Call To Keep Masks On While Working

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Building and manufacturing firms are being urged to carry on asking their workforce to wear masks while working in enclosed spaces or on busy sites by the Construction Leadership Council.

The CLC was calling for a consistent approach in line with government guidance as rules on social distancing and face masks ended. It advises employers to make face coverings available for staff when they are working in crowded or enclosed spaces but are no longer wearing respiratory protective equipment. The CLC said its site operating procedures were still available as a reference to offer businesses across the supply chain consistency.

Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said SME builders were likely to support mask-wearing to protect staff and keep sick leave levels low - something property development finance lenders would also support.

Government toughens face mask guidance

The government appears to have backtracked on earlier announcements when it said face masks would no longer be necessary post the 19 July. It is still advising people to wear masks in shops and at work and that table service would remain at bars.

London's mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that mask-wearing would continue to be mandatory for tube and bus travellers. Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham has said that passengers using the city's tram service would have to wear masks.

Major retailers such as Sainsbury's and Waterstones have asked customers visiting their outlets to wear masks.

Mask-wearing in enclosed spaces and on public transport will continue to be mandatory in Wales and Scotland.

Tradespeople urged to remain cautious

The CEO  of kitchen and bathroom association BiKBBI, Damian Walters, told the BBC that tradespeople in particular should not fall foul of more relaxed rules saying: "This pandemic is not over. We’re all keen to banish Covid to the history books but we’ll only be able to achieve this if we’re sensible about the next few weeks and months.”

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation published updated advice to tradespeople on its website, to include support for the continued wearing of face masks when working with others in confined space.

Picture: Damian Walters of BiKBBI.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
23rd July 2021

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