PathMinder
PathMinder Pty Ltd have partnered with AllUser Industries srl to bring Europe’s most advanced high security portals to the Australian and New Zealand markets. AllUser Industries started to…
read moreRoyal Life Saving Society - Australia has released guidance following recent announcements by both federal and state governments on the ‘roadmap’ that aims to see Australia free from lockdowns.
With policy makers signalling that this scenario hinges on the levels of COVID-19 vaccination in the population, Royal Life Saving advise that it has sought guidance from Fair Work Australia and Safe Work Australia to clarify the rights and obligations of employers in mandating vaccines both for their staff but also potentially for their customers.
Royal Life Saving advises that questions remain as to what steps to take at a facility level.
For the aquatic industry, the question of what the industry can and will do in relation to mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for staff and/or patrons is a key topic of discussion in industry leadership circles around the country. This discussion is as a result of two factors: i) the importance of vaccination as a means of reducing the likelihood and consequence COVID-19 transmission in aquatic facilities and swim schools, and ii) to reduce industry/activity risk to acceptable levels to remain open. Therefore, considering what the rights and obligations of a vaccine mandate are for aquatic facilities, swim schools and the aquatic industry is prudent.
The WHS ‘primary duty?
A good starting point, in the States and Territories which have adopted the ‘model”’ WHS laws (all but Victoria and Western Australia) is to look at the two limbs to what is described as the 'primary duty' in relation to work health and safety.
COVID safety as part of an overall WHS system
This means that a well-designed WHS system to guard against COVID-19 is likely to have a number of elements to satisfy both limbs. These will include social distancing (for example, controlling maximum attendance through a booking system) and ensuring effective ventilation in indoor spaces. The COVID system should coordinate with, not cut across, existing safety systems (so that active lifeguards should not generally be distracted from their lifeguard function by being required to enforce social distancing). The need for coordination means that any policy relating to COVID-19 WHS risks should ideally form part of an existing WHS policy, rather than being treated as a separate document raising separate issues.
Vaccination requirements may be part of, but not all of, that safety system – even when vaccination becomes more widespread, no safety system can ever rest on a single pillar.
Can vaccination be made mandatory for employees and pool visitors?
Starting with employees, the answer is complicated by the lack of much clear law on the subject, and by the fact that two of the key legal requirements involved include a test of ‘reasonableness’. What is ‘reasonable’ for a particular employee depends very much upon all the circumstances of the case including, most importantly, the risk that the employee may contract, or transmit, COVID-19.
The first reasonableness requirement arises from general employment law, which requires employees to follow the ‘lawful and reasonable directions’ of their employer. A direction from an employer to be vaccinated is likely to be ‘lawful’, but it may not always be ‘reasonable’, especially if it is presented to the employee in the form of a directive to get the vax, or the sack.
The second reasonableness requirement arises from discrimination law. Where an employer imposes a condition or requirement which applies to everyone, but which has a detrimental impact upon somebody because of an attribute protected by discrimination law (for example, age, disability, and in some states, religious belief) this is described as ‘indirect discrimination’ (as opposed to ‘direct discrimination’, which is where someone is targeted because of their protected attribute). Indirect discrimination is only unlawful if the condition or requirement which is imposed is not reasonable.
Some guidance on reasonableness has been provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman, which classifies employees into four ‘tiers’. Tier 1 employees are those required to interact with people who are likely to have COVID-19, and Tier 4 employees are those whose work requires minimal face-to-face contact. Companies which have publicly announced mandatory vaccination requirements include QANTAS (where, at least once international travel restarts, there may be a number of Tier 1 employees) and SPC (whose food processing employees are likely to have less direct contact with COVID-19 and so be in a lower tier). A mandatory vaccination requirement is much more likely to be reasonable for Tier 1 employees than for Tier 4 employees.
How does this apply in the aquatic industry?
The vast majority of aquatic industry employees, however, will fall somewhere in the middle, and it may be that different employees of the same employer will be in different tiers (and therefore have different reasonableness requirements). The key to finding the right balance is likely to come from consultation with employees.
Consultation does not mean giving employees a right of veto, and it should not be viewed as a ‘tick a box’ process (‘I sent my employees an email and so therefore I must have consulted’ is not the approach). Rather, consultation is about the genuine exchange of information, and the genuine consideration of the views that have been exchanged. Effective consultation will look different in every workplace, but in every workplace it is likely to be the best tool for resolving questions which are not easily resolved by resort to strict law.
What about visitors?
The questions around vaccination for pool visitors also require consideration of discrimination laws. Discrimination laws do not prevent discrimination against people who have not been vaccinated for that reason only, because vaccination status is not of itself a protected attribute.
