Posted By Rob Yuill
If you're talking airside as in aircraft movement areas I'm suprised the ban wasn't in place before.

Or are you talking about non-aircraft areas?

Rob

Posted By Richie H
Without a thorough understanding of the situation it is difficult to make a fair appraisal of the situation. However it is dissappointing that they have not bothered to communicate the specific reasoning of why you are unable to smoke. Nothing worse than forcing a policy without employee consultation me thinks! Perhaps a misunderstanding of the new smoking policy? I would seek clarification for the reasoning behind the decision and try negotiate a solution, pre-empting their safety concerns with your own control measures may help?

Good luck

RIchie

Posted By Stephen Ward
Dave
I think you missed the point. Its a health issues. The argument about the aircraft exhaust temperature is a non starter. It does not kill hundreds of workers per year through passive smoking.

Posted By David S Burt
David

Sadly the response from Stephen is based on what appears is a campaign of mis-information based on non scientific evidence. There is little or no scientific evidence to support the claims of pressure groups that the ban will reduce an estimated 600 premature deaths a year. Further debate on this matter has already taken place on the members discussion forum.

The point you raise about the emissions from the aircraft is extremely valid and has the potential to cause more significant harm than the potential health effects related to passive smoking particularly where this would occur in an open area within an airport.

Now back to the real issue i.e. can an employer make such a ban? The answer is quite simple YES they can because any employer always has been able to rightly set their own rules.

I work for a number of different organisations where No Smoking on their premises has been the norm for a number of years and this is accepted by all employees including smokers. Note No Legislation Required

The approach that is being taken by your employer is neither rational or a sensible way to develop and foster good industrial relations.

Consultation with employees is always a better way forward.

Will your employers draconian rule make the smokers give up or stop them from sneaking a crafty puff airside? Anyone who believes that does not understand smokers. A more rational approach is to accept that some people choose to and will continue to smoke regardless of the rules or the law.

A Reasonable and responsible employer will recognise this and make appropriate provisions for all members of their workforce including smoker and non smokers.

The irony of all this is that while it is recognised that there is the need for anti-discriminatory legislation to protect people at work, smokers are now seen as third class citizens could well be left with no protection or consultation rights.