Employment Matters April 2007

Workplace cigarettes go up in smoke

On 1 July the provisions of the Health Act 2006 relating to smoke-free premises (which are already in force in Scotland and Wales) will come into force in England. These provisions, together with the Smoke-Free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006, will ban smoking in enclosed public spaces and vehicles.

What is an “Enclosed Public Space”?

The legislation applies to any non-residential indoor area and all substantially enclosed areas. This will affect most workplaces, and will include, for example:

• corridors
• rest areas
• canteens
• designated smoking rooms
• company vehicles and
• some outside areas adjacent to the workplace.

Smoking will be banned almost everywhere.