In addition to the State of Disaster and Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ Restrictions announced Sunday 2 August, the Business Operations Stage 4 restrictions become effective 11.59pm Wednesday 5 August.

BCL will continue throughout the Stage 4 Restrictions to provide barristers services and support as permitted.

To assist your application in the permitted worker scheme click here for the BCL COVID-19 Safe Plan.

If you are displaying symptoms and have been sent for testing, or have a confirmed case of COVID-19:

Please follow medical advice regarding self-isolation and notify Amanda Utt (Amanda.utt@vicbar.com.au) immediately, for all BCL COVID-19 practices contact James Campbell via the BCL Service Desk on 9225 8888.

If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 you need to report to WorkSafe Victoria:

WorkSafe Victoria has introduced temporary Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19 Incident Notification) Regulations 2020 (OHS COVID-19 Regulations) which commenced on Tuesday 28 July 2020.

Employers and self-employed persons, with management or control of a workplace (including barristers and clerks) must notify WorkSafe immediately of a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19). For more information click here or complete the online form or call 13 23 60.

See below for all communications from the Victorian Bar and BCL.

During Stage 4 restrictions, effective 11.59pm Wednesday 5 August  please note the following for BCL services and support.

Technology & Network Services & Support

All technology service and support will continue to be provided remotely with priority technology support in chambers as permitted.

Property Services & Support

As permitted, priority and essential services and maintenance will be provided across all BCL buildings.  All chamber management, vacancy advertising, applications and moving chambers will be deferred throughout this period.

Social distancing

Social distancing is an important part of mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.  BCL has installed signage in all common areas of properties encouraging the ongoing practice of social distancing and safe working practices.

BCL Properties

To ensure everybody’s safety and security in these uncertain times all buildings will require swipe access for entry and/or movement within the building.

In addition:

• All floors will remain swipe access only (barristers on the floor, staff and clerk access).
• Additional security has been arranged to provide support for all barristers in all BCL buildings.
• Car parks – permanent allocated car parks in BCL buildings will also remain swipe access as permitted.
• All deliveries and concierge access to be provided by security at Owen Dixon Chambers East concierge with deliveries placed in the mail room for collection and distribution by clerks – This may change subject to restrictions on clerks.
• All basement and ground floor end of trip facilities are closed.
• Essential property maintenance will continue within all of our properties, ensuring our buildings are adequately maintained.

Cleaning

BCL has been proactive and will continue to increase the level of cleaning across all buildings where required including:

• Hand sanitiser stations placed in ground floor lobbies.
• Hand sanitisers placed in the lift lobby of all floors.
• Hand sanitisers placed in the car parks for Owen Dixon Chambers East and Owen Dixon Chambers West.
• Nightly cleaning of all floors, including chambers.
• Weekly (Friday) cleaning of all floors, including chambers.
• Twice daily cleaning of entrance points including inside and outside of lifts, entrance handles and handrails.
• Deep cleaning and additional precautionary cleaning will be completed if appropriate or in the event of a confirmed positive case.

Mandatory Mask

People living in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will now be required to wear a face covering when leaving home.

Please ensure that mask coverings are to be worn at any given time whilst in any of the BCL buildings effective 11.59pm Wednesday 22 July 2020.

Social distancing

It is important that we all follow government advice around social distancing, this includes:

• Maintaining 1.5m distance at all times.
• Ensuring overcrowding of lift carriages does not occur.
• Reducing contact with shared surfaces such as common area furniture.
• Encouraging and practicing reduced activity in common area kitchens and break out areas.
• In cases where conference rooms are required, reducing meeting room capacity by monitoring the number of people per room is advised.  If your floor does not have adequate meeting room facilities for social distancing please contact the BCL Service Desk.
• Disinfecting meeting rooms with provided antibacterial wipes after use.

Practicing good hygiene

• We recommend sanitising hands when entering and exiting both the building and all floors.
• Follow COVID signage instructions throughout building.
• We ask that you please do not enter any BCL property if you present with any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath).
• Please wash your hands before and after consuming food within chambers and common areas.
• If you fall within the COVID-19 high risk category, please maintain appropriate caution levels when attending BCL properties.

Mail Management

Existing mail within the Owen Dixon Chambers East mail room will continue to be stored for sorting, collection and management by the Clerks.

A secondary mail room will take effect from Monday 31 August in room 4.04 Owen Dixon Chambers East to accommodate any increased levels of mail.

Access to room 4.04 will be provided to all Clerks via our security team, located at the Owen Dixon Chambers East concierge desk.

Where possible, we suggest that a mail redirection or hold service is arranged with Australia Post, in particular for any content relating to urgent matters.

Links to Australia Post website for redirection information:

https://auspost.com.au/receiving/manage-your-mail/redirect-hold-mail/redirect-mail

https://auspost.com.au/receiving/manage-your-mail/redirect-hold-mail/hold-mail

• For information on the Permitted Worker Scheme – https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/coronavirus-covid-19/permitted-worker-scheme
• For Victorian Government announcement on mandatory face coverings – https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-1159pm-wednesday-22-july
• For Australian Government safe work information please visit the Safe Work Australia website – https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
• For current restrictions and updates in your region, please visit https://www.health.gov.au.
• To ensure the safety of yourself and others, the Australian Government Department of Health recommendation is to download the COVIDSafe App – https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covidsafe-app.
• For information on the global coronavirus pandemic, visit the World Health Organisation (WHO) website – https://www.who.int.