Can employer force employees to wear masks/visors all the time

od244051

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

elsien

The short answer is yes they can, if their risk assessments deem in necessary and they aren't in the exempt list. Those till shields don't really protect anyone it someone decides to cough or sneeze in the vicinity without a face covering on. 
She doesn't need to be wearing the same mask for hours on end. There's nothing stopping her from having several clean ones with her and doing a swap throughout her shift.  There's a bit of a difference between a nurse providing very up close personal care to people and changing PPE at intervals to protect patients and a supermarket worker who won't be getting that close to anyone (you would hope.)
There isn't any reason why wearing a face covering should be making your friend go lightheaded if there are no medical issues - could it be pyschosomatic? 

AskAsk

yes they can, but they won't complain if you take the mask off to breathe every now and then.  supermarket staff do it all the time.

74jax

od244051 said:

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

I volunteer for nhs and change mine every 4hrs.is there a reason they are unable to change theres, could they keep a spare on them? 

General_Grant

74jax said:

od244051 said:

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

I volunteer for nhs and change mine every 4hrs.is there a reason they are unable to change theres, could they keep a spare on them? 

The four-hour-rule applies when travelling on long haul flights so I think it should apply to shop workers.  One mask for first half of a day's shift and a fresh one for the second half.

ToxicWomble

I have to wear one all the time throughout the day unless eating or drinking.

Its uncomfortable but you get used to it.

Its not an unreasonable request

Apintplease

No mask should be worn for more then 4 hours of continuous use

As a shop worker Im assuming they get a tea break and lunch break - they can can change masks then

The regulations say masks are to be worn in store by both customers and staff. The only exception other then being exempt is if they are shielding fully in another way - ie a perspex kiosk

I dont think anyone likes wearing masks. My husband is forever complaining of fluff up his nose and mouth where they rub on his stubble, I tell him to wear a cloth mask. I get a headache after a while. Im actually exempt but choose to wear one to do my bit in keeping everyone safe. The British Lung Foundation advise us with breathing problems to build up our comfort by wearing them for short periods in the home whilst just sitting , slowly increasing the time of wear

Unfortunately staff in supermarkets are at high risk, unless they work right beside the open door. You have hundreds of customers in the door, air con, heating, and at the check out pretty close contact, I wouldn't want to be working in one without a mask and a bottle of hand sanitiser , The employer should be providing the PPE so changing masks every couple of hours shouldn't be an issue

74jax

General_Grant said:

74jax said:

od244051 said:

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

I volunteer for nhs and change mine every 4hrs.is there a reason they are unable to change theres, could they keep a spare on them? 

The four-hour-rule applies when travelling on long haul flights so I think it should apply to shop workers.  One mask for first half of a day's shift and a fresh one for the second half.

Until the OP explains why they can't change their mask though we are all just guessing. 

Takmon

od244051 said:

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

Those issues will be purely psychological because there is no physical reason for masks to cause any of that. I have worn masks for extended periods and even while doing intense physical exercise without any of those issues. Yes they are unconformable and annoying to wear but they certainly don't cause any physical problems due to reduced airflow. 

Edit: Oops wrong word!

General_Grant

Takmon said:

od244051 said:

My friend works at a supermarket. She has been told that they have to wear their masks all the time from tomorrow. Before you didn't need to wear a mask when in the back areas, when behind a till with screen and if working before/after supermarket closes. Now the exceptions are when eating/drinking, working in bakery (as it gets very hot), alone or outside. Outside work includes manning the entrance to control numbers, trolley retrieval and changing advertising banners on car park and the signs on the approach from road to car park.

My friend and colleagues have noticed if they wear their masks for long periods, they get lightheaded, headaches and feel sick. On days they do take off their masks off when they are behind a till or doing jobs in the back, they don't get the above issues. They have tried several types of masks and makes no difference. Unable to wear a shield unless they have one of those exemptions on the govt list. Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts and the supermarket staff are wearing the same mask for hours on end.

Can an employer make their employees do this?

Those issues will be purely physiological because there is no physical reason for masks to cause any of that. I have worn masks for extended periods and even while doing intense physical exercise without any of those issues. Yes they are unconformable and annoying to wear but they certainly don't cause any physical problems due to reduced airflow. 

?????????

Boa21

"Nurses etc change their masks several times during their shifts"
"No mask should be worn for more then 4 hours of continuous use"
Assumptions not based upon fact. For sure masks may usually get changed several times a day and certainly a supermarket employee would be well placed to do this. But trust me, we don't change our masks when scrubbed for long operations, 6,7, 8 hours not uncommon and I have scrubbed for over 12 hours without a break of any kind. More worried about my kidney's than my breathing!