Masks for indoor work

[Planeoff1234]

Your manager should be able to order face visors in. We have had a few in my office.

Thanks I will chase them up next week

[k979aaa]

Let's clear this up face covering not mask face covering is the official term here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr hil.]

What a face covering is
In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth. You can buy reusable or single-use face coverings. You may also use a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face.

Face coverings are not classified as PPE (personal protective equipment) which is used in a limited number of settings to protect wearers against hazards and risks, such as surgical masks or respirators used in medical and industrial settings.

Face coverings are instead largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

If you wish to find out more about the differences between surgical face masks, PPE face masks, and face coverings see the MHRA’s (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) regulatory status of equipment being used to help prevent coronavirus (COVID-19).

From the same gov.uk website......

We can all twist things to suit our own agenda just like the statisticians and accountants do too.

Face coverings or face nappies as I like to call them serve a purpose, they protect others from the expulsion of spittle, droplets and in some cases aerosol particles. In poorly ventilated spaces the longer you are exposed to potentially coronavirs laden air the higher the chances you have of contracting this horrid disease. If you are able to, wear a mask. If you cannot then fine but at least be careful and maintain the correct two meter distances, don't shout or sing and avoid face to face conversations.

[PostmanBitesDog]

If you are able to, wear a mask. If you cannot then fine but at least be careful and maintain the correct two meter distances, don't shout or sing and avoid face to face conversations.

No, they should be furloughed. It's pointless for those not wearing a mask (or at least a face shield/visor) in the office while others are. Social distancing isn't enough, especially in some parts of the office where staff congregate in certain areas. We have posties that are still standing too close to each other when sorting. Line managers are still gathering in a huddle in the middle of some sections. It's still a sh*tshow.

Everybody should wear a mask. Those who claim to be exempt from wearing a face mask should wear a face visor instead or stay home. Besides, the latest news about Germany's BioNTech's vaccine looks to be very promising, so hope is finally on the horizon.

[Pumpernickel]

Let's clear this up face covering not mask face covering is the official term here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If RM want to make "masks" part of compulsory PPE on their premesis, they are free to do so.

If someone wants to claim an exemption to company mandated PPE, then the company has a right (and duty) to enquire exactly why so accommodations can be made as necessary.

Government "advice" for the general public is irrelevant.

Anyone who is clinically vulnerable (thus could be in a real position to claim a real exemption) should really be on furlough.

[k979aaa]

Let's clear this up face covering not mask face covering is the official term here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If RM want to make "masks" part of compulsory PPE on their premesis, they are free to do so.

If someone wants to claim an exemption to company mandated PPE, then the company has a right (and duty) to enquire exactly why so accommodations can be made as necessary.

Government "advice" for the general public is irrelevant.

Anyone who is clinically vulnerable (thus could be in a real position to claim a real exemption) should really be on furlough.

Furlough is where their is no work? Are you suggesting 10% of the workforce be on the sick or Furloughed as you say what a brilliant idea!
Better idea if your that s**t scared by someone without a mask stay two meters away not hard is it!

[Pumpernickel]

Let's clear this up face covering not mask face covering is the official term here https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If RM want to make "masks" part of compulsory PPE on their premesis, they are free to do so.

If someone wants to claim an exemption to company mandated PPE, then the company has a right (and duty) to enquire exactly why so accommodations can be made as necessary.

Government "advice" for the general public is irrelevant.

Anyone who is clinically vulnerable (thus could be in a real position to claim a real exemption) should really be on furlough.

Furlough is where their is no work? Are you suggesting 10% of the workforce be on the sick or Furloughed as you say what a brilliant idea!
Better idea if your that s**t scared by someone without a mask stay two meters away not hard is it!

Furlough is for people who can't work. IMO clinically vulnerable people shouldn't have been in the position to be pushed to work by a company that didn't want to furlough them.

I'm not s**t scared of anybody with or without a mask. Then again I'm not clinically vulnerable. That said, it's impossible for anyone to ensure they remain 2m away from anybody else as that relies completely on everybody else towing the same line, and you are adamant that you won't given a piece of cloth is far too much for you to bear thus (I extrapolate) watching where you're going when near others may also be too much for you to bear. Many of our offices can't maintain distancing no matter what as they are too small and crowded for proper distancing to take place.

The problem with everyone being responsible for their own space is other poeople that have no issue invading that space, no issue coughing at someone just to be a PITA, refusing to comply with reasonable requests and all that jazz. As an example: we have a policy where we put a parcel down, step back, and the customer picks it up but this doesn't work if the customer opens the door in your face, and steps toward you to get said parcel (or opens the door while your hand is in the letterbox as another).

[k979aaa]

And how many people have handled the parcel just before doing your duties? Masks only work with proper disposal and the way people remove them discard them.

[Pumpernickel]

So you feel that it isn't absolutely perfect, thus nothing should be done until we find something that is?

I'm personally not so defeatist, and I'd rather make some attempt to keep vulnerable colleagues (and recipients of the parcels/letters we deliver) that bit safer even if it is only a bit.
IMO that bit is better than doing nothing whatsoever.

[k979aaa]

Not a defeatist just a realist we all hopefully can make choices to mitigate our risk to ourselves and others with the decisions we make by informed choices. You cannot live a normal life like the last 9 months forever we need to live for one cannot get the time back we have lost, Life is for living not preventing the evitable that at some point we all will die at the end of our time!

[milly]

So you feel that it isn't absolutely perfect, thus nothing should be done until we find something that is?

I'm personally not so defeatist, and I'd rather make some attempt to keep vulnerable colleagues (and recipients of the parcels/letters we deliver) that bit safer even if it is only a bit.
IMO that bit is better than doing nothing whatsoever.

Covid has a similar Infection Fatality Rate to Flu and yet nobody has ever felt the need to wear a face covering in the past to stop the Flu.
The whole thing is a massive over reaction to something that thankfully isn't that deadly.

[Woody Guthrie]

Covid has a similar Infection Fatality Rate to Flu

No it doesn't.
Stop making things up.

[milly]

Covid has a similar Infection Fatality Rate to Flu

No it doesn't.
Stop making things up.

Covid is around 0.03% and the Flu is 0.01%.
Covid is worse but it isn't bad enough to close the whole Country down.
Far more people will die due to missed Cancer appointments because of the lockdowns.

[Schiff]

Covid has a similar Infection Fatality Rate to Flu

No it doesn't.
Stop making things up.

Covid is around 0.03% and the Flu is 0.01%.
Covid is worse but it isn't bad enough to close the whole Country down.
Far more people will die due to missed Cancer appointments because of the lockdowns.

If the fatality rate was 0.03%, given that 60,000 in the UK have already died from it, 200 million out of the 67 million living in the UK must have had it already.

Stop spreading bullshit.

[milly]

Covid has a similar Infection Fatality Rate to Flu

No it doesn't.
Stop making things up.

Covid is around 0.03% and the Flu is 0.01%.
Covid is worse but it isn't bad enough to close the whole Country down.
Far more people will die due to missed Cancer appointments because of the lockdowns.

If the fatality rate was 0.03%, given that 60,000 in the UK have already died from it, 200 million out of the 67 million living in the UK must have had it already.

Stop spreading bullshit.

The vast majority of people who have died were aged and very ill.
Only around 340 people under 70 have died of Covid with no comorbidities.