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Council staff face work-hours smoking ban Council staff face work-hours smoking ban
(35 minutes later)
A council has proposed banning staff from smoking during working hours – including on short breaks.A council has proposed banning staff from smoking during working hours – including on short breaks.
Nottinghamshire county council, which employs 9,000 people, said the move would improve health, slash sick leave and increase time spent working. Anyone who breaks the rules would face disciplinary action. Nottinghamshire county council, which employs 9,000 people, said the move would improve health, reduce sick leave and increase time spent working. Anyone who breaks the rules would face disciplinary action.
The proposed rules would extend to all council buildings, land and vehicles, and would also prohibit the use of e-cigarettes. Unison, the largest public sector union, said the rules could prove to be unenforceable, and the smokers’ group Forest also criticised the plan.The proposed rules would extend to all council buildings, land and vehicles, and would also prohibit the use of e-cigarettes. Unison, the largest public sector union, said the rules could prove to be unenforceable, and the smokers’ group Forest also criticised the plan.
John Tomlinson, the council’s deputy director of public health, said smoking was still “public health’s number one enemy”. He said: “We are trying to be a supportive employer and have a duty of care to protect the health of our employees as part of a wider remit to take a leading role in promoting better health in Nottinghamshire.”John Tomlinson, the council’s deputy director of public health, said smoking was still “public health’s number one enemy”. He said: “We are trying to be a supportive employer and have a duty of care to protect the health of our employees as part of a wider remit to take a leading role in promoting better health in Nottinghamshire.”
The council said it would encourage staff to use alternatives such as nicotine patches to kick their habit, arguing that the cost to workers would be cheaper than a packet of cigarettes. “If they don’t want to give up smoking they will get withdrawal symptoms at work because of their nicotine addiction,” Tomlinson added. The council said it would encourage staff to use alternatives such as nicotine patches to kick their habit, arguing that the cost to workers would be less than a packet of cigarettes. “If they don’t want to give up smoking they will get withdrawal symptoms at work because of their nicotine addiction,” Tomlinson added.
The UK has had a nationwide ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces since 2007. Motorists and car passengers in England and Wales face a ban on smoking in vehicles carrying children from 1 October, and there are plans afoot to extend bans to outdoor public spaces. The UK has had a nationwide ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces since 2007. Motorists and car passengers in England and Wales face a ban on smoking in vehicles carrying children from 1 October, and there are plans to extend bans to outdoor public spaces.
The Ministry of Justice is drawing up plans for a smoking ban in several jails, although there are fears that forcing all to go smoke-free simultaneously could trigger prison riots.The Ministry of Justice is drawing up plans for a smoking ban in several jails, although there are fears that forcing all to go smoke-free simultaneously could trigger prison riots.
Since the first smoking ban was introduced, smoking prevalence among adults (pdf) has fallen by about three percentage points, from 22% in 2006 to 19% in 2013. Since the first smoking ban was introduced, smoking prevalence among adults [pdf] has fallen by about three percentage points, from 22% in 2006 to 19% in 2013.
Brian Fitzpatrick, Unison services conditions officer, said the union had no principled opposition to the council’s proposed ban but would ballot members to see whether they backed it.Brian Fitzpatrick, Unison services conditions officer, said the union had no principled opposition to the council’s proposed ban but would ballot members to see whether they backed it.
Employees get a short morning and afternoon break, and during these periods no smoking would be allowed under any ban. Smoking would be permitted during lunch breaks provided the employee takes off their uniform and is far from council property, the union understands. Fitzpatrick said the measures appeared “stringent”.Employees get a short morning and afternoon break, and during these periods no smoking would be allowed under any ban. Smoking would be permitted during lunch breaks provided the employee takes off their uniform and is far from council property, the union understands. Fitzpatrick said the measures appeared “stringent”.
“I don’t see yet how they could enforce it,” he said. “Say you work in highways, if you want to smoke you need to take all your uniform off and go as far away from site as possible and have a cigarette and then come back. Related: Public Health England under fire for saying e-cigarettes are 95% safer
Ash, the anti-smoking charity, backed the ban but said it went too far in banning e-cigarettes. Deborah Arnott, the chief executive of Ash, said: “Employees who want to carry on smoking can still do so, just not during work hours on Nottingham council premises. This will improve productivity, help employees who are trying to quit smoking and provide a cleaner and more pleasant working environment for all staff. “I don’t see yet how they could enforce it,” he said. “Say you work in highways, if you want to smoke you need to take all your uniform off and go as far away from site as possible and have a cigarette and then come back.”
“However, we don’t think it’s appropriate to include electronic cigarettes as vaping does not cause the damage that smoking does, and the most common reason given by people who use these devices is to help them quit smoking.” Ash, the anti-smoking charity, backed the ban but said it went too far in banning e-cigarettes. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Ash, said: “Employees who want to carry on smoking can still do so, just not during work hours on Nottingham council premises. This will improve productivity, help employees who are trying to quit smoking and provide a cleaner and more pleasant working environment for all staff.
The smokers’ group Forest said the ban was an intrusion on people’s personal freedom. Its director Simon Clark said: “A good employer recognises everyone is different and has different ways of coping with the stresses and strains of a working day. Everyone is entitled to a break. How people spend it should be up to them. Some drink coffee, others choose to smoke. Rightly or wrongly, many smokers believe it relaxes them and helps them refocus.” “However, we don’t think it’s appropriate to include electronic cigarettes, as vaping does not cause the damage that smoking does, and the most common reason given by people who use these devices is to help them quit smoking.”
The smokers’ group Forest said the ban was an intrusion on people’s personal freedom. Its director, Simon Clark, said: “A good employer recognises everyone is different and has different ways of coping with the stresses and strains of a working day. Everyone is entitled to a break. How people spend it should be up to them. Some drink coffee, others choose to smoke. Rightly or wrongly, many smokers believe it relaxes them and helps them refocus.”