Actions to take now

  • Increase the frequency of your cleaning regime. Use disinfectant sprays or wipes to clean surfaces e.g. door and gate handles, keypads, handrails, moving trollies, counter and desktops, telephones, keyboards etc.
  • Ensure everyone is using hand sanitiser. Place it on the front counter. Remind customers and staff to use it.
  • Don’t shake hands with storers.
  • Keep your distance – 1.5m is the suggested measure.
  • Where possible keep office doors open.
  • Only undertake site tours if necessary.
  • When contracts are to be signed try to position the storer at another desk (if possible).
  • Is there the opportunity for storers to fill in paperwork online?
  • Contact your existing storers and recommend that they communicate with you online or by phone.

Health and wellbeing of your staff

  • Everyone has a duty of care to report the first signs of illness, including fever, coughs, sneezes etc. They should not come to work and will need to immediately self-isolate. If unsure, the staff member should be seeking medical advice.
  • If a staff member has returned from overseas, they must self-isolate for 14 days.
  • If a staff member has had close contact with a confirmed case, they must self-isolate for 14 days.

Managing by remote

  • Consider the options of managing your facility remotely where possible. If you do not already use remote access control and security systems, these features should be investigated now and implemented as soon as possible.
  • If your facility does not have this feature, then consider your options and contact your storers and advise them of your interim operational procedures.
  • Consider how you will conduct regular security checks if you are unable to monitor your facility remotely.

Government restrictions on business operations

  • At this stage neither the Australian nor New Zealand governments have introduced measures to restrict the conduct of business.
  • If this situation changes an update will be provided to members.

Economic Impact

  • It is most likely that your facility will experience many cases of storers defaulting on payments. Managing these on a case by case basis would be prudent.
  • Remember good record keeping will be essential to document all communications with storers when offering concessions.