While the epicentre for confirmed cases of COVID-19 commenced in China, the number of cases has escalated rapidly in many other countries and regions of the world, including Iran, Italy, France, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Germany, Malaysia, Brazil, United Kingdom and the United States. A number of these countries are continuing to experience very high rates of COVID-19 infection.

Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in all States and Territories of Australia. The increasing rate of cases in the early stages of the outbreak in Australia has resulted in State and Commonwealth Governments imposing progressively tightened restrictions on the community in an effort to slow this rate. The impact of these restrictions has seen a general “flattening of the curve” for new infections and the possibility for a commencement of easing these restrictions over the latter half of 2020. A particular concern remains with the early identification of possible clusters of COVID-19 infection and the potential for community infection.

Most States and Territories have announced staged approaches to easing restrictions for containing COVID-19. In Victoria from 1 June 2020, groups of up to 20 people are permitted to gather in homes (this has subsequently been reduced to 5), outside areas and public places. This means that venues such as cafes, museums, libraries, community centres, playgrounds, swimming pools and zoos can partially re-open, subject to physical distancing measures.

The plans in Victoria to progressively ease COVID-19 restrictions have been halted due to spikes with significant increasing positive detections being made around the Melbourne metropolitan area in mid to late June. Accordingly, the government has identified 10 suburbs as priority suburbs for high level testing and follow up by health authorities, including Pakenham and Hallam.

Events around Melbourne have continued down a dramatic pathway over past weeks as the number of infections has increased, resulting in the Victorian Government ordering a lockdown of Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire for a six week period from midnight on 8 July 2020. The wearing of face masks in public became mandatory from 11:59pm 22nd July.

The range of measures introduced over the past 6 months at Mornington Prime Cuts in response to the outbreak have been further strengthened and will remain in place at least for the foreseeable future.

2. COVID-19 INFECTIONS

Currently in Australia, people most at risk of contracting COVID-19 are people who have:

  • Been in a high-risk country or region recently, or

  • Been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case of coronavirus.

A coronavirus infection can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Affected people may experience:

  • Fever

  • Flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and headaches

  • Difficulty breathing.

In some instances, an infected person may have no clinical symptoms.

In general, viruses can spread through:

  • Direct person-to-person contact, touching infected surfaces or from handling infected materials (viruses can survive for some hours on common surfaces and can be transmitted by hand to infect the nose, eyes or mouth)

  • Airborne droplet transmission over a distance of about one metre, through coughs and sneezes

  • Aerosol transmission through indoor air containing concentrations of the virus suspended in moisture or dust particles

3. CONTEXT FOR MEAT INDUSTRY

Whilst meat (and food generally) is not a vehicle for the transmission of COVID-19, meat processing facilities have a vulnerability for the spread of the virus because of the physical nature of the processing where numbers of personnel work in relative proximity to each other performing sequential tasks.

The vulnerability of labour-intensive food processing operations to COVID-19 is reflected in the very large outbreaks and subsequent shutter of major meat packing facilities across the United States and in Germany, and the significant cluster of infections at a West Melbourne meat processor over May and early June, followed by a number of outbreaks at other meat processing facilities in the same West Melbourne area and at the Colac lamb processing facility.

4. SCOPE

This document applies to:

  • The entire Mornington Prime Cuts site;

  • All personnel employed at the site;

  • Contractors, truck drivers and visitors to the site;

  • Customers at the site.

The Mornington Prime Cuts OH&S policy is to create and maintain a safe, healthy and productive workplace, environment and procedures for all persons at our places of work, without risk to their health, safety or welfare arising out of our business activities.

5. ABOUT MORNINGTON PRIME CUTS

Mornington Prime Cuts is a retail and wholesale meat supplier across Victoria. As a food production site, the business exercises demanding standards of hygiene and sanitation over every aspect of operations under direct government supervision.

These standards relate to personal hygiene of all employees at the site, including the routine washing of hands prior, during and after processing activities; the wearing of protective clothing over uniforms; the health of employees; as well as the continuous sanitation and cleaning of the establishment before, during and after manufacturing operations.

