14 - 17 July 2021 / COVID-19

New Requirements for Residents of Fairfield & Latest Construction Advice

Construction is under intense scrutiny by the New South Wales Government following the detection of COVID-19 cases in the industry. The entire industry is working hard to ensure we continue to remain classified as an essential service. Everyone must do what is required to minimise risk of COVID-19 spreading on job sites. 

There are a number of key areas that we must follow across the industry, including on Hutchies' jobs:

  • Face masks must now be worn at all times on sites and in offices, unless it is not safe to do so
  • Maintaining stringent COVIDSafe measures including social distancing, good hand hygiene, and cleaning on all sites
  • Full compliance with all NSW Government directions at all times, including stay at home orders if you can work from home, and regular testing of specific local government areas in Greater Sydney as directed by the government
  • Checking in every time you enter a site using the Service NSW's QR code check in

Please ensure you follow the directions from the NSW Government as detailed below.

Once further details are confirmed over the coming days, we will provide further specific instructions with updated procedures to follow on site. This will include information tailored towards subcontractors.

Urgent testing for Fairfield residents

Everyone who lives in the Fairfield local government area (LGA) must have a COVID-19 test once every 72 hours in order to be allowed to enter a workplace (including construction sites).  

Residents of the Fairfield LGA should immediately go and get tested and keep evidence of their COVID-19 test (ie an SMS text message or email from the testing clinic). 

From this Saturday 17 July 2021, they must not attend their site / workplace without evidence of having a COVID-19 test. This provides everyone with ample opportunity to implement these latest requirements. 

If they have been tested and don't have symptoms, they can immediately return to work while waiting for their result.

Residents of the Fairfield LGA must also notify the Hutchies' Site Management Team that they live in the affected area. This includes all subcontractors, suppliers and their workforces.

Evidence of tests every 72 hours must be carried with you if you work outside the Fairfield LGA and presented as proof to your workplace, manager and / or a police officer as required.

If you have symptoms, you must follow the NSW Government's requirements and remain isolated until you receive a negative test result.

Testing Locations

Getting tested

We understand that construction workers may get priority test results if they advise the clinic that they are undertaking essential construction work.

Testing clinics across Fairfield and Greater Sydney have extended operating hours to enable more testing capacity under these new requirements.

You must get a test every 72 hours (3 days) when you are working outside the Fairfield local government area if you live in or are staying in the Fairfield local government area. Testing must be done regardless if you have symptoms or not.

If you test positive, follow the rules for people who are confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Entry to a workplace

A person from the Fairfield LGA must not enter a premises to work unless that person has had a COVID-19 test in the past 72 hours.

The workplace / employer is allowed to ask a person to show proof they have had a COVID-19 test in the past 72 hours.

There may be significant risk to others and penalties to anyone who does not comply with this requirement.

Greater Sydney COVID-19 tests

If you live in or are staying in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must have a COVID-19 test in the 7 days before working if your workplace is 50km or more outside Greater Sydney.

Map of 50km zone around Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas

Other Recent Activities

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30 October / Quality Alert
Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage will be banned

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

The industry is shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Although the consultations are under way and there has been no official announcement by Federal or State Governments on the issue, the health and safety risks along with the uncertainty around this issue warrants a decision to ban all engineered products entering job sites nationally. The ban will take effect on 1 July 2024 and will extend to ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage. 

An update to this alert will be provided before the end of the year when the Federal and State Governments are expected to issue a formal decision on the ban. In the meantime, to mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform the clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product. Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Product alternatives going forward include:

Compact Laminates

  • Under 1% silica content
  • Extremely competitive pricing
  • Only comes in 12mm thickness
  • Heat resistance is an issue
  • Product not suitable for high end applications

Porcelain Surfaces

  • Under 10% silica content
  • Price dependant of product and supplier
  • Large variety of colours and thicknesses (4, 8, 12, 20 and 30mm)
  • Great resistance to staining, scratches, UV and heat
  • Good warranty terms

Acrylic Solid Surfaces

  • 0% silica content
  • More expensive alternative
  • Limited thickness availability
  • UV stable and heat resistant but direct heat exposure not advised
  • Minimising wastage through flexibility in sheet sizing
  • Seamless joints

Natural Stone*

  • Various silica content percentages
  • Variety of products at different price points available
  • Ongoing maintenance may be an issue
  • Unlikely to satisfy specific warranty requirements

*Although this alert does not directly impact natural stone, some types have high silica content so risk of using these on projects should be considered carefully.

For an up-to-date list of available products and their usability, click here.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact the Quality Team:

Phone 1300 HUTCHIES
Email QualityTeam@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

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10 October / Update
Installation Details for Elephant's Foot & Wastech Bin Chutes

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.

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