Theres likely four parts to your "rule" being something like
- We will only operate plant that is safe to use
- We will only operate plant that meets COF/WOF standards
- We will have the meeting of standards checked
- We will have the meeting of those standards certified by an independent qualified entity.

So you are hopefully still complying with 3/4 of your rule.

You arent really sacrificing or discarding a rule. You are just unable to meet it fully and hopefully you still have safety operating as the main focus.

So no real harm, just how we interpret "rules".

We have a "rule that says only OSH certified operators can use a Foklift inside the premises. We understand that certification process is just a matter of refreshing and assessing competence and we reckon, in the main we can do that because we do it every day. (If a person wasn't competent on the day we wouldn't let them drive) So if we miss a renewal date we don't get stressed and just book a person on the next available course. This gives employees confidence we have a safe process and should WorkSafe get a bit tetchy we reckon we can mitigate any discussion we have with them by showing we are actively taking reasonable steps - even if its not 100%

Hopefully no rules are discarded - we should have identified the useless ones before today. But perhaps an unexpected benefit of Covid is we can really shine the spotlight and get full buy in on the useless rules.

Not done away with, but we've changed site briefings with customers to being a paper-based one, rather than face-to-face.

Hopefully no rules are discarded - we should have identified the useless ones before today. But perhaps an unexpected benefit of Covid is we can really shine the spotlight and get full buy in on the useless rules.

CAA have issued a number of rule exemptions, particularly refresher training and checks, and medical certificate renewal. Just because you are making a calculated decision to defer requirements doesn't mean those requirements are useless.

Andrew, great response and yes 3/4 at the moment. So let me give you another example then. Say you are an essential business and your asset is people. As parts of your asset get sick they cant be used but you choose to bring back (or at least offer) recently retired workers to maintain your capacity. In doing so you increase you risk exposure. Their are other things to consider also but I am interested in actual examples of others in where "in unprecedented times" they have removed rules to ensure they are maintaining there deliverables.