PPE: government guidance
[ch 8: pages 146-147]Public Health England issues official guidance setting out which workplaces or roles need PPE. This can be found on the gov.uk website.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also issued guidance on PPE in health and social care. This includes advice on ensuring respiratory protective equipment is fitted and used correctly and on using disposable respirators.
PPE for protection against coronavirus is generally only required for certain healthcare activities. In a non-clinical setting, it advises employers, there is no need to provide different PPE than they would normally have provided before the outbreak started.
This information, and links to further guidance can be found on the HSE website.
Government guidance on face coverings is as follows (updated: 31/07/2020, after booklet went to print) "Face coverings are not a replacement for the other ways of managing risk, including minimising time spent in contact, using fixed teams and partnering for close-up work, and increasing hand and surface washing. These other measures remain the best ways of managing risk in the workplace and government would therefore not expect to see employers relying on face coverings as risk management for the purpose of their health and safety assessments."
UK government, COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe)
UK government, Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19): construction and other outdoor works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work)
HSE, PPE in health and social care during the coronavirus outbreak (https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/ppe-face-masks/health-social-care)
HSE, Face coverings and face masks at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/ppe-face-masks/face-coverings-and-face-masks.htm)