LTB 378/20 - New Face Covering/Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices, Royal Mail Group Customer Service Points (CSPs) : Now mandatory for all

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LATEST UPDATE HERE...(23 SEPT 2020)
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 52#p916252" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LTB 378/20 - New Face Covering/Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices, Royal Mail Group Customer Service Points (CSPs) - Provision and Wearing of Face Masks by Royal Mail Group (RM, PFWW & RMSS) Staff

No. 378/2020

16 July 2020

Our Ref: E1/20

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

New Face Covering/Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices, Royal Mail Group Customer Service Points (CSPs) – Provision and Wearing of Face Masks by Royal Mail Group (RM, PFWW & RMSS) Staff

Further to LTB 368/20 this is an update on the changes to the latest government guidance and the ‘mandatory’ face coverings/face masks rules.

As Branches and Representatives will know, face masks in shops became mandatory in Scotland from 10 July.

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

The wearing of face coverings is already mandatory on all public transport. Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a £60 fine in Scotland and a fine of up to £100 in England.

Shoppers in Wales and Northern Ireland are not currently required to wear masks, although both nations have said this policy will be kept under review.

The impact of this is that from Friday 10 July all Royal Mail and Parcelforce and RMSS employees in Scotland delivering to or collecting from retail premises e.g., shops, supermarkets and Post Offices must wear a face covering (as reported in LTB 368/20). The same will apply in England from 24 July.

Customer Service Points/Callers Offices are classified as shops for the purposes of this guidance and therefore all customers using these facilities have needed to wear a face covering/mask from the 10 July Scotland and from 24 July will need to wear a face covering/mask in England.

It is NOW mandatory for Royal Mail Group employees who work in CSPs to wear a face covering/mask. (UPDATED 23 SEPT 2020)However, face masks remain available through line managers for anyone who chooses to wear one. A programme of installing ‘social distancing’ protective screens in Customer Service Points (CSPs)/Callers Offices has been underway as reported in LTBs 373/20, 324/20 and 334/20.

Following a meeting this week with Royal Mail Group Assets and Procurement, the Health, Safety & Environment department has been assured that Royal Mail Group has ample supplies of masks. Six million masks have been distributed to offices across the UK and five million are currently held in central stock at Swindon. Six million more masks are on order from suppliers to replenish stocks. If an office has less than 3 weeks supply an ‘App’ automatically re-orders supplies of Coronavirus/Covid-19 PPE supplies (masks, sanitiser gel, wipes and gloves).

Posters have been made available to display the face coverings/masks requirements in CSPs (copies attached).

A copy of the Communication issued by the Royal Mail Group Safety, Health and Environment team regarding the above is attached.

The law provides discretion to people who have a health condition, a disability and other groups (see attached list).
These will not always be visible, so staff should continue to serve all who enter CSPs, including those not wearing face coverings.

Note: Further to LTB 368/20 – one additional face coverings/face masks rule change has been announced by the Welsh government this week, who will introduce a ‘mandatory’ requirement for face coverings/face masks on public transport (buses, trains and taxis) from 27 July.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Attachments:

RMG SHE Communication – Face Coverings In Shops In England
RMG Face CSP Face Coverings Poster (England)
RMG Face CSP Face Coverings Poster (Scotland)
Those Exempt From Wearing Face Coverings list

LTB 378/20 – New Face Covering Face Mask Rules for Shops, Supermarkets including Post Offices https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-b/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

England Face Covering https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-n/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail Group Safety – Face Coverings In Shops In England https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-p/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Scotland Face Covering https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-x/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those exempt from wearing a face mask in the UK https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-m/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mukuic-jtfltlykj-c/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UPDATED 23 SEPT 2020

It is now mandatory for employees who work in CSPs to wear a face covering, Face asks remain available through line managers. You can ensure you always have good stock of face masks and other protective equipment available by keeping your Additional Supplies Register (ASR) app up to date.

2nd post PDF in the Global Announcement...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=94715" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JKSmudge]

Imagine how many RM employees would have stayed healthy if RM made it compulsory to wear masks in the office back in March/April. Social distancing completely stopped and very few wearing masks at our DO.

[POSTMAN]

Customer Service Points (CSPs) are classified as shops for the purposes of this guidance and therefore all customers using these facilities in England and Scotland will need to wear a face mask/covering. Posters to display this requirement are available on the SHE Coronavirus Document Library -Posters

It is NOW mandatory for Royal Mail Group employees who work in CSPs to wear a face covering/mask. (UPDATED 23 SEPT 2020), however face masks remain available through line managers for anyone who chooses to wear one. You can ensure you always have good stock of face masks and other protective equipment available by keeping your Additional Supplies Register (ASR) app up to date.