6. POLICY STATEMENT

Mornington Prime Cuts has a duty to provide and maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of employees, as well as ensuring the safety and wellbeing of contractors and visitors it works with. This includes identifying risks to health or safety associated with potential exposure to the coronavirus.

7. MITIGATION OF RISK

Mornington Prime Cuts has adopted the following measures at the site designed to protect the staff at the business and the business itself from Coronavirus. The measures have been posted on the Notice Board in the form of guidance to employees.

Hygiene

  • The high standards of hygiene that apply to the washing of hands (and equipment) in the routine processing of meat before, during and after manufacture continue to be observed as part of the normal operational protocol.

  • Avoid hand to face contact (don’t touch your face, nose or eyes). Thoroughly wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Sneeze or cough into your elbow.

  • The current instructions at the site for hygiene contain a lot of information for maintaining high levels of hygiene in the processing of meat. It is recommended these principles are applied by yourselves and families in your private lives to reduce the risk from COVID-19.

Additional Sanitation

  • Hand sanitizer stations for customers are available at the point of store entry and at both registers. For staff, hand sanitizer stations are located at the door to the amenities, the processing area and both registers; which also have disposable wipes and disinfectant spray.

  • The delivery van has hand sanitizer, disposable wipes and gloves available, installed in March 2020.

  • The program commenced in February where door handles (including front door), bench tops, POS systems and other hard surfaces are being continually wiped by sanitizer and/or disinfectant spray.

  • This program has been extended to include the delivery van with decontamination wipe down occurring daily in the cab and refrigeration compartments.

Body Temperature Scanning

  • The measurement of body temperature for all staff entering the site was commenced in April; a temperature above 38°C is considered elevated. Any staff member recording an elevated temperature is isolated and rechecked within 2 minutes and if still elevated, directed to a COVID-19 testing facility.

PPE & Face Masks

  • Face masks have been adopted by all staff members and must be worn at all times. Face shields are available for staff members who are unable to wear a mask with a valid medical certificate. Extra face masks are on site if needed. This includes the delivery van.

Travel

  • The original guidance provided in early March 2020 on avoiding all travel by yourselves and family members has been superseded by governmental restrictions limiting all travel to essential purposes only.

  • The company will review its policy on travel only when government restrictions have been lifted.

Exposure Risks & Distancing

  • Avoid participating in events or gatherings at public places.

  • Despite Government easing of restrictions, physical distancing principles must be fully observed.

Illness

  • In the event of flu-like symptoms or elevated temperature, advise Management immediately.

  • You will be directed to seek medical attention and COVID-19 testing.

  • You must self-isolate until a negative result is received.

Visitors – Deliveries

  • A restriction has been placed on all deliveries.

  • All visitors must wear face masks, sanitize, and follow social distancing.

Customers

  • All customers must wear masks, sanitize hands, and follow social distancing.

  • Maximum 6 customers allowed in store at any time.

  • Limit product handling.

  • Stay in the store no more than 15 minutes.

  • Floor distancing signs have been placed near counters.

8. RESPONSE DEVELOPMENT

Mornington Prime Cuts will continue to:

  • Monitor expert advice as the coronavirus situation develops.

  • Review infection control policies and practices.

  • Educate and keep employees up to date.

  • Monitor Governmental advice on responses to COVID-19.

External expertise may be used to assist in preparedness and management.

9. SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

Symptoms include:

  • Fever

  • Cough

  • Sore throat

  • Fatigue

  • Difficulty breathing

Anyone with these symptoms must arrange for immediate testing and remain isolated until results are known.

There is no specific treatment for COVID-19 infection. Antibiotics are not effective. Treatment is supportive. There is no vaccine.

10. MANAGING THE RISK OF INFECTION

Based on WorkSafe Victoria recommendations:

  • Allow only essential employees on site.

  • Enable remote work where possible.

  • Avoid physical contact.

  • Maintain 1.5m distance.

  • Cancel all meetings and gatherings.

If an employee thinks they may be at risk:

  • Notify manager immediately.

  • Seek testing and medical clearance.

  • Follow medical advice and isolation requirements.

All employees are encouraged to download the COVIDSafe app.

11. ATTACHMENTS

  • Flowchart – AMIC What To Do

12. REFERENCES

  • AMIC Guidelines for Processor Risk Management During COVID-19

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