WorkSafe is reminding employers that pandemic regulations put in place to assist with the collection, recording, holding and use of COVID-19 vaccination information from specified persons expired on Wednesday 12 July.
Following the revocation of the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (COVID-19 Vaccination Information) Regulations, employers who recorded or held COVID-19 vaccination information specifically under these regulations have 30 days to destroy that information.
The regulations were introduced in mid-2022 following the removal of certain vaccination requirements under the Pandemic Orders and supported employers to collect, record, hold and use COVID-19 vaccination information from specified persons attending a workplace under their management or control in order to determine and to implement reasonably practicable measures to control COVID-19 risks.
A specified person includes employees, independent contractors and their employees, volunteers and students on placement permitted to attend the workplace.
The destruction of information requirement does not apply to employers that are permitted or required under other laws to collect, use, record, or hold vaccination information.
Employers are reminded that a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status is health information protected by other legislation such as the Health Records Act.
