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Business Services - Smoking at Work

Employer Responsibilities
Cost to your business
Stop Smoking Programme
Employer FAQs
Testimonials

Employer Responsibilities:

Background

In 2004 The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) also known as ‘passive smoking’, or 'second-hand smoke', represented a major public health hazard. It increases the risk of serious illnesses such as lung cancer and heart disease in adult non-smokers and has a wide variety of adverse effects in children.

There is also evidence that using ventilation and air filtration systems in enclosed public places such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants does not stop potentially dangerous exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

In addition, independent academic research has identified the significant costs to the employer of smoking in the workplace.

 
The Law

As a result of these findings the government passed The Health Act in 2006 to protect the public from the adverse effects of environmental tobacco smoke. This Act compels virtually all workplaces in England to be smoke-free from July 1, 2007.

The new law (commonly known as ‘The Smoking Ban’) aims to protect workers and the general public from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke.

Wales implemented the law on April 2, 2007 and Northern Ireland on the 30th. These actions bring England, Wales and Northern Ireland in line with the Irish Republic and Scotland that were already smoke-free.

Specially designated local authority officers will enforce the law with powers to enter premises and issue fixed penalty notices if offences have been committed.

The law creates 3 new offences

• Failing to display no-smoking signs in premises covered by the law.
• Smoking in a smoke-free place.
• Failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free place.

In addition, it is an offence to obstruct an officer enforcing the smoke-free legislation.

If you would like to discuss how the ban impacts your business or to arrange a Stop Smoking workshop (link) for your staff please call me on 07946 526 838 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


Cost to your Business

Smoking kills over 120,000 people in the UK every year. Each cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals including around 50 that cause cancer. We are all aware that smoking kills. What you may not be aware of is the financial cost to your business.

A 1996 Scottish research study1 concluded that in a workplace of 200 employees, with 69 smokers, the smoker’s cost £66,920 per annum at 1996 prices.

The figure took into account the lost productivity, increased sickness absence (smokers take on average 32.2%2 extra absence than their non-smoking colleagues), and the fire damage resulting from smoking at work.

Bringing these figures up to date

Allowing for inflation, each individual smoker in the UK costs his/her workplace £1,220 per annum.

In 2005 (the latest year we have for the figure) UK smoking prevalence was at 25%

Therefore a workplace with a 200 staff with an average 50 smokers would lose £60,976 per annum

Is a Stop Smoking Programme the Answer?

Yes. 69% of smokers want to stop smoking. Therefore there is an opportunity to save 69% of £60,976 or just over £42,000pa for a company employing 200 people.

Stopping with will power has a less than 4% success rate, using nicotine replacement doubles this to 7%. Using Hypnotherapy, NLP & Acupressure techniques is over 10 times more effective.

1 Parrot, S. Godfrey, C. & Raw, M. Cost & benefit analysis of smoking cessation in the workplace. Report for the Health education board f Scotland
2 Berta, RL. The effects of behavioural risks on absenteeism & healthcare costs in the workplace. Journal of occupational Medicine
3 General household survey 2004/5
5 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine in Switzerland

If you would like to discuss your needs further or arrange a Stop Smoking workshop (link) for your staff please call me on 07946 526 838 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stop Smoking at Work

This half-day programme can be presented at your work place or my own premises in Chiswick Business Park.

It can accommodate groups up to 15 people.

Attendees should be committed to stopping smoking & ready to take responsibility for their success. While the programme makes stopping relatively easy, personal commitment is essential. To ensure success it is important that attendees limit alcohol for 2-3 weeks after the session & use the acupressure technique I teach them for managing potential cravings. Attendees who follow these guidelines have over a 80% chance of success.

The Stop Smoking at Work Programme

• Basic Biology of smoking – using NeuroLinguistic Programming (link) to develop shock & aversion
• De-programming all triggers & associations – breaking the neural networks that create autopilot behaviour that ends in lighting up
• Creating Alternative Strategies – positive alternative activity to develop new helpful neural networks free from cigarettes
• Acupressure technique to alleviate cravings – attendees are taught this powerful yet simple technique which can clear cravings in under a minute
• A live group Hypnotherapy session recorded on audio CD – to reinforce the changes at home
• Tips & advice as to what to expect over the coming days, weeks & months – to ensure that there are no surprises – being prepared instills great confidence

One session is usually sufficient to Stop Smoking for life from the day of the session.

Should any individual find that they are struggling or start smoking again, any time from 2 days to 2 years from the session, they can come back for a personal session at a 50% discount on my usual hourly rate.

I have helped hundreds of people to Stop Smoking for life. As an ex smoker myself, who struggled for years to escape cigarettes, I understand the fear & anxiety about stopping smoking & I have put a great deal of skill & research into this programme to make stopping for life easy & achievable.   

