Second-hand smoke, also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) or passive smoke is a cause of disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in third parties. Neither the simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same airspace nor the provision of ventilation can eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke and the consequent health effects of such exposure. This policy has been developed to protect all employees, service users, customers and visitors from exposure to second-hand smoke, to ensure compliance with legal obligations and to ensure a safe working environment.
It is the policy of NCU Training that all of its enclosed workplaces are smoke-free and that all employees have a right to work in a smoke-free environment. Smoking is prohibited throughout the workplace with no exceptions. This policy applies to all employees, consultants, contractors, service users and visitors.
Overall responsibility for policy implementation rests with the occupier, managers, or other persons, for the time being, in charge of the workplace. All employees must adhere to, and facilitate the implementation of this policy.
Infringements by employees will be dealt with, in the first instance, under employee disciplinary procedures. Employees, consultants, contractors, service users and visitors who contravene the law prohibiting smoking in the workplace are also liable to prosecution.
Information on how to obtain help quitting smoking is available from (a) The National Smokers’ Quitline on call save 1850 201203 (b) The Health Promotion Department of Local Health Boards.
NCU Training actively promotes initiatives to support its staff to cease smoking.
While the organisation actively promotes initiatives to support its employees to cease smoking, the organisation also recognises the right of employees who smoke to have smoke breaks. The organisation permits two smoking breaks in the morning time and one in the afternoon. No smoke break should be longer than five minutes.