The law provides discretion to people who have a health condition, a disability and other groups. These will not always be visible, so staff should continue to serve all who enter CSPs, including those not wearing face coverings.

[SpacePhoenix]

It also covers takeaways so does that now include office canteens and self-messing rooms? Does it now also include any areas with vending machines or water fountains?

[twoloops]

Life's to short to read the above, I get the gist, so tomorrow when I take the mail & local collects inside the Post Office you telling I will have to put a mask on?

[yellowbelly]

Life's to short to read the above, I get the gist, so tomorrow when I take the mail & local collects inside the Post Office you telling I will have to put a mask on?

If you get the jist, why ask the question? Here's the answer.......

The impact of this is that from Friday 10 July all Royal Mail and Parcelforce and RMSS employees in Scotland delivering to or collecting from retail premises e.g., shops, supermarkets and Post Offices must wear a face covering (as reported in LTB 368/20). The same will apply in England from 24 July.

[twoloops]

So no masks available from RM no mail or delivery to post office.

[POSTMAN]

Will Royal Mail be providing face masks?

Where we have identified specific roles for whom observing the 2m physical distancing is at times difficult, masks are being provided. However, in those cases the 2m physical distancing must be observed when possible and hand hygiene rules, including not touching the mouth, nose and eyes or before eating must continue to be observed.

Where masks have been identified as not required, they remain available for those employees who wish to use them from their manager.

Face coverings are mandatory across the UK in shops, this includes employees working in our customer service points and using public transport. This includes when going into Post Offices. Managers should ensure their teams are aware of the mandatory guidance when delivering or collecting mail.

Full face mask and face covering guidance is available here

What’s the impact of the face covering legislation?

It is mandatory to wear a face covering when entering shops throughout the UK. This includes when going into Post Offices. Shop workers must also wear a face covering including those that work in customer service points.

Managers should ensure their teams are aware of the mandatory guidance when delivering or collecting mail. Face coverings are also required across the UK when using public transport.

Customer Service Points (CSPs) are classified as shops for the purposes of this guidance and therefore all employees working in and customers using these facilities will need to wear a face mask/covering. Posters to display this requirement are available on the SHE Coronavirus Document Library -Posters

It is now mandatory for employees who work in CSPs to wear a face covering, Face masks remain available through line managers. You can ensure you always have good stock of face masks and other protective equipment available by keeping your Additional Supplies Register (ASR) app up to date.

The law provides discretion to people who have a health condition, a disability and other groups. These will not always be visible, so staff should continue to serve all who enter CSPs, including those not wearing face coverings.

UPDATED 23 SEPT 2020

2nd post PDF in the Global Announcement...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=94715" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[2yearpostie]

So if you dont have a face mask with you and need to deliver to shop/post office does that count as inaccessible?

[POSTMAN]

So if you dont have a face mask with you and need to deliver to shop/post office does that count as inaccessible?

Face masks remain available through line managers.

[2yearpostie]

So if you dont have a face mask with you and need to deliver to shop/post office does that count as inaccessible?

Face masks remain available through line managers.

maybe so, but where do you hygienically keep a load of reusable face masks in the van/hct? you cant leave them in a van thats used by other as you would catch a new and even worse virus by the state of our vans, you cant keep them in your pockets cause you constantly go in there for pens cards etc so would potentially infect your own masks before you put it on.

[Woody Guthrie]

There are so many ways to keep a personal supply of masks in a sterile condition that it's hardly worth answering your point.

When children don't want to do something they will also make up non existent barriers. The dog ate my face mask is an equally valid argument for non compliance.

[POSTMAN]

More importantly, there was typo in the latest document, they missed the 'm' from masks, made my copy/paste look amature, but no flies on me, I corrected it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

So if you dont have a face mask with you and need to deliver to shop/post office does that count as inaccessible?

Face masks remain available through line managers.

maybe so, but where do you hygienically keep a load of reusable face masks in the van/hct? you cant leave them in a van thats used by other as you would catch a new and even worse virus by the state of our vans, you cant keep them in your pockets cause you constantly go in there for pens cards etc so would potentially infect your own masks before you put it on.

I keep mine in my pockets, also they don't need to be hygienically or of a medical-grade clean. The idea of the mask is to stop your spittle and airborne particles infecting others not to keep you safe so there is no need for them to be Hygenic beyond washing them daily if you have your own supply, or getting a new one if supplied by Royal Mail.

You can only infect yourself, if you are already infected which is kind of impossible, unless you let others inside your pockets, or use your pens. The cards hold the same risk as the parcels and letters you are already carrying.

[k979aaa]

Too much worry in the world for this coronavirus it is not more deadly than the Flu virus we cannot eradicate it world travel will go on as will the transmission of the virus around the world face masks don't help and cause environmental issues that will last longer than the virus. We only all get one chance at life and hiding behind a mask is not living!