Envirolab Services has reviewed the Victorian Government’s announcement of Stage 4 restrictions for Metropolitan Melbourne. Businesses not deemed to be ‘essential services’ will be closed from 11:59pm Wednesday 5th August 2020. 

We note the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), “Guide for business – stage 4 restrictions,” which outlines workplaces that will remain closed for on-site work, open for on-site work with a COVID Safe Plan, and where there are restricted operations or industry specific obligations.

In adherence of these guidelines, our laboratory, Envirolab Services Melbourne, has been identified as an essential services provider, and will remain open during the 6-week stage 4 restrictions (6^th August – 16^th September 2020) to service our essential services clients.

Measures we have put in place

To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our people and the wider community, we have implemented a COVID Safe Plan.

This plan includes, amongst other things:

• No visitors or clients are permitted on site.

• Essential maintenance contractors are to be masked and temperature checked.

• Contactless courier deliveries.

• Some staff will work from home.

• Increased cleaning.

• Readily available hand sanitisers.

• Mandatory masks.

Client services at our Melbourne Laboratory

Our Melbourne laboratory has been identified as a supplier to essential services companies. Accordingly, our plan is to continue supporting our essential services clients during the increased restrictions and as advised by the Victorian Government.

We respectfully ask that any requests for non-essential work to our Melbourne laboratory be postponed. For example, testing soil of the vegetable garden in your backyard or rooftop garden should be delayed to when restrictions are eased.

While our team in Melbourne will not be at the laboratory all the time, we will be available as needed. Please don't hesitate to email our Melbourne laboratory or call the laboratory directly at (03) 9763 2633.

Our network of laboratories in Sydney, Perth (MPL Laboratories) and Auckland (LABTEC) and support offices in Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide, remain open in compliance and as advised by their respective government authority or regulatory areas.   

Looking ahead

We understand that this round of increased restrictions may be stressful and have a major impact on our local businesses in metropolitan Melbourne as well as the wider regional areas of Victoria.

However, it will not be like this forever. We have done this before, and we can do it again.

For now, stay safe, access support and let’s take care of each other during these difficult times. Also make sure you are getting your information from reliable sources like the Department of Health and Human Services.

Further information and enquiries

If you have any queries regarding our response measures or testing enquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local Envirolab or representative. Our priority is getting through this situation as a team and a community.

Resources and references

We encourage our community in Victoria to get the latest information from the Victorian State Government, Department of Health and Human Services’ website, including some translated information.

Beyond Blue offers practical advice and resources, including short term counselling and referrals by phone and webchat on 1300 224 636.

Lifeline Australia provides resources and advice, as well as crisis support and suicide prevention. You can phone 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days), text 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights) or chat online: www.lifeline.org.au/crisischat (7pm - midnight, 7 nights).

Mental Health in Multicultural Australia provides resources, services, and information in many languages.

More information is available for workplace entitlements and obligations on the Fair Work website if you are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can also call the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).