Smoke-free plans to help States workers quit

Wednesday 02 January 2019

More States owned facilities are now 'smoke-free' as the island's government forges ahead with plans to cut the number of smokers among its workforce.

All States of Guernsey Trading Assets' sites, with just a few exemptions, were rebranded as 'smoke-free' with effect from yesterday, 1 January, 2019, in line with the island's new policy which is being implemented.

This policy was developed "to ensure that the States of Guernsey provides workplaces that are safe and healthy for all staff, customers, service users and visitors and comply with health and safety and employment laws."

Pictured: Smoking outside at places like Guernsey Harbours and Guernsey and Alderney airports will be more strictly controlled from now on. 

The decision to extend the scope of the island's smoking bans comes under the Guernsey and Alderney Tobacco Control Strategy (2015-2020) which aims to create smoke-free grounds in States of Guernsey Properties with Les Nicolles Prison, school sites, the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and Sir Charles Frossard House already classed as 'smoke-free'.

Now the policy has been extended it will cover all sites controlled by the Guernsey Dairy, Property Services, States Works, Guernsey Harbours, Guernsey and Alderney Airport and Guernsey Water but not sites that are privately tenanted, including kiosks.

Some places will also have temporary exemption areas which will be reviewed periodically. This will include the Foulon Crematorium and certain areas at Guernsey Harbours and Airport including the airport's existing smoking area, any tenanted premises, and designated smoking areas within the Harbour car check-in area, outside the passenger terminal building and at the inter-island quay. 

These temporary exemptions are for the public, visitors and customers and staff in their own time or whilst on breaks and will allow the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

The States are also offering help to any staff who may be affected by the new no smoking areas and who want to quit the habit. Trading Assets said it had been working closely with Quitline before the new bans were brought in, to ensure that those staff who wish to explore stopping smoking have access to their services.

Pictured top: Smoking will only be allowed at designated areas at Guernsey Harbours and other places from now on.