A new tool to help businesses plan to keep their workers, customers and the community safe has been released by the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC).

As businesses reopen and increase their activities, NCCC Chair Nev Power says that everyone needs a plan as restrictions change.

“We need to make sure that both workers and customers are safe. Businesses everywhere should to get behind the safety protocols and have their COVIDSafe plans in place,” said Mr Powers.

“There’s a huge effort going on across Government through Safe Work Australia, industry bodies and health departments to help businesses have COVIDSafe plans in place.”

The online planning tool takes about 30 minutes to complete and will leave businesses with a clear idea about what they will do to keep people safe, how to get their business back up and running and how they might adapt their operating model.

It will help businesses to plan practical steps such as organising supplies, updating insurance and reactivating subscriptions. It also provides links to the assistance available to help them reopen, including help with cash flow, wages and loans.

The planning tool to help businesses reopen and be COVIDSafe can be downloaded from the NCCC website.

The tool brings together information from across government on the range of help and assistance available to support businesses. This tool complements the Safe Work Australia online hub, which remains the definitive source of information for businesses to understand their work health and safety obligations.

Businesses should seek advice from their local WHS authority, Safe Work Australia, or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure they meet all their legal obligations.