The 2006 Health Act defined clearly the public areas where
smoking was not allowed. The act which came into effect on 1st July 2007
introduced a smoking ban in all substantially enclosed public places
and workplaces.
There were several areas where the smoking ban did not apply, such as residential care homes, long stay mental facilities and prisons and these places were supposed to have clear signage designating them to ensure that the health of the non-smoker was safe guarded. It is important to note that the ban did not apply to private homes, even for those who work from home. However, if you lived on business premises (pub landlords) then you were not allowed to smoke in areas that were designated for work or public access was needed.
Places of work that were non-smoking were required to display no smoking signs at the entrances. All areas of public transport, including coaches and taxis are also included as non-smoking areas. The regulations stipulated that public non-smoking areas, including bars, restaurants and clubs had to display no smoking signs.
Generally with the exception of railway stations smoking was permitted outdoors, however there are indications that the ban could be extended to cover more outdoors places.
Employers were allowed to designate a smoking area for clients and staff with the provision that it should be located in an area where smoke could not filter back inside through ventilation systems, windows or doors. In addition fireproof containers needed to be provided for cigarette ends. As most smoking areas are outside some employers provided staff wit shelters to protect staff from the weather. The regulations state though that such places should have not less than 50 percent wall area permanently open to allow smoke to disperse.
These regulations are controversial and have created dilemmas about defining whether certain places are smoke-free zones or not. For example, flats with shared corridors and communal entrances have to be smoke-free zones. Provisionally some hotel rooms and prisons were are exempted and there has been a lot of dilemma about university halls of residence since there is no clear definition between what is public and private. As result of this dilemma some universities have imposed a ban on smoking which covers all halls of residence.
There have been incidences where violence has resulted due to individuals refusing to obey the smoking ban; the most serious incident is the case of James Oyebola who was shot by a patron when he asked him to stop smoking.
There were several areas where the smoking ban did not apply, such as residential care homes, long stay mental facilities and prisons and these places were supposed to have clear signage designating them to ensure that the health of the non-smoker was safe guarded. It is important to note that the ban did not apply to private homes, even for those who work from home. However, if you lived on business premises (pub landlords) then you were not allowed to smoke in areas that were designated for work or public access was needed.
Places of work that were non-smoking were required to display no smoking signs at the entrances. All areas of public transport, including coaches and taxis are also included as non-smoking areas. The regulations stipulated that public non-smoking areas, including bars, restaurants and clubs had to display no smoking signs.
Generally with the exception of railway stations smoking was permitted outdoors, however there are indications that the ban could be extended to cover more outdoors places.
Employers were allowed to designate a smoking area for clients and staff with the provision that it should be located in an area where smoke could not filter back inside through ventilation systems, windows or doors. In addition fireproof containers needed to be provided for cigarette ends. As most smoking areas are outside some employers provided staff wit shelters to protect staff from the weather. The regulations state though that such places should have not less than 50 percent wall area permanently open to allow smoke to disperse.
These regulations are controversial and have created dilemmas about defining whether certain places are smoke-free zones or not. For example, flats with shared corridors and communal entrances have to be smoke-free zones. Provisionally some hotel rooms and prisons were are exempted and there has been a lot of dilemma about university halls of residence since there is no clear definition between what is public and private. As result of this dilemma some universities have imposed a ban on smoking which covers all halls of residence.
There have been incidences where violence has resulted due to individuals refusing to obey the smoking ban; the most serious incident is the case of James Oyebola who was shot by a patron when he asked him to stop smoking.
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