Smoking

[DGP1]

It's a grey area, it really depends on whether they class the loading bay as a workplace..........if it's outside then I would say that it's allowed but that's my opinion and you know what they say about opinions

Opinions are like ar****les. We've all got one!

[somerset]

if caught smoking in your van, its an instant fine, because smoking is banned in the workplace and your van is the workplace!!!!

An instant fine ???? More like BYE BYE .

[POSTMAN]

To: All Branches with Postal Members

Regional Health and Safety Forums and Regional Secretaries

Dear Colleagues,

Smoking Rooms in Royal Mail Buildings, Smoking Shelters and Outside Designated Smoking Areas on Royal Mail Premises

Further to previous Letters to Branches and BOB Paragraphs on the new "Smokefree" legislation, this is to inform Branches and Area Safety Reps that the revised Royal Mail Group Smoking Policy is still to be finalised by the Royal Mail Board - a decision having been deferred by the board at it's meeting on 21 March.

All Smoking Rooms in Scotland closed in order to comply with legislation introduced on 29 March 2006 and smoking rooms in other RM group Buildings will be closed and be locked on 2 April in Wales, 30 April in Northern Ireland and finally on 1 July in England when the new legislation comes in to force in those parts of the UK along with Royal Mail Group's new Smoking Policy of which we await finalisation and publication.

Questions have been raised regarding the future use of former smoking rooms, existing smoking shelters and new outside designated smoking areas. The questions fall into 3 main areas:-

· Will Smoking Shelters be retained and modified to meet the new smokefree legislation ?

The Union has been pressing Royal Mail to provide Shelters which meet the new legislation by modifying and where necessary moving existing shelters. Royal Mail's present position to provide no new shelters and to close and decommission all existing Shelters which do not comply with the new legislation (which is probably all of them). The Union has made strong representations, asking them to reconsider their position and provide compliant shelters. The Royal Mail Board's final decision on this is awaited as mentioned above.

· What will happen to existing smoking rooms when they close ?

We have asked that consideration be given as to whether existing smoking rooms can be used for other social and welfare use following closure. The following has been confirmed by the Royal Mail Group Head of Health:

The Royal Mail Group Smoking Policy allows for local consultation between management and Union representatives for local matters (e.g. reallocation of use of smoking rooms)

· How will the new outside designated smoking areas be determined and decided upon ?


The following has been confirmed by the Royal Mail Group Head of Health:

Smoking will only be allowed in locally agreed and designated areas. Such areas will be agreed on between the site manager with appropriate expert input and the local CWU Union representatives.

Any queries relating to this LTB should be directed to the HS&E Department at CWU Headquarters.

There is also the has to be at least 4 meters away from doors and windows thing.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

if caught smoking in your van, its an instant fine, because smoking is banned in the workplace and your van is the workplace!!!!

An instant fine ???? More like BYE BYE .

Maybe both.

Police/Council will fine you.

RM will dismiss you - although unlikely its possible.

[solcat]

if caught smoking in your van, its an instant fine, because smoking is banned in the workplace and your van is the workplace!!!!

Anybody smokes in my van gets knacked, guarenteed

[fng]

Am a 40 a day man since park and loop.

Me too, I always take my 40 minutes now