The removal of the legal requirement to wear a face covering from 19th July has prompted much debate not least within construction and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) who have produced regular updates to the Site Operating Procedures throughout the pandemic.

The CLC recommends that the good practices the industry has adopted over the last 18 months are retained and has issued a statement confirming that the Site Operating Procedures will remain available as a reference document from Monday 19 July.

Whilst they will no longer reflect the latest Government guidance, businesses across the supply chain have welcomed the consistency that the Site Operating Procedures have provided and they may wish to maintain elements of social distancing for the time being. In addition the Use of Face Coverings in Construction has been updated in line with the latest Government guidance from 19 July.

A recent survey by Build UK of their contractor members found that almost 90% will be maintaining social distancing measures on some or all of their sites until at least 16 August, when the requirement for close contacts to self‐isolate will be revised for those who have had both doses of the vaccine or are under 18. The breakdown of social distancing measures being employed are shown below: