Following the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday, The Health
Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place and on
Public Transport) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 have been published.
Regulation
2 amends existing legislation on face coverings to make it clear that workers
in places listed in Schedule 3 must wear masks.
Schedule 3 includes:-
- shop workers
- shopping centres
- restaurants and bars
- banks
- hotels
There is the same reasonable
excuse exception as existed for
other obligations to wear a face mask (for example, because of disability or
where wearing a mask would cause severe distress).
The Regulations make it clear that it is the employee/worker who is committing
the offence and is liable to the £200 fine, not the employer.
Although it is the employee that will be fined, we would suggest that you update your policies to ensure that employees know that it is company policy that they must wear a face covering whilst working unless they are medically exempt. If you would like to discuss in more detail contact us on 01245 261883