A smoke free policy is very important
as it shows your commitment to ensuring your entire premises remain smoke free. If possible you should involve your existing staff in developing your smoke free policy or at least discuss it with them in the time leading up to when you go smoke free. New staff should be made aware of the policy as part of their induction programme.
Introducing a new policy to your workplace takes time. You may decide to go smoke free early or wait until July 1st 2007 when the legislation comes into effect. We are now in the countdown to legislation which is a good time to start working towards smoke free.
Develop your policy by following these steps which may differ depending on the size of your business.
- Bring together and consult staff
- Appoint a person to oversee the group and the policy
- Review current practice - what is happening now? Do you or will you need to provide smoking areas? If so these will need to be outside and conform to the new legislation
- Decide what you want in your policy and inform all your staff accordingly
- Provide information to support smokers who wish to quit
- Prepare a draft policy or use the one in this pack
- Do you think the policy will work? Do you anticipate any problems?
- If you are going smoke free early (before July 1st 2007)
- Publicise the policy start date - Discuss in team meetings, include in staff newsletters and/or on notice boards. (If you are waiting until July 1st 2007, have a 3 months countdown!)
- Implement the policy - There will be a legal requirement to display signage at all entrances but consider using 'reminder signage' in the places where people might go for a smoke (e.g. toilets or the staff room)
- Monitor and review the policy regularly - is the policy working, if there are any problems (anyone smoking) you must deal with them.
If you need further advice please contact Rosemary Lee or Julie Searing on 01942 828142, or you can email your enquiryto smokefree@wigan.gov.uk.
