1. Will the smoke-free legislation affect my business?
A simple answer to the question is ‘Yes’, all enclosed or substantially enclosed area within the work place and public will need to be smoke-free.
The key areas that would be of concern are the economic effects of the legislation and this will depend on many factors, however, evidence indicates that the economic outcome will be either neutral or positive
It’s worth noting that 75% of the population (80% of adults) are non-smokers and more and more people are insisting their right to breathe air free from tobacco smoke. The vast majority of the public, including many smokers are in favour of smoke-free legislation.
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2. When will this new legislation come into force?
Scotland went smoke-free on 26 March 2006, final dates for the rest of the country have yet to be agreed but Governments have indicated the following:
3. Should I be taking any action to prepare to meet the legislation?
Yes, definitely! A few months of preparation will help make the smoke-free legislation easier to manage.
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4. Can my company go Smoke-free in advance of the legislation?
Once you have begun introducing the new legislation consumers will start adapting to the change. More than 50% of workplaces and public areas have already become smoke-free.
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5. What is meant by enclosed and substantially enclosed?
Enclosed: Premises will be considered enclosed if they have a ceiling or roof and, except for doors, windows or passageways are wholly enclosed whether on a temporary or permanent basis.
Substantially enclosed: Premises will be considered substantially enclosed if they have a ceiling or roof, but where there are openings in the wall which are less than half of the total area of the walls, including structures that serve the purpose of the walls and constitute the perimeter of the premises. When determining the area of an opening, no account can be taken of opening in which doors, windows or other fittings can be opened or shut.
Will I be legally obliged to provide external smoking shelters or areas for smoking?
No, you have no legal obligation to provide facilities or opportunities for smoking.
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6. Will there be any signage requirements for smoke-free premises and vehicles?
Yes, signage will be required for both premises and vehicles and a minimum standard will be set in the regulations currently under consultation.
Existing signs will probably not have to be changed but extra signs are likely to be needed at entrances to buildings.
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7. Will my business lose money if I go Smoke-free?
A report published in March 2004 by the Irish Office of Tobacco Control, Smokefree policies: market research and literature review on economic effects on the hospitality sector, concluded that the workplace smoking ban would be unlikely to have an adverse economic effect on the hospitality business and may, in fact, have a positive effect.
As a result of complying with the smoke-free legislation, your business would benefit with non-smokers visiting regularly and smokers do adjust to a smoke-free environment.
The costs of cleaning and maintenance would be reduced and the employee absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses would also reduce.
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8. Why do we need a smoke-free legislation?
Tobacco smoke is a serious risk to health and productivity. To keep your workforce fit, healthy and productive would be in the best interest for the business and themselves. The health of the business would grow to a better productivity outcome and it would also enhance the corporate image.
A few facts:
There are many advantages of having a smoke-free policy, as the outcomes would benefit your productivity development, workforce moral and corporate image.
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9. How is the tobacco smoke damaging my business?
Tobacco is a major cause of ill health for both smokers and non-smokers. You could be loosing your most valuable assets, your workforce, to an early retirement caused by smoke related illnesses. A regular smoker has a one in four chance of dying before they pick up their pension. Smokers who are taking regular smoke breaks effects the moral, communication and relationships within the company. Regular costs are set aside for the maintenance of the smoking areas.
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10. Second-hand smoke and your workforce
Second-hand smoke (passive smoking) causes short-term illnesses such as headache, sore throats, dizziness, increased coughs, wheezing, eye irritation and foul smelling clothes and hair, unfortunately the list doesn’t end there. Long-term exposure increases the risk of non-smokers developing vascular and heart diseases, lung cancer and respiratory disease.
Employers have a legal obligation to protect the health of their business and employees. After recent surveys results have shown that roughly three million UK employees are regularly being exposed to second-hand smoke and as a result 700 workers are dying each year. This figure is three time the number of people who are killed through work related accidents. The average number of workplace accidents is 230 per year. The hospitality trade, in which employees are regularly being exposed to vast amounts of second-hand smoke, has a worker die almost every week. This has been regarded a more dangerous trade the being either a police or fire officer.
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11. Smoking and your workforce
Smoking is the single greatest preventable risk to health and is responsible for more than 106,000 deaths in Britain each year, causing 30% of all cancer deaths, 84% of lung cancer deaths, 17% of deaths from heart disease and 80% of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking kills half of all long-term smokers.
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12. Is ventilation an alternative to a smoke-free workplace?
Unfortunately installing ventilation systems do not remove all the harmful chemicals that are found in second-hand smoking. Increasing ventilation can dilute the smoke in a room, but will not make it safe since there is no known safe level of exposure to the carcinogens in cigarette smoke. Because there is no acceptable level of second-hand smoke, removing the source, the smoke, is the only solution.
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13.How much is smoking costing my business?
Find out by downloading your online smoking-cost calculator:
http://www.cleanairaward.org.uk/downloads/SmokingCostsCalculator.xls
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