Smoking Ban In England
Click here to see our large range of products to help enable you to comply with the new law.
England will become smokefree on Sunday, 1 July 2007. The new law is being introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Failure to comply with the new law will be a criminal offence and will result in penalties and fines.
Smoking Ban in the workplace and public places
The new smokefree law will apply to virtually all 'enclosed' and 'substantially enclosed' public places and workplaces.
Premises will be considered 'enclosed' if they have a ceiling or roof and (except for doors, windows or passageways) are wholly enclosed either on a permanent or temporary basis.
Premises will be considered 'substantially enclosed' if they have a ceiling or roof, but have an opening in the walls, which is less than half the total area of the walls. The area of the opening does not include doors, windows or any other fittings that can be opened or shut. Any part of a private dwelling used solely for work purposes will be required to be smokefree if:
- it is used by more than one person who does not live at the dwelling or members of the public attend to deliver or to receive goods and/or services.
Smoking Ban In Vehicles
The new law will require vehicles to be smokefree at all times if they are used to transport members of the public or in the course of paid or voluntary work by more than one person - regardless of whether they are in the vehicle at the same time.
* We would also like to add he following in a new page on the site Called Smoking Ban Information: (I have suggested links in red to other pages and product pages, which are shown in green)
England will become smokefree on Sunday, 1 July 2007. The new law is being introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
From 1 July 2007 it will be against the law to smoke in nearly all enclosed public places, workplaces and public and work vehicles. There will be very few exemptions from the law.
Indoor smoking rooms in virtually all public places and workplaces will no longer be allowed. Managers of smokefree premises and vehicles will have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.
The new law will require no-smoking signs to be displayed in all smokefree premises and vehicles. Failure to comply with the new law will be a criminal offence. Penalties and fines will be as follows:
Smoking in smokefree premises or work vehicles: a fixed penalty notice of £50 imposed on the person smoking. Or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failure to display no-smoking signs: a fixed penalty notice of £200 imposed on whoever manages or occupies the smokefree premises or vehicle. Or a maximum fine of £1000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree place: a maximum fine of £2500 imposed on whoever manages or controls the smokefree premises or vehicle if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Local councils will be responsible for enforcing the new law. They will offer information and support to help businesses meet their legal obligations under the new law.
You can find out more information on the new law on our links page. You can also contact your local council for information and support.
GETTING READY TO GO SMOKEFREE
If you manage or are in charge of any premises or vehicles that the new law applies to you will have a legal responsibility to ensure they become and remain smokefree.
To be ready for the new law when it comes into effect on Sunday, 1 July, you'll need to make sure that:
* you have all the required no-smoking signs in place. Please see our smoking ban products
* your staff, customers, members or visitors are aware that your
premises and work vehicles are legally required to be smokefree and,
* you have removed any existing indoor smoking rooms.
KEEPING YOUR PREMISES AND VEHICLES SMOKEFREE
Once the new law comes into effect, it will be the legal responsibility of anyone who controls or manages smokefree premises and vehicles to prevent people from smoking in them.
You will have to demonstrate that you have taken reasonable steps to meet the requirements of the new law. These might include:
* Removing ashtrays
* Introducing a smokefree policy
* Training staff to understand the new law and what their
responsibilities are.
* Provide an out door designated smoking area.
See our range of
smoking ban products for shelters and ciggarette bins.
* You may also like to consider specialised smoke and flame
detectors.Please see our range of
smoking ban products.
INTRODUCING A SMOKEFREE POLICY FOR YOUR BUSINESS
You may wish to introduce a smokefree policy for your workplace. This will
help ensure your employees are aware of the new smokefree law and that
they now work in a smokefree environment.
It will also advise them on what they need to do to comply
with the new law.
* Your smokefree policy should be developed in consultation with
employees and their representatives.
* The smokefree policy can be a verbal understanding between you
and your employees; incorporated into your existing corporate or health
and safety policies,
* Or you may wish to create a separate written policy.