Health, Safety and Environment Committee

 

Smoking at Work Policy

1.      By law, smoking is banned in any indoor public place with effect from 1^st July 2007 (Health Act, 2006;The Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006).

2.      Accordingly, smoking will not be permitted in any University buildings (including residential buildings) or vehicles from that date.  This builds on the previous University policy which prohibited smoking in most University buildings, on the grounds that it was important to protect non-smokers from the health risks of passive smoking.

3.      Where staff or students smoke outside, they are asked to:-

a)      be considerate of the health of others, by not smoking close to doors or windows where smoke may be sucked into a building

b)      be considerate of the safety of others by not smoking in proximity to highly flammable liquids and gases.

4.      In addition, staff who smoke outside are asked to be considerate of the University’s reputation by not smoking in areas which are highly visible to customers and members of the public

5.      Contraventions of this policy will be dealt with through the usual disciplinary procedures. In addition, those who do not comply with the law in this respect may be liable to fixed penalty fines and possible prosecution.

6.      This policy will be kept under review with particular regard to:-

a)      how the University can provide support for staff who would like to stop smoking

b)      whether to move to a smoke-free campus at some point in the future.