NEWS - SMOKING BAN - 09.05.2006

Smoking becoming a drag?

Smoking ban. As you’re probably aware, Scotland introduced a ban on smoking in workplaces on March 26. If all goes to plan, this will be followed by similar bans in England and Northern Ireland during 2007. However, whilst much is made of the health benefits, the insurer, Norwich Union, reckons that if not handled properly, a smoking ban could increase your fire risks.

A quiet fag. This is because a ban may lead to smokers nipping off somewhere quiet for a crafty fag. In bad weather, they may choose somewhere inside where they’re unlikely to be disturbed, e.g. a storage area. If they’re not careful about how they discard the cigarette it could lead to a fire. According to Norwich Union, most large fires in commercial premises occur at night. A good proportion of these are due to carelessly discarded cigarettes and cleaners emptying cigarette ends into rubbish containing combustible waste.

Tip 1. Some businesses are planning to create a designated smoking area to manage the ban. However, this could merely add to the risk because if it isn’t sited properly, i.e. away from combustible materials you could create an area full of discarded and potentially hot cigarettes and material that will burn. Therefore, our advice is opt for a total ban. Be clear on your site perimeter and have a clear policy stating smoking will not be permitted anywhere within it. Don’t forget company vehicles either. Make sure they are included in the ban, even if the driver is the only one who uses it. Remember, a company car counts as a place of work. So if you allow smoking, you could fall foul of the ban.

Tip 2. Once you’ve imposed your ban, revise your fire risk assessment to reflect the reduced fire risks. Don’t just make it clear that you’ve banned smoking, state your control measures, i.e. what steps you’ve taken to ban it. To maximise the benefit, make sure you show your insurers, as it could mean you’re entitled to reduced premiums as a result of your actions.