Growers should continue to monitor SA Government sources to ensure that they receive the latest information. GPSA refers growers to PIRSA’s COVID-19 and primary industries portal for the latest updates.
PIRSA COVID-19 website and SA Health hotline
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions has established a dedicated website with information on how COVID-19 affects primary industries.
Primary industry production and the entire food supply chain are essential services and can continue to operate as normal (with consideration of social distancing and other restrictions).
PIRSA will continue to update the page as more information becomes available.
SA Health has established a COVID-19 hotline to provides local information on COVID-19 to the general public from 8.00am to 8.00pm 7 days per week. Contact the Hotline at: 1800 253 787
More information
- SA Health latest updates
- SA Police
- National Coronavirus Hotline 1800 020 080
Other useful industry updates:
SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line
SA Health has launched a mental health support line to help support the health and wellbeing of South Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained Lifeline counsellors will receive calls and also provide a call-back support service for people in distress, or who are in need of additional support caused by social isolation and long periods of quarantine. The support line will be staffed seven days week, from 8am to 8pm and can be reached at 1800 632 753.
Mental health emergency hotline: 13 14 65
Website: Mental health services
Read the SA Health Mental Health impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) factsheet.
Work Health & Safety
Growers should proactively consider their WH&S arrangements and policies given the potential for the transmission of COVID-19 in SA.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risks to health and safety.
Many workplaces have now implemented hygiene and social distancing requirements to minimise the potential for transmission.
SafeWork SA recommends that PCBUs:
- Closely monitor official Government sources for current information and advice
- Review and promote your business policies and measures for infection control
- Ensure that workers are aware of the isolation/quarantine periods in accordance with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health (this includes information on when staff should not attend work)
- Provide clear advice to workers about actions they should take if they become unwell or think they may have the symptoms of COVID-19, in accordance with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health
- Eliminate or minimise international work travel, in line with the travel advice on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website
- Provide regular updates to workers about the situation and any changes to organisational policies or procedures
- Consider contingency planning to manage staff absences
- Provide workers with information and links to relevant services should they require support.
More information
COVID-19 safety and wellbeing resources for heavy vehicle operators
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has released a COVID-safe toolbox to help communicate COVID-safe practices to heavy vehicle operators. The NHVR has specifically developed these resources to help support businesses in protecting employees and the community during transport activities.
COVID-safe resources;
- Safety toolbox talk – webpage
- Safety toolbox talk – COVID-19 – complete video course
- ‘Cleaning hands, using gloves and wearing a facemask’ – hand hygiene PDF download, wearing a facemask PDF download, video
- ‘Vehicle hygiene’ – DOCX checklist, video
- ‘Keeping workplaces clean’ – PDF checklist, video
- ‘Now More Than Ever’ social media campaign- video 1, video 2
Mental health and wellbeing resources;
- ‘Take care of your mental health’ fact sheet – PDF download
- ‘Looking after your health and wellbeing’ – video
- ‘7 tips to improve your mental health’ – video
