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Safety Glossary

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Safety Glossary

SMOKING IN THE WORKPLACE

Can I use electronic cigarettes at work?

Under the Council’s Policy HS18 – Smoking in the Workplace, electronic cigarettes are treated the same as normal cigarettes and therefore you can only use them in designated external smoking areas and in your own time.

Furthermore, due to reports in the media of e-cigarettes exploding and starting fires whilst being charged, employees or others are not permitted to charge e-cigarettes in the workplace and/or in vehicles owned, hired or rented by the Council.

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Do I have to provide ‘smoking shelters’ for employees who wish to smoke?

No – there is no legal requirement to provide them, nor is there any requirement in the Council’s policy to do so.

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Do I have to provide designated external smoking areas where employees can smoke?

It is the Council’s policy to provide them where reasonably practicable, although there is no legal requirement to do so.

When designating an external area where employees can smoke, consideration should be given to ensuring that:

  • the access to the area does not pose a risk to employees, such as having to cross a busy road;
  • the area itself does not pose a risk, such as being located in an isolated public place that could become threatening, for example to a lone smoker after dark;
  • it is far enough away from any openings into a premises, such as doors and windows, to prevent smoke entering the premises and affecting other people;
  • suitable ‘stubbing out’ bins to reduce fire risk/litter are provided.
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If I wish to take a break to smoke, do I have to ‘sign out’ to do so?

Yes – employees can only smoke in their own time.

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Is there anywhere that I am permitted to smoke whilst at work?

Only in designated external smoking areas, which are to be located away from doors and windows to prevent smoke entering the building and affecting other people.

It should be noted that it may not be practicable for some workplaces to provide designated external smoking areas.

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What if I catch an employee smoking when/where it is not permitted to do so?

The employee should be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s Disciplinary Policy.

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When/where am I not permitted to smoke whilst at work?

Smoking is not permitted in the following areas or whilst undertaking the following activities:

  • in all Council owned premises and all other premises under the Council’s control, including premises that are rented or hired;
  • when driving or as a passenger in Council vehicles, including hired vehicles;
  • in vehicles owned privately by employees when carrying other Council employees and/or clients when on Council business;
  • in service users’ homes by employees, contractors and/or others working on behalf of the Council;
  • when visiting other business premises.
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