Like the first version, the third version does not state that a site should close if the two-metre rule cannot be observed. However, it provides additional guidance by setting out a "hierarchy of controls" that can be used to assess and reduce the risk associated with an activity where maintaining a two-metre distance is not possible.
The third version also:
States that face masks should not be used for COVID-19 protection on sites where social distancing guidelines are met and describes them as the "last resort" in its hierarchy of controls.
Confirms that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the relevant enforcing authority for the Public Health England (PHE) guidelines on which the SOP is based.
The government has encouraged the construction industry to comply with the SOP, with employers and contractors consulting them when deciding whether to close their sites.