Surveillance Testing - Victoria

​If your business is engaged in any of the following industries or specific services within Victoria, employees are required to be regularly tested for COVID-19  if they are considered an essential worker i.e. they are working onsite).

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​Key points to be across:

• This is mandatory and employers MUST keep a record/log for DHHS / WorkSafe / Authorised Officials.
• If your test was done as part of industry surveillance testing you do not need to isolate after testing, unless:
  • you have symptoms, or
  • the Department of Health has told you to - for instance, if you are a close contact or have been to an exposure site.
• Employees must advise the testing facility at the time of the test that they are being tested under the surveillance requirements so they are not chosen by DHHS for a spot visit to ensure compliance.

To be clear, it is the responsibility of the EMPLOYER to ensure this testing is done along with keeping and maintaining all records.

Industry	Workforce in Scope for Testing	Testing Frequency
Commercial cleaning services	​Employees engaged in on-site delivery of cleaning within (1) Hotel quarantine (2) Ports of entry (3) Hospitals (4) Residential Aged Care	As per targets for workforces in the relevant cleaning location
Meat, poultry and seafood processing (Melbourne)	All workers	​25% of workforce tested once per week, with 100% tested every 4 weeks
Warehousing and distribution (Melbourne)	All workers	​25% of workforce tested once per week, with 100% tested every 4 weeks
​Supermarket distribution, perishable food chilled distribution (Melbourne)	All workers	​25% of workforce tested once per week, with 100% tested every 4 weeks
Construction (Melbourne)	All workers	​25% of workforce tested once per week, with 100% tested every 4 weeks

Surveillance testing requirements came into force in June however have been updated as of 26 August 2021.  If you are unsure as to the impact on your business or adherence to the testing requirements, please contact HR Staff n' Stuff now to discuss.

For those with businesses or employees in other states, please check the local government health directives or contact HR Staff n' Stuff for support.