Smokefree Regulations
| Published: 17th May 2007 13:16 |
11 May 2007
BUSINESSES BEING PREPARED FOR NEW SMOKEFREE REGULATIONS
With less than two months left until the new No Smoking legislation comes into force on 1 July, Sheffield Council has taken positive action to ensure local businesses are aware of the new regulations.
The Council has recently recruited two enforcement officers (with funds provided by central government) to help businesses understand the new rules before they come into force. They are currently visiting licensed premises and other businesses across the city to ensure workplaces in Shefield go smoke free on the 1 July.
Work has been in hand for several months already to provide guidance on the implications of the smokefree legislation and the Health Protection Service delivered a presentation and ‘one-stop shop' that was attended by around 200 licensees.
Businesses are being encouraged to provide stubb bins where smokers congregate to help prevent litter outside their premises. The Council is also spending around £40,000 on stubb-it sections on litter bins to provide an alternative method of disposing of cigarette litter.
All businesses in Sheffield will receive a detailed guidance note from the Council with local information as well as national guidance from central government.
Once the Smokefree law is in force, businesses who fail to comply with the requirements, or members of the public who ignore No Smoking signs and refuse to stub out, may be issued with a fixed penalty notice or taken to court.
Once the new legislation is in force, Council health protection staff will be monitoring licensed premises to ensure that the public and staff are protected from the harmful effects of second hand smoke.
Ian Ashmore, Head of the Council's Environmental Regulation Service commented: "If following the ban any 'hotspots' develop for cigarette litter, we'll target those areas for cleanup, advice, then enforcement. We expect all licensed premises and businesses to take a proactive approach.
"We will continue with a strong enforcement approach to people who drop litter, including cigarettes on the basis that littering costs us all money that could be better spent elsewhere or kept in residents pockets!"
Any businesses wanting further advice on the new legislation can visit the web site at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/resources or contact the Council's Health Protection Service on 0114 273 5774.
Copyright © Sheffield City Council 1997 - 2007
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