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Cleaning for COVID-19

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Those infected with COVID-19 shed the virus via their saliva droplets and, some 50% of carriers also shed the virus in their faeces.

Often the virus is not contracted through direct contact with an infected person, the infection comes via a contaminated surface and this is why cleaning is such an important part of the fight against Coronavirus. It is believed that touching surface infected with COVID-19 results in the virus remaining on the hands for a subsequent 19 touches.  This means picking the virus up from one surface could see it transferred to a further 19 surface.

And the COVID-19 virus is tougher than your average virus. On the Ruby Princess cruise ship, for example, the virus was found in the stateroom of an infected passenger 18 days after the passenger had been removed from the ship.

ACWA’s OHS Consultants at Eastman Lynch have just released a paper on the essentials on cleaning for the COVID-19 virus.  Members can download the paper from the Member’s Only area of the ACWA Website https://acwa.net.au/members/#myaccount

JobKeeper Enrolments Commence TODAY

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From today (20 April, 2020), eligible businesses will be able to enrol in the Federal Government’s six-month JobKeeper Subsidy Scheme. This program will assist some car wash operators to keep workers employed throughout the coronavirus crisis.  There are vital timelines employers and employees need to be aware of to be eligible to receive the first round of payments from 4 May 2020. Outlined below are the key dates:

 

Key Dates for Employers

   20 April 2020 Enrolment opens for the JobKeeper payment open.
   26 April 2020 Enrolment deadline to be eligible to receive the FIRST JobKeeper payment.
   30 April 2020

Deadline to pay your eligible employees for the first two JobKeeper fortnights (30 March – 12 April and 13 – 27 April).

Deadline to notify your eligible employees and receive completed JobKeeper employee nomination notice from employees.
   4 May 2020 Applications open to claim the JobKeeper payment.

 

Key Dates for Employees

Once notified of your intent to claim the fortnightly JobKeeper payments of $1,500, employees must be provided with a JobKeeper employee nomination notice (attached to this email). This form must be completed by the employee by 30 April 2020 to be eligible for the FIRST JobKeeper payment.

Note: Employees with multiple jobs can only claim the JobKeeper payment from one employer.

 

 

ACWA’s Second ZOOM Conference

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ACWA’s second Zoom video conference was held yesterday Wednesday 15 April, with more than 78 members taking part.  Thank you to all those who joined online and we hope that the information shared during the session was useful.

If you typed a question into the Chat through the session that was unanswered – please email contact@acwa.net.au and we will get a response for you..

For those Members unable to take part, a recording can be viewed by logging into the ACWA website members area and following the links in the COVID-19 in the members’ navigation.

ACWA Releases Community Safety Posters

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Available EXCLUSIVELY and FREE to ACWA Members.

It is imperative that car wash sites do everything in their power to ensure the safety of staff and customers and with this in mind. ACWA has just released a range of safety posters to help your car wash protect customers and staff.

ACWA’s Community Safety Posters reinforce the need for customers to maintain the principles of social distancing while at your car wash and highlight the ways your wash is helping ensure customer safety.

The posters come with a range of messages suitable for use across wash sites from Self-serve and Automatics.

Each poster is available in A4 and A3 (poster) sizes and have been made available absolutely FREE to ACWA members.

Place your order by clicking the link below

ACWA Community Safety Posters for your Car Wash Site

Prime Minister Announces Rent Relief Package for Commercial Tenants 

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Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced new rental waivers and deferrals for commercial tenants impacted by the coronavirus crisis.  The Scheme was announced after a meeting of the National Cabinet on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the National Cabinet agreed that States and Territories would implement a mandatory Code of Conduct.

Under the terms of the Code of Conduct, there will be an agreement to commercial rent reduction based on the proportion of the tenant’s decline in turnover. In the Government’s view, this will ensure the burden of COVID-19 impacts are equally shared between landlords and tenants. Importantly, the Rent Relief Policy includes an obligation requirement on businesses to continue to engage their employees through the JobKeeper initiative where eligible.

Details and a link to National Cabinet Mandatory Code of Conduct can be found here.

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-070420

The Federal Government Rent Relief Package will be a key topic to be discussed at the ACWA COVID-19 Members’ Zoom Meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 11:00 am (AEST)

At this Zoom Video Conference Meeting, ACWA will bring together a panel of experts to answer all your essential questions on the JobSeeker and JobKeeper Schemes as well as the Rent Relief Package.

Our expert panel consists of industrial relations, workforce and accounting professionals and includes:

  • Graham Lilleyman – Employment Services Solutions Australia (ESSA)
  • Tony Young – New Vision Accounting
  • Ben Haycroft – Workplace Central

 

Federal Treasury Announces the JobKeeper Scheme

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Businesses in the car wash industry whose turnover has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic may be able to access a wages subsidy through the Federal JobKeeper Scheme. The Scheme is designed to allow businesses to continue paying your employees as we go through the tumultuous Coronavirus environment and provide companies with a kick-start when it’s over.

Under the JobKeeper Program, your business can claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020, for a maximum of six months.

Please find attached detailed information regarding the Federal Government’s JobKeeper Payments announced today. Please be aware this package still needs to pass through legislation before it can take effect. In the coming days, the Government will shed more light on how the Scheme will be implemented.

More information is available on the Federal Treasury’s resource site. It has detailed fact sheets on all COVID-19 economic measures and is a great resource.

https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses

 

This information and other important resources are also available in the member’s area of the ACWA website https://acwa.net.au/members/ .

 

Members’ WHS Information Update – Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

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In assessing the current Covid-19 pandemic, ACWA’s WHS specialists, Eastman Lynch have advised they have not identified any issue specific to the car wash industry. 

 

“We don’t believe there are any identified issues specific to car wash operations,” said Operations Manager Danny Lynch. “Members of the car wash industry are encouraged to follow the general guidelines provided by authorities and ensure the information is made available to employees”. 

 

Attached are Information Sheets providing relevant information. If members feel they require clarification or further advice about Covid -19, they should contact the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.