The CLEANAIR Code

How to Achieve a Smoke-free Environment and Implement the CLEANAIR Code at your Work Place

Biman Mullick

The aim of the code is to recognise the basic human right to breathe clean air and to provide a smoke free environment for all to share and enjoy. The code is not designed to force smokers to refrain from smoking against their will, but to protect the community from the danger and unpleasantness of inhaling other people's tobacco smoke. The code recognises the choice to smoke as long as it is practised among consenting adults in private without affecting others.

1. Talk to your colleagues - smokers and passive smokers* - and get their support and agreement. A voluntary agreement on the CLEANAIR CODE (no-smoking policy) is the best. (*Passive smokers are generally known as non-smokers.)

2. Collectively contact the management with the support of your staff association and the trade unions. Also contact your safety officer and the medical officer and request them to take action. In 1981 the TUC (Trade Union Congress) passed the following resolution: "Since smoking is most prevalent among working people rather than other sections of society and it is working people to whom the TUC (Trade Union Congress) has a special responsibility, and since smoking is regarded by the government as by far the greatest preventable cause of death and disease in the UK, Congress calls upon all member unions to: A - Undertake a programme of education and information on the dangers of smoking for the benefit of their members. B - Explore the possibility of providing help with giving up smoking."

3. Display various anti-smoking and CLEANAIR posters, stickers, table cards etc. Change the posters as often as possible. You can get one sample CLEANAIR poster free on request. Please send a large (A4) self addressed and stamped envelope to CLEANAIR, 33 Stillness Road, London SE23 ING. Extra copies are available using the CLEANAIR order form. Please bear in mind that CLEANAIR is an Independent, voluntary and non-profit-making organisation which receives no financial support from public or private funds and is entirely run by dedicated professionals who donate their services free of charge. CLEANAIR is engaged in drawing public attention to smoking and its effect on health and the environment. It aims to create a smoke-free society for all to share and enjoy. The campaign derives all income from the sale of its publications.

4. Be positive. Don't be against smokers or antagonise them. The CLEANAIR CODE will benefit the smokers more than passive and non-smokers.

5. Remember, smokers are ADDICTED to tobacco. Be sympathetic to them. Make provision for a "smoking zone" and keep the rest of the environment free from tobacco pollution.

6. Seek agreement with management that smokers may have time off to attend "giving-up smoking" courses. 7 out of 10 smokers would like to stop smoking. So this would be welcomed by everyone.

7. The CLEANAIR CODE generally results in improvement in comfort, health and morale of the workforce, in turn leading to higher efficiency and higher productivity. It will also diminish fire risk and insurance premiums, as well as cleaning and maintenance costs, (56% of all indoor fire accidents start by the negligence of smokers and the fire accidents caused by smokers cost British industry well over £18,000,000 per year. The CLEANAIR CODE will also reduce absenteeism through sickness. Here in the UK, 50,000,000 working days are lost per year through absenteeism caused by smoke related diseases.

8. In confined environments such as offices, class rooms, staff rooms, rest rooms, waiting rooms, restaurants etc. where smoking is permitted, the Carbon Monoxide levels in the air are generally higher than those permitted in industry or found in busy high streets.

9. In single offices, if a smoking occupant receives visitors he/she must not smoke in the office. The occupant must respect the visitors' basic human right to breathe clean air.

10. The CLEANAIR CODE provides the best protection for ordinary people from the unpleasantness and the danger of passive smoking. The intention is that smoking should be by permission rather than no smoking by prohibition.

11. In 1983, through a public referendum, an ordinance was passed in San Francisco requiring employers to adopt such policy. Any employer who violates the ordinance can be fined up to $ 500 per day. In Finland, smoking in public places is forbidden by law. In America similar restrictions operate in 32 states. In Belgium, restrictions against smoking in public were introduced In 1987. In the UK, apparently the law to protect ordinary and innocent people from the exposure to tobacco pollution is not very clear. Now is the time for the government to clarify the existing legislation for the benefit of the community. Repeated surveys show that 70 to 90 per cent of the population would welcome some form of restrictions against smoking.

12. On 20 March 1985 the GLC (The Greater London Council) adopted a Clean air policy and CLEANAIR helped the GLC with the implementation of the policy - sharing the cost under Its Joint Production Programme. Many other organisations have taken advantage of the programme. If you are interested, please contact CLEANAIR for details.

13. Under section 2/2E of the UK Health and safety at work act, 1974, all employers are legally obliged to provide a "safe and healthy" working environment. According to the present scientific evidence, work places polluted with tobacco smoke are not "safe and healthy". Therefore under the present legislation a worker can legally demand a smoke-free, that is to say "safe and healthy", environment and the employer is legally obliged to provide for such a demand.

14. Collectively write to your local MP to tighten section 2 of the above act. The following letter is one suggestion. Your MP's address is: The House of Commons, London SWI.

Dear Sir or Madam,

The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 does not specifically out-law smoking in places of work including class rooms, restaurants, cinema halls etc. 3 out of 8 smokers, and 1 out of 8 passive smokers die from smoking related diseases and 40% of smokers die before normal retirement age as compared with 15% of non-smokers. Passive smoking is extremely unpleasant and it impairs efficiency and affects productivity. It is a proven health hazard. 1 in 4 fire accidents start from cigarettes. In a fair society nobody should be forced to passive smoking especially at work. In view or the above reasons I/we think the Health and Safety act of 1974 should be revised to ban smoking in all places of work and other public resorts. Therefore may we request you to use your influence in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely ……………

15. Invite your local Health Authority to show a film on smoking and its effects on health and the environment.

16. Invite CLEANAIR to organise a seminar, a video show or mount a display/exhibition.

17. Publicise your campaign through your office Newsletter or Trade Union Newspaper. Your local newspaper may also be interested.

18. Contact CLEANAIR, for advice and co-operation. CLEANAIR does not charge fees for its services. On the other hand under Its Joint Production Programme, it shares the cost of publicity material to implement the code. Please contact us for more details.

19. Copies of this material are available free of charge. Please write to CLEANAIR. This is just a general guide and It should he adapted to suit your exact needs and circumstances.

This material may be freely quoted and reproduced. Please credit CLEANAIR Campaign for a smoke-free Environment. Please send a cutting of any publicity to CLEANAIR, 33 Stillness Rd London SE23 ING.