Published on Wednesday, 2 December 2020 at 8:56:23 AM
Maintaining contact registers, a requirement to keep WA safe
From Saturday 5 December 2020 particular WA businesses and venues will be required to maintain a mandatory contact register for staff and patrons.
The reintroduction of contact registers is an additional protection measure and will assist with WA Department of Health contact tracing, should it be required.
Businesses or venues required to keep a contact register, include:
- Food and licenced venues (restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs)
- Gyms, indoor sporting centres and pools
- Places of worship and funeral parlours
- Beauty and personal care services including hairdressers and barbers
- Galleries and museums
- Cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues
- Auction houses and real estate inspections
- Community facilities, libraries and halls
- Zoos and amusement parks
- Function centres
- Accommodation facilities that already have check-in arrangements in place (i.e. hostels, hotels, large camp grounds)
Designated businesses and venues will be required to collect the date, name, telephone number and arrival time of all patrons, staff, visitors and contractors that attend the premises, other than to collect takeaway. The contact register records must be kept for 28 days, and not used for any other purpose.
To assist businesses and venues, the WA Government has developed the free, SafeWA app, an online contact register system that uses QR Codes for patrons and staff to scan to register their attendance. SafeWA can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play from today. This will allow businesses and venues, which choose to use the SafeWA app, time to implement it for Saturday, 5 December 2020.
The app is being provided as a free, easy, contactless solution, however the use of Safe WA is not mandatory. However, businesses and venues should also ensure they have an alternative format for patrons to provide their contact details.
Providing an alternative means of registering patron details will ensure that access to a business or venue is inclusive. It will enable patrons that do not have a smartphone, or choose not to use the app, to have an alternative registration method. This could include a paper-based register and/or an electronic sign-in form. If your business keeps paper-based records, it’s important patrons’ personal contact details are collected in a way that protects them from disclosure to others. The State Government has developed templates for paper-based contact registers. For these, and other State Government information and advice on COVID-19 for the WA community and businesses, head to wa.gov.au
Alternative formats for mandatory contact registers are available, including other electronic tools or a paper-based system, depending on what is suitable for the business, venue or individual. Businesses must still maintain a written contact register for people who choose not to use the app.
Failing to comply with the new requirements to maintain a contact register could result in fines and penalties of up to $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a body corporate or 12 months’ imprisonment. Any person aged 16 years and over who attends a business, place or premises, listed above, including patrons, staff, volunteers and contractors will be required to register their contact details.
Records are not required to be collected for people collecting takeaway or children under 16 years.
SafeWA can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store from Wednesday, November 25, 2020. This will allow businesses and venues, which choose to use the SafeWA app, time to implement it for Saturday, December 5, 2020. More information can be found at https://www.wa.gov.au/SafeWA
Enquiries Hotline
A State Government enquiries hotline to keep the community informed about COVID-19 coronavirus has been launched. By dialling 13 COVID or 132 68 43, Western Australians will have access to the latest information regarding the impact of the virus in WA. 7 days a week 7am - 10pm
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