Save lives, sew your own
The wearing of face coverings is now mandatory in England when travelling on public transport or when attending a hospital as a visitor or outpatient.
If you arrive at work wearing a face covering, care needs to be taken when removing it. Face coverings must be placed in an appropriate bag prior to starting work. They should not be placed on surfaces as this can cause cross-contamination.
Face coverings are not mandated for use in the workplace. There is a risk that they could become entangled when using machinery and they may come off a user’s face more easily when working, resulting in cross-contamination.
Masks are available to all colleagues who wish to wear one in the workplace via your line manager. They are also available to colleagues who use public transport to complete their role and don’t have access to a face covering (e.g. OPGs traveling to their first delivery point).
Please note that face coverings should not be confused with face masks, which may be stipulated as a requirement for a particular task where determined by risk assessment.
Government guidance on face coverings:
- A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably. It can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before and after using a face covering. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times, and store used face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them.
- Do not touch the front of the face covering, or the part of the face covering that has been in contact with your mouth and nose. Once removed, make sure you clean any surfaces the face covering has touched.
- You should wash your face covering regularly. It can be included with other laundry, using your normal detergent.
- When wearing a face covering, take care to tuck away any loose ends.
Click here for the latest Government guidance on face coverings as well as instructions on how to make your own.
