Can Companies Manage The
Smoking Ban..?
The Union in consultation with
ADSIS the Alcohol and drugs Service in Staffordshire are posing this question to
Industry employers.
Some companies plan to introduce a blanket ban meaning that workers can only
smoke outside the parameter fences during break time.
This is because there is no legal responsibility for companies to provide
smoking shelters. However, given that smoking like other dependencies such as
alcohol and drugs can be extremely difficult to overcome companies do nee to be
aware of how employees may respond to their favourite habit being taken away
from them.
Staff may become moody, aggressive and under perform making the workplace
undesirable. It is good practice for companies to think about how they are going
to support their employees in overcoming their nicotine dependency. As an
employer are you going to allow staff time off to attend support groups? Are you
going to allow staff to use interactive support mechanisms over the internet?
Will your occupational nurse provide gum, patches, inhalers etc? And finally,
how is your company going to deal with breaches of the new legislation?
Both Unity and ADSIS recognise that employers owe a duty to all employees and
the public to breathe clean unpolluted air and support the introduction of this
new legislation being implemented in a manner that is both sympathetic and
understanding to all those who may be effected by it’s introduction.
During the forthcoming Ceramic Industry Health and Safety Pledge Awareness Week
(28th May-1st June)
Representatives from Unity and ADSIS will be on hand to give help and support to
those companies wishing to adopt the understanding and objective approach.
For further information please contact Mick Young 01782 272755