Smoke Free Work Environment

Purpose

• Carestaff Nursing Services is committed to ensuring that its employees, subcontractors, contractors and visitors are not exposed to tobacco smoke within the work environment.
• Carestaff Nursing Services is committed to providing employees with a safe, healthy and supportive environment in which to work.
• Carestaff Nursing Services recognises that the health and wellbeing of our employees is important and is committed to providing a supportive workplace culture where healthy lifestyle choices are valued and encouraged.

Application to Electronic Cigarettes

Any reference in this Smoke Free Policy to smoke or smoking includes vaping or other use of electronic cigarettes.

Objective

Carestaff Nursing Services respects the right of smokers to smoke.
However, Carestaff Nursing Services will support smokers if they wish to stop smoking.

Carestaff Nursing Services will:

• safeguard employees, customers and visitors from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke
• provide smoking cessation support to employees wanting to stop smoking

This policy reinforces Carestaff Nursing Services‘s commitment to reducing the harm caused by tobacco smoke.

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Scope

Smoking is not permitted at any time on the grounds or buildings of the worksite, except within the designated smoking area.

• The policy applies to all employees, contractors, customers and visitors while on the premises.
• The boundaries of the worksite include all indoor and outdoor areas of the premises except the designated smoking areas.
• The designated smoking area is located in the corridor at the rear of the premises.
• The location of the designated smoking area has been selected to ensure that employees are not exposed to the risk of second-hand tobacco smoke.

Compliance Measures and Process

• As a designated smoke-free worksite, it is a breach of the Public Health Act 1997 to smoke on the premises.
• All employees and other persons are expected to comply with the requirements of this policy.
• Managers and supervisors are responsible for encouraging compliance with this policy.
• All employees are responsible for ensuring visitors comply with this policy.
• All visitors who smoke on the premises are to be informed of the policy and politely requested to extinguish their cigarette. Repeated breaches should be reported to managers for further action.
• Contractors should be advised of the policy and asked to extinguish their cigarette.
• Employees who breach the policy will initially be counselled by their manager.
• The manager will reinforce occupational health and safety obligations, and the health effects of passive smoking on co-workers.
• Formal disciplinary action in line with workplace procedures, and/or reporting to a Public Health Tobacco Control Officer will occur for repeated breaches of the policy.

In addition:

• smoking is not permitted in work vehicles or vehicles provided by all health care facilities.
• cigarette sales and/or promotion of cigarette products is not permitted on the worksite.

Expectation of Employees

Employees are expected to:

• participate in the implementation of this policy
• comply with the requirements of this policy
• inform those entering the premises of this policy
• ensure that additional cigarette breaks (beyond award rest breaks) are taken in their own time
• request that any visitors, customers or contractors smoking on site extinguish their cigarette
• report to managers any instances of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
• Carestaff Nursing Services has a clear, concise written policy regarding smoke free work environment to ensure that all levels of management and employees employed by Carestaff Nursing Services or contracted to health care facilities, under their responsibilities under this guideline.

Communication

Carestaff Nursing Services will ensure that:

• this policy is easily accessible by all members of the organisation
• employees are informed when a particular activity breaches this policy
• employees are empowered to actively contribute and provide feedback to this policy
• employees are notified of all changes to this policy.

Monitoring and Review

Carestaff Nursing Services will review this policy.