Posted By John Murgatroyd Actually, you can put up notices to your hearts content. It'll make no difference. If you have a hole in the ground you can't rely on a notice saying HOLE IN THE GROUND AHEAD to protect people from a fall. The same with smoking. Under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees. Under the Workplace(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers have to ensure that there are arrangements to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke in rest rooms or rest areas. Current Acts and Regulations already place duties on employers to protect their employees. One method of ensuring compliance with the law is to adopt a policy on smoking for the workforce. The policy not only protects non-smokers but also should encourage smokers to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or to quit. Controlling the problem by hoping the employee can't take legal action is short sighted and possible actionable as well.

Posted By Ken Taylor There cannot be any sensible claim to ignorance of the health risks these days with warnings on cigarette packets, etc. I would, however, advise an extraction system (to the open air) for the smoking room - for the benefit of cleaners, maintenance workers, etc as well as the smokers.