I am finding I am having to remind more and more companies of the laws of smoking, so I thought this week would be a good time to jog a few memories…
SMOKING…
To not comply with the smoking act is a criminal offence, if you are smoking in a smoke-free vehicle you as the individual could result in a £50 pound fine…
NOT DISPLAYING A SIGN
Failure to display a “no smoking sign” in a smoke free vehicle will result in a £200 pound fine, but could go further to a £1000 pound fine.
PREVENTION
If you as a Company Director or Manager knowingly fail to prevent smoking in any smoke-free vehicle you will face a £2500 fine.
The local authorities do enforce this law..
SIGNS IN VEHICLES…
These must display the international no smoking symbol.
The RED CIRCLE of the sign must be at least 75mm in diameter..
The sign must be displayed in each compartment of the vehicle, where it is constructed to sit people.
Signs must be displayed correctly…
All motor vehicles used for paid or voluntary work by more than one person needs to be smoke free and display no smoking signs.
THE RULES
All employees who use a company vehicle for their sole use must not smoke whilst carrying colleagues for work purposes.
All employees who use a company vehicle for their sole use can smoke while carrying colleagues to and from work, as these journeys are classed as PRIVATE USE…
All Drivers are not allowed to smoke in any company vehicle if it is used by more than one employee, such as pool cars because colleagues driving or being passengers in that vehicle could later inhale their smoke.
Employees who share a pool car are not allowed to smoke in that vehicle.
If the company vehicle is a convertible and shared by drivers, this will be exempt of smoking ban but ONLY IF THE ROOF IS DOWN!
So it must must said all Directors and Managers must have policies in place and be on the side of caution.
DONT FORGET …… Distractions
From August 2008 if you kill anybody and its found you were otherwise distracted from driving, perhaps by eating a sandwich, lighting a cigarette, taking a drink, or reading a map you will be prosecuted under the Death by Careless Driving legislation SO BE WARNED……
