Disaster & floods

All the information you need to commence repair and rebuilding work in
the face of severe weather events across Queensland.

Disaster guidelines & resources Repair work contracts

The severe weather and flooding events that frequent Queensland can have a significant impact.

You can use our Site safety checklist, that will give you guidance on key areas to consider, such as scaffolding, formwork, roofing and erosion and sediment control.

Prepare your site for severe weather

Safety is the number one priority in the beginning of any severe weather; however, once repair and rebuilding work can commence, we’ve pulled together what you need to know. Once initial disaster response work is complete and floodwaters recede, we urge builders and homeowners to work together with insurers (where applicable) on first priorities, including the assessment of required repair work. Please note, repair work commenced and/or completed without the insurers consent may prejudice the property owner’s insurance claim.

Our Disaster guidelines and resources include information on first priorities such as power and plumbing, key areas to inspect following a flood, things that need to happen before building rectification works can commence and all about repair work contracts and your insurance obligations as a builder or tradie.

Our collection of information and resources on the common Workplace health and safety (WHS) hazards found during flooding, including mould, electrical safety and other infection risks from flood recovery and response work will also assist.

Finally, we’ve collated information on insurance coverage, how the situation is might impact trade and material shortages and delays, and the relief and assistance that is available.

ADVICE AND SUPPORT WORK AND PAY RIGHT TO CLAIM EXTENSION OF TIME RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE INSURANCE COVERAGE

Contracts and scams

Unfortunately, we frequently see scams that target vulnerable homeowners during times of natural disasters. We urge all homeowners and businesses who may be organising their own repair work, to ensure their builder or tradie is appropriately licensed and a contract is in place. Check the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence register or search for a licensed Master Builder.

Advice and support

Our team of experts are also ready to answer your questions. Wherever you are, call 1300 30 50 10 for advice specific to your situation.

Work and pay during severe weather

When considering if employees should be sent home and if they need to be paid during the coming days will be dependent on whether the company is able to provide a safe working environment even it the work is not the employees standard role.

If you are unable to supply work that is safe for employees then your will be able to stand down employees, but whether payment is required will be dependent on the award the employee falls under.

Under the Building and Construction Award General Onsite Award 2020 & Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020, full-time employees are entitled to 32 hours of inclement weather pay over a defined 4 week period. Once an employee has used up the 32 hours then they can either choose to use annual leave or take leave without pay. For further information check out our inclement weather calendar.

Under other awards like Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 & Miscellaneous Award 2020 there are no inclement weather provision therefore an employer can stand down employee with no pay due to a weather event. You can agree to allow the employee to access annual leave during this time.

If you are able to supply work that is safe, but the employee is unable to attend the location due to being flooded etc then the employee can either use their annual leave or take leave without pay. But this will not be classified as a stand down as you have supplied work.

If you are unsure on whether your employee is entitled to inclement weather or have any other questions, please contact the Workplace Relation Team.

Check your right to claim extension of time under your contract

Check your contractual rights to an extension of time for delays caused by:

dangerous and inclement weather conditions
the unavailability of employees or subcontractors who cannot make it to site, and/or
the unavailability of material or supplies which cannot be delivered to site.

Make sure that you follow the procedure in your contract for:

notifying the other parties about potential delays
claiming an extension of time for delays that do occur, and
keeping records of the cause and effect of the delays.

Insurance coverage

If you have an insurance policy with Master Builders Insurance Services, give our team a call on 1300 13 13 26 and they can answer your questions about coverage and your policy. You can also register your claim online.

You can also read more about your insurance obligations when performing repair work.

For homeowners with flood or storm damage, make sure you follow instructions from your insurer. They will advise the steps to take, not only for the safety of your home and your health, but also what their process for claiming is.

It’s important you speak to your insurer before you attempt to authorise any building work, including emergency repairs, and ask for their permission to ensure work is covered by your policy.

Shortages and delays

The recent severe weather event and floods are going to further exacerbate trade and material shortages and builders and homeowners are both going to be impacted. Homeowners and insurance companies may find it difficult to find available builders and tradies, given the already high levels of demand.

At this stage, it's hard to understand the true impact, until the flood waters recede – but we are expecting significant amounts of building recovery work throughout the SEQ and FNQ regions.