1,000 people everyday in the UK stop smoking for life – you can enable your staff to be among them & create substantial financial benefits for your business as a result.

If you would like to discuss your needs further or arrange a Stop Smoking workshop for your staff please call me on 07946 526 838 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Employer FAQs

1.Why has the government decided to ban smoking in enclosed spaces?
In 2004 the UK Committee on Tobacco & Health concluded that environmental tobacco smoke is a serious public health risk. Existing health & safety laws offered some protection, however new legislation was needed to ensure that workers & the general public are better protected. This resulted in the passing of the Health Act in 2006 & associated legislation in Northern Ireland & Wales.

2.Will the ban affect my workplace?
Yes. If your work premises are wholly or substantially enclosed it applies. The ban also applies to most work vehicles. (For further info on vehicles affected see Q6 below)

3.What do “wholly enclosed” & “substantially enclosed” mean?
These are legal definitions. They relate to an area with a ceiling or a roof which, except for doors windows & passageways, is either wholly enclosed (whether permanently or temporarily), or is enclosed apart from an opening which is less than half the area of the walls.

4.How will the smoking ban affect my workplace?
The law requires all enclosed public places, including workplaces, to be smoke-free. In practice this means that you, your staff, customers & visitors will not be allowed to smoke in any enclosed areas in your workplace, including work vehicles.

5.What will I need to comply with the smoking ban?
Employers, managers & those in control of workplaces are required to:

• Display “No Smoking” notices
• Take steps to ensure that staff, customers, & visitors are aware of the new law, and
• Ensure that no-one smokes in the enclosed areas of their premises

6.Does the work apply to work vehicles?
Yes, if the vehicle is used to transport the public, or used for work by more than 1 person. It must be smoke-free & display appropriate signage.

7.Where do I need to display “No Smoking “ notices?
In a prominent position at or near each entrance to your smoke-free premises.

8. What do the notices look like?
In England:

• Rectangular, at least A5 size – 148mmx210mm
• Display the international no smoking symbol at least 75mm in diameter
• Carry the words “No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke on these premises” (the words these premises may be replaced with “this gym”, “this bar”, this salon” etc)
• Signage must be in English and may be in additional languages
• In some cases a smoking room is allowed eg care homes, hotels. In these cases the sign must read  “No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke on these premises except in a designated room”

In Wales:

• Sign must be flat, rectangular & at least 160mmx230mm
• Display the international no smoking symbol at least 85mm in diameter
• Carry the words “Mae ysmygu yn y frange hon yn erbyn y gyfraith/It is against the law to smoke on these premises”
• Signage must be in Welsh & English and may be in additional languages
• Regulations regarding designated smoking rooms have yet to be defined
• Northern Ireland:
• The signage requirements are yet to be defined

9.Who will enforce the law?
Specially designated local authority officers will enforce the law. They will have powers to enter premises to establish that the law isn’t being broken. They will also be able to give out fixed penalty notices to people they believe are committing, or have committed an offence under the legislation

10.Do I have to provide external smoking shelters for staff that smoke?
No. However you might want to. It’s recommended that when you devise the smoke-free policy for your workplace, you discuss with staff how best to meet their needs under the new legislation. If your staff want to stop smoking its is recommended that you offer a Stop Smoking Programme. (link)  

If you would like to discuss your needs further or arrange a Stop Smoking workshop (link) for your staff please call me on 07946 526 838 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Testimonials
"Dear Nichola

Many many thanks for what you have enabled me to do (I think that’s probably right)
Over 4 weeks gone and a healthy return showing on my investment already.
1200% return in just 1 year..!
You should forfeit your fee and simply ask for 10%/ year of what the person saves for the next 3 years.
 
It really is the most fantastic sense of freedom and actual fitness that I really thought had gone forever.
 
I was valuing a flat on the 8th floor the other day and the lift had broken. The owner told me to wait through the intercom while he summoned the porter. I leapt up the stairs and reached the 8th floor without even breaking a sweat.
Swimming and running every day and smelling the blossom and wet earth in the morning...fantastic!
 
The other day I was gushing so much to a friend about the joys I had found that he felt rather tempted to take up smoking just so he could give up and experience what I am feeling.
 
Thank you so much...you won’t be seeing me again! But I shall be singing your praises for a long time to come!
Kind regards

Pete", Smoking

"I had a session with you early October 2006 to stop smoking and I have not smoked since then!  I must say, it was much easier than I ever though it would be and I am eternally grateful for your help. Dominique", PA, Stop Smoking

“Well it’s good news… absolutely no cigs….. It is so very weird not to be a smoker anymore.  Not unpleasant either – just unusual . My sense of smell is much more acute & I am not eating more to compensate.
 
You should be very proud of yourself that after 36 years of smoking you have deprogrammed me!  Thank you!!

Mia x", Stop Smoking