Purpose:
The policy demonstrates the commitment of Leuchie House to becoming a smoke free environment.
Health Risks
Smoking is an addictive habit, which causes disability, disease and death, and represents the single largest preventable cause of ill health and mortality in Scotland. Tobacco smoke in the environment is a health hazard to both smokers and non-smokers.
Health and Safety benefits and requirements
Leuchie House has a responsibility under health and safety law to:
- Maintain a healthy working environment.
- Protect the health of staff and guests and not subject them to hazardous environments and materials.
- To make sure that staff understand their responsibilities to look after the health and safety of others.
Health promotion and improvement
Leuchie House is committed to promoting healthy living and non-smoking as its normal culture. The Management will continue to offer support to those who wish to give up smoking.
Public Health Legislation
The Public Health (the prohibition of smoking in certain premises) (Scotland) Regulation 2006 specifies public places where the activity of smoking is banned. Included in these premises are:
- Offices, factories and other premises that are non-domestic in which one or more persons work.
- Hospitals, hospices, psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units and health care premises.
- Vehicles which one or more persons use for work.
- Premises providing care home services, sheltered housing or secure accommodation services.
- Educational Institution Premises
- Public transportation.
- Conference centres, public halls and exhibition halls.
Exemptions
Within the Public Health Regulations there are some premises that have been made exempt and can allow smoking in designated room/s, these include:
- Designated rooms in adult care homes (Leuchie does not qualify as such as it is not a residential home).
- Adult hospices.
Designated smoking rooms must be adequately ventilated with the smoke being prevented from spreading to other non-smoking areas of the home. Smoking rooms will be clearly signed and are for use of residents only.
Signs
The Regulations require that at least one No Smoking sign will be displayed within each premise and a sign will also be displayed in any company vehicles (minibuses/cars).
Policy
Assisted Smoking
As there are risks associated with passive smoking, staff members will not be asked to assist a guest who requires assistance to smoke a cigarette.
Guests will be informed prior to arrival at Leuchie that staff will not be available to assist them with smoking. Guests will be informed of this when they are telephoned by an RN/nursing admin regarding their care prior to arrival. Guests will also be in formed that a smoking risk assessment will be carried out to ensure safety.
Vaping
Electronic cigarettes/Vaping – The use of electronic cigarettes or any form of vaping product are not permitted within Leuchie House by staff, guests or visitors.
Guests at Leuchie
Guests coming on holiday to Leuchie house, who smoke will be permitted to do so in the designated outdoor smoking area on the patio. Smoking will only be permitted in this area of the grounds. Guest’s visitors will also be able to use this area to smoke. A smoking risk assessment will be carried out for each guest who smokes and the individual outcomes for each guest will be recorded in their care plan. The RN on shift will be able to give this information to those who require it.
Contractors
Contractors are prohibited from smoking on the premises or in the grounds. Any contractor found to be smoking on the premises will be reminded of the policy and if they continue to ignore the policy they will be asked to leave the premises. Contractors as with staff will have to go off the premises if they wish to have a cigarette.
Staff
Staff who work more than six (6) hours in a shift are entitled, under the Working Time Directive, to a minimum of a 20-minute break (meal break), during this time staff are not considered to be at work. At Leuchie this is relevant to staff on a 7-hour shift and applies to their meal break. If staff wish to smoke then during this meal break time, they must leave the premises and grounds, signing in and out as per normal procedure or use the outside smoking shelter (also used by Leuchie guests). During tea breaks staff are still considered to be at work and therefore are not permitted to smoke at these times. Smokers will not be allowed longer or more frequent breaks than their non-smoking colleagues.
Outings – When on outings staff are paid during what would normally be their meal break and are therefore still classed as being at work. Smoking is not permitted by staff whilst they are on an outing with guests away from the premises. Smoking is not permitted in the Leuchie minibuses/cars as these are work vehicles.
Support to stop smoking
At Leuchie House we will where provide advice and support to help all smokers who wish to stop smoking. Any staff member who wishes to stop smoking and would like support and advice should first speak with their line manager. Advice can also be sought from the National Smoke line – 0300 123 1044
Communication
We will communicate this policy to guests via preadmission telephone calls and again on admission. The policy will be communicated to staff via means such as the team newsletter and notice boards.
Consultation
This policy has been devised in consultation with management, those concerned with health and safety in the workplace, a selection of guests who will be affected by the changes to policy and with staff via nursing reports.
Compliance
Staff are personally responsible for complying with this policy. They are also responsible for making sure that guests, visitors & contractors comply with this policy by reporting any breaches of policy.
Smoking whilst at work (except on unpaid meal breaks) by any Leuchie House staff members will be regarded as misconduct, and depending on the situation may be regarded as gross misconduct and will lead to disciplinary procedures, as specified in the disciplinary policy.