Smoke-free Workplaces

Legislation

A legal ban on smoking in enclosed public places (including workplaces) has been in force since March 2006 in Scotland, and bans followed in Wales (2 April 2007), Northern Ireland (30 April 2007) and England (1 July 2007). The republic of Ireland prohibited smoking in enclosed public places on 29 March 2004.

The smoke-free legislation makes it illegal to smoke in virtually all 'enclosed' and 'substantially enclosed' public places and workplaces. Premises are considered 'enclosed' if they have a ceiling or roof and (except for doors, windows or passageways) are wholly enclosed either on a permanent or temporary basis. Premises are considered 'substantially enclosed' if they have a ceiling or roof, but have an opening in the walls, which is less than half the total area of the walls. The area of the opening does not include doors, windows or any other fittings that can be opened or shut.

Managers of smokefree premises and vehicles have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.

Smoking and health

From a public health perspective, smoking is known to be the largest avoidable cause of death and disease in the UK. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) highlights the health related issues::

• tobacco-use kills around 114,000 people in the UK every year - around 20% of all deaths. About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually die from this habit
• smoking will cause at least 80% of all deaths from lung cancer, around 80% of all deaths from bronchitis and emphysema and around 17% of all deaths from heart disease. Fewer than 10% of lung cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis
• 30% of deaths from cancer can be linked to smoking.

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