Regular testing and wastewater surveillance might also be used, with discussions ongoing and some details yet to be finalised.
An announcement about the reopening is expected later this week and companies might be allowed to have people on site on Monday to prepare for work to resume on Tuesday.
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The plan to reopen comes as the CFMEU prepares for more COVID-19 cases to emerge from its Elizabeth Street office, which has been deemed a tier-1 exposure site.
CFMEU Victoria and Tasmania president Robert Graauwmans is one of four union workers to have tested positive, while Mr Setka, who has received at least one vaccine dose, is among hundreds in self-isolation as a precaution.
Victoria hit a daily record of 950 new cases and reported seven deaths on Wednesday.
Union sources believe COVID-19 entered the union office during the protest on Monday of last week in which hundreds of construction workers smashed windows, threw projectiles and abused Mr Setka as a “dog” and the “bitch” of Premier Daniel Andrews.
The union boss faced off with the crowd, appearing with a megaphone before officials were required to restrain scuffling protesters from reaching him.
The CFMEU said in a statement on Wednesday that officials and staff were “deeply concerned for the wellbeing of their families and the risk of the infection spreading”.
Mr Setka has repeatedly lashed protesters as “drunken morons”, insisting the majority were anti-vaccination protesters rather than union members.
A police spokeswoman confirmed a “small number” of officers were self-isolating as close contacts after last week’s protests, but refused to provide an exact number for “operational reasons”.
Relations between the construction sector and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s public health team appear to have warmed over the past week following several meetings.
CFMEU secretary John Setka outside the union’s Melbourne headquarters before the protest turned violent.Credit:AAP
Building leaders were frustrated by what they viewed as a lack of understanding from health officials about the role of crib rooms, which are used as a home base for workers to clean up and store items as well as eat lunch.
On Wednesday, Master Builders Association of Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson said her organisation had convened a meeting with Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas to discuss the reopening with a specific focus on the home-building sector.
“The message from the Treasurer was more positive than the group was expecting,” she said.
“It’s clear an enormous amount of work has been undertaken to get the industry back up and running.”
Property Council of Victoria chief executive Danni Hunter said she hoped the reopening would balance the needs of workers and employers and the restrictions on movement between metro and regional Victoria would be dropped.
Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said on Wednesday he was unable to confirm how many construction workers had been vaccinated, but government officials have repeatedly stated their belief that the large majority of the industry are willing to get jabbed.
Professor Cowie flagged that workers on critical state projects could be distinguished from those at other construction sites when authorities considered rules such as a block on travel between metropolitan and regional areas.
Regular testing and wastewater surveillance were also under consideration, along with specifics such as how far progressed a worksite is.
A ‘small number’ of police officers are self-isolating as close contacts after last week’s protestsCredit:Getty
“Once a structure is actually contained and has the walls, that does reduce ventilation and increases the potential viral load if there is someone who’s infected,” Professor Cowie said.
A government spokeswoman said officials were “working constructively with the industry to get it back open safely”.
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“Any reopening of the industry will have strict public health measures in place to keep our community safe,” she said.
Senior union official Luke Hilakari, the Trades Hall secretary, confirmed he was among those asked to isolate from Tuesday because he was at the CFMEU offices last Monday. Mr Hilakari said he had received an initial negative test.
“This just shows why getting vaccinated is important for everyone in the community and I’m very pleased that I’ve had both doses,” Mr Hilakari said.
With Annika Smethurst
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