Reopening your business safely

Phase 4 of COVID-19 roadmap

Western Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed even further, as WA’s roadmap is updated to complete the removal of all restrictions. 

Due to the world-leading response to COVID in WA, Phase 4 will start on Saturday, 27 June (11.59pm Friday, 26 June) and the following will apply: 

• all existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule removed
• gathering limits only determined by WA’s reduced 2sqm rule
• the 2sqm rule will only include staff at venues that hold more than 500 patrons
• removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises
• no requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises
• alcohol can be served as part of unseated service arrangements
• all events permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals
• unseated performances permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars, pubs and nightclubs
• gyms operating unstaffed, but regular cleaning must be maintained
• the casino gaming floor reopening under agreed temporary restrictions.

For more information on phase 4 easing of restrictions, please see the WA Government Phase 4 Frequently Asked Questions.

These tips are provided to enable you to reopen your business safely and to meet public safety concerns in regard to COVID -19.  If you would like an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) to check and validate your reopened venue please contact the City on 9411 3444.

Those businesses who were unable to open and operate due to Government regulations, and are about to reopen, will need to comply with conditions outlined in the COVID Safety Guidelines and complete a COVID Safety Plan. Premises that were not forced to close and have not changed their business format may choose to voluntarily complete the COVID-19 Safety Plan and display the certificate.

Protecting your staff/volunteers

Make them aware of their responsibilities in regard to:

1. Social distancing especially in shared areas such as lunchrooms
2. Personal cleaning of their work areas including desks, computers, phones etc
3. Personal Hygiene

• It is important your staff do not work if they are sick. 
• Check that your staff are well whenever they come to work. (Refer to Covid-19-identifying-the-symptoms)
• Staff should ensure they are frequently washing their hands or using a hand sanitiser. Refer to Hand washing poster for recommended method.

Ensure Protection of your staff

Ensure your staff are safe by:

• Encouraging minimal contact (limit handling of money)

• Install sneeze guards if necessary in reception areas.

• Provide and promote hand sanitiser for patrons to use on entering your facility.

• Display symptom reminder for patrons.  COVID Symptoms Poster can be printed and placed near business entry

• Identify areas that are high traffic and accessed by the public and establish procedures to adequately clean these surfaces, as they may present a potential risk to COVID-19 transmission. The cleaning frequency should be increased to at least twice per day when the venue is being used.

• Refer to COVID19-Environmental-Cleaning-for-workplaces for more detailed information

Additional Resources

• Safe work Australia covid-19 information workplaces
• Managing through COVID-19 opens in a new window
• Health and Wellbeing resources opens in a new window
• Fair Work Ombudsman opens in a new window - Information about COVID-19 related stand downs, flexible work arrangements, leave entitlements 
• ​Business viability assessment tool opens in a new window

More Information and Contact

If you require further information on any of the issues discussed please contact the City of Cockburn Environmental Health Officers on 9411 3444 or health@cockburn.wa.gov.au