According to new guidelines, employees will not be advised to wear facemasks when they are at work; however, they have to use face coverings while using public transport.
The new recommendations, which informs how companies and employers should manage the risk of COVID-19 in eight broad workplace categories, are intended to help get businesses “up and running.”
The government advises commuters to wear facemasks and other protective gear if they have to use public transport.
Recently, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also advised wearing face coverings in confined space such as shops, especially where people may come in close contact with individuals from beyond their household.
Simply put, the new guidelines recommend people to wear facemasks on their way to work but not once they get in their offices.
The guidelines say, “Face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing risk, including time spent in contact, using fixed teams and partnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing.”
The new recommendations released last week did not mention anything about personal protective equipment (PPE).
The guidance is meant for different business settings, such as outdoor workplaces, manufacturing units, food productions, and retailers.
Employees should work from home if they can but those who cannot work from home should go to work, according to the new recommendations.
Social distancing should be maintained where possible at the workplace. Where social distancing cannot be maintained, the risk of transmission should be managed using barriers in shared spaces and using fixed teams to minimize contacts.
The new guidance also mentions extra cleaning for “high-contact” objects, such as handles and keyboards. Also, companies should provide hand-washing and sanitizers at every entry as well as the exit point.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said, “Safety is at the heart of business thinking. Unless people feel safe, employees won’t return, customers will stay away and the restart will falter, harming livelihoods, and public services. This guidance will help. It gives firms a clearer picture of how to reopen safely and gradually.”
Adam Marshall, Director-General of British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said, “This is a significant step forward in terms of the information available for businesses, who will now need to digest the detail.”
“The guidance signals big changes for the way that many businesses operate, and some firms will now need time to plan and speak to their employees so that they can return to work safely,” he added. “Alongside this guidance, businesses urgently need clarity on the future of government support schemes, which must be adapted to help those firms who need to remain closed for an extended period or face reduced capacity or demand.”
