COVID FAQs for Hair and Beauty salons in the Australian Capital Territory

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Posted October 18, 2021

What are the major developments with respect to COVID-19?

The ACT lockdown ended 11:59pm Thursday 14 October 2021 and hair and beauty salons were able to reopen with certain rules in place. The ACT Government released a Roadmap which sets out the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

 

Is it compulsory for my staff and clients to be vaccinated?

No. There is currently no order from the ACT government requiring staff or clients to be vaccinated in the hair and beauty industry.

 

Can I direct my staff to get vaccinated, even though there is no government mandate?

In the ACT, where there is no vaccine mandate, employers should exercise caution prior to any vaccination mandate. Whether an employer can mandate or not comes down to whether a requirement to be vaccinated is a lawful and reasonable direction. Whether a direction is lawful and reasonable depends on all of the circumstances.

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has released general guidance material as to what it believes is reasonable and divided employers into tiers with differing risks.

Hairdressing and beauty therapy salons will generally be categorised as Tier 3 work which is described as “interaction or likely interaction between employees and other people such as customers, other employees or the public in the normal course of employment”.

 

An employer is required to consult with staff prior to any major workplace change. Consultation is a requirement under Work Health and Safety (WHS laws) and is also required under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2010. You should seek specific advice from the HABA Advice Line prior to introducing any mandatory vaccination policy.

 

Are there limits to how many people can be in my premises at any one time?

From 15 October 2021 there is a limit of 1 person per 4 square metres and up to 5 clients at any one time, excluding staff. The capacity limit will increase to 25 people from 29 October 2021.

 

Do staff need to wear masks?

Yes, while indoors, both staff and clients have to wear face masks.

 

Where can I find more information?

Go to https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/business

Note: The COVID-19 situation continues to change across Australia. Governments often change public health orders and accordingly our advice is also subject to change.

 

Do you require further advice?

For information or assistance, please contact the Hair and Beauty Australia Workplace Advice Line on (02) 9221 9911, which is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm AEST or email on info@askhaba.com.au.