UK firms call for clear face coverings to help deaf people

As face coverings become mandatory in enclosed public places in England today, the majority of UK businesses have urged the Government to allow the use of clear face coverings to help deaf people. Research from the Business Disability Forum (BDF) suggests that 90% of businesses and organisations recommend the use of clear face coverings for their employees, customers and clients. 

According to BDF, there are 12 million people who are deaf or living with a hearing loss in the UK and almost all of them rely on visual clues, such as lip reading and facial expressions, to communicate. BDF’s findings show overwhelming support among businesses for clear face coverings to be made more widely available, with two thirds (63%) also saying they would be prepared to make their use compulsory among staff and customers.

TRANSPARENT FACE COVERINGS

However, businesses also highlighted the need for the Government to take urgent action to officially approve the use of transparent face coverings, according to BDF. For health and safety reasons, many organisations felt unable to source and purchase face coverings, without official guidance in place.

The BDF is calling on the Government to:

• Update its face mask guidance for businesses and the general public to reflect the benefits for lip readers of the use of clear panel face coverings.
• To approve the use of clear panel face coverings or both PPE and non-PPE use.
• Ensure the term face covering includes face masks, full face shields and fixed screens.

REMOVING BARRIERS

Commenting on the survey findings, Diane Lightfoot, CEO, Business Disability Forum stated: “Cloth face coverings are creating a significant communication barrier for lip readers and for the huge number of people who may be unaware that they rely on lip reading to support their hearing.

“Our members have told us that they want to remove this barrier for their employees, customers and clients, but to do so safely, they need swift action from the Government.”

OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE

Adding to her comments, Susan Daniels OBE, Chief Executive of the National Deaf Children’s Society, stated: “It’s fantastic news that businesses overwhelmingly support the use of clear face coverings among their staff, customers and clients. Alongside a better understanding of how to communicate clearly with deaf people, these masks would be a real game-changer. As opaque masks and coverings become widespread, deaf people like me are already facing a daily battle to understand what others are saying. Whether we are in cafes and restaurants, out shopping, taking public transport or socialising with friends, conversations are much more difficult because we can’t see someone’s face to lipread.

“The National Deaf Children’s Society is campaigning for a Government-led plan to introduce clear face masks across the country. The Government has the reach and the resources to make this happen and with the support of business, it has a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to deaf people’s lives.”