No standing at bar areas and staff face masks among mitigations to cut social distance
NO standing at bar areas, face coverings for staff and reduced noise levels from music or TV are among the additional “mitigating measures” operators should adopt in order to reduce social distancing to one metre in their premises.
Scottish Government guidelines published at 5pm today (Friday, July 10) ahead of the reopening of the trade on Wednesday July 15 outline the criteria venues will have to meet in order to reduce the standard two-metre social distance to one metre.
Included in the measures, available to view here (https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tourism-and-hospitality-sector-guidance/pages/exemption-to-1m-for-hospitality/) are:
- No standing at bar areas
- Reviewed layouts to ensure one metre spacing and back-to-back or side-to-side seating between seated groups
- Face coverings for staff (but not customers)
- Adequate and good quality ventilation”
- Reduced noise from music or TVs. Venues are instructed to ensure customers will not need to raise their voices as this “can contribute to the spread of coronavirus”. The guidance states that “steps should be taken to ensure volume levels do not present a risk to staff and customers”.
- Clear one metre signage at entry points and throughout the premises
- A revised risk assessment which incorporates these mitigating measures.
Links to sample risk assessments are provided on the Scottish Government website.
The guidance states: “It is acknowledged that not all of these measures will be relevant in every setting but that it is for individual businesses to consider where they do relate to their specific business and reflect this in their risk assessments. These are in addition to existing measures required for operating at two metres, which still applies to all other areas covered by the sector guidance where two metres remains the default.”
