Face masks requirement - Information for staff, visitors and contractors at Victorian correctional facilities - Information for staff, visitors ...
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Face masks requirement
Information for staff, visitors and contractors
at Victorian correctional facilities
What can I do to slow the spread of COVID-19?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is highly contagious and is spread through close contact with an infected
person or surfaces that they have touched.
Stopping the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s responsibility. The most important things that you can do
to help protect yourself and others are to:
• Stay at home when you are unwell, even if you only have mild symptoms
• Stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people wherever possible (physical distancing)
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser (good hand
hygiene)
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Throw the tissue away immediately (good respiratory
hygiene)
• Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.
Who is required to wear a mask? This requirement applies to any person attending
the site in any capacity, including Corrections
All people entering the following correctional Victoria staff, service providers, professional
facilities must wear a face mask at all times visitors and contractors.
while on-site:
Corrections Victoria staff should also wear a face
• Barwon Prison mask if are travelling in a vehicle with other staff.
• Marngoneet Correctional Centre What if I don’t live in, and haven’t
• Karreenga Annexe recently been to a Stage 3 lock down
• Dame Phyllis Frost Centre
area?
• Judy Lazarus Transition Centre
• Melbourne Assessment Prison If you have do not live in and have not been in
metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire, in the
• Metropolitan Remand Centre
last 14 days, you do not need to wear a mask at
• Port Phillip Prison the following sites:
• Ravenhall Correctional Centre
• Beechworth Correctional Centre
• Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility
• Dhurringile Prison
This requirement applies to any person attending
the site in any capacity, including Corrections • Loddon Prison and Middleton Annexe
Victoria staff, service providers, professional • Langi Kal Kal Prison
visitors and contractors. • Tarrengower Prison
What if I live in or have recently • Fulham Correctional Centre
been to a Stage 3 lock down area? • Hopkins Correctional Centre
• Corella Place and campuses
All people living in metropolitan Melbourne or • Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre
Mitchell Shire, or who have been in either of these
areas in the last 14 days, must wear a face • Emu Creek
mask at all times at all correctional facilities People who are not required to wear a face mask
across Victoria (including post-sentence at the above sites, may choose to do so
facilities). voluntarily if they wish.
Page 1 of 5 Version approved as at 15 July 2020
Gatehouse screening staff working at these droplets from speaking, coughing and sneezing
facilities should ask anyone entering the site if inside the mask and helps to reduce the spread of
they live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell COVID-19. Because these droplets can
Shire, or if they have been to either of these areas accumulate in or on your mask, you should not
in the last 14 days. Anyone who answers ‘yes’ touch your mask, except by the straps.
should be directed to wear a face mask while on
site. Will masks be supplied?
Why should I wear a face mask? Yes. Every correctional facility will have a supply
of masks for people who are required or wish to
Correctional facilities are confined environments wear them.
with dynamic transmission risks, and physical
distancing is not always possible. All people entering correctional facilities where
masks are mandatory will be provided with a
Given the recent increase in the spread of mask on entry and will have access to additional
COVID-19 in the Victorian community, DHHS has replacement masks across the site.
recommended that anyone who lives or has
recently been to a lockdown area attending these All people entering regional correctional facilities
sites should now wear face masks as an who live in or who have recently been to a
additional protective physical barrier. lockdown area will also be provided with a mask
on entry and will have access to additional
This is consistent with broader public health replacement masks across the site.
advice for residents in those areas to wear masks
where physical distancing is not possible. Hand sanitiser will be available to support safe
mask application and disposal.
Even when factoring in mask imperfections and
human error, studies show that wearing face Existing screening and temperature checking
masks can reduce COVID-19 transmission by procedures will remain in place at all sites.
around 60 per cent. Please speak to your manager or local Health and
Safety Representative for the location of masks
How long will this last? across your correctional facility.
This requirement will be in place until Stage 3
lockdown restrictions in Melbourne and Mitchell How do I correctly put on a mask?
Shire are lifted. We will reassess when this Before putting on a mask, wash your hands for at
occurs, and any changes will be made in line with least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use
health advice. alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
What are the different types of face Check for defects in the mask, such as tears or
masks and which one should I use? broken loops.
The term ‘face mask’ includes cloth masks and Position the coloured side of the mask outward,
single-use face masks (commonly called surgical with the metallic strip (if present) at the top of the
masks). Both masks are suitable for use to mask and positioned against the bridge of your
prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). nose.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety If the mask has:
will issue single-use disposable surgical masks for • Ear loops: Hold the mask by both ear loops
all staff who require one, or wish to wear one, and place one loop over each ear.
when working in a Victorian correctional facility. This is the most common mask that will be
What does the mask do? available at correctional facilities.
• Ties: Hold the mask by the upper strings. Tie
Keeping 1.5 metres between yourself and others the upper strings in a secure bow near the
and washing your hands regularly is still the best crown of your head. Tie the bottom strings
defences against COVID-19. securely in a bow near the nape of your neck.
Wearing a face mask provides an additional • Dual elastic bands: Pull the bottom band over
physical barrier between a person’s respiratory your head and position it against the nape of
tract (mouth, nose,) and the air. This traps
Page 2 of 5 Version approved as at 15 July 2020
your neck. Pull the top band over your head Can I carry spare masks in my
and position it against the crown of your head.
pockets?
If present, mould the bendable metallic upper strip
You must not carry spare masks in your pockets
to the shape of your nose by pinching and
for regular use.
pressing down on it with your fingers.
Please take a new mask each time from the
Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and
closest supply area whenever you need a new
chin. Be sure the mask fits snugly.
one.
Don’t touch the mask once in position.
You may carry an emergency spare mask in a zip
How do I correctly remove a mask? lock bag in your first aid pouch in the event that
you need to change your mask and you are
Before removing a mask, wash your hands for at unable to take one from the closest supply area,
least 20 seconds with soap and water, or use for example because you are responding to an
alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Hand sanitiser will incident.
be available to support safe mask application and
disposal. Can I bring my own disposable or
Don’t touch the front of the mask or your face. reusable mask?
Carefully remove your mask by grasping the ear No, only masks supplied on-site can be used to
loops, elastics or untying the ties. reduce the risk of cross contamination.
For masks with a pair of ties, unfasten the bottom Can I pull the mask down to speak
one first, then the top one. and then pull it back up?
Dispose of the mask in a regular bin. No, you should keep your mask on and maintain
Clean your hands again. 1.5 metres distance while speaking with others.
People will generally be able to hear you through
How do I dispose of my mask? your mask.
Dispose of your mask in a regular bin and If the person you are communicating with is deaf
immediately clean your hands with soap and or hard of hearing, please write to communicate
water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. with them if possible, or stand at least 1.5 metres
back if you need to talk to them without a mask.
What if I find a mask that has been
discarded by someone else? What should I do when I need to eat
Before touching the discarded mask, apply or drink?
gloves. Pick up the mask by the tabs, avoiding You should safely remove and dispose of your
touching the front. Dispose of the mask into the mask using the guidelines above. Have your food
bin. Roll your gloves off and dispose of them into and/or drink, and then replace your mask with a
the bin. Immediately clean your hands with soap new one.
and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Should I wear my mask to the
When do I change my mask? bathroom?
You should change your mask every four hours or
Yes you can wear your mask to the bathroom. If
when you need to eat or drink.
your mask gets dirty or damp, replace it with a
You should also change your mask sooner, if it new one. You should not touch your mask except
has become dirty or damp. to take it off.
To change the mask, please follow the process to Can I reuse a disposable mask?
safely remove the mask and replace it
immediately with a new one. No, you cannot reuse a disposable mask. Do
not wipe the mask down, wash the mask, place
If you need to touch or remove your mask for any the mask in a microwave, or otherwise attempt to
reason, it should be disposed of and replaced with sterilise the mask. Once used, dispose of the
a new one as soon as possible. mask immediately.
Page 3 of 5 Version approved as at 15 July 2020
Can I choose to wear a mask even if What do I need to do when providing
I am not required to? a mask to a prisoner?
Yes, you can voluntarily wear a mask. and these Try to maintain 1.5m distance between yourself
will be available at each location. Staff choosing and the prisoner throughout the interaction.
to wear a mask should comply with the mask
Ask the prisoner to wash their hands with soap
protocols outlined in this fact sheet to ensure their
and water or to use hand sanitiser. You must also
safe and effective use.
wash or sanitise your own hands at the same
Why aren’t all prisoners required to time.
wear masks? Take a mask from the pack by grasping one of the
ear tabs. Pass the mask to the prisoner, asking
Procedures are already in place to significantly
them to take it by the tab you are not holding.
reduce the risk of prisoners contracting and
spreading COVID-19, including protective Direct the prisoner to put the mask on, using the
quarantine and eliminating unnecessary instructions for how to correctly apply a mask.
community interactions (e.g. visitor ban).
However, additional measures are now required
to reduce the risk of transmission to prisoners and
other staff from staff who live and/or work in
lockdown areas. This risk is reduced when all staff
wear a face mask.
Some prisoners, such as those with symptoms
and in protective quarantine, are still required to
wear face masks when interacting with others.
If transmission occurs at a prison site or DHHS
updates its advice, other groups of prisoners may
be required to wear face masks in the future.
When do I need to provide masks to
prisoners?
Some prisoners may wish to wear a mask and
you should provide one if you receive a request.
If prisoners are or become at-risk of suicide or
self-harm, they should not have access to masks
that have a metallic strip over the nose.
Page 4 of 5 Version approved as at 15 July 2020
Diagram by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Page 5 of 5 Version approved as at 15 July 2020
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