Going Smoke Free

Smoke Free Salford

Here are some simple steps to implementing your policy:

1) Set up a working group

Setting up and engaging the correct people to the work group is essential to the success of the policy planning and implementation.

The working group should include a variety of employees, union / staff representatives, health and safety staff and senior management to provide balanced representation. The group should aim to include a mixture of smokers and non-smokers. In a very small workplace a workgroup may not be practical but you should always consult with your employees.

2) Consulting with employees

It is important to consult employees about how the policy will be implemented, timescales, assistance offered etc. at several stages throughout the development and implementation stages (As the tobacco control policy could be seen as a change to terms and conditions). There are many different ways that this can be done and will vary between workplaces. Some examples are:

Surveys / questionnaires
Team meetings
Toolbox talks
Appraisals
Notice boards
Letters

3) Devise a draft policy

The working group should work on producing the draft policy using the information gathered from the staff consultation (discussion, survey etc.). This information will be used to decide on policy details and contents. The policy will differ from workplace to workplace and will need to consider workplace facilities, whether smoking will be allowed in a certain area, where smoking is not allowed, disciplinary procedures and assistance / support available for people wishing to quit smoking.

4) Circulate draft policy

The policy should be circulated to all staff members and a reasonable deadline given for the staff to comment on the contents. Consideration of those on leave or sick should be made.

5) Revise policy

At this stage the policy should be amended having taken into consideration the comments and input from the staff.

6) Policy Implementation date

Once the policy has been amended and agreed, an implementation date must be given. This is usually 12 weeks but can be amended for a stepped approach. (i.e. smoking allowed in designated room only for a further 12 weeks, then disallow after this time) or for a shorter time period.

7) Promote implementation date

Prior to the policy implementation date it is important to promote the day. Some methods of promoting the date could be using posters, signage, displaying a smoking policy, leaflets, health promotion, emails and attachments to pay slips.

8) Vehicles

All vehicles used at work are smoke free except when used exclusively by a single individual.

9) Smoking areas

Where there is provision of outdoor designated smoking areas these are located away from entrances and exits. People who smoke outside are encouraged to dispose of their cigarette litter properly in bins or pouches.

10) Offer smokers help to stop smoking

Asking people to stop smoking or change their smoking routine can be difficult for some people. It is important to provide as much support for these people as possible to assist in the transition. Some businesses offer time off for staff to attend smoking cessation group meetings (amount of time to be negotiated), arrange for smoking cessation workers to visit the workplace (free service) and/or pay prescription charges for nicotine replacement treatments (patches, gum, inhalator, lozenge, microtab or nasal spray).

11) Monitor and Review policy

Having taken all the time and effort to get to this stage it is essential to keep the momentum and make the policy work. The staff responsible for monitoring the policy must ensure all parties work to the policy, at all times. The smoking issue should continue to be discussed and promoted. A clear complaints and reporting procedure should be put in place to deal with any problems arising from the new policy. The smoke free policy should reviewed after six months and then annually in line with other health and safety policies.