UNITY SEMINAR - 22nd May 2007
On July 1st
2007 virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England will become
smoke free. Unity, together with the British Ceramic Confederation, as part of
the ceramic industry Pledge Awareness Week organised this seminar under the
heading “Can Companies Manage the Smoking Ban”.
The event was well attended by all sections of industry including Unity
Reps, Managers and Human Resource officers.
The first speaker was Jayne Hawe who is the Principal Environmental officer for
Stoke-on-Trent City Council Regulatory Services. Her subject was “The New
Legislation and what the Law expects”
Local councils will be responsible for enforcing the new law in England. In
the run up to July 1st 2007 they will work closely with businesses to
help ensure that everyone knows what they need to do to become smoke free.
Their approach to enforcement will be based on supporting businesses to comply
with the new law. However, they will have the legal power to enter premises or
board vehicles to determine if the new law is being upheld.
Anyone who does not comply with the new smoke free law will be committing a
criminal offence. The penalties for breaching this law can reach £2500.
For further information visit
www.smokefreeengland.co.uk
For general advice and guidance, call the national information line 0800 169
1697
For advice specific to a business within the city, contact Regulatory services
01782 232065.
Second on the agenda was Katie Luntley from ADSIS which is the Alcohol and Drugs
Services in Staffordshire. Katie spoke on the subject “How to manage and
assist with withdrawal symptoms”
Because there is no legal responsibility for companies to provide smoking
shelters.
Some companies may be planning to introduce a blanket ban, which will mean that
employees who smoke will have to leave the company premises to have a cigarette.
In some circumstances this would be impossible and ADSIS are keen to make
employers understand that the withdrawal of cigarettes to a smoker could have
the same effect as the withdrawal of other dependencies such as alcohol and
drugs.
Dependency on and the withdrawal from nicotine can in some instances be as
severe as the dependency on and the withdrawal from cocaine or even heroin.
It is important therefore for companies to give great consideration to what
policies they are putting in place.
It is good practise for companies to think about how they are going to support
their employees in overcoming their nicotine dependency, they may become moody
or aggressive, they may under perform or become difficult for other operatives
to work with, they may even become violent.
ADSIS asks these questions of employers:
Are you going to allow staff time off to attend support groups?
Are you going to allow time for staff to use interactive support mechanisms over
the internet?
Will you provide gum, patches, inhalers etc to help break the habit?
Unity and ADSIS are asking employers to implement the legislation and introduce
policies that are both sympathetic and understanding to those who are going to
be affected.
The third and final speaker was Harjit Kooner, who is the Health Care
Development Manager Representative for GSK (Glaxo Smith Kline) her topic for the
seminar was “What help can be given to companies?
Harjit informed and explained to the seminar deals that companies could
negotiate with GSK to provide incentive, policy and support to create a smoke
free workplace.
There are various deals available and companies can choose which they think will
be most appropriate and cost effective for their needs, these include;
Behavioural support
Group sessions
Rolling programmes
On-going support - click2quit
Product provision delivered on site
To get your personal stop smoking plan click on to
www.click2quit.com
This was yet another successful event provided by Unity. The response at the
question and answer session put to the three speakers at the end of the
afternoon showed the depth of interest that the seminar had provoked.
A QUICK GUIDE TO THE NEW SMOKE FREE LAW
England
will become smoke free on 1st July. The new law is being introduced
to
protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second hand
smoke
From 1st July it will be against the law to smoke
in virtually all enclosed public places, workplaces and public and work
vehicles. There will be very few exemptions from the law.
Indoor smoking rooms in virtually all public places and workplaces will no
longer be allowed.
Managers of smoke free premises and vehicles will have legal responsibilities to
prevent people from smoking.
The new law will require no-smoking signs to be displayed in all smoke free
premises and vehicles.
The new law applies to anything that can be smoked. This includes cigarettes,
pipes (including shish and hookah pipes) cigars and herbal cigarettes.
Failure to comply with the law will be a criminal offence. Penalties and fines
for smoke free offences are.
Smoking
in smoke free premises or work vehicles:
A fixed penalty notice of £50 imposed on the person smoking.
Or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failure
to display no-smoking signs:
A fixed penalty notice of £200 imposed on whoever manages or
occupies the smoke free premises or vehicle. Or a maximum fine of £1000 if
prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failing
to prevent smoking in a smoke free place:
A maximum fine of £2500 imposed on whoever manages or
controls the smoke free premises or vehicle if prosecuted and convicted by a
court.