Smoking at work

Here in Wales where most of the jobs seem to be in the caring sector, I came across one job as a support worker where it is essential - if one wished to take the job - to accept working in an environment where service users might produce a smoke filled environment. The thing is here in Wales where people are desperate for work, it might pressurise people to take up work they might otherwise reject.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

We have an 8 acre non smoking site, with a 9,000M2 multi tenanted office/R&D complex in Ferndown Dorset.

We provide one smoke room - rather like a bus shelter with 3.5 walls - outside at the back.

A shelter from wind/rain with chairs and a coffee table, it is cleaned daily and has fire equipment in case of ash tray fires (we have had one!).

Removing the smoke room provision would encourage smoking anywhere outside, whereas this small provision, allows us to guide those who need to smoke, to a safe onsite location.

In HSE terms, 'take action commensurate withthe risk'.

This allows the bulk of employees to remain smoke free inside the building.

The aspect we have not discussed is the time lost while smoking. It does cause ill feeeling with non smokers that employees who smoke enjoy several breaks per day of significant length when one considers time to get to the smoke room, smoke and return to the office. Whilst one does not have to be at a workplace to be creative, many tasks can only be done at the workplace.

This post has been removed because it contravened our guidelines.

My organisation provides a smoking room with additional ventilation for those who wish to use it. There is a no smoking policy elsewhere in the premises. We are now under pressure to close this room and whislt I realise that we must first consult, I was wondering if any readers have relevant experience that they can share, which might be helpful.

Whilst I basically agree with the workplace being non-smoking, within my charity we have a significant problem. Our client group includes mental health and substance abuse, both alcohol and drugs.Within both of these groupings there is a very significant majority who smoke. With one grouping it is obviously difficult to introduce prohibition particularly with the new human rights legislation. However is it reasonable and/or practicable, to use the favourite H&S words, to expect addicts to give up everything at once, i think not! Therefore if we are to provide a smoke free workplace for a significant number of our employees, are the Government through it various funding arms going to provide extra funding to install special filtration units to 'scrub' the air?

If not are they prepared to accept liability for those workers who work in the mental health fields?

The most recent cases have tended to involve workplaces where smoking was permitted in designated areas, rather than just a smelly unhealthy smoking room. There are systems that will effectively deal with the smoke, but in the UK it seems employers enjoy the excitement of a potential court case, made all the more likely now that ASH are threatening legal action against companies who regularly expose their employees to passive smoking.

If there is only one canteen and no other place within the unit to smoke, is it reasonable to insist that all smoking is allowed outside the unit only? Without any more notice to all employees of one week.

I have seen copy of case law where employees have made successful claims against local authorities /NHS for poor health resulting from the provision of smoking rooms. Could any one guide me to the case study or court ruling

Your article refers to a successful case brought by a non-smoker "forced" to work in a smoking environment. What was the circumstances of her case? What court/tribunal did it reach?If it set a precedence, why aren't thousands of employees bringing similar cases?
You quoted a term "implied" in contracts about the working environment; as this is rather vague, could it not also apply to smokers who have come to rely on being able to smoke, and would find it extremely stressful to have to suddenly stop?