How to bring in a smoking policy
What should my smoking policy look like?
Download sample policies and letters below - PDF files for viewing on the web and printing, MS-Word files to edit to create your own policy.
Sample smoking policy (MS-Word)
Sample smoking policy for work including home visits (PDF)
Sample smoking policy for work including home visits (MS-Word)
Sample letter for home visits (PDF)
Sample letter for home viists (MS-Word)
Bringing in a smoking policy
By law all enclosed workplaces and public places must be smokefree.
A written smoking policy helps a company’s staff, customers, contractors and visitors know the areas where they can and can’t smoke. It is not about whether or not people smoke, but when and where they smoke and whether their smoke affects others.
The first step in developing a policy is setting up a working group which will make the major decisions. In a larger company this could include representatives from occupational health and safety (if available), human resources, trade unions, smoking and non-smoking employees and the senior management team. The group will need to decide how far your new policy will extend.
There will then need to be a consultation with the staff.
It is up to each individual business to decide how far they would like the smokefree area to extend to. The entire grounds may be smokefree or it may be decided to only allow it within a set distance of doors and windows to allow extra protection for your staff and customers.
The employer may decide to build a smoking shelter or set aside a specific area outside for smoking breaks. You can get advice on erecting smoking shelters from Bristol City council Planning Department. Tel: 0117 922 3097 or ptsd@bristol.gov.uk
It may be important to the image of your business that there are not lots of smokers standing in doorways or around the building.
The company may need a period of up to three months to get used to the changes, get the signage, apply for planning permission for outdoor shelters, buy outdoor ashtrays etc. This could be a good time to offer your employees time off work or flexible hours, to visit their GP or an NHS walk-in centre to get help to give up smoking
Employees must be given a copy of the policy and customers /visitors/suppliers must be made aware of the policy on arrival to the building where appropriate. An outdoor ashtray is an effective way of reducing the number of cigarette butts thrown onto the ground outside the building.