Safety firm calls for masks to be made compulsory in public

National Health and Safety company Protecting.co.uk says anyone working in a public or private setting should be made to wear a face mask.

Since May 11, government guidance has advised the public to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may come into contact with people they wouldn’t usually meet.

Mark Hall, spokesperson for Protecting.co.uk, said: ”Since June 15 face coverings have been mandatory on public transport and now from July 24 they will be compulsory in shops.

“We have two issues with this, why have we waited so long and why is it not mandatory for all workers to wear them?”

“Matt Hancock is fully expected to confirm today that government guidance will be updated to make the wearing of face coverings in shops and supermarkets compulsory.

“Guidance for other settings will be kept under review, why?”

The guidance on face coverings in England is changing.

From 24 July, it will be mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets, as well as on public transport.

Your face covering must cover your nose and mouth at all times. pic.twitter.com/qKKqNDSAu5

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 14, 2020

Protecting.co.uk conducted a survey of 800 UK office workers asking if they were willing to wear a mask at work to protect themselves, their colleagues, members of the public, and their family’s safety.

Yes I am scored 98 per cent in the study.

Mark Taylor, an office worker from Addingham, said: “No matter how stupid I think I look, it’s not worth the risk not to wear one.

“I’ve been wearing one since the start of lockdown and no one has ever said anything negative to me, my kids say I look funny, but they said that before the mask”.

The fine will reduce to £50 if paid within 14 days. Enforcement will be carried out by the police.

While shop employees should encourage compliance, retailers and businesses will not be expected to enforce the policy.

As they are on public transport, children under 11 and those with certain disabilities would be exempt.

A No10 spokesperson said: "There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus."

The Prime Minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from July 24.

Protecting.co.uk have provided a free to use Covid-19 risk assessment that can be completed online or downloaded and adapted protecting.co.uk/covid-19-risk-assessment