Posted By J Knight The guidance to the workplace regs does state that facilities should be provided for smokers; this however is guidance, and as I understand it nobody has a right to smoke at work. If people are allowed to smoke at work this is at the discretion of the employer, and there is no obligation on an employer to provide a shelter. It may be different in foundries, but if so they would, as far as I know, be unique in this. I've recently been to workplaces which not only bar smoking inside but also forbid staff and visitors from smoking anywhere within the perimeter of the premises, John

Posted By J Knight Further to my previous post, and in the spirit of Robin's offering; I'm not saying that I think that employers should always ban smoking, and Robin is dead right to mention consulting your employees; any change in working conditions needs careful consideration and discussion, even if the employer has a right to impose their will. We allow controlled smoking in some of our workplaces, in others it is entirely forbidden, and I see no reason for us to change this at the moment, John

Posted By Julie P Hi guys, Many thanks for your responses so far. Rob, in answer to your question, we have stopped using lead for about 18 months now in favour of a more user-friendly substitute, so I am guessing this means we do not need to provide a smoking area at our foundry. Our proposal is to restrict smoking to outside both buildings which, in line with other comments, may need to be addressed through our union to ensure employees are consulted. We do not currently provide external smoking shelters, so I can see objections being made to this proposal! Thanks, Julie

Posted By Laurie There was a case some years ago where someone was sitting in their own car, in their own time, having a cigarette. However, the car was in the company car park, and the company had a "no smoking on the premises" policy (they weren't in a sensitive field such as petrochemicals and the like). He was sacked and claimed for wrongful dismissal, but lost. I would judge from that that you do not need to provide any smoking facilities. Laurie

Posted By Paul Birney Julie My workplace has just brought in a smoking shelter, after having seperate smoking areas within canteens for a number of years. The workplace uses solvent and so smoking and ignition sources must be controlled. Something to bear in mind if you decide not to provide a shelter is that you may well end up driving the smokers underground, with toilets and store rooms being used as smoke dens, this may then end up with you having to close such rooms with all employees then being affected. Our smoke shelter is heated, well lit, central to all employees on a fairly large site and has lighters provided (similar to car lighters). There is also a scheme to aid employees who may want to quit. Consultation is the key to a succesful and peaceful resolution. Paul

Posted By Aidan Toner Just a thought Paul-Have you decreased the corporate incentive for smokers to quit with your 4* shelter.??Our organisation is presently in the laughable situation wherby the buildings maintenance manager( a dedicated smoker and TU official ) is busting to get the smoking shelters installed before the policy is redraughted such that smoking is not permitted at all (internally or externally) on company premises.He correctly recognises that once management has provided the shelters they will take on a life of their own making the ultimate goal of smoke free premises more difficult to achieve.