However, if the reason why someone has not been vaccinated arises from a protected attribute (for example, a medical condition which qualifies as a disability, or in most States, a genuinely held religious belief) then a requirement for all visitors to vaccinated may amount to indirect discrimination. However, the need to protect the health and safety of both pool staff, and other pool users, is likely to be a fairly compelling factor in determining that any indirect discrimination is not unreasonable and therefore not unlawful, especially in locations (and during times) where the risk of transmission will be meaningfully reduced by requiring vaccination.
What do we next?
Royal Life Saving welcomes the aquatic industry to a free and open webinar which will contain a presentation and discussion on where to next.
Event details - Aquatic Industry Webinar:
COVID-19 vaccinations: workplace rights and obligations for aquatic facilities and swim schools
Webinar Details:
Wednesday 1st September 2021, 11:00am-12:00pm AEST
Description:
Royal Life Saving is pleased to facilitate its third Aquatic Industry webinar for 2021-22 and will be joined by practioners, advocates and experts in the field including:
• Angus Macinnis, Director of Dispute Resolution, StevensVuaran Lawyers
• Associate Professor Holly Seale, Program Director, Bachelor of International Public Health (BIPH), University of New South Wales
• and others
Facilitator:
• RJ Houston, National Manager - Aquatics, Royal Life Saving Australia
Registration for this event is essential.
Click here to register.
Disclaimer: This news story is produced by Royal Life Saving and prepared by StevensVuarans Lawyers who have drafted an opinion piece on the likely effect of a potential vaccine mandate within aquatic facilities, swim schools and the aquatic industry.
The article is designed and intended to provide general information only in summary form and current at the time of publication. The contents do not constitute legal or professional advice and are not intended to be a substitute for legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek your own legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matter you or your organisation may have.
20th August 2021 - Outback music festival organiser to demand proof of vaccination for attendees in 2022
19th August 2021 - Blacktown City Council reopens playgrounds and calls for mass vaccination hub
19th August 2021 - Qudos Bank Arena’s new role as NSW Health mass vaccination centre
10th August 2021 - Aquatic industry delivers $9 billion in economic, health and social benefits to Australia
4th August 2021 - Business Events Council of Australia supports call for quick vaccinations
4th August 2021 - Vaccine Passports to be required for NSW sporting venues in 2022?
2nd August 2021 - Royal Life Saving to launch report into the social, health and economic value of the aquatic industry
30th July 2021 - Australia’s lockdowns to end once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19
29th July 2021 - Analysis of aquatic and fitness centres performance through June shows changing consumer behaviour
28th July 2021 - Unvaccinated Australians could be barred from festivals, theatres and sport and entertainment venues
19th July 2021 - New Aquatic and Recreation Institute Board confirms strategic direction for the coming 12 months
13th July 2021 - Vaccine Passport could be on Phones by December
8th July 2021 - VMA says Australia getting vaccinated is the key to live entertainment industry’s road to recovery
6th July 2021 - Majority of employees at contract managed aquatic and recreation centre across Sydney stood down without pay
25th June 2021 - COVID lockdowns delay opening of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Yawa Aquatic Centre
24th June 2021 - Royal Life Saving launches survey on social impact of aquatic facilities
17th May 2021 - Royal Life Saving’s Justin Scarr sees opportunities for aquatic facility infrastructure in Federal budget
3rd May 2021 - Aquatic Recreation Network Australia launched to support states and provide national advocacy opportunities
23rd November 2020 - Royal Life Saving’s latest Keep Watch campaign highlights tragic drowning toll among children aged under 12 months
6th October 2020 - Royal Life Saving concerned over significant fall in swimming lesson enrolments
1st May 2020 - Royal Life Saving makes the case for the reopening of Australia’s aquatic centres and swim schools
18th March 2020 - Royal Life Saving releases position statement on the impact of Coronavirus on aquatic facilites
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
PathMinder Pty Ltd have partnered with AllUser Industries srl to bring Europe’s most advanced high security portals to the Australian and New Zealand markets. AllUser Industries started to…
read moreSwimplex Aquatics are a world-class company dedicated to the commercial pool, waterslide industry. We are Australian market leaders servicing all states Australia wide. Swimplex provide a full…
read moreATS are global leaders in altitude training and research. From mask systems and inflatable tents to simulated altitude facilities, we help all athletes gain the competitive edge. Our…
read moreExerp is a global IT specialist in member management software for the fitness and leisure industry. By focusing on the needs of large enterprises, where streamlining, control and scalability are…
read moreDigonex is a leading provider of customised dynamic pricing solutions to clients in arts and entertainment, sport, attractions, cultural institutions and retail sectors. Digonex’s technology is…
read moreTPEC Pool Enclosures provide a large range of premium commercial and residential retractable swimming pool, spa and terrace enclosures throughout Australia, servicing residential, local government…
read moreThe world's greatest properties run on 24/7 Software Whether at commercial properties, corporate facilities, sports arenas, or public entertainment venues, we're proud to lead the way in…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!