Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Businesses need to be preparing now for the smokefree workplace legislation which comes into effect on July 1 – and if they are unsure about what they should be doing, help is at hand.

That’s the message from Maidenhead Royal Borough environmental health officers who are happy to guide and advise business owners about the new laws. While Smokefree England has been set up by the government to co-ordinate the overall programme, it is down to environmental health officers to ensure local businesses comply with the law.

Gillian Taylor, Maidenhead environmental health manager, said: “Full guidance packs are being sent out in April to all employing, actively trading businesses. If any business hasn’t received the pack by early May, they should contact either the environmental health team or Smokefree England.”

Each pack will contain a guidance brochure and a selection of ‘no smoking’ stickers, some of which it will be compulsory to display.

From July 1, it will be illegal to light up in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England, bringing it in line with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The main reason for the legislation is to protect non-smokers from the effects of second-hand smoke.

The legislation covers all workplaces where more than one person works or which are visited by members of the public and includes any space that has a ceiling or roof, which means tents, marquees, conservatories and vehicles are included.

Under the new legislation, management will have to ensure premises are smokefree, display ‘no smoking’ signs in a prominent position at all public entrances and take reasonable steps to ensure customers and staff are aware the premises are legally required to be smokefree. There will be no obligation to provide smoke breaks or outside smoking areas.

Employers could be fined up to £2,500 if they fail to prevent smoking in a smokefree place and up to £1,000 if they fail to display ‘no smoking’ signs, while individuals who light up in a smokefree area could have to pay up to £200.

Gillian went on: “Some businesses have already taken the initiative and begun the process of implementing smokefree policies in their workplaces before the deadline. This is a clever business move for three reasons:

· The workforce has the opportunity to get used to the smoking ban before the legislation is active and the company could be fined in instances of non-compliance

· Smokefree workplaces save money. By protecting employees from second-hand smoke and helping current smokers to quit or cut down sick days will be reduced, work-time smoking breaks stopped and there may be a reduction in cleaning and redecorating costs

· It will allow businesses to take advantage of the NHS Stop Smoking Services, which will provide smoking cessation clinics for employees in the workplace. It is likely there will be a high demand for these free services closer to the deadline.”

Business owners can contact 01628 683820 if they have not received their guidance pack, or for further information or advice on the new legislation or Stop Smoking Services. Smokefree England can be contacted on 0800 169 1697 or by visiting smokefreeengland.co